Life keeps cycling along. Some days, I'm so tired I'm not sure how I made it through without falling asleep standing up. Some days, I can only see sunshine. Some days, I never see the light. The Pack is challenged right now. There is privacy to be respected, so I'll simply say we are being challenged. Even with immense challenge, the needs of The Pack keep cycling along. The Pack is always reminding me of the moment. This moment. I can make it through, and I can enjoy, this moment.
When I am challenged, I have many examples of strength around me which inspire. Atticus is one. While he still hasn't received all the training and activity he deserves, Atticus continues to be an essential member of The Pack. He told me a year and a half ago that he belonged to me, and of course he was right. He belongs to me, with me, within me. He is a source of happiness and he is a source of strength.
I believe that without his intense tenacity, Atticus would not be alive. There has been luck involved in his life, but as I continue to learn about him, I see such grace, such individuality, such determination, that I feel overwhelmed by my admiration of him.
Atticus was possibly born in the Boon Township, Michigan area. Boon is a community within Wexford County, Michigan, and can be described as near the city of Cadillac. Boon is also located within the Manistee National Forest, and it is a small town with less than 700 residents. Atticus was possibly dropped into the Manistee National Forest as a newborn puppy, and was quickly abandoned by, or separated from, his mother. It appears he had no siblings and survived by living off of carrion within the National Forest, and becoming "friendly" with some of the coyotes who live there.
At some point, Atticus was captured by Wexford County Animal Control and placed in the Wexford County Animal Shelter. He was a fighter with other dogs and a heavy leaner with humans. He was scheduled for euthanasia, but given the chance to live by an angel who loved his eyes and selected him to be transported to the K9 Stray Rescue League in Oxford, Michigan.
At K9 Stray Rescue League, Atticus was named "Harlan" and adopted out twice. He was returned each time due to his energy level and prey drive. People did not seem able to manage his desires to run, hunt, play and fight. Two sweet girls from Club Pet Too in Commerce, Michigan chose "Harlan" to live at their kennel and participate in a wonderful training program called Teacher's Pet. Through Teacher's Pet, shelter dogs are matched with a child at participating schools who, as a team, go through 8-10 weeks of obedience training. The children, who are in some way at risk for not succeeding in school, gain academic credit, compassion, skills, and a desire to attend school, while the shelter dogs become more adoptable due to increased obedience and manners.
"Harlan" LOVED going to school, but could not have a leash attached while in the travel crate. He ate them. He was a heavy chewer. Seriously heavy chewer. At school, he was described as "lazy," but at the kennel, his behavior was becoming increasingly dangerous. Kennel staff was having to separate him more and more frequently due to fighting with several dogs. These behaviors - the chewing, the fighting - would make "Harlan" difficult to adopt out.
Then he told me his name was Atticus, and that he belonged to me, and he has been mine ever since. He is home. He hasn't spent time back in the kennel environment, we don't have cats to chase, and he has antlers to chew on at home, so I don't experience the issues that caused his challenging adoption history, but I do notice the challenges within him still. I see his urgent interest in every smell, sound and falling leaf. I hear his defensive bark at the raccoons and deer he knows are outside the sliding glass door, and were once his competition and companions. I have felt the helplessness and fear of being separated from him as he tracks coyote through wetlands and over water and into woods miles from home. His senses, and intense desire to use them, kept him alive as he was a babe in the forest with no protection other than his tenacity and soft eyes. His senses are not to be ignored or dulled. They are to be appreciated and used. He inspires me to use all of my senses and to appreciate my strength.
As I am challenged right now, I feel lifted by Atticus' toughness, and soothed by his soft eyes and strong lean. When I'm not sure how I will navigate through the next test, I imagine I will be like Atticus. I will be like water. I will flow over and around and through the obstacles. I will find my way home.
I think they like being at home...
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