Major Issues

Dogs have only one flaw, their lives are short.

He never knew it or responded to it, but His name was Major. This name was chosen as a way to afford him some dignity and as an acknowledgement of his "major" issues. We rescued him from an extremely abusive environment. 

A few years ago my fiancé smelled foul odors emanating from the house adjacent to ours. The houses share a common wall, so the sounds and smells are close. The shrill sounds of dogs whining and barking were common, pierced occasionally by the disciplinary screaming of their female human owner. Swarms of flies hit themselves against the window, seemingly desperate to escape Hell themselves. 

Dark things were happening right next door.

My fiancé made numerous complaints to the neighbor and authorities. She became known through whispers as "The crazy lady" No one wanted to believe her and the police told her they could not enter the house because dogs are considered "property" After months of pleading to no avail, she was able to shoot a photo of the crime scene through a window and showed it to the police. An investigation revealed what she knew all along. The tenant was running a puppy mill out of her house, most likely part of an organized crime gang. Gruesome discoveries such as half- eaten dead puppies were the source of the noxious smells. The animals lived in their own filth with scarce access to food and water. Matted Maltipoos trembled next to canine corpses. Eventually, they were rescued and she adopted Major. He had tumors and COPD, and anxiety disorder and a host of other ailments. Cruela Deville was charged with several counts of animal cruelty and the house was condemned.

We have had the privilege of helping to nurse him back to some semblance of health, though his scars never truly healed. He was a sweet dog. I never heard him growl. Not once.  

He became a close companion to my son during a time when he felt alone and isolated. They formed a deep bond. I am indebted to Major. Pitbulls were bred to be guardian dogs and are very loyal. 

In his previous life, he was living perched on a rotting couch, serving as a liferaft in a sea of death and decay. He was a canine anomaly in this Hell house as the only large dog in a kennel filled with small boutique breeds. He was a Pitbull/ Boxer mix. Why he was there is a mystery, but the evidence of his trauma was clear. 

When he first joined our family, he was perpetually anxious and would attempt to rush out the door anytime we opened it, knocking over anything in his way. It was hard to keep him outside, because he would eat the soil. He slowly became accustomed to the calming routines of domesticity and found a small measure of peace with the aid of love (and Prozac).

Dogs have only one flaw, their lives are short. He has been depressed and lost the past month since we lost his companion Stella . A beautiful and sweet standard Poodle who taught Major how to be, well, a dog.

We had to euthanize him yesterday as his tumors grew and his suffering became unbearable. He passed gently into another realm. A place of peace and kindness and bones, I pray. 

I’m so proud of and grateful to my fiancé for rescuing Major. She also rescued me, by the way.

Major was a good boy. We miss him and Stella terribly.

 

https://patch.com/new-york/sayville/4-dead-dogs-found-deplorable-oakdale-home