I recently read an incredible post by a man named Neil about a dog he recently lost named Cabal: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2013/01/the-power-of-dog-cabal-2003-2013.html

The story of Cabal and Neil is remarkable in that it is the story of a lot of people who rescue a dog. Neil found Cabal loose one day near his home and he struggled to get the giant white German Shepherd in his Mini Cooper to take to the local no-kill shelter. When he arrived, he told the staff how much he enjoyed knowing the Shepherd for the short time they had spent together and that he hoped they would be able to locate his owner. A short time later the shelter called with the incredible story that they found the owner who had called Cabal a pain because he always gets out of the yard. Cabal had spent his life on a farm on a chain and had not been well cared for so the shelter told the owner that the person who found him was actually quite fond of him. The farmer said to let the guy have him then.

Neil received a call from the shelter and quickly added Cabal, his first dog ever, to his home. Cabal and Neil spent their time together hiking, running around, and living life. Neil’s posts and pictures of Cabal clearly show the love they shared and discuss how Cabal taught Neil how to love for the first time according to Neil’s friends. Neil even got another rescue dog to keep Cabal company and add to their home.

While Neil was out of town one day, Cabal got a blood clot and could not be saved. As you can imagine, Neil was heartbroken and even told Cabal over the phone while he was dying that he was sorry he could not have been there. That night, Neil’s other dog grabbed Cabal’s collar and slept with it. Neil is understandably heartbroken by losing his best friend and took to his blog to share the story of Cabal, and if you have time it is a touching story.

The story gives light to the expression that dogs often find us rather than us finding them.