Some people believe that Guardian Angels come in all shapes and sizes.  Including the realm of the animal kingdom.  In should then, come as no small surprise, that there are more than a few canine angels out there helping God reach out to those most in need as the following story will easily show.

Early one morning, Susan Teasdale's neighbor, Nelly, anxiously knocked on her door and asked her to help take care of a stray dog she had only just found outside her apartment.  It had neither a collar nor a microchip fitted to help identify who it belonged to so that didn't make things any easier for her either. 

Nelly couldn't really look after the dog herself as she had to rush off to work.  But it was obvious the poor little thing needed some urgent attention - if only for the day!  Caked in mud and ready to fall where it stood, the poor little tyke looked as if she hadn't eaten in days.

A divorced mother of two, Susan herself hadn't worked in years due to ill health and chronic bronchitis.  Both of her kids still lived with her - Steve her 10 year old son and Peter his 19 year old elder brother who had, unfortunately, been born with Down syndrome. 

Peter was also born mute and couldn't feed or bathe himself either, so most of Susan's time was often used up just taking care of his many needs throughout the day.  Something she found exhausting if truth be told but was not one to complain.  Besides, she was only more than happy to do it.  Although she was seriously worried about his deteriorating health - he'd already had open heart surgery and a kidney transplant by the age of 19.

Steve and the dog connected immediately - and he quickly named her Garfield after his favorite cartoon cat.  Susan and her boys bought the dog a used collar and leash, some chewing toys and a brown blanket to sleep on from a used store just up from their apartment. 

Steve played with the dog all day long, laughing gleefully whenever Garfield licked his face or playfully tried to chew on his hand. "Don't get too attached to her" his mother warned but he simply wasn't listening to her.

Susan and Nelly made up some FOUND flyers later that night and posted them all over the neighborhood in the hope that they could still locate Garfield's true owner.  But as no one called back to claim her, she stayed the night with Susan and the boys.  Her brown blanket was placed in the living room but she somehow grabbed it between her teeth and moved into the boys' room to sleep with them instead.

Five days later Garfield was still there and responding well to her new name and getting along famously with the boys.  She loved playing like a ball of energy with Steve but was somehow always tender and caring with Peter.  Almost as if she even knew he was sick and needed special treatment.

Susan wouldn't say it out loud, for fear of bring wrong, but she soon noticed that Peter looked in much better health since Garfield had moved in with them and now needed a lot less attention from her than he normally did during the day.  But thought herself a bad mother for even thinking such thoughts.

For her part Garfield rarely barked and didn't need much looking after; so she was glad in a way that the dog had found  her way to them all.  She often lay in front of the TV with Steve as they watched cartoons together after school.  But one quiet afternoon she started barking like mad as she quickly jumped up and ran towards Peter's room, scratching her paws like mad trying to get inside. 

Susan, who had been busy cooking lunch in the kitchen for them all, ran like mad to see what was going on.  She quickly opened Peter's bedroom door only to find him slumped over on the floor.  His body writhing in a seizure and blood pouring like a fountain out of his nose and mouth.  A few minutes later Susan and Peter were in a cab heading for the hospital.

The neurologist later told Susan matter-of-factly that she was really lucky that Garfield had gotten to Petter when she did.  "A few minutes later and he would have choked in his own blood" he said, pausing for effect.  "He might not be so lucky next time" he gently whispered.  Right there and then Susan decided Garfield was a keeper.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans as someone called Thomas rang her up the very next day to claim the dog back.  He had read one of Susan's FOUND flyers in a local store and recognized immediately that she had in fact found his own missing dog Ezekiel.

Distraught she broke the sad news to the boys who had both grown to love the dog as their very own.  Thomas only lived 4 blocks away and had been looking for her since she first went missing. 

Susan cried over the telephone telling Thomas how Garfield had helped save Peter's life - but it seemed as if he wasn't listening to a word she spoke.  Caught up, as he was, in the euphoria of finding his beloved Ezekiel.

Thomas hurriedly came to collect Garfield the very next day and as soon as he entered Susan's apartment, the loyal little dog happily jumped into his welcoming arms.  Wagging her little tail like mad as she did so to show how much she had missed him. 

Twenty minutes or so later, amidst the flowing of tears, they were both heading out of Susan's door to make their way back home.  Right before he was about to step into the cab; Thomas looked back and saw a huge well of sadness staring back at him through Steve and Peter's eyes.  The very sight of it sent a cold shiver down his spine and into his heart.  

Without another thought he turned back round and handed the dog back over to Susan.  "I think Garfield was meant to find her way to you" he said, tears in his own eyes now. "As much as I'd love to keep her, she belongs with the boys now!" 

A stunned Susan was lost for words, but there really wasn't any need for any.  Sometimes, simple actions speak far louder than any words ever can.

Yep, Angels truly do come in all shapes and sizes.  The kindness of strangers is one of the best ways of recognizing them.  Remember that the next time someone reaches out to you.  Canine or not!


(C) Charles Anthony McFaulds