A lesson in true loyalty........

Like many people who are on facebook, I sadly learnt of a story that broke  my heart about the true love and bond of a man and his dog.  It was about a homeless man names John who lives on the streets in Sydney with his little dog "Carrie".  John choses to not stay in a shelter as they dont take dogs so rather than leave carrie, he sleeps on the streets. you can see a video of them here

Unfortunately the story was not a nice one where one night some drunks picked on John and scared Carrie so much she ran away into the night and was missing for some time.  John was upset as he really has nothing in life - except Carrie.

The word went around facebook, some 170,000 his to find carrie for John and she was located in a home and was happily returned back to an elated John.

Carrie was returned on a Thursday and I was going up to Sydney for 2 days on the following Monday.  My boys and I were walking into the city, turned the corner into Pitt St and right in front of us were John and carrie - sitting on their milk crate.

I went up to him and asked him was this Carrie and out from under his arms pops this little dog.  I really was not prepared to bump into them and explained to my boys the story.  I introduced the boys to John and he shook each boys had with genuine respect which I didnt expect and the boys listen to John tell the story of Carrie.

When he was talking, tears came flowing down his face with each word so being the mum that cries at a drop of the hat I find myself crying along.  My 10 year old starts looking at me really weirdly as does my 8 year old.  By the end of the story I was like a waterfall as you could see how much she meant to him and vice versa.

Te entire time, carrie was snuggled into John and was not moving an inch.  Like she was finally home and no one was going to split them up again.  I asked if I could pat her and I have to say, I have never touched a more content or relaxed dog.  She was like a little marshmallow all soft and content.

I gave John $5 for Carrie and we parted ways only to have my 10 year old say to me "mum, you need to go to a toilet and clean yourself up - your a mess".  I guess I was walking through Pitt St at 9.30 with red eyes and tears flowing. After talking to the boys, they decided to give John another $10 as they thought if we could go to Luna park and Imax then we can afford $10 for Carrie.  We tracked them back down, I was much more composed and Jack gave John $10.  Then I saw that with the $5 I gave him earlier a nice can of Jim Beam was now emptied by his side.  I know I should have given him anything but cash, but we were not expecting to see him.  I am sure he enjoyed the Jim....lol

This story goes to show how non judgmental animals are.  They dont care if they have the nicest coats, the best food or the softest bed.  They care about being a part of something no matter what and Carrie is very much apart of John.

There is now a group of people helping homeless with pets.  To find out more about them you can go to this link and you dont have to live in Sydney to help.  Items and gift cards can be posted.  So you can do something to help people like John and Carrie.

oh - as a final note, as we were leaving after giving John the extra $10, another lady walked up behind me and gave him $10 - for "Carrie".

She is a remarkable dog that has created awareness of something people walk past every day - and never see.