From around the World
Part XI
Unfortunately, the day never passes without us being bombarded with negative tales from around the world. Yes, we need to be informed about world and domestic events, but I wish our news outlets would make more of an effort to bring us true, heartwarming stories. Let’s face it, there are plenty of them.
Booba
This story concerns tennis balls, lots of them. Now, I have never played the game myself, but my overriding memory of tennis was watching John McEnroe utter his memorable catchphrase, “You cannot be serious!!”
I’m not sure what John would think of Booba’s variation on the traditional game, but I strongly suggest we won’t be seeing this version at Wimbledon any time soon.
In the city of Lodz in Poland, a mischievous canine has created a new interpretation of an old game.
It started by accident as Booba accidentally dropped a tennis ball off the balcony of her owner’s apartment. It landed on the street below, and a helpful passer-by threw the ball back. This was the start of a game enjoyed as much by the people as the dog. In fact, people travel from other towns to play with Booba. Unsuspecting members of the public and even tourists get caught up in the game, so if you are in or near Lodz, you might want to join in. So here are the rules of the game.
Booba pushes his head through the gaps in the balustrade, deliberately drops a tennis ball, and you have to return it. Now it’s not as easy as you might think. The ball has to be thrown almost vertically with a marginal forehand tilt. Of course, the game is played on Booba’s terms, but the enjoyment that the human participants get from this unlikely source is remarkable.
Total strangers have become friends, and the people who are rushing to complete a task now take time to join in the fun. Booba continues to play until she has had enough, retires indoors to rest and when she is ready, returns to the balcony for more entertainment.
I’d suggest that the World Tennis Association has little to fear, as this variation appears to be confined to Lodz, Poland.
It’s Fate
This all started back in 2013 when three puppies were rescued and brought to a shelter in Pasadena, USA. They were eventually named Maverick, Dakota and Ginger. One family nearly took Ginger, but eventually settled on Dakota. They were to enjoy 11 years with their adopted canine before she succumbed to cancer. The family grieved for their lost pet.
Imagine their horror when they saw a photo of their recently departed pet being advertised for adoption. The advert came from the original shelter and even showed additional pictures of Dakota as a puppy. The distraught family enquired as to what was happening and why the photo of their beloved deceased companion was being used.
They say that fact is stranger than fiction, and if there was an example, this is it.
Ginger, the little sister of Dakota, had been her owner’s adored companion for 12 years, but sadly, health issues required that she be returned to the shelter.
It was decided to feature some of the original photos of Ginger and her sibling, Dakota, on their website, but given her age, they feared rehoming would be incredibly difficult. Not many folks want a twelve-year-old dog.
The family that had just lost Dakota now rushed to the shelter to see Ginger. It won’t come as any surprise that Ginger has been adopted and has settled down nicely.
The Security Team
The town of São Leopoldo in Brazil was home to three dogs, they were strays, and nobody knew where they came from, only that they were inseparable. If you saw one, the other two were never far away. These were pretty large dogs, so finding food to satisfy their appetite was a daily challenge. For one dog on its own, this was always difficult, but for three together, the daily task was all-consuming. (No pun intended!)
So this intrepid trio were always looking for places to obtain enough to eat.
One of their places was a garage where a sympathetic worker would sometimes offer a titbit to be shared among three of them, but the garage owner was unhappy. “
“Never feed the strays,” he instructed.
“They will only come back for more; shoo them away. They are just a nuisance.”
Now, fortunately, the heartless man sold the garage and warned the new owner not to have anything to do with the strays.
Gabriel Correa, who purchased the business, listened patiently to the advice, nodded as if he understood and then did precisely the opposite.
He rewarded the three with food, thus encouraging them to return regularly, so much so that they rarely left. Why would they? With a regular source of food available, they were not going to go anywhere. They must have thought that Christmas had come early. Now I do not doubt that Gabriel was a dog lover and this was a genuine kindness directed at the stray canines, but let’s be honest, any entrepreneur with half a brain could see the potential for good publicity at minimal cost. Gabriel then “hired” the trio as security, and they were christened Manos, Marmaduke and Trakinas. There is limited information as to how this is compatible with Brazilian employment law, but it is assumed that Gabriel has taken all the appropriate legal advice!!!
The threesome were then issued with identity tags complete with their photographs and names so that everyone knew where they belonged.
It just kept getting better as Gabriel acquired some old dog houses, renovated them, and gave them name tags and comfortable bedding. To a street dog, soft bedding is indeed a luxury. Imagine: no more bitterly cold, wet nights without shelter. The new accommodation also came with individual feeding bowls, another luxury, a decided step up from eating their food directly from the ground.
So the strays benefit from full bellies, a home, comfy bedding, a clean bowl, and veterinary care. Gabriel benefits from three full-time security personnel at minimal cost. Still, the garage’s success appears guaranteed as animal lovers go out of their way to fill up with petrol and associate with the stars of YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
“The best thing about Christmas is that it’s compulsory, like a thunderstorm, we all go through it together.”
Garrison Keillor
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