Yes, Dogs Are Truly Loyal! But Their Loyalty Belongs to Those Who Love Them—and They Never Forgive a…

Yes, dogs are incredibly loyal! But their loyalty belongs to those who love thema traitors, they never forgive

Lizzie was running after the car, refusing to be left alone in an unknown place, refusing to be abandoned and forgotten.

She ran after the one she loved, the one she trusted to the very end. After the man she could never betray, simply because she didnt know how.

Emma, meet Lizzie! Thomas beamed as he introduced his dog to the young woman standing on the doorstep. She was about twenty, tottering on impossibly high stilettos that made her nearly a head taller than him.

Shes a good girl, really well behaved, so I think you two will get on. Well, not thinkIm sure of it!

Lizzie spun joyfully round her owners feet but eyed Emma warily.

Its natural for dogs to be cautious around strangers, but there was something more here. Lizzie sensed that Emma gave off an unpleasant, even repulsive, smell.

And it wasnt the cloying sweetness of her perfumesomething that dogs probably consider a violation of the Chemical Weapons Convention. Dogs just seem to have this uncanny ability: they can always spot a bad person.

For Lizzie, this ability was top notchher instincts never failed.

When she met such people on walks, Lizzie instinctively tried to steer Thomas away from them, sometimes pulling so hard on the lead that shed drag him along against his own will. Thats because she adored her owner and cared for his happiness as fiercely as a dog knows how.

But theres nowhere to run in a cramped little flat. And, to Lizzies growing concern, Thomas seemed utterly smitten with Emma.

He would wrap his arm around her, kiss her

Noticing Lizzies suspicious glare, Emma grabbed Thomas by the hand and pulled him into the kitchen. After shutting the door, she leaned close and whispered,

Why didnt you tell me you had a dog?

There wasnt exactly a reason to, Thomas replied in a hushed tone. Is it a problem?

Yes, its a problem! I dont like dogs, and Im certainly not sharing a flat withwhat did you call it?

Lizzie

Lizzie.

So where am I supposed to put her? Throw her out? Weve been together four years. Maybe five. I cant remember now. But ages!

Thomas Emma gave him that look, the one that said the discussion was over. As long as that dogs in the flat, I wont move inand there wont be any wedding, understand?

I cant stand dogs, you see? Absolutely cant bear them. So its your call: me or the dog.

The rain poured down. The wipers slashed furiously at the windscreen, flinging water away as if they hated the rain as much as Thomas, who sped through the city with a face darker than the sky.

And inside, he was being eaten away, as if someone had poured a bucket of filth right into his soul. Forced him to do something disgustingsomething he absolutely didnt want to do.

But he loved Emma, or at least thought he did. Hed even planned to marry her. Maybe he didnt love her, not really, but that didnt matter.

What did matter was that Emmas father had promised to sort out all the problems with his failing building business. The man was powerful and not one to break promises. He said hed helpso he would.

This was a real chance, not just to stay afloat, but to actually grow. To finally become a successful man. It would be madnessutter madnessto throw away an opportunity like this.

Once hed left the city, he floored the accelerator. The rain came down heavier, the wind picked up too.

Raindrops hammered the car roof, the bonnet, the boot, as though trying to stop Thomas. Think again! they seemed to scream, battering against the metal.

Lizzie lay on the back seat, watching the drops race down the window. Her instincts had never let her down and, since Emma arrived, Thomas had changed. Grown cold, like an October shower. He stopped speaking to her, stroking herhe became a stranger.

At the roadside, Thomas lit a cigarette. Acrid smoke began to fill the car.

He threw on his hood and stepped out. Lizzie waited anxiously, not knowing what was coming.

Then, just as shed feared, as if it had been scripted: the back door opened, sending a cloud of reeking smoke into the night air. Thomas grabbed Lizzie by the collar and yanked her onto the tarmac. She whined in confusion.

Two slamsone for the back door, one for the front. The car roared off, back towards the city, the heavy raindrops still pelting its retreating form.

Lizzie stood, lost in the middle of the country road, staring silently after the car. The rain didnt let up, soaking her coat until not a single patch of fur was left dry.

And then she ran. Lizzie chased the car rather than face the loneliness of this strange place. She ran after the one she loved, the one she trustedto the very end, the one she could never betray.

Because betrayal was not in her nature. But how could a dog ever catch a car going sixty miles an hour? She wasnt a cheetah, just a faithful mutt.

Her wet, heavy coat weighed her down, making every stride slower.

The red tail lights faded into the blackness but Lizzie didnt stop. She ran on, unable to quit.

Sometimes, when you ought to stop but cant, fate steps in and does it for you. Not out of crueltysimply because theres no point chasing your past.

Suddenly, there was the screech of brakes and the sickening thump of impact. The driver leapt from his car and froze, clutching his head.

A dog lay on the wet road. He crept over and looked into her eyes.

Eyes still full of hope, even as that hope ebbed away, replaced by sorrow and resignation.

Thank goodness, shes alive, thought Oliver.

The man opened his car, spread his jacket across the seat, and gently lifted Lizzie, laying her down softly.

It was late; the only place open was the citys 24-hour vet. Thats where he sped. Now and then he glanced at the dog, who twitched her hind legs as if still running.

The vet agreed to see her straight away and didnt even charge for the initial check. When pressed, Oliver tried to explain what happened, a muddled story.

To an experienced vet, it was obvious that Lizzie had been dumped. It happened more often than anyone liked to admit.

Luckily, there were no broken bonesjust bruises. The vet prescribed an ointment and suggested cold compresses for the swelling.

Oliver carried the dog to his flat, tossed his jacket over the floor, and put her gently on top.

Its only for now, he said, apologetically. By the tenth day, Lizzie was on the mend. She still limped on one leg, but it hardly matteredshe was walking. The limp would surely fade in time.

Were you thrown out? Oliver asked aloud, sitting on the bed beside Lizzie.

Hed never owned a dogor even had friends with dogs. In fact, he hardly had friends at all these days. Once he had, but hed lost faith in people.

One had run off with his girlfriend, another had stitched him up in businessso badly, hed had to declare bankruptcy. The third had roped him into a dodgy deal and hed nearly got into trouble with the police.

Hed come through it, but decided to cut ties with the past and move to another town.

So, whenever he was lost dealing with dog things, hed ring the vetwhod kindly given him a business card for just that sort of occasion.

With the vets advice, he eventually managed to bathe the dogwashing away all the muck and filth.

Hed braced for a struggle, but Lizzie was unexpectedly calm about the bathno sign of aggression.

After that, he got advice on food, and took Lizzie twice more for checkups, just to make sure there were no signs of trauma.

What worried Oliver most was that Lizzie barely ate, just lay there all day, barely acknowledging his presence.

Its not unusual the vet explained.

Dr. Williams suggested taking her out often, to speed up her recovery.

Simply walk her, expect nothing in return. Over time, shell settle in. You might even become friends.

The vet was right. In time, Lizzies wounds healedher physical and emotional scars bothand some six weeks after that lucky meeting on the road, Oliver and Lizzie had become companions.

Maybe not the closest of friends, but Lizzie certainly trusted him nowand, miracles of miracles, shed started eating better. And just as importantly, she now answered to her new name: Daisy.

A new life and a new name, as they say. She took to Daisy in no time, probably because it sounded much like Lizzieor perhaps the old name simply brought back too many memories.

Every day, rain or shine, they walked together. And in their quiet way, they had each other.

Only when it rained did Daisys eyes turn soft and moistnot from the droplets streaming over her muzzle, but from memories that refused to be washed away.

Forgetting what happenedwell, that would never be easy. A dog isnt human, but she feels just the same. Anyone who thinks otherwise has never shared their life with a dog.

One day, as they walked in the park, Daisy gave chase to a catsomething she loved to dowhile Oliver waited in line for a cuppa.

It was a bitter November, and the hot drink took some of the sting out of the air. Barely. When he turned round, the dog was gone.

Leaving his coffee behind, he dashed about, baffled which way to turn, only knowing that he must find her.

Meanwhile, Daisy, barking at a cat up a tree, was so focused on her quarry, she didnt notice when a black Range Rover pulled up nearby. Out stepped Thomas.

He was heading to the shops but, seeing the dog, he froze, staring in disbelief.

Lizzie!

She didnt react at first; it took another shout, and the familiar tone in his voice, before she turned and looked him in the eye.

Lizzie, come here! Her old owner crouched, smiling invitingly.

She felt the urge to rush into his arms, but something held her back. What goes through a dogs mind at a moment like that? Who can say? But its certain: dogs ponder things, too.

He left! He abandoned me. Or did he? Maybe shed got it all wrong, maybe hed been searching for her all along, and now, finally, hed found her?

Her tail began to twitcha little out of joy, a little from nerves, a little from something else.

Sensing her hesitation, Thomas vaulted the park fence and came right up to her, hand outstretched.

Lizzie! Sweet Lizzie! I cant believe Ive found you! Come here!

He stroked her, pressed her tight, and she didnt resist. But she didnt greet him with any of the old joy. She didnt bounce beside his feet, didnt wag her tail.

Something had changed. The joy was gone.

Oliver, still searching, spotted a man roughly tugging Daisy toward his car by the collar.

What are you doing? Thats my dog!

He dashed up, catching Thomas by the shoulder and spinning him round to face him.

I said, what are you doing? Thats my dog!

Seriously?

Deadly serious. Daisy, come here!

She tried to step towards Oliver, but Thomas kept a firm grip on her collar.

Daisy? Shes Lizzie! My dog, raised from a pupand then

And then what? asked Oliver, beginning to get the picture.

Thats none of your business! Shes mine. Im taking her back, got it?

No, she stays with me! I wont hear another word about it. Youd do well to let it lie.

What?!

Thomass face flushed with rage, veins bulging. He raised a hand as if to strike, but in that instant the dogtill then watching the stand-off, old master and newsuddenly let out a fierce growl, wrenched herself free, and turned on Thomas, baring her teeth.

Thomas froze.

It was shock more than fear. Never before had Lizzie acted that way with him. Never threatened him, never even growled. Never glanced at him with a look that so clearly meant: Ill defend myself, if I have to. Ill fight, if I must.

He lowered his hand, took two steps backwards.

Daisy, easy. Come on, Oliver said quietly.

The dog trotted up, nestled her nose against his hand and humbly dipped her head so that Oliver could clasp on the lead.

They walked away down the tree-lined avenue, leaves crunching underfoot, never once looking back. Thomas stood watching them go, fists clenched in impotent fury.

Things with Emma had fallen apartno wedding, no father-in-law to salvage his business. Hed had to sell his firm just to pay off debts. Hed never forgiven himself for what hed done that rainy night.

But he couldnt undo it now.

Yes, dogs are loyalunfailingly so. But they love those who love them, and as for traitors, theres simply no forgiveness

So, what do you think? Tell me in the comments, and give us a like!