Ordinarily, it is people who adopt pets. But this is the story of a dog who adopted some people… Scout was a stray mutt staying at the county Animal Shelter in Bellaire, Michigan. The staff guessed he was about 10 years old and he had been abused. He had BB pellets in his jaw and he feared strangers–especially men. But soon after his arrival, he started sneaking out of the shelter to Meadow Brook, a medical care facility across the street. How did he escape? Somehow he hoisted his 65 pound body over the six-foot solid viynl fence enclosure. (His story was told last September by Sydney Page in the The Washington Post.)
Scout’s first “break-in” to Meadow Brook was in 2017. He crawled over two fences, crossed a highway, and “sauntered into the nursing home lobby through an automatic revolving door.” Once inside he “parked himself on a brown-colored couch.” He was sound asleep there when a startled nurse spotted him and called the county sheriff. Scout was promptly returned to the animal shelter. But after a few nights, he escaped again. Following his third escape, a Meadow Brook staff member took him home, but he was not a good fit with her other dogs, so she brought him back. Eventually, the staff met and “collectively decided to adopt him.”
The Meadow Brook residents are mostly seniors with health issues. Why was Scout so drawn to this facility? No one knows for sure. Perhaps a previous owner resided in such a place. Or maybe Scout feels some kind of affinity with the residents. Whatever, he’s a resident now, having chosen to call Meadow Brook his forever home.
The Meadow Brook staff share the responsibility of taking care of Scout. Since his arrival, Scout has been living full time in one of the several units in the building. Each unit houses 20 residents. At night, although he has his own bed, he sometimes sleeps in a room of a resident whom he senses could use his comforting presence. Said one staff member, “He feels that he’s protecting everybody. He’s always on duty.” During the day he freely roams the entire facility. He sticks his head into residents’ rooms and senses if a resident is disinterested. “He does well with respecting boundaries.” Scout has warmed up even to the male residents, but he’s still a little leery of other men.
One 82-year-old resident named Shirley, says Scout is “just a perfect dog. You can pet him; you can talk to him. He comes in and lays down with you.” She adds that Scout makes Meadow Brook “more like a home.” Last year Meadow Brook launched a fundraiser called “Scout’s House Paws for the Pantry.” The fundraiser raised money and supplies for the animal shelter across the street. Scout’s story appeared on other news sources and soon donations poured in from all over the world.
One staff member summed up Scout’s presence at Meadow Brook in these words: Being here “gave him a better quality of life as much as it gave the residents a better quality of life. I couldn’t imagine this place without him.” For me, Scout’s story recalled the title of one of Henri Nouwen’s books: The Wounded Healer. Nouwen says that we can serve others from our strength and wholeness yes, but also from our weakness and brokenness. And the irony is, we often become more effective healers when we serve others from our own woundedness.
For reflection:
Did anything stand out for you from this story about Scout?
Has there ever been an animal in your life that somehow “gave you a better quality of life”?
*************************************************************************
PS: I want to thank you for your prayers for my retreat last week. In the months ahead, I hope to share with you a few of the insights I received during my special time of prayer, silence, solitude, reading, pondering, strolling in nature, and conversing with my fine retreat director, Fr. Bob, SJ. I also want to thank the Sisters of Notre Dame here in Covington for their warm hospitality and for providing me with a prayerful community and such lovely grounds–especially their Gazebo and pond–complete with croaking frogs, chirping birds, and a few resident geese!
Today’s video is called “Wounded Healer” by Audrey Assad. The song tells us that Jesus was the wounded healer par excellence. In his post resurrection appearances, his risen body still bore the wounds in his hands and side. It is not too far fetched to say that the BB pellets in Scout’s jaw were a sign of his past abusive treament. Yet this gentle stray mutt has given comfort and consolation to very many people.
You are invited to share your thoughts below. We all love hearing from you!
22 Responses
Good morning, Sr. Melannie…
Good morning, all…
What a beautiful story! Good old Scout! Thank you for sharing this. God works through all of God’s wonderful creation!
Another inspiring story. You are such a gifted writer. I also like your books.
Many blessings be yours! Sr. Julie
What a loving story to wake up to this morning! It was lovely to hear Scout’s story of caring for his people. Thanks be to God.
Sr. Melannie, You never fail to touch my heart. The videos you post always seem to deliver the message that speaks to me in such an impactful way. Thank you for your continuous inspiration and soulful comfort.
Scout is a miracle dog!!
I’ve learned through my membership in Alcoholics Anonymous that much healing comes from sharing our woundedness. My journey’s story can help others find their own way to healing and even to God— our Higher Power. Woundedness is really a great gift!
Tanks so much for this beautiful story. Animals, especially dogs can teach us so much.
God bless you in your journey Mary James, I commend your strength , your hard work everyday, your spirit and love for our Lord. Please pray for me to have all the above. ❣️ stay strong and happy 😊 God bless you abundantly 🙏❣️
Sometimes just our presence can be a great gift.
Amazing story ! The staff of Meadow Brook is to be commended for their openness and understanding. What a wonderful gesture to have adopted Scout for everyone’s benefit. Institutions who care for the elderly have much to learn from this story. Thank you for sharing it, Melannie
Scout may be an angel sent to comfort the residents and staff of Meadow Brook and those from the animal shelter. And he seems to resemble the buried treasure we will read about in Wednesday’s reading from the liturgy. May we all be aware of the buried treasure in our lives.
Good boy Scout! And good for the director to be open enough to let Scout in and to be adopted by the residents!
I love dogs, I love Henri Nouwen, I love his book Wounded Healer and I love this song.
What else except God is good — all the time
P.S. Melannie, We are driving up for my grand nephew’s wedding on Aug 3. Planning on staying and visiting all the Somervilles and friends of the Dugans in the following week. So we will be in Chardon for a day. Hope I can see you.
What a wonderful story! The extended care facility, where my son lived after his traumatic brain injury, used animals as a part of therapy for their clients. The staff would bring their family pets into work for the day & family members were allowed to bring pets in also. There was a bird aviary to enjoy & a pond in their outside park. Nature in any form is healing. Thank you for sharing Scout’s story.
Hi Melannie: I heard this story several months ago on our local classical music station which gives what is called, “Pet News” everyday for a minute or two. In April, Scout was given the award of Resident of the Month at the nursing home. It is a touching story of how his ability to bring healing demonstrates genuine care—and persistence! S. Mary Ann Flannery
I love the story of Scout! I could “feel” the relaxation he brought to the nursing home residents. My kids loved this story, too, when I read it aloud to them.
Hi Melanie,
Thank you for the story of Scout! He is now part of warm and loving community.
Thank you also for your book, The Grace of Beauty, It’s Mystery, Power and Delight in Daily Life.
We are presently reading your book in our monthly spirituality group. Your thoughts opened my mind to the many facets of beauty in life.
What a wonderful a story – in our wonded world we need to read good stuff. I volunteered for a few years at a care facility that had a gorgeous Collie. He knew exactly where to sit at the dining room door to get those “secreted” morsels after meals. The staff often didn’t have time to walk the dog and I, not being a dog person AT ALL, decided I could do that. The most fun was the stops and comments we got when the dog was with me – he WAS gorgeous. He did get brushed often by residents. Today you resurrected a wonderful memory for me along with a great story that made me smile. thank you (every facility should have a pet!!)
What a beautiful story. Thanks for sharing. Have a beautiful week, Sister Melannie.
Sister Melanie,
I am an animal lover and I know how unconditional love our pets give us. Our dog Holly also has BB’s in her back. I always appreciate your blog, you always give me something to think about. God bless your work. Your Benedictine Oblate friend from Pittsburgh.
Great story Sister Ann and thanks for sharing.
Last year I carried some of my husband and son’s cremains to Yachats, Oregon where I left them under a towering Sitka Spruce overlooking the Pacific Ocean. I stayed with a friend who had driven all the way to Houston to adopt a dog found chained to a post in an empty lot with no food or water. I’m not a dog person and my friend told me he wasn’t much of a people person but he wouldn’t harm me. I had to stay alone with him for a bit and she suggested I just ignore him. Well of course you know where this story is going. Luca attached himself to me the entire three days I stayed there including sleeping outside my closed bedroom door all night and sitting beside me where ever I went. I felt so much love and a feeling of healing from this abandoned dog who must have sensed I was on a sad mission. Luca and and Scout must share the same heart.
What a touching story of the power animals have to awaken our humanity. Scout ‘s resourcefulness to become a resident at Meadow Brook, is a testament to unconditional love from people & animals.
Dearest Sr, Melanie, I can’t begin to thank you appropriately for all your emails, this one especially touches my heart ♥️ Dogs are amazing creatures, and God didn’t make them His name backwards for nothing. Thanks for your always touching, heart warming and God praising inspiration 🙏❣️ with many prayers, Mary Beth