Blanca

By Anthony P. Giger

I used to drive to work in the 1980s. I would drive to my downtown job at the LAUSD Headquarter on Grand and Sunset. I would always leave around 6 AM to avoid the morning traffic. I always observed things going on around me. Everything interested me.

A mother pulling her child along the sidewalk. I thought going to school he wasn’t happy to attend. A little poodle his body full of dirt and other filth he picked up in his journey in life. I thought to myself he or she needs help. This went on for quite a while.

I believe God was watching or one of earthly angels reported to God that I was concerned about the little dog. Well I was sitting in the back yard reading the sport section all of a sudden to my amazement the little black dog appeared at my gate door. I quickly when into action like it was a prearranged appointment. I picked up the dirty dog brought him into my yard, put him down, grabbed a hose and started washing him. I noticed a little improvement.

My wife, Shigeko was watching in approval. Being she was animal lover and knowing my kind heart. She opened the gate door and the little dog scurried out. I chased him to no success. He was gone. My wife laughed and said, “The dog did not know my intentions”. I said maybe he though we were preparing him for dinner. I was sad the dog ran away.

Well believe it or not the next day I was sitting in the yard and still thinking of the little dog when all of a sudden the dog appeared as if to say please finish your intentions I’m feeling much better since you hosed me and cut some of the dirt off.

I picked up the dog and put him in a cardboard box and took him to the Vazquez Veterinarian.  His wife took one look and said we can’t groom your dog. I told her the story of the dog. How he walked along the street full of dirt and nobody helped him. She said OK I’ll help the dog. Leave him and come back in the afternoon. I’m going to skin him.  It didn’t sound good. I said “OK just please help him”.

I came back in the afternoon. She brought him out. The dog was completely bald. She had really skinned him. He didn’t look like the same dog. Well Blanca’s hair grew out and she looked beautiful.

Later I was getting my car gassed up and a man came up to the car window and said, “That’s my dog Blanca, you can keep her”. I really wanted to tell him off, that as a dog owner he should have given Blanca a better life.

I’m very happy God sent me to give Blanca that life. She’s been a wonderful friend.