“A ca… ca… ca… camera… y’you s’s's’say? Is it… is it alive? Be careful!”
This wonderful beast wandered up to the hermitage over the weekend. She’s no stray, but is surely a throw away. She looks to be 1 1/2 years old, and just had a litter of pups. The owners had her tail chopped, but it seems they decided to get rid of her instead of paying to get her… um… taken care of… Holy Souls Mountain, being the most out of the way place in the world, is the biggest dumping grounds of unwanted pets there is.
“Doggie” (Great name, huh?), seems to be a cross between a pit bull and… I dunno… perhaps a coyote. I always thought that coyotes were simply wild dogs of North America. It turns out that they are small wolves. Yikes! Cross that with a pit bull! Yikes again.
But Doggie, mind you, if the absolutely friendliest dog ever I’ve seen in my life. She hasn’t been abused at all, as she doesn’t at all shy away if you lift your hand to pet her. Instead, she loves the attention, to say the least. She’s had breakfast a few times at the hermitage, and I’ve made her a little place under the steps to take shelter from the cold. I think she now calls HSH her home. I love that.
And… and… she doesn’t bother the chickens. And… and… the chickens don’t pay her any attention at all.
Now, just to say. There are many stories about dogs and saints. I think there is one with Saint Francis, but I forget what happened in that case. I know Saint John Bosco had a guardian dog called Griggio (The Grey One), who protected at him at propitious times. Saint Padre Pio, diversely, was attacked multiple times by Satan in the form of a dog (depicted in Miracle Man as a rottweiler, though I don’t know if that would be right).
Anyway, for as long as she stays, Doggie is welcome. She already proven to be a good watch dog. I’ll have to see if the soup kitchen has any left over dog food.
Just in case you’ve never read this chapter of the Dog-Woman, here it is. Yikes!
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
Father, when you talked of Saints and dogs, I was curious to find out this.
St. Roch, Feast Day August 16
His association with dogs is due to the legend that whilst in the desert he was miraculously fed every day by a dog bringing him a loaf of bread.
…While ministering to the needs of the sick, Saint Roch became infected himself. It was his nature not to burden others and he stayed in a hovel. While he lay dying, a dog from a nearby villa found Saint Roch and brought a fresh roll from his master’s house each day. The dog’s owner noticed this strange behavior and his curiosity led him to Rochus. Touched by the sick man and his condition, the dog’s owner befriended him and Saint Roch recovered…
I never knew Saint Roch got better! Very cool!
Father George, thank you for not turning away this precious creature. Doggie will watch over you, and St Francis will watch over her and you for your kind heart. On behalf of all animals, I thank you and send you a huge hug!
Although I am more of a cat person myself, I couldn’t resist saying Aaaaaaargh when I saw this little chap. I do hope he becomes your permanent guard dog but do give him a name other than Doggie! If he found you on the 25th why not Finbarr – St Finbarr’s Feast day in Ireland.
Beautiful auburn coat. It’s none of my business, but Doggie doesn’t seem fitting. How about in aureus unum (the auburn one)? Aureus maybe?
Recently I have come to realize how kind Jesus is to us. He always sends us what we need. Remember God said, “it is not good for man to be alone” and so here you are – Doggie – a friend and companion to keep you company.
She’s so cute!
SHE IS BEAUTIFUL! And she is NO accident…she was sent, and is on mission. St. Jose Maria also had a “guardian” dog who showed up at verious times in his life…great stories of that relationship. And St. Francis’ canine friend was a wolf he named “Il Lupo”…a fierce predator (of people–YIKES!
in Gubbio, that he tamed by explaining Christian Charity to him…he became Gubbio’s beloved ‘pet’ and friend.
If I may be so bold, as everyone else is suggesting names, a lovely one for a sweet girl dog of a good orthodox Priest might be “Amica”…she will be that (and more) for you. I’ll be sending a little something for her (and you
soon….GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!!!!!!
For what it’s worth, looking at her picture today, I’m reminded of a bright copper penny. Seems more fitting somehow.
She does need a better name, in my opinion. Since she’s a ‘redhead’, maybe you could name her Lucy?