Bringing Dunčo Home

V električke som uvidela plagát útulku a večer som si povedala, že to idem skúsiť.

On the tram I saw a shelter poster, and in the evening I told myself I would give it a try.

V sobotu som prišla do útulku, kde na mňa pozeral hnedý psík s bielou škvrnou, a hneď sme si padli do oka.

On Saturday I went to the shelter, where a brown dog with a white patch looked at me, and we immediately clicked.

Dobrovoľníčka mi vysvetlila, že sa volá Dunčo a že je trochu hanblivý, ale miluje prechádzky.

A volunteer explained that his name is Dunčo and that he is a bit shy but loves walks.

Kúpila som mu mäkký pelech, dve misky a pevné vodítko, lebo som chcela, aby sa u mňa cítil bezpečne.

I bought him a soft dog bed, two bowls, and a sturdy leash because I wanted him to feel safe at my place.

Prvú noc chodil po byte a ticho kňučal, no keď som si sadla k nemu na zem, zaspal mi pri nohách.

The first night he walked around the flat and whimpered softly, but when I sat down on the floor next to him, he fell asleep by my feet.

Na druhý deň sme išli na sídliskový dvor, kde sa zoznámil so susedmi, a ja som si uvedomila, že budeme mať plné ruky práce.

The next day we went to the courtyard by the apartment blocks, where he met the neighbors, and I realized we would have our hands full.

Učil sa sedieť pri dverách, kým mu zapnem vodítko, a ja som sa učila byť trpezlivá, pretože všetko mu trvalo dlhšie.

He learned to sit by the door while I fastened the leash, and I learned to be patient because everything took him longer.

Keď sa zľakol hlučného autobusu, skryla som mu hlavu do dlaní a upokojil sa, hoci sa mu ešte triasli labky.

When he got scared of a loud bus, I cupped his head in my hands and he calmed down, though his paws were still shaking.

Po týždni ma už vítal pri dverách, krútil chvostom ako vrtuľa a odniesol si hračku rovno na pelech.

After a week he was already greeting me at the door, wagging his tail like a propeller and carrying his toy straight to his bed.

O dva týždne sme sa vrátili do útulku s vrecúškom granúl a koláčmi pre dobrovoľníkov, aby som im poďakovala.

Two weeks later we returned to the shelter with a small bag of kibble and cakes for the volunteers so I could thank them.

Dunčo tam nakoniec vošiel sebavedomo, akoby chcel ukázať, že má nový domov, a všetci sa usmievali.

In the end Dunčo walked in confidently, as if he wanted to show he had a new home, and everyone smiled.

Odvtedy stíham menej seriálov, ale máme viac radosti, lebo každý deň si pripomeniem, že sme si navzájom zachránili kus srdca.

Since then I watch fewer shows, but we have more joy, because every day I remind myself that we saved a piece of each other's heart.