Part One of Three — A Tribute to Sam

My Loyal Dog Sam Saved Me

Sammy talked with his eyes, and he understood things I didn’t

This three-part story is a tribute to my beloved Sam. He’s passed on now, but he’ll always remain my angel. He’s a hero in my Memoir: Silent Fright and he saved me from my abuser more than once.

Sam was a mixed breed pup, half German Shepard, half Labrador Retriever.

With expressive brown eyes and a sweet disposition, he looked up at me, hopeful I’d choose him. Our eyes locked, and my decision was made. I was 21 and in desperate need of some unconditional love.

I left the dog pound that day, happy I’d found it.

Sam was an easy puppy, and my little shadow never left my side even as he grew to be a strong, handsome dog.

I was 24 when things in my abusive relationship got beyond ugly.

My life had taken a turn for the worse, and when I least expected it, Sam came to the rescue once more.

The day had finally come when I mustered up enough courage to ask my abuser for a divorce.

The conversation wasn’t going well, which meant Sam was getting underfoot as he tried to run interference. Angry that the dog was distracting me, Chad grabbed my sweet dog by the collar and dragged him to the bedroom.

Slamming the door behind him, he came back to finish with me.

My heart hurt watching him mistreat Sam, but too terrified to stop him or complain, I didn’t budge from where I stood. Secretly I was grateful Sam was out of harm's way, regardless of what was happening to me.

Hours passed as Chad continued his tirade. He switched between crying jags and angry outbursts to begging forgiveness and promises to change his ways.

He’d once again managed to manipulate me into thinking I’d overreacted and that maybe I should give him another chance.

Sam Understood the Truth— A peek at Chapter #13 — Hopeless Indecision

We’d been standing in the kitchen for a long time. I felt drained and exhausted but hadn’t completely given in through his tirade.

Undeniably, I was questioning myself, and there was no doubt he was picking up on those vibes, but there was nothing left to say.

He finally realized that pressing me for a decision that evening would not work in his favour. Feeling weak, I poured myself a glass of water and sat at the kitchen table, relieved to get off my feet.

Chad turned away and headed to the bathroom. With a backward glance, he told me he’d let Sam out for a while, too, since the poor thing had been locked in the bedroom all this time. I pulled in a deep breath and leaned back in my chair, noticing that the sun was already setting.

Chad’s last comment about Sam seemed sweet enough, but it was strange for him to offer, and had he said “poor thing?” I watched him coax Sam outside to do his duty, purring his loving words. “You’re such a good boy, Sammy, poor thing locked in the room all afternoon, maybe tomorrow Daddy will take you for a nice long walk, would you like that?”

I sat staring, while my tired eyes took it all in. Sam was wagging his tail slowly, but wary as always, he kept his distance. Sam turned at one point, looking back at me as they were going through the sliding doors. His big brown eyes flashed with hesitation, and at that moment, my sweet dog brought clarity to me as nothing else had.

I could question Chad’s motives (when it came to me) all day long, but stepping back and seeing that Sam wasn’t falling for his crap, brought it all home like a slap in the face. Something in his expressive eyes spoke straight to my heart.

Chad was doing to the dog exactly what he was doing to me.

It was a ploy after all, and certainly nothing he could keep up on a long-term basis. A nice long walk, really — he’d never walked Sam once in four years, why now?

I knew in my gut that the way he was treating Sam tonight would never last, and at that moment, I had my answer.

Thank you, Sammy! If it hadn’t been for my sweet pup and his thoughtful stare that day, who knows where I’d be now.

It took years to gather my nerve and ask for that divorce, and Sam made sure I followed through.

Things got worse for Sam and me after that. We were separated, and my circumstances were so grim I wasn’t sure I’d ever have him back in my care.

Broken-hearted and ridden with guilt, I cried myself to sleep most nights.

In Chapter #31, I got a call from Chad at work; it was about Sam.

With my heart in my throat, I listened.

“Come get your stupid f*#king dog today, Christie! He’s barfing all over the carpet, and smells so bad I have to leave him outside 24–7.” — Chad

It was my chance to get Sam back, but I had no idea about the horrifying experience coming next.

Finish the story or save them for later, Part #2 and #3 are below…what happened to Sam?

I’m Liz, the self-empowered, red wine & coffee lovin’, personal growth fanatic behind this article. I’ve stopped shrinking into places I’ve outgrown, and I’m a fan of straight talk and practical solutions. That’s why I’m here to Empower, Educate and Entertain.