“Stop me not, but let me jog, for I am Chance, a
firefighting dog.'' ~ Chance
For the first years of his life,
the nameless cocker pup was chained from dawn to dark in mud, feces, storms,
and flies; all alone and mostly frightened.
When Nigel, his owner, got home, he was allowed inside to conditions
ever worse; locked in a crate, in the garage, unable to stand.
One day he managed a bold escape, wandering narrow alleyways
and scaling the limits of his imagination.
His roving took him near a fire house where he promptly laid down to
rest on the dry pavement, oblivious to the dirt that clogged his matted fur.
Erin noted his collar and returned him to Nigel. But mindful of the most attention he’d ever
felt, the dog quickly escaped and returned to the firehouse … at every opportunity.
Nigel soon abandoned the struggle and allowed the dog to
follow his own path. So Erin welcomed
its first 4-legged firefighter and named him Chance; meaning unintended, yet
important.
At first, they left him at the firehouse when duty called. Chance danced with excitement when they returned
to the station, always deliriously happy to greet them.
Eventually, he was allowed to ride with the crew in the firetruck
until they’d release him near the fire, running in advance, and announcing by
his bark the welcome news that help was on its way. He even had his own boots.
At the fire, he’d amuse himself by pulling burning sticks away
from the flames with his mouth; impressed that he was rendering a great service
and clearly anxious to show any onlookers his significance. He even rescued several people and a variety
of terrified pets.
Chance remained faithful to the profession he’d so deliberately
chosen despite frequent injuries. Having
suffered a more serious burn than usual, Erin nursed him beside the firehouse hearth,
when a "call" came. At the
familiar sound of the engine turning out, the old dog made a last effort to
climb aboard, but couldn’t gather the energy.
He passed away while the fire crew was away.
Chance was eulogized as a “faithful companion, a fierce
guardian, and a symbol of the resiliency, bravery, and fortitude of
firefighters and those they help.”
If only we loved like dogs do.
They don’t care if you got fired, dumped, or made a bad fashion
choice that day. All they want is you! They’re the only living example of unconditional
love and the ultimate reason why God made dogs.
“Master, treat me kindly, for no heart is
more grateful than mine. Hold me gently
in your arms, knowing that until the last breath I take, I’ll walk by your
side, and stand ready and willing to protect you with my life.” ~ “A Dog’s Prayer”
