The Legend of Goodfish

By Leslie Michael

Goodfish was only a puppy when Eric, a traveling wild mushroom picker spotted her near Goodfish Lake within the Goodfish Reserve of Northern Alberta.

She was laying a ditch, unable to move. Her nose was severely broken, legs paralyzed, and she was clearly struggling to survive.

He picked her up and carried her to a local facility. After a general examination, it was determined the puppy was not likely going to make it. And perhaps the best thing to do would be to put her down to stop her from suffering needlessly.

Eric felt this puppy’s fate was his responsibility. So he brought her back into the wild to shoot her with his rifle.

As he had the gun on her, he gave the situation more thought ...”Give her more time to see if any recovery is possible.”

Each day he picked this puppy up and carried her in his pack. With an entourage of one, Eric searched out his wild mushroom fortune.

After a week had passed the puppy wasn’t getting better. She was constantly panting because she couldn’t breathe through her broken nose. She barely slept. She was in a lot of pain and she still wasn’t walking.

Eric couldn’t bare to see her suffer any longer so he decided he better put the puppy out of its misery.

He took his rifle out to kill her. But again he stopped himself. “Let’s just give her one more day.” He thought.

Next day, the puppy got even worse, struggling painfully.

The time had come to end her suffering. He took his rifle out one last time.

With his rifle cocked, and finger on the trigger, for the first time, the puppy looked at Eric and playfully crawled towards him.

He lowered his gun. He couldn’t do it. He decided to save her...no matter what.

Soon after, the puppy on her own somehow snapped her crooked nose back in place. She was able to breathe through one nostril. And for the first time since Eric found her, she had a deep rest.

Things started improving. Eventually her nose was adjusted so she could breathe through both nostrils. He fed her comfrey to treat her inflammation and internal bleeding.

Eric named her Goodfish.

Eventually she started walking, then running and then jumping into lakes and streams.

He took Goodfish everywhere on his wild mushroom picking adventures. From Northern Alberta to the territories of Canada, Goodfish was his mushroom picking partner roaming the wild.

We discovered Goodfish’s story when Eric came home in Victoria, Canada. Goodfish wasn’t permitted to stay with him, so he gave her up for adoption through the Dogwood Rescue Society.

When people ask what kind of breed she is, my usual response is she is half troublemaker and half trouble creator.

When they dig further we explain she is part Lab, part Shar-Pei and part Red Healer or Australian Cattle Dog.

What she really is, is an incredible gift of friendship and mischief. She is our best friend.

Today, that crooked dry nose and those facial scars are reminders of the war Goodfish won, the gift of determination she received, and the strong spirit she possesses.

Goodfish has adapted well to city life. She has many friends. Some of which are no longer with us. Her best friends today are Nemo, Carly, Gabriel, and her cousin Akira.

Goodfish is a rescue dog from the wild.

God has made us the stewards of this earth and the animals which inhabit it.

Each day thousands of dogs are looking for good homes to take them in and love them.

Please consider adopting a rescue animal. And please consider making your cities and homes more animal friendly.

Blessings.