Mom, Dad was right when he said somethings wrong with your mind! I can see now that youre not normal. Have you ever tried treatment?
Antonina Petrivna stared at her son, surprised. Hed always been a difficult boy, but to say such things to his own mother
She could never have imagined she would have to end her marriage after twentyfive years. Yet she became the one to start the divorce.
One day Antonina suddenly realized she barely knew him at all. Youd think after all that time you could read a person inside out, but things turned out differently. Dmitro proved to be a coldhearted man.
When Antonina found a tiny, emaciated puppy on the streetso thin you could count every ribDmitro erupted into a fit.
Tonya, what are you doing, is there nothing else for you? he shouted through the whole flat. Why did you bring this misery here?
Dmitro, what are you saying Antonina gasped. Look at him. Hes just a skeleton, skin and bones. How can we ignore him?
Everyone else gets by, but you cant? Mother Teresa or what? Youre the most serious of us, right?
That day Antonina wept for a long timeboth for the helpless puppy barely standing on its legs and for the side of Dmitri she had never seen before.
He was never perfect, but Antonina tried to overlook his flaws, believing truly that flawless people dont exist.
But Dmitri crossed a line that should never have been crossed. How could it be? Antonina sobbed. Is it really that hard to be simply human? To at least try to help that puppy instead of walking past?
The argument escalated. He made it clear that the misery hed named the puppy was getting on his nerves.
When will you get rid of it? How long must we endure this stray in our home?
He called the pup a stray only because it was gaunt and trembled even though the apartment was warm.
Instead of helping his wife get the little creature on its feet and finding it a decent home, he retreated to the garage to hang out with his friendsother drifters who had fled their own homes.
Dmitri returned late, smelling of alcohol, and began his complaints again about his wifes misery shed brought home.
I can understand you dont like animals, Antonina thought, sitting in the living room. But do you even care about me? Cant you see how hard this is for me?
It wasnt easy for Antonina. She often asked for time off work to take the puppy to the vet or simply walk it outside. She also feared leaving it alone with Dmitri. After so many years of marriage, she no longer recognized him; hed even started drinking heavily.
One day, while at work, Antonina felt a strange heaviness, as if an invisible hand squeezed her heart and anxiety gnawed at her soul. She left early, citing ill health, and returned home ahead of schedule to catch her husband in the act.
He was carrying the puppy toward the garage, apparently planning to discard it for good. She could not forgive that and filed for divorce.
Over a dog? Dmitri shouted, flailing his arms. Youve gone mad in your old age.
Antonina ignored his outburst. She didnt feel old or lost her mind; she simply realized she could no longer live with him.
They still had an adult son, who at that time lived with his girlfriend in another city. He chose his fathers side.
Mom, are you okay? Can a dog really tear a family apart?
Theres no family left, son Antonina sighed heavily. Im not divorcing because of the dog, but because your father has lost his humanity.
You may ignore animals, but you shouldnt cause them pain. A decent person, let alone a husband, would never act like that!
Her explanations didnt sway her son, who, perhaps out of protest and male solidarity, stopped speaking to Antonina. He claimed his father hadnt lost his humanity; rather, she had, by abandoning him.
The apartment belonged to her by marriage, so Dmitri couldnt claim half the property in the divorce. He still owned a house in the village, but he rarely visited, and after the parents passed, its status was unclearstill standing or not. Antonina didnt care.
Dmitri made his choice; no one forced him to become a heartless inhuman. It was frightening to imagine what he might have done to the puppy had she not intervened in time.
In the end, Antonina was left with the pup, Bim, and she helped him regain a normal life and trust in people.
Initially, she hoped to find a good home for him, but eventually kept him herself.
Since I took you in, I now have to take responsibility for you, she told the fluffy dog.
Woof! Bim wagged his tail joyfully. He didnt want to part from her.
Months later, when Bim had grown, Antonina began spending her free evenings at the local animal shelter, helping those abandoned by their ownerspeople much like her exhusband.
Were struggling financially now, the shelter manager, Tonya, said sadly. We cant even pay staff.
Even if we scrape together a few pennies, its not enough. I dont know if those conditions will work for you
Dont worry, Antonina replied. Im not here for the money, but for the cause.
She started visiting the shelter several times a week with Bim. There she met another dog, introduced to her by Bims new owner.
She noticed that the old dog spent most of his time in a pen next to a kennel where a senior dog layBurgun, as the staff called him, because he often growled when someone tried to lift him for a walk.
Antonina had seen Burgun before and even cleaned his pen, but now she looked closer and felt deep sympathy. Where she once saw just an old dog, she now saw a creature with sorrowful eyes that had lost faith in peoplethe same look Bim once had.
She entered the pen, sat beside him, patted his head, and hugged him, wanting to spark at least a tiny flame of joy in his gaze. The flame was absent, so she spent more time with him. A shelter worker later shared his tragic backstory of betrayal.
We found him about three years ago, wandering the streets, looking for someone. It turned out he was searching for his owner.
People said his owner once tied him to a lamp post and left, hoping hed return. He never did.
They untied him, and he roamed the streets looking for the beloved owner who abandoned himthats why hes always sad.
No one wanted to adopt him? Antonina asked.
No, nobody did. We only took him because a pen opened up. He seemed calm, small, and healthy.
A man took him home, but a month later he was back on the street. When we called, the man said he wanted a normal dog, not this vegetable
Its been three years, and nobody claimed him. Old dogs often end up like this, sadly.
No! Antonina decided. Ill find him a good home.
She posted Burguns photos everywhere, hoping to locate an owner.
Is this a beagle? a woman called one day. Ive wanted that breed for ages.
Its a beagle, but not purebred, Antonina answered. Still, its a wonderful dog despite his age.
He was betrayed by someone he loved, so hes a bit sad. But I believe love can melt the ice in his heart and bring back his joy.
The woman agreed to adopt, and Burgun moved to his new home.
Good luck, Antonina whispered, wiping tears. May everything be fine for you.
Burgun didnt bark or wag; he just gave her a mournful look, having already grown attached to her, though he could not show it. Now he was being taken away it was heartbreaking.
Antonina continued visiting the shelter with Bim. Later, the woman who had taken Burgun called.
Hello, could we temporarily return the dog to the shelter? Were going to the sea with the kids and have nowhere to leave an old dog.
Were in a tight spot right now Antonina stammered. The shelter has no free space.
What should I do? I cant cancel the trip. I promised my children.
You know what? Ill look after him while youre away, Antonina offered. How long will you be gone? Two weeks? More?
Two weeks.
Perfect!
When Burgun was brought back for temporary care, Antonina barely recognized himhe was gaunt, as if fed once a week.
Whats happened to him? Antonina asked the owner. You didnt feed him?
I did, but he refused to eat. I didnt force him; you cant force a dog.
That same day, while the woman headed to the sea, Antonina, Bim, and Burgun went to a vet. It turned out Burgun had serious health issues that required treatment.
Antonina called the woman, explained everything, and asked for a little money for the care. The woman replied:
I have no money right now! And you never told me hed get sick.
He wasnt sick when you took him, Antonina argued.
So youre saying I caused his condition? Keep the dog; I dont need him. And dont call again.
Antonina hadnt expected this turn. She thought shed just look after Burgun for a short time.
Now she faced the prospect of caring for two dogsphysically and financially demanding, especially since shed retire next year.
But looking into the dogs eyes, she realized she couldnt give him away again.
How many times has he been abandoned? How much longer must this poor creature suffer?
When Burgun understood no one intended to rehome him, his eyes finally lit up with a tiny spark of joy that grew brighter each day, despite his failing vision and trembling paws from arthritic joints.
That meant Antonina had done the right thing. It was hard at first, but she became deeply fulfilled, finally feeling the happiest shed ever been.
Even though she was divorced and her son had turned his back, he still visited once, hoping to discuss his father and perhaps persuade her to let him back home. Seeing two dogs in her apartment, he blurted:
Mom, Dad was rightyour mind isnt okay! I see now youre crazy. Havent you tried treatment?
Antonina stared at her son, shocked. Hed always been a difficult kid, but to say such things to his mother
What are you saying? he retorted.
Im just being honest! One dog wasnt enough, so you got another starving one? No sense!
Yes, I did Because no one else will help them! I wouldnt let your father back in, even if I had no dogs.
Then live alone!
He slammed the door. Antonina whispered after him:
Im not alone, son. Not alone. My faithful friends are with me, and unlike some, theyll never leave, betray, or hurt me.
Tonya, if its hard for you, we can take Burgun back, find him a town, the shelter manager said after hearing the dogs story.
Thanks, but Ill keep him. For human reasons I wont let anyone take him again. Let him live his remaining years peacefully
Thats the story. Those who love animals will understand Antonina; some may condemn her for breaking up a family. What do you think of the husbands and sons actions? Share your thoughts in the comments and like this post.
