THE BEGINNING...

I was born in 1993 in or near Deltona, Florida, right around the human event called Memorial Day. I don't really know the details. I was "the runt of the litter" as the humans say. My mother, so I was told, was a white Pitt Bull. They say my father was of Chow-Chow ancestry, but some think he might have been part Labrador. I was found by my first human, Chad, with my long forgotten brothers and sisters at "The Mud Hold" (aka "Duck Lake") in Deltona.

Chad brought me to my next human, who I know as "Papa Lee," and offered me to him to replace my predecessor, Dax.

I was tiny, weak and very sick. I was passing blood and my skin was eaten by hundreds of bite-bites who made their home in my fur and my skin. I was in pain and I was dying, but I did not know this. It was all the life I knew, so I did not know how bad it was. Nor did I understand when Papa Lee took me to 'the place where many sick ones are taken' and the human healers, despite my few complaints, managed to rid me of my maladies as easily one might lick dirt off one's paw!

For two summers I lived under the roof of Papa Lee's shelter, but he did not pay me much attention. He was more attentive to my mentor, the ancient one called Thor. Thor, though a small one, was very powerful and could control the humans. I learned much from Thor, such as when food would be served, or when the door would be opened to the "outside" world where one could relieve one's self outside of the den.

At the end of these two summers, I became very ill. My middle swelled. I became very hot. I felt much pain. I sensed that the end of my days were near and was sad that I had never had young ones to love and to nourish.

However, my Papa Lee again intervened. I was put in the "go-fer-ride" and taken again to the human healers. My life energy was almost gone. I would not see another rising of the great shining light. But the healers brought darkness upon me and in my sleep my belly was cut open. The pain and sickness was cut from me and I did indeed see more rising of the great light! I suffered much pain and discomfort for quite some time, but it passed and the pain faded. I did not enter the great darkness... my life continued in peace for 2 more summers.

Our humans allowed other beings to live with them. Some were other humans (I bit the nasty one called "Chris" who disturbed me while I slept). One was my Papa Lee's litter mate; the one called "Skip." There were also many scaled-legless ones in glass containers and there was the "Ozzy." The Ozzy was a female of the "cats." Though much like my kind in some ways, she was not one of my kind. The humans required that we not fight, but this did not seem right. However, I was young and had much to learn. I knew that my body would no longer have the ability to produce young ones, but Ozzy, this "cat" ... she was not so disabled. She produced many small ones and they intrigued me greatly. I wished to have such small ones as did she, but I could not. Ozzy did not like for me to get near her young ones. She would try to poke me with her pointies. However, when she was not near, I would sneak to her bed and wash her small cubs. They were not like my kind, but they needed attention too. The Ozzy was not a good mother for them and I was much better.

One of the young ones stayed under our roof. Ozzy went away as did the other young ones, but one of her young ones called Barnabas stayed in our den. Barnabas had dark fur like mine. In the manner of his folk, he became aloof and disdainful of me, but I did not take offense. Sometimes he tried to poke me with his pointies, but he was small and could not hurt me much. He was all I might hope for to have as a cub, though he was not of my kind. He would not know me as his mother, but this was to be expected.

During this time I continued to learn from Ancient Thor to be let "outside" or to go "eat." I learned to understand many of the human sounds and their meanings. I learned that though humans do not hear or smell the world as we do, though they may seem helpless in some ways, they can see things and understand things beyond my understanding. I learned to trust Papa Lee and to respect the Chad. That one I understood best for he would hurt me if he was displeased and play with me when he was happy. Yet it was Papa Lee that I wished to please, for although he would rarely bestow his blessing on me, I felt his love when he did so. Also, it was most always he who carried me to his healers, brought us food and water, or brought tasty treats from the box-on-the-wall.. Even ancient Thor would defer to Papa Lee, though sometimes with a growl, so surely he must be most belovéd among beings!?

After four summers, there was great turmoil between Papa Lee and the Chad. Chad left the den and took me with him. I lived in his new small den for a long time. We had new members of our pack there, including Buddy and Trixie. They were not very bright, but they kept me company. I lived in the outside during these days and life was very unpleasant. We were rarely allowed to join the Chad within the den. The outside was often hot or cold... not like in the den under the roof. I become very sad. Sometimes Papa Lee would appear and seemed very happy to see me, but he would not take me away with him. I was very, very sad.

My sadness increased and the Chad believed I was very ill. He called upon Papa Lee to help and I was taken again to the healers in the place where many creatures are brought together. My life had now seen six summers pass by. When we left the small den of Chad, we returned to the old Den of Papa Lee once again! I was very happy. I did not want Papa Lee to leave me. He took me with him in his big red "go-fer-ride" to many places and gave me much attention. I was very happy that the Papa Lee would care for me. I stayed with him at all times.

I was now 6 summers old and happy to be living in the den of Papa Lee once again. The Ancient Thor had become very old by this time. He could not see or hear very well, but he could still smell quite well. I continued to look to him for direction. Soon, the Chad moved back joined us again in the den of Papa Lee. He brought Buddy and Trixie with him. I was now their elder and they did not respect eldest Thor, but they soon learned from my habits and from Thor's sharp temper! Buddy went away in a few days, but Trixie stayed with us. She was not very smart, but she was obedient and would submit to me, so I tolerated her.

Meanwhile, things in Papa Lee's life were going very badly. My small cub, Barnabas, was now gone from Papa Lee's den, and so was Papa Lee's litter-mate, Skip. Things were different and I could sense it there was much sickness and badness in the den. I did not know what was wrong and did not know what to do, but I gave Papa Lee all my love and sat by him when he lamented over his bad times. I knew it was beyond my understanding... but he held me tight and often whimpered and his eyes would leak onto my fur in the human way of distress. I gave him what support I could and was there to defend him from attackers.

It was in my seventh year that Papa Lee and I went for a great "bye-bye" ... we traveled in a very big "go-fer-ride" and traveled for many days with the one called "Jack." I was now to be the ancient one, for the ancient Thor was was never seen again. Nor did I ever see the Chad or any of the others of my kind. The small cat-cub called Barnabas had long vanished from our den and all things were new for me.

We finally arrive in a new place ... and den which required us to climb up many levels to get into and out of! Very strange! There were many squirrels in this new place, so I thought it must be good. However, it was not long after we lived in this new den, which was high in the air, that the cold season arrived. It was very cold in this new place! White fell from the air and piled on the ground! It was fun to play in, but made my feet hurt. My life was different now and I would never again see my old mentor, the Ancient Thor again. I was becoming The Ancient one now...

After living in this new place for one more summer, Papa Lee moved away again to a new place. This was the strangest place of all! We entered this new den by means of a small box! It moved and carried us much like a "go-fer-ride" ... except I could not see out of it. When the doors opened we were in a new place with many small dens. Papa Lee took us to one of the small dens and this would be my new home. There was a great clear wall at one end of the den and I went to see out of it so that I would know where we were... and we were very high up in the air! I backed from the clear wall for fear that I would fall, but soon I learned that I would not fall. It was amazing to me to look down upon the world. I could see many-many "go-fer-rides" crawling on the ground like little bug creatures!

Several moons passed and we continued to live in the den-in-the-air. Then one day, when he air was turning cool, Papa Lee's litter-mate, the Skip arrived. It was strange to see one from my past after so long, but I accepted him of course. It was good to have an old pack mate back! Several more moons passed and the white stuff began to fall as was the was of this new place we lived. Then one day, Papa Lee and the Skip left and came home bringing with them a strange yet strangely familiar smelling object... it was a box with wires on it. They opened it and out came my little cat-cub, Barnabas! I was excited and almost made water in the den like an excited puppy! It was a good time for me... I was so happy to see my little cub. However, he was older now and, in keeping with his kind, was not friendly to me. I was disturbed by this, but this was his way and I accepted it. I tried to respect his space, but he is very arrogant... my like the Ancient Thor was! Maybe that is why I give way to him and let Barnabas be one above me.

It was during my ninth summer (7/3/02) that I had one of my greatest pains and injuries. I was going down some of the stone steps to the place where I go to make water, when I saw one of the SQUIRREL creatures. As usual, I became greatly excited and gave chase (as is proper). I ran down the steps, and at the bottom my front foot got hurt very bad! I tried to keep chasing the Squirrel, but my foot started to hurt SO bad that I starting to scream loudly and without control. Papa Lee came and held me, but I was unable to stop screaming with the pain. Papa Lee had to carry me home. My foot continued to hurt me for a long time. Many days passed. Many moons passed before I finally could walk on it. It was very painful, and my foot is shaped a bit differently now. It finally got better, but it still hurts a little sometimes....

It was just at the end of the cold days that Papa Lee took me out and we went in a go-fer-ride to a healer. I did not understand this, I did not feel sick. The healers poked me with pointies and took my blood. Then we left and I could tell that Papa Lee was not happy. I hoped that it was not my fault... I did nothing to offend them as far as I knew, but humans are strange and complex creatures. Some days later, Papa Lee took me back to the healer once again and this time it was very upsetting for me. A female healer took an instrument and it ate the hair from my back! Then she scrubbed me with wetness. I wanted to go... I did not like this, but Papa Lee insisted that I stay and held me tight. Then the male healer came and sank a fang into my back while Papa Lee held me! I was very scared, but when it was over I was still alive and Papa Lee took be back to our den-in-the-air. I became very ill from the bite of the healer. I was not happy, but Papa Lee helpd me and assured me. I trusted him and soon I began to feel better again.

A moon passed by and I was feeling normal again. My hair was growing back, but things were not to be well for me yet. I was again taken to the healer's place and again my hair was eating my the buzzing creature of the female healer. Again the male came in and this time he sank his fang into me twice! I was left in much pain and felt very sick. Papa Lee continued to assure me and hold me and I trusted him, but I was not happy. I was hurting and I felt very sick.

Several moons have passed and I have not been returned to this place where the healer bites my back with a fang. I hope I do not go back there!

ANIMAL POISON CONTROL (ASPCA)

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