From commentor Bryan F:
It was two years ago, my wife and I were on our morning commute to work, when she spotted this orange beast under an overpass on the 8 mile. He was walking along, not looking like he had any particular place to go, basically trapped between two directions of rush hour traffic. Maybe it was the oddness of seeing a Pomeranian wandering around in a very non-residential area, but without thinking about it at all, I pulled over, ran across the road and caught up with him. Not sure what he might do I got him to followed me to the intersection, where I finally did pick him up (at arm’s length) and got him in the car. Then it hit me – what did I just do? And what do I do now?
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What I ended up picking up off the street was a dog in rough shape. One of his ears was badly infected (he still seems to have trouble hearing), he was filthy, riddled with flies, and he had no coat left on his underside. He was somebody’s dog – he had a collar on and he was neutered, but he had no tags and ended up having no micro chip. There was no way of tracking down who he might belong to.
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After a call to a friend with more experience than me in these matters, a trip to my vet, a trip to the Detroit Humane Society, and call to my wife who had gone on to work, it was decided – we were going to keep him. And in honor of the road we found him on, we named him Marshall.
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Marshall was fortunately housetrained and largely indifferent to our two cats, so right off the bat, it worked out. In time, though, his personality started to emerge. He was kind of on the aloof side, totally stubborn, and in possession of one hell of a bossy-bark. We weren’t dog people, and for a while, he drove us nuts. We probably drove each other nuts, come to think of it.
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But eventually, an understanding was established, bonding occurred, and we became best friends. He is a treat to take care of and he charms everyone he meets. I feel like life just gave us the best gift we’ll ever get, and there isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t feel grateful for him.
spudvol
At least we now know that he won’t end up in a Taco Bell product. Too soon?
stuckinred
Great story, good for you!
Luci
Gosh! Look at the grin on that dog. He looks like he’s the happiest pup to be where he is and safe. Isn’t it amazing what you can find on the road if you keep your eyes open and your heart is in the right place? Good job! Thanks for the nice story!!
WereBear
Poor little guy! He’s sure happy now.
Poms are actually shrunken sled dogs, so they have a tendency to “know best.”
Kristine
I love to start my day with these stories. Thanks! And thank you for saving Marshall.
And skritches for Marshall, too.
serge
Wonderful outcome for one lucky pooch. Thank you.
JGabriel
NYC, or at least what I can see of the street from my window, is absolutely gorgeous this morning. Last night’s snow is lumpily piled on branches like something out of a Victorian Christmas card.
Any Manhattanites with cameras should definitely make taking photographs a priority for this morning.
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Mary G
He is radiating happiness in that picture, thanks.
Cat Lady
What a cutie! He looks as happy as he is cute! Also, what’s that green stuff under him? It looks vaguely familiar.
JPL
Marshall is a cutie.
geg6
Marshall is adorable.
I used to have a boyfriend who had a Pom. Funniest, stubbornest little thing. Can’t remember his name, but he used to just tear down the hillside in bf’s back yard, get his short little legs going too fast, and tumble halfway down the hill, bark, bark, barking the whole way. It was hilarious. Bf’s black Lab would just look at him and then you as if to say, “See the shit I have to deal with?”
Richard Fox
I can’t thank you enough for sharing this story. I am not a dog owner but always have a love and affection for any doggie I come across. And after casually reading the blogs this morning and coming across a horrific story of dog cruelty (which I won’t share as it is just too awful, and I don’t want to inflict it on anyone) it warms my heart to know good folks are still out there, just making this planet a bit nicer. So thanks again for sharing, and give your pal a warm hug from me. Cheers. —Richard
Persia
He’s so lovely! What a big, happy grin.
In Open Thread news, we won’t have the Orange Alerts to kick around much longer. I’m not sure if I’m pleased or disappointed. Happy for our nation, sad for our comedians, I suppose.
Gus
Well done. He sure is cute.
Cermet
The storm here north of Baltimore was terrible – we have over a foot of very heavy, wet snow on top of ice. Tree’s and limbs have fallen right and left – our power is out, my car is under a tree, my road has two more trees (smaller) across it, and the secondary roads have trees (very big) across them.
I dug out a path and got the generator in place outside (no danger of CO poisoning! and had to dig out and cut the fuel from its burial place, too – of course I stored it safely in a shed right where the tree fell!)
So, we now have power and I have partly dug out the drive way (over a 100 yards still to do but that will have to wait fixing the old snow blower – I hope!Of course, the chain saw had better start, too)
Have to say, living in the country side is so much fun (NOT!) Taken all my heart meds, so I should be ok but I will careful pace myself over the next two days (by then, if we are lucky, we’ll get power.) Thank goodness I wired in the generator to run the entire house and have extra fuel.
I hate this weather!
sideshowsam
Whoa – that is a very cool story – love that stuffed toy Marshall has…
Annie
He is beautiful — love the smile!
catpal
love Marshall’s big smile too.
Thanks for the great rescue story.
Violet
What a sweetie! He looks as happy as can be with his little rabbit toy. So bright and alert and happy to be with you. You are both lucky!
CatHairEverywhere
What a gorgeous, happy little guy! I’m so glad you found each other!
wonkie
It ws an act of courage to stop on a freeway to get this poor little dog.
He’s a lucky doggie.
A young gal of my acquainntance spoted a miniture poodle in the ditch. I don’t know how she saw that dog–so tiny! Anyway she picked up the pooodle who is all of amybe two pounds, lacking much of her hair, with cataracts, curled over ingrown nails, worn down teeth, droppy boobs…obvious backyard breeding operation survivor, dumped in a ditch.
One of my neighbors has adopted her and now she rules the roost, boss of the household, a thiny tyrant to humans and tother dogs. She been vetted and cleaned up, doesn’t have her health yet but the personality has emerged!
Her new name is Princess which fits.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8bLVFVwzDk
If any one wants to give Mimi a happy ending. (posted this link before)
JeannieBee
Marshall’s story is so similar to our white miniature poodle, Lambchop’s, story. I found what I thought was a grey dog dodging 8 lanes of traffic, turning in circles in the intersection. We had three dogs, all in the car at that moment, but I pulled into the middle of traffic, opened the door, and called. She twinkle toed over and hopped right onto my lap and curled up. Our oldest dog, in the front seat, took one look at her and peed in the seat. Lambchop was grey because she was covered in dirt and fleas, suffered from flea anemia (sp?), was starving and had rotted teeth, bad knees and a heart murmur. Despite habing three dogs and two rabbits, and not really wanting a yappy drop-kick dog, we kept her. Seven years, two more dogs and four cats later, we’re one big, well-vacuumed family. Lambchop’s a badass and my fiercest protector, and we’re so thankful I spied her and syopped that day. She and Marshall are lucky pooches, but you and I are twice as lucky.
Dog is My Copilot
Marshall us such a cutie! Thank you for rescuing the little guy.
cckids
What a cutie! Thats how we got our Pom as well, wandering around loose. They do tend to think they know best, and are not shy about letting you know it. Congrats on finding such a sweetheart.
asiangrrlMN
Awwww! Marshall is just adorable. Thanks for rescuing him. It gives me a happy.
cargillprime
Marshall is wonderful and so is the couple who rescued him!