Jenny peered into the narrow opening. Deep in the crawl space beneath the abandoned house she saw the ghostly green glow of eyes reflecting the last rays of evening sun.
‘Come here boy, come on.’ She called softly.
Soft scuffling sounds drifted to her. She strained to listen. If anything the sounds moved away from her.
‘Here boy.’ She tried a low whistle.
Whining sounds. The animal was hurt. Hiding. Helpless.
Animal hotline caught the call just as she was heading home for the day. Neighbors said it was a dog, limping. Wandering through the December streets alone.
She fumbled with the burger she brought. The TV ads said never frozen. Perhaps the animal wouldn’t care but she did. She broke the meat apart and scattered it just under the overhang of the ramshackle porch. The dog would have to come to her. No way she was getting under that crawl space. If the animal was aggressive or even rabid, there would be no escape.
‘Come on boy, do you smell the nice burger boy? She took another careful look. Shadows among shadows. The whining had stopped though.
‘I know you’re hungry boy, I know you’re cold.’ She made a clicking sound with her tongue.
Could the animal hear her? Was he damaged?
Scuffling. Shadows parted. It was a dog. Jenny felt her heartbeat pick up.
A big dog. His fur was matted from too many days in too many muddy places. His long face was lean and hungry, and his eyes were brown wet pools. There were red splashes on his head and around his muzzle.
Blood?
He crept closer, afraid to come further out but too hungry to stay hidden.
‘Come on boy, come on. Get the food. You know you want it.’
She kept her voice soft and soothing. The poor thing.
The dog was hurt, beaten. Broken. He looked at her then at the food and then at her again.
No way she could leave him. No way at all. She took two steps back and waited.
He crept closer. Inch by inch, he wormed his way out from the shadows.
He was gaunt. She could count his ribs.
His frazzled fur was patchy, his tail hairless, dragging in the sandy soil.
He couldn’t look at her any more, the smell of food was too much. He took a cautious bite, then he began wolfing down the rest. His tired tail wagged feebly in the dirt.
Jenny slowly unwrapped another burger and broke it apart in her hands.
She would let him smell her. Smell her hand. Trust her.
Maybe then she could take him to safety.
Pain is pain no matter who experiences it.
She edged closer to the hungry animal.
At least today, she could help take some of it away.