This is both an attempt to network this homeless kid, Charlie, and a tribute to the woman that brought him to safety.
It is not likely that the woman of which I write, Sophie, will even read this homage, as she does not use the internet, and I communicate solely through email with Sophie’s daughter.
Sophie claims her English is not good enough to write me…I claim her spirit is an inspiration, and a reminder that there are those among us that still move forward with grace, and motivate not for gain…but because their moral compass knows no other direction.
I met Sophie one day in a vet’s office when she brushed by me, to get to the front desk, to ‘get her dog.’ She told the receptionist she had some money for Charlie, and she then produced an impossibly small, folded piece of currency, that was the size of a ‘letter tab,’ as on the computer keyboard in front of you. This bill – hidden in the inner seam of her garment and handed to the sweet receptionist, Izzy – was to be applied it ‘to Charlie’s bill.’ Once paid, Sophie quickly disappeared behind the door and returned minutes later with a good sized, handsome, and obviously please-to-see-her Lab-Shep mix kid, who I would come to know as Charlie.
I was instantly charmed by Sophie’s energy. She is a minute big, and yet a warrior. She inspires a smile and a bow at the same time. I spoke to her and she shared the story of Charlie, which I know you would be so much more enthralled with, if the charismatic Sophie could explain it to you herself.
Nevertheless: Sophie was on a walk with her own dog, who is not a large fan of other dogs. She travels the same streets in her neighborhood, and on this day saw a man kick a dog and yell at it. Sophie scolded at the man, telling him: “You don’t want this dog – you are mean to him. I take dog…you don’t want it.”
And that is what she did. She took her dog home, and showed back up to the man’s yard and demanded he come out and hand her over the dog. He complied. Sophie then took the dog, Charlie (her name for him), to the vet and got him his shots, and left him there to be neutered, which she paid for herself. Actually, Charlie has been boarded there since that very day – months ago – as Sophie works daily to find him a worthy home. In fact, they know her well at this clinic as Sophie is constantly taking abused and neglected dogs from this neighborhood out of peril, and footing their bill, until she finds them “a home where somebody love them.” As I know the neighborhood well, I know she is of absolute truth. There are on any given day, more than one dog running the streets, dogs on chains in yards, and in situations that would make most look the other way.
Sophie tells me that she sells things to get the money to fund her extremely independent venture. Paying for surgeries, and boarding at the vet, do not come cheaply.
This kid Charlie is a good-looking kid, his posted pic does not do him justice. It is the same pic that is on his flyer which is pinned to the bulletin board in the vet’s office. I stopped by the office today and snapped a couple more photos of the young, happy, and ready-for-the-world guy. He was so very excited when the technician brought him out…he literally sprung straight up in the air, figuring that Sophie was on the other end of the door, and had come to visit and take him for his afternoon walk. After all, she has become what Charlie knows of consistency and affection, as she visits daily, and has dutifully paid for his boarding for months now. In this neighborhood non-puppies, and non-purebreds do not fly off the shelves…and yet Sophie remains vigilant.
Charlie is kind, he loves kids, dogs, and walks – as the flyer states – and is in need of a home. A good home. And yes, Sophie checks on all the dogs she places, and has even taken one back when a woman did not do as she promised with regards to leaving the dog in the yard all day, and not getting him his follow up vaccines.
We know what a financial hardship rescuing can be, as it is….but cannot fathom what it is to commit to securing the well being of a dog, and to go at it alone, and without reaching the audience you so well deserve. Even more difficult in today’s economy. And especially when disposable income is somebody else’s luxury.
Please..let us help Sophie – and Charlie – find him an affectionate and nurturing home.
I told Sophie that if there were more Sophies in this city…in this world – we would ALL be better off, and feel the impact of her kindness and strength .
She bowed her head, thanked me and smiled. She smiled in such a way that I knew for certain that Sophie has never been acknowledged before, for doing what she does to help dogs. That slayed me. You want to see grown tattooed man shed eye water, then get me next to someone so noble, that has no idea of their worth.
As Sophie was leaving, I told her to hold on and I went to my vehicle and retrieved a fair bit of dog food that I wanted her to have. I offered to carry it to her home – it was not light – but she absolutely would not hear of it. “No no no,” she insisted. “Give to me, I strong.
I strong,” she repeated.
Way more than you even realize, Sophie.
…And then some.
