Sombra and I did not meet until I had been in Mexico for several months. I thought that my life was quite full, and did not need any additional responsibilities or more family members to love. But that changed one day on a Wednesday in Ajijic. I had been volunteering for just a few weeks at Ajijic’s Wednesday market at Anita’s Animals booth. Since my pet family had already reached a healthy eight – that is four cats and four dogs, that seemed to be a sufficient and happy number. That fateful day, a tiny little black furry ball of a creature had been found by the roadside by a kind hearted person and was turned into Anita that morning. Up to this point I had been able to control myself and not get too attached to any one of the orphaned kittens or puppies who had been there each week.
I held her, the start of the adventure that was to unfold. She was about the size of a large avocado, but with big dark eyes peaking out from under the long soft black hair. She, like many forsaken, discarded kittens and puppies, she was left to die or to survive if she could, all alone. She did have a moment’s reprieve when that person found her; saw her as she was – a living creature with a soul. At the end of that day, this little furry baby went home to Anita’s, and I went to my home, hoping she would find a loving family soon.
That night was a long night one, as she kept popping into my head; worrying would she find a home. My husband noticed that I seemed preoccupied that next morning, and asked me what bothering me.
I told him about this “tiny furry ball” that I had held the previous day. Being the good person that he is, he said: “If you want her, let’s go get her – what’s the difference between having four dogs or five dogs?” So off we went to Anita’s Animals early that Thursday morning to get our new family member, and brought her to Uncle Pepe for a check-up and medical care. Because she had been left on her own to fend for herself, prior to her rescue the previous day, she was not very strong – she had lots of worms, an infected cut in her tail; she was malnourished, etc.. For four days, we all worried about her survival. Her dog brother and three sisters would peak into her crate and see how she was doing; sometimes just lying near her – I guess sensing her need for companionship, and maybe a doggie-prayer too. With time, medications, love and a strong will, she got strong and healthy. It has been strange though, having a dog with hair as it were, after having had only Dobermanns for over thirty-five years.
Of course the task of finding “the” right name took a while – certainly not an original name. But “Sombra” seemed to suit her, as she became everyone’s Shadow. As we did not know her exact birthday, guessing she was about 6-7 weeks old and 2 pounds, I gave her my June birthday – so we can celebrate together. She came into my life a tiny thing, and is now a healthy 55 pounds and 14 months old. In the States, the newest fad or rage is “designer-dogs” – like a mix of Poodle and Labrador. = Laba-Doodle… and people pay lots of money for this. In Mexico, this phenomenon has been going on for quite a long time, but without the fancy title. Sombra is a “designer dog” herself, part Schnauzer and “traveling-salesman”. So, you too can get your own “designer dog” at Anita’s Animals’ like I did, be in style- if you care, and have a good friend for life.
