A man and his dog
By Gina Spadafori
March 29, 2007
This is the loveliest piece I’ve read in a long, long time (adding tissue alert):
In the pecking order of man and beast, there was no lower rung than the one shared by Randy Vargas and Foxy on the streets of Hoboken.
He was 46 and homeless, regular work like that fondly remembered machine-shop job long in the past. She was a member of dogdom’s least-fashionable demographic, a 10-year-old brindled pit bull, compact as a pickup truck, ears askew, two-tone face, white neck, the rest an arbitrary mix of light and dark.
And yet in this city increasingly defined by creatures who drew the long straw — winners in real estate and on Wall Street, sleek goldens, pampered Yorkies, fashionable puggles and doodles — there was something transcendent in their bond.
Maybe in a world of opaque relationships, theirs was a lesson in clarity like a parable from the Bible. He had rescued her back when she was homeless and abused, a scared runty thing living with homeless men who had no use for her. She in turn gave him purpose and companionship and love.
Maybe it was how the relationship brought out the best in both. It brought him to life and into the world, as much a part of Hoboken street life as any young comer with his black Lab. And it made her a creature of eternal sweetness, unfailingly friendly to people and animals, tail wagging at the merest glance, a pit bull in name but not metaphor.
In my old neighborhood, there was a homeless old man (Pete) and his shepherd mix (Sandy). We talked almost every day, and I gave him bags and cans of food for them both. (Weird to think about that in the midst of everything going on now. He wouldn’t go to the homeless shelter — no dogs allowed — but Sandy got veterinary care from a wonderful local group, the Mercer Veterinary Clinic for the Homeless.
I talked to him one day, and never saw either of them again. That has been a few years, and I hadn’t thought of them for a while until I read the NY Times piece this morning.
I saw that story - she looked precious. So nice to see that they looked out for each other.
I used to volunteer at the Mercer Clinic … it was one of the most rewarding things I’ve done, and the homeless were so amazing, waiting patiently in the HOT Sacramento summers for their turn with the vet. Every month this one guy would come by for his heartworm meds, little scruffy dog in his bike basket. It is a great thing they do for the homeless pets.
Comment by Becky — March 29, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Gina - you should have given a kleenex warning on that one.
Comment by Judi — March 29, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
I used to work at a Hoboken pet store, and I knew Randy and Foxy. Since losing my Jersey City apartment and moving back to Toms River, I’ve often wondered about them. Randy is a damn good man… I always told him if I won the lottery one day, I’d buy them a house. Foxy was a really sweet dog. If I ran into Randy in the morning, I’d get him some breakfast, and he’d walk me to work. Everyone in Hoboken chipped in for pet food and treats for Foxy, but since I worked at a pet store, I’d always buy a few cans at cost and a box of treats, throw in some dry food samples, and search for him on my way to the train. I can’t believe the accusation that Randy made threatening remarks to women; he was always so nice to me. Sometimes, I’d have to make dog food deliveries at night, and, although Hoboken’s a pretty safe city, if Randy saw me out, he’d walk me to wherever I was going and back to the store, just to make sure I was safe. When my situation changed, I had to leave so abruptly that I never got to say goodbye to them. I still think about them often. I think I’m going to take a trip up to Hoboken and look for him, maybe take him out to dinner. I just feel so horribly for him. Our dogs were almost all we talked about together, and Foxy was all he had. :-(
I’m really devastated now.
Comment by Ginger — March 29, 2007 @ 3:45 pm
Ginger - Randy’s story is being discussed sadly on our pit bull forum, sounds like they were a beloved team, a couple members helped him out like you did. They’re reporting he’s taking it hard and isn’t around his usual haunts much. Robyn, the groomer who I think also works for the vet at Hoboken Animal Hospital is his main lifeline. She started a donation fund to get Foxy cremated and some of the ashes they’re putting in a little container on a necklace for Randy. I’m sure he’d love some support from those who appreciated his dog. It’s just so sad, and for the millions of sweet pit bulls out there just like Foxy, they are overshadowed by the minority who suffer at the hands of idiots. Randy sounds like a gentle soul and I hope he recovers and finds a new soulmate some day.
From the local paper:
http://www.zwire.com/site/news....._sec=68507
Comment by Becky — March 29, 2007 @ 4:07 pm
Becky- Thank you so much for the link. I called the animal hospital, but unfortunately Robin wasn’t in. I’m going to try again tomorrow. I’d still like to go up there and try to find him, just to let him know I always wonder how he’s doing, even after moving away. Maybe he won’t even remember me, since two years have passed, but it might be comforting for him to know he and Foxy have been in my thoughts and prayers ever since I knew them. Foxy was his reason for living. He has no home, no family… Luckily, he was well known and well liked throughout Hoboken, which is another reason why that accusation they printed in the times doesn’t make sense. The only thing I can figure is it was someone who just got offended bc a homeless person was talking to her. Crazy, I know, but I’ve seen people react like that in Jersey City, Hoboken, and New York. At any rate, it sounds like he’s had a really bad couple of months, and I can only imagine how devastated he is. There were a lot of homeless people in Jersey City and Hoboken, and I would usually give them a few dollars here and there, but Randy never asked for anything, so I gave him the most. And, as I stated before, it was really nice that he would make sure I got wherever I was going safely whenever I ran into him at night. Even though the neighborhoods were very safe, it was a kind and appreciated gesture. I think he and Foxy liked having some company on their long walks around town, too. Foxy was such a good dog. My heart is breaking for Randy right now. I just hope he can get through this.
Comment by Ginger — March 29, 2007 @ 5:23 pm
Few stories demonstrate so vividly the very special human-animal bond. This one is powerful. In sickness, health, wealth or not, that unconditional love is there. My heart goes out to Randy.
Comment by Lynn — March 29, 2007 @ 8:49 pm
Gina: thanks for posting this story. I, too, am a Hoboken resident, and I loved Foxy and the way Randy took such good care of her. (My husband donated some snow boots to Foxy that didn’t fit our dog.) When I contacted Peter Applebome about the loss of Foxy, I never dreamed he’d put together such a beautiful piece.
I saw Randy a couple of days ago, and he seemed sad, but lucid—unlike last week when I ran into him. We had a long talk, and we talked about Foxy and how funny she could be. He clearly treasured her. Let’s hope Hoboken continues to come through for him.
Comment by Martha Garvey — March 31, 2007 @ 8:54 pm