I recently had the pleasure of being invited to tour the inner island of Taha’a with a wonderful local family and three other guests. We hiked up a remote hillside to look at some vanilla vines that had just begun to bloom and learned all about the complex process of growing this rich, fragrant crop that this island is known for. As we were about to hike back down, we came across a tiny puppy whimpering in the tall grass. As I approached him I saw that he looked very weak, possibly sick, and was totally covered with fleas. My brain went into overdrive trying to decide what to do with this little guy as the rest of the group kept going down the hill.
The logical side of me thought through the logistics of how to find a home for a sick puppy on an island that has an overabundance of healthy puppies in need of homes. I only had one day before my flight back to the States. How would I be able to find a home for him with such a short amount of time? But my conscience nagged at me. If I left him, I knew he would not survive. As the voices of my group trailed off in the distance, I put all logic aside and scooped up the little puppy and placed him in my big sunhat. It made for the perfect little basket as I ran back down the hill.
As we toured the rest of the morning I was able to find some food and water for him, which he consumed voraciously. While he got more comfortable and curled up in my hat and the day went on, my stress levels did the opposite and rose. I knew from experience the chances of finding a home for him in the next twenty-four hours were very slim. So, I decided that the only thing left to do was take him to California with me. What I needed was to find someone that would help me get the pup his shots and a passport and then send him to me once he was old enough to make the trip. I was about to adopt a Tahitian puppy.
The last stop on our tour was at a great little rum distillery and vanilla drying facility that I had been to previously. While the rest of the group sipped on rum and smelled the finest vanilla beans the world has to offer, I took my little puppy down to the lagoon and gave him a bath in the warm salt water. As I gently scrubbed him and saw how happy he seemed, I knew I had made the right decision to save this little guy. I didn’t know what was going to happen next, but I knew I had done the right thing, and was filled with a strong sense of peace.
After his bath, I wrapped up the puppy in my pareo and walked back toward the rest of the group.
And then the unexpected happened.
Right away the owner of the rum distillery greeted me and asked where I had found this tiny little puppy and what I was going to do with him. He said his teenage daughter was wanting a puppy and thought she would love this one. As I stood there in total shock at the fortuitous turn of events, my heart was filled with such joy and amazement. I was delighted that putting all logic aside and following my heart was sometimes the best plan of action. I felt so much love from this little guy in the simple sweet moments we spent together. I pray from now on in his forever home, the puppy that once lay whimpering and weak in the brush, will shower this young girl with love and will be treasured in return.