It was an icy December morning in l’Empordà. Frost covered the fields, and the icy air seemed to freeze every breath. Lucky, the puppy who found his home at Mastorrencito
As every day, I left at eight in the morning to pick up Maribel, our beloved employee, at the bus stop that was a few minutes walk from Mastorrencito, our rural house, where my wife Mireia and I welcome guests… and, of course, their faithful four-legged companions.
As I opened the wooden gate to step out onto the gravel road, I noticed something that wasn’t there the night before. It was a small, dark, shivering lump next to one of the gate posts. I approached, curious, and there it was: a puppy, skinny and full of dirt, with floppy ears and the saddest eyes I had ever seen. His gaze, however, reflected something that broke my soul: confidence, hope. Beside him lay a crumpled piece of paper held in place with a stone. I gently untied it and picked up the paper. With hands shaking from the cold – or perhaps from emotion – I read the words it contained, «I’m sorry…I can’t keep it.»
The lump in my throat was immediate. That little one had been abandoned, but whoever had left him had done it with pain, knowing, perhaps, that Mastorrencito was a place where we would never refuse help to an animal in distress. I wrapped him in my scarf and, without a second thought, took him home.
The reception of the herd
When I walked in the door, Mireia was in the kitchen preparing coffee. Seeing me with the puppy in my arms, she raised an eyebrow, but before I could say anything, the real kings of Mastorrencito entered the scene: our dogs.
Mastín, Markos, Manuela, Mamas, Maky and Masto, our six big boys, had always been the soul of the farmhouse. Each one had his own personality, but they all shared one thing: a huge heart and a natural instinct to welcome anyone in need. Before I could get a word in edgewise, the six of them approached the little guy, sniffing him curiously and wagging their tails enthusiastically. Lucky, as we later called him, was not shy. He let himself sniff, wagging his little tail shyly at first, but soon relaxing and even licking Manuela, who returned the gesture with an affectionate nudge of her muzzle. Barely a minute had passed, and he was already one of the herd.
Mireia smiled from the kitchen. «I think this little guy just found his home,» she said as she stopped what she was doing to help me take care of him.
Cleanliness, food and a little love
The rest of the morning was dedicated to Lucky. We bathed him with warm water, removing the dirt that covered his coat, which turned out to be a beautiful caramel color. We fed him wet food, which he devoured as if he hadn’t eaten in days. Mastiff and Mamas, our senior mastiffs, kept a close eye on him, as if to make sure he was doing well at all times. When we finished, we set up a little bed for him by the fireplace, but it wasn’t long before Lucky was curled up among the other dogs, who tucked him in with their big bodies as if he were their own puppy.
From the first second, he was accepted. Lucky adapted with amazing ease, running after Markos around the yard and playing with Maky, who seemed to enjoy teaching him how to shred olive branches. Although he had arrived with a note of sadness, the little guy was beginning to radiate joy, and his little tail kept wagging.
Christmas Day
A week later, Christmas arrived, and Mastorrencito was full of life. We had international guests: Sarah, Tom and their two children, an English family who always traveled with their Labrador, Daisy, and a French couple, Pierre and Amélie, who brought their Doberman, Hugo. Lucky, as expected, had become the center of attention. He was running after the English children, playing with Daisy and Hugo, and even the normally more reserved French were smiling at the sight of him.
Over the Christmas meal, with the fireplace lit and everyone enjoying the warmth of the hearth, Sarah and Tom started talking to me and Mireia about Lucky. «We can’t stop looking at him,» Sarah confessed. «He’s a wonderful puppy…and Daisy seems to adore him. We always wanted another dog, but never found the right time…until now.»
Tom interjected with a smile, «Do you think we could adopt him? We have a house in the country, with a big garden, and our children are in love with him. We promise to take care of him as he deserves.»
Mireia and I looked at each other. We knew we had grown fond of Lucky, but we also knew that Sarah and Tom could offer him a wonderful life. So, with a heart full of emotion and a little sadness, we accepted.
Photos by the fireplace
Later that evening, Lucky left with Sarah, Tom, their children and Daisy. Before leaving, they settled him in the car with a new blanket and a leash with his name on it. They promised to send us pictures and news about him, and they kept their word. Just a few weeks later, we received an email with a picture of Lucky in front of a big fireplace, surrounded by presents and wearing a huge doggy smile. «This is the best Christmas present we’ve ever had,» they wrote.
Since then, every Christmas we receive a message from Sarah and Tom with pictures of Lucky at home: playing with Daisy, running around the garden, or resting in front of the fire surrounded by toys and love. Their story, which began on a sad note, turned into a tale of hope and happiness.
Lucky taught us something valuable: that Mastorrencito is not only a refuge for those who seek tranquility in nature, but also a place where broken hearts – be they human or animal – can heal. And every time we think of him, with his smiling face by the fireplace, we know that the little puppy who arrived shivering that cold morning has finally found the home he always deserved.
From MasTorrencito we wish you a good day and that your dogs accompany you !!!!
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