|
Viewer
Viewpoint The
Meaning of M.U.T.T.
Dudley wasn't sure how many weeks he'd been in the animal shelter, but it seemed like forever. Each day was the same as the one before and he spent most of his time sitting on the wooden palette in his pen, staring at the wall and waiting for dinner. His life with his former owners, brief though it was, hadn't been great - he wasn't loved or wanted - but even that was better than this, he thought. He occupied himself by watching a fly on the wall until he heard some of the other dogs barking a greeting to the old bloodhound Humphrey, as he made his morning rounds. Behind his back the others called him "Harrumphrey," because of his habit of "harrumph!-ing" whenever anything displeased him, which was most of the time. Humphrey was the mascot of the shelter, allowed to roam the building as he pleased, and he slept overnight in the office. He'd lost a hind leg years ago when a nearsighted hunter couldn't tell the difference between a bloodhound and a deer, so the shelter staff didn't have to worry about him wandering very far. Humphrey paused in front of Dudley's pen and inspected the young mixed terrier, which made Dudley even more uncomfortable. He hung his head a little lower and avoided Humphrey's stare. "You boy... look alive!" Humphrey ordered. "It's opening time and the people will be coming." "Alive?" Dudley sighed. "Alive for what? Nobody's going to want me. Not even my mama wanted me. They said I was found in a dumpster when I was a puppy."
Humphrey
pondered that for a moment. "My former owners didn't want me either," Dudley explained. "Said they didn't have time for a dog. Said I ate too much. Said I cost too much. Said I didn't match their furniture. Said they wanted a human baby instead." "Harrumph!" grunted Humphrey. "Some humans are too stupid to take care of themselves, let alone cohabitate with a superior being. It was their loss, I assure you. Why, look at you! You're a fine specimen of a...well, anyone can see that you're obviously a....um... "A mutt," said Dudley resignedly. "Go ahead and say it, everyone else does. My former people called me a mutt, everyone that comes down this aisle points and says 'oh, he's just a mutt,' and then they go look at the purebreds on the other side. I'm not even sure what a mutt is, but I know I am one." "Just a mutt!" Humphrey sputtered. "Why I'll have you know there's nothing better than a mutt! >>> Copyright Jim Willis 2001 - Used With Permission Click here for
other works by Jim Willis featured on
this site Back to Viewer Viewpoint Table of Contents Do you have something
to say to the VetMed viewers? NOTE:
The views and opinions expressed in the Viewer Viewpoint CONTRIBUTIONS to the TIERGARTEN VETERINARY CARE FUND are desperately needed and must be made payable to McDonald Animal Clinic and sent to: Tiergarten Veterinary Care Fund !! WE MUST PLACE ALL FOSTERS BY SEPTEMBER !! SEE OUR SITE
FOR DETAILS: [Please note: we are not a not-for-profit corporation
and therefore have donations go directly to our veterinarian. We are
exempt from registration with PA Bureau of Charitable Organizations
and are entered as such in their database.]
Have something to say? Post it on the board!
Previous Features - Check out other articles from your Guide Veterinary Medicine Home Page - Main page for VetMed at About.com Library of Topics - Browse the site library of topics
|
And
now, a few words from our viewers...
