BarkingProse

Our first few days at Asherpark were scary. Everything was new and we didn’t know who to trust. People and dogs came and went.

Shiloh and I didn’t know where to go to feel safe, so we usually curled up together for comfort.

The boy dogs were nice to us from the beginning. Ash invited Shiloh to play, but he was so wild it scared her to death. I had to laugh out loud watching him twirl around to get her attention while Shiloh looked on in horror.

Jack wandered over to say hello, but it was clear he had no interest in getting to know us.

From the time we arrived, I had a bad feeling about the red female, Tess. She strutted right up to us and announced she was boss dog. I said that was fine with me and looked away.

Unfortunately my little daughter sassed her and told her not to mess with me. Tess bristled with anger as she sauntered off.

When it was determined that I had very little hearing, my new family changed my name from Marble to Mama. Many of their friends had remarked that “Marble” sounded too cold and lifeless.

Honestly I never liked the name Marble. I am not a stone. It’s true that I am stoic, but I still have deep feelings and great longing.

Because I was so attentive to my daughter and obviously was a dog with no pretensions, my new family decided to call me Mama.

While I have not always been able to provide a safe and stable home for my daughter, I never stopped loving her and caring about her happiness and well being. I was pleased with my new name as it pays tribute to my role as Shiloh’s mother.

For the first few months at Asherpark I was known simply as Mama. My new family spoke my name with warmth and tenderness.

Last month a special friend came to visit. Her name is Liz but everyone knows her as Jack’s girlfriend. I don’t quite understand how a nondescript dog like Jack ended up with a beautiful girlfriend, but that’s a story for another day.

I liked Liz the moment I met her. She knelt down to greet me and told me I have the dark good looks of a Spanish beauty. I didn’t know exactly what that meant, but it sounded very nice and I was happy for the compliment.

A day or two into her visit, Liz said I should have a middle name. All manner of names were tossed about until the lady of the house said she really loved the name Eleanor. Her own mother was named Eleanor and she still has a great fondness for that name.

Given that everyone now agreed I am indeed a Spanish beauty, an extra “a” was added to Eleanor to make the name more romantic sounding. That is how I became Mama Eleanora.

I must confess I never thought I would have such a lyrical name. To think that I am named after the beloved mother of the lady of Asherpark thrills me no end. Mama Eleanora – how lovely. A new name, a new life.

 

 

 

 

 

My name is Mama Eleanora. How I came to have this elegant name is a long story, which I shall begin to tell. But first I must provide some background.

My daughter Shiloh and I spent years together in a cage in southern California. For reasons I shall never understand, we had been adopted as strays only to be abused by our rescuer.

We were near death when the authorities found us. Shiloh weighed only fifteen pounds and could barely walk. She had lost all interest in food and life.

The only thing that sustained us through this misery was our bond. Though she could barely raise her head, Shiloh would still growl to protect me. My precious little daughter cared more for me than for herself.

The man who treated us so terribly was arrested on an outstanding warrant. He gladly gave us up rather than face additional charges for animal cruelty.

The next days were filled with confusion and fear. We were taken to a shelter where we were separated. Taken away from me, Shiloh refused to eat. Fortunately the authorities recognized their mistake and arranged for us to go into foster care together.

Slowly our lives began to improve. Shiloh became attached to our new benefactor and began to eat. I was stronger physically than Shiloh, but having endured more years of abuse I was literally afraid of my own shadow.

I knew Shiloh stood a good chance of being adopted because of her bright sunny face. My brooding dark looks and my almost furtive behavior made it unlikely anyone would want me. While I could not bear the thought of losing Shiloh, I wanted her to have a forever home even if it was without me.

We were listed on Petfinder as Marble and Shiloh, (The California Girls), with a video that showed our miserable condition. To my shock and delight, the rescue group insisted that we be adopted together. Many people called about Shiloh, but when they were told I had to come too, no one wanted us.

One day a lady called from far away. I had never heard of Washington State. I listened as our foster mom talked with the woman from Washington. I could hardly believe my ears. She had seen my face on Petfinder and wanted me.

At first I thought it was a joke. Nobody had ever wanted me before. Shiloh was trembling with fear and joy. The woman said she would take both of us. Shiloh and I would go to a place called Asherpark where we would be fed and loved and spend the rest of our lives.

There were many calls back and forth. Our foster mom told the lady from Asherpark about our habits and medical history. Then came the day we were put into a crate and told we were going to our forever home.

Shiloh and I huddled together fearing the worst. Nothing good ever came from being in a crate. We were loaded onto a van with other dogs and drove off into the night. Our future awaited us, but what would we find when we arrived? The first thing I found was a new name, Mama Eleanora.