When I was in college, I was always getting into trouble for sneaking kittens into the dorm. More than once I was followed down the steps from my 2nd or 3rd floor room by 1 or more kittens, resulting in the sound of the house mother’s voice: “JUNE!!” I was already an animal lover then; I just didn’t know it.
My first job after graduate school was that of a residence hall director at Syracuse University. That campus had many residence halls, as well as a plethora of fraternity and sorority houses. It was not unusual for the neighborhoods to be populated with friendly dogs who would wander in and out of the buildings, seeking food and love from the students. That is how I met Scratch.
Scratch was a fraternity dog who had an owner of sorts. His owner, Billy, was rather casual about keeping track of his dog, but was happy to share beers and good times with him. Scratch seemed to enjoy the dissolute life of a “college man,” but also enjoyed visiting the hall where I lived and worked and would come and go at will. Scratch would often follow me as I made my rounds in the building, checking on the students, coming into my little apartment with me, just hanging out. Gradually we developed a bond, despite the fact that I thought I was afraid of dogs and would never have considered having one. Scratch taught me otherwise. By the end of the school year, when it was time for the students to leave for the summer, I was dreading the imminent departure of Scratch, who surely would be leaving with Billy. In the past I had a few conversations with him when it was time for school breaks and I wanted to be sure that he was going to look after Scratch while the buildings were closed. One day I got a call from him asking if Scratch was with me. He was. Billy said that he was going to be leaving for the summer and wondered if I would like to keep Scratch! I did! On that day, Scratch became my dog, although, in reality, he had been my dog for a long time. I took him to the vet, got him new tags, updated his shots, and he was officially mine!
Scratch lived with me for the rest of his life. He helped me to “choose” the man I married, he moved with us from Syracuse to Winston-Salem, he made friends with all the neighbors when we moved into a house and he was loved and spoiled throughout his 13 ½ years. He was my best friend and I still miss him, more than forty years later.
-Story by June, one of Forsyth Humane Societys faithful volunteers (learn how to be a volunteer with FHS) Prepared by Kristen Williams
