Sadie, The Darkest Side of Betrayal
Courtesy of Kay-Lynette Roca, Executive Director
Safe Harbor Animal Rescue & Clinic

She sits and waits. Pensively, she stares through the glass door, watching, waiting. You speak her name and for a moment her concentration is broken, nervously she wags her tail and looks as if she's trying to smile. Then back to the door, hoping to catch a glimpse of her master, coming back to retrieve her from this unfamiliar place. She wants to go home, her home, where the smells are familiar as are her toys, her bed, her yard and yes, her people. Home, the place she has lived as a family member for six years. She doesn't quite understand why she has been cast out of her comfortable, secure lifestyle. After all, she is a good girl, house broken and obedience trained. She has been a loyal companion to her master. Surely, her master will return! Days turn into weeks and weeks now equal a month and still no sight of her master. She is not deterred.. She does not give up hope. Patiently she waits. With the passing of time, her watchful eye and nervous air are now a bit more relaxed. She has even attached herself to a few of the staff, who have tried to make her stay more comfortable. With a nudge of the nose, she is forever looking for that reassuring touch that will tell her that she has not been abandoned.

Sadie's state of mind when she first arrived told us that her pride and her integrity would have been shattered if she had been placed behind bars. Therefore, she has been living behind the desk at Safe Harbor's clinic, a move that we felt would give her some sense of comfort. With a wag of her tail, a friendly bark and a mouthful of kibble, Sadie never forgets to systematically return to that door. The door from which she entered a month ago, she still sits in limbo, in front of the door, waiting for her best friend to return to her. Whereas Sadie's story is heartbreaking, it is not unique or uncommon to those of us who work at Safe Harbor. Most people think it is the abuse and neglect cases that make our job so difficult, however for me, it is the betrayal of trust and commitment that cost me sleepless nights. In our business, betrayal has many faces; We have to move, I'm pregnant, I had a baby, I'm getting married, I'm getting divorced, I'm allergic, he's allergic, he plays too rough with the kids, he potties in the house, he chewed my shoes, he digs holes in my yard, the landlord found out, he grew to big, he didn't grow big enough, his ears stink, his breath stinks, he sheds, he's old, he barks to much, he doesn't bark enough, he jumps on people, he cost to much money to maintain, I work long hours, he doesn't match my decor and the list of broken promises never ends.

Nothing shocks or surprises me anymore. What does surprise me though, is the wonder of people as to how our society got the way it is? We have become so apathetic to the needs of others. We are horrified to hear of a baby being flushed down a toilet or thrown in the garbage. Is it any wonder? Our children see us discarding the family pet like an old bike or pair of roller skates. What kind of message are we sending them? That life is cheap and plentiful? That promises and commitments are to be broken. Here is the one friend that will love you unconditionally, who will never judge you or turn his back on you. And who, but a dog will lick the hand that beats him? Sadie doesn't know it, but her master is not coming back for her. Her master moved north to be with her family. She was welcome, Sadie was not. For now Sadie has our hearts and our love, but we know she needs more. She longs for a home and a master to call her own. As she sits in wait, we feel confident that her new master in shining armor is just around the corner, a new master who will hopefully restore Sadie's confidence and trust in mankind.

We would like to thank Kay-Lynette Roca of Safe Harbor Animal Rescue & Clinic
for allowing us to post this story on our website. This story is heartbreaking but it is very true and it happens every day to pets. We need to do something about it.