Orphans- each and every one

I thought it was the coyotes at first.

Shrill, high pitched, I grabbed the cell phone so that Ed could hear the sound of their calls. They were close, I couldn't remember hearing them that close in a long damn time.

I made it outside, dialing speed dial.

Ed didn't answer.

The calls continued, shrieking into twilight.

Then I realized they weren't coyotes. The sound, it was too close, too different.

Looking down from the deck, I saw they were puppies. Four of them, scrambling in front of the house, frantic with worry. Wondering what happened to their bitch, I peered over the railing, but she was no where to be found. They were about 2 months old, dark coated and wide eyed. They were hungry and frightened.

They would not come near me.

I realized then that some bastard had dropped them off down below me on the county road. That's what happens up here. People ditch their animals. Their kittens. Their puppies. Sometimes their sick horses.

As if in January any of these animals have a prayers chance.

I can see the rationalization, what they tell themselves in their slick little minds. They'll go to good homes. Some rancher will have pity and adopt the animals. They will have a warm place to sleep, lots of space to run and, and, and. Wow, wasn't that just the easiest way to get rid of a little guilt. Visualize the litter, all cared for, all happy in some fancy barn, working cows by day, well fed at night.

Actually visualize your four puppies, wandering through the woods scared, crying out, until one of em gets seperated. One of em falls behind. One of them or two of them or all of them actually meet the coyotes.

Yeah visualize that.

Rushing into the house I grabbed a jacket. I grabbed my shoes, but the puppies were already far out into the woods behind the house. Crying, sheiking, looking for their mother. And yes, they sounded almost like coyotoes. That was until I heard the coyotes descending on them down from the higher benches, their calls growing ever more excited and frantic.

I turned and walked back into the house, shut the door, and refused to hear what I knew was coming next.

Instead I saw your car pulling up alongside the shoulder of the road, and I say you dumping your pups out, and I saw that someday maybe you will read this and maybe actually have enough conscience to feel like the piece of shit that you are.