Ricki's Story

     It all started with the whimpers and cries of a puppy, often heard by our family.   The puppy was a  Pomeranian mix.  Our human Mom (Raquel) was always wondering why a puppy would cry so much.  But then again puppies do often cry when left alone.  Our Dad (Chris) would take us (The M&M Dachshunds) out for a  walk.  We would sometimes see Ricki (The Pomeranian mix puppy) and his mom Giselle in the hallways. Her children would play with us and we really liked Ricki.

     One hot summer day Chris found Ricki standing outside our building.  It was burning outside and there was no one around.  Chris bought Ricki upstairs and we all got to know each other more.  Ricki was so much fun and we hoped he would stay, but our mom called the number on his collar.  She left messages all afternoon with no response.  Then for some reason Giselle (Ricki's mom) our neighbor called. 

Oh I'm looking for Ricki?  My husband said he is missing.  Have you seen him?  Giselle asked.

Yes he is with us. Raquel said.  Didn't you get any of our messages? 

No I'm at work my husband just called a while ago saying he was gone. Giselle answered.

 I left about five messages our mom said.  Its seems very odd that your husband is home and sees the dog missing and never checked the messages to see if someone saw him.

My husband told me there were no messages when I asked him. I will tell him to go and pick Ricki up.  And thank you very much for taking care of him.

  Giselle's husband came to get Ricki but Ricki didn't want to go with him!  Ricki just ran right back to our mom and sat on the bed.  Chris had to go pick him up and give him to Giselle's husband.  I really liked Ricki. Raquel said.  Couldn't we just have kept him!  No Chris said he doesn't belong to us.  But he didn't want to go with her husband you saw that right?  Raquel said.  I know but that is their dog. Chris repeated.  You would want someone to give us back out dogs right.

     A few minutes later our mom was in the bathroom getting ready for a shower.  When she heard the awful sounds of a puppy in pain. Howling and crying. Not normal cries.  It was pain and then she heard thumping.  CHRIS CHRIS!  He is doing something to Ricki. Listen don't you hear it?!  Both listened to the noises.   I cant go down there Chris said.  We don't know what kind of man he is.  PLEASE PLEASE CHRIS DO SOMETHING IF YOU DON'T I WILL!  Chris looked at Raquel standing in nothing more than a tee shirt and agreed to go downstairs.  Chris went downstairs and rang the door bell.  The husband answered.  My wife heard your dog crying we thought maybe he wanted to come up and play with our dogs.  Maybe he got lonely, she sent me to check on him.  We really love dogs you know.  He is fine, the man said, and then he closed the door.   No more noises came that day.

     Chris something is wrong down there.  The man was home all day and just now calls his wife to tell her the dog is missing.  How did the dog become missing if he was home all day.  He must have put him outside!  Raquel your jumping to conclusions. Chris said.  Well I know one thing he didn't want to go with that man.  And he is a good dog.  He plays nice with Martie and Mindy. (The M&M Dachshunds)  And when you dropped that chicken bone. I took it right out of his mouth.  Ricki didn't growl or bite me either.  He just let me have it.   Chris really he is a good dog and why was that man hurting him.   Maybe he was lonely for our dogs they have been play all afternoon.  Chris said.   You heard it Chris he was in pain and I heard thumping he was beating him!   You cant prove that Chris said.  And if we don't watch out he might hurt us or our dogs if we give him trouble.

     Every couple of days again we would hear the cries of Ricki and Raquel would suffer wondering what was happening.  Living in The Bronx New York it was a hard decision on what to do.  Giselle's husband knowing we hear everything, is going to blame us if we call the authorities.  We don't know what kind of man he is.  We have a family with children and our own dogs to worry about.  We wouldn't want anyone one in our family hurt at his hands.  But then what about Ricki?

     Chris did some investigating of his own.  Talking to Giselle often and bringing us ( The M&M Dachshunds) down to the hallways to play with Ricki.  After a few weeks Giselle confessed that her husband was abusing Ricki and beating on him and hurting him to control the wife and children.  When ever he got mad he would beat the dog. Twist him and throw him around then yell at Giselle and the kids.  LOOK WHAT YOU MADE ME DO!  Once Chris told this to Raquel her heart sunk.  I knew it. she said over and over.  Everyone in our family struggled with the hopeless situation.  Giselle couldn't part with Ricki and her husband continued to abuse him.  Two weeks later when we saw Ricki with a broken leg limping as they tried to walk him.  Raquel confronted Giselle.  We know what is happening.  Are you going to get his leg fixed?  My husband wont pay for it. Giselle whispered.  If you give him to us maybe we can.  Raquel said.  I love him Giselle begged.  I know it may not seem so but I love him so much I cant let him go.   Raquel sighed and said well you know where we are if you changed your mind.

     A month passed and our family was moving.  Ricki never got his leg fixed, he couldn't walk on it either.  Giselle got a little closer to our family. Sometimes leaving Ricki and her children with us for a while.    The day we were moving Giselle came down stairs with the children and Ricki.  We could take him with us you know. Raquel said to Giselle.  He would be happy and our dogs get along.  You could come visit him.    Giselle looked at Ricki and then her children.  I can't.  I love him, the kids love him. He is the only one who loves me back.  My husband does not love me.   If you love him let him 'live with out being hurt. Raquel insisted.   I can't Giselle repeated with tears.   Her take our new number it should be on in a few days.  If anything call us we will take Ricki and you know he will have a good home.  When you love him enough to let him go call me.  With that Raquel left.  Chris do you think she will call?  Raquel asked.   I don't know but we did just about everything we can do. Chris held Raquel tightly and they went on to there new home.

     I month later Giselle called Raquel.  Please come and take Ricki before I change my mind!  What happened Giselle! Raquel asked.  He threw him across the room last night.  He threw Ricki so hard that he couldn't walk well and was dizzy.   Ricki vomited blood today.  Please come get him!   Raquel woke Chris up and he as dressed and out the door.  Call in to work for me ok. Chris stated.  With in two hours Ricki was with us. Safe.  And he remembered us.  He was so happy

Click A New Life in the Upper Left to Continue with Ricki's Story