Debby Tanzer
January 2015
Sparky's empathy for children was extraordinary, bringing my grandchildren toys when as infants they would cry.
He was a special model for me in my deep involvement in my animal rights and rescue work, showing so clearly once again the value of each individual animal--not only our companion animals, but all animals--and their inalienable right to their lives, so badly trampled on by us.
Sparky, born in 1998, came into my life as a nine month old puppy. He was white with tan and black markings, had one black eye and one white eye, one ear with polka dots and another with stripes, feet that turned out and a body too long for his legs, but the combination worked, and he was the most adorable dog ever.
He made ever so many humans happy by his looks alone, with
strangers on the street smiling, or telling me he should have his own comic
strip or TV show.
A wonderful human couple had seen him on the street trying to follow some
children, near Macy's on 34th Street in Manhattan. Lost or abandoned, with
no collar or tags, he eluded their attempts to catch him. But astonishingly,
later that day he was again spotted by them--unmistakeably the same
dog--this time on 83rd Street. Some miracle had enabled him to come all that
distance, in traffic, bruised and cut, but alive. This time they could get
him, and got him into a vet close by, where I met him, loved him, and
adopted him a few weeks later.
His journey uptown--some have said that he was making his way to find
me--was truly a symbol and harbinger of his astonishing grit, courage, and
strength. Sparky was a "terrier mix," with all the strength and energy
terriers possess. This was a learning experience for me, having had cocker
spaniels all my life, and adjusting to this energy, and navigating it in
teaching him and my cats to get along, was indeed a challenge. But we did
it, and his loving nature blossomed and flourished in the process, and
humbled as all. His empathy for children was extraordinary, bringing my
grandchildren toys when as infants they would cry, and loving them all.
Adults loved him as well, and he had countless human relatives and friends
in all walks of life.
Sparky survived many illnesses, surgeries, and physical problems over the
course of his sixteen and a half glorious years of life. Always with
courage, dignity, and good spirit. He was a model for us all. And he was a
special model for me in my deep involvement in my animal rights and rescue
work, showing so clearly once again the value of each individual animal--not
only our companion animals, but all animals--and their inalienable right to
their lives, so badly trampeled on by us.
In the last few months, beset by many medical problems, Sparky nevertheless
hung on to life fiercely and beautifully. But then it was his time to go. He
was euthanized last week--euthanasia in the true and kind meaning of the
word, not the euphemism for the immoral killing that we see all around
us--and is now resting in peace. Sparky was a truly extraordinary dog, and
he will live in my heart forever.
Thank you all for your caring and love.
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