Brynne

By Debby Stein

Five years ago in December, I lost Brynne at Point Isabel. I searched for her for hours, and then for days.

Three weeks later, and after many trips to Contra Costa County Animal Services, I headed to Point Isabel to put up more signs. As I neared the exit, I got a telephone call from Berkeley Animal Care Services: “We have your dog. She is injured. You need to come here immediately.”

When I arrived, I saw several animal control officers standing around a car. They asked me to call Brynne, still in Alan’s car. Her tail wagged when she heard my voice, and the officers knew she was my dog. One of them picked her up and put her in my car. She told me I could go inside and thank the person who saved Brynne’s life.

I went inside and a man in a bloody shirt emerged from the bathroom. I said, “I know you.” And the man said, “I know you.” We had passed one another at Point Isabel many times and said “Hi” to each other. His name was Alan.

Alan told me he had been taking the Point Isabel exit off 580 when he noticed an injured dog, who had clearly been hit by a car, hobbling down the off-ramp towards certain death. He blocked the exit with his car. He said 25 cars stopped on the freeway blocking the slow lane, which allowed him to grab Brynne. He held on, even though my terrified dog bit him on both thumbs and the chin.

A vet driving to work saw what was happening. She stopped and grabbed a leash, which she  wrapped around Brynne’s muzzle. Together they were able to pick her up and put her in Alan’s car. He took her to animal control in Berkeley.

After putting Brynne in my car, I rushed her to my vet, who said Brynne was gravely injured. When she was hit by the car, she must have landed on her front feet, both of which were shattered and the ligaments ruptured. Since healing had already started, we splinted her feet and prayed. She was in and out of the vet’s office for many weeks.

Months later, I put Brynne in a buggy and brought her to Point Isabel. She enjoyed these trips seeing people and dogs and collecting treats. Eventually she could walk again. Her feet are deformed, and it looks as if she is walking on her ankles.

Brynne is now 16 and chooses when she wants to come to the park. Arthritis has set in. Luckily for her and me, I discovered CBD oil, which I add to her food, and it has made walking tolerable for her. She wouldn’t be walking without it.

Alan has become my friend. When his dog Callie died, I gave him Jessie, a puppy I found.

Brynne is a joy and inspiration to all the people who are lucky enough to know her. I just love, love, love Brynne and bless every day I get to spend with her, thanks to my dear friend, Alan.