Chained Tightly by Steel Wire, the Dog Trembled and Begged His Owner in Pain
In the corner of a dusty yard, under the shadow of a broken-down shed, a dog named Rocky lay trembling. His thin, emaciated body was tightly bound by thick steel wire that dug deep into his skin, the harsh metal cutting into his fur. The wire was wrapped around his neck, pulling uncomfortably as it cut off the circulation, leaving an open, raw wound that bled into his fur. His ribs were visible beneath his matted coat, and his once-bright eyes were now dull, clouded by the physical and emotional toll of constant pain.
The yard was barren, except for a rusted food bowl that sat empty in the dirt and a pile of old, wet blankets that Rocky had dragged around for warmth. The cold wind bit into his skin, and the chill seemed to seep straight into his bones. Every breath he took was shallow, his chest rising and falling in desperate, uneven intervals. But despite his suffering, there was one thing that kept him awake—one thing that kept him holding onto life.
His owner, Sam, had chained him here for as long as Rocky could remember.
Sam was a man who seemed to have lost all sense of kindness or compassion. His heart, if it had ever known love, was long gone. He would come out every few days to check on Rocky, throwing food at him from a distance, but never once touching him, never once offering a word of comfort. The man was a shadow in the doorway, and the dog—a loyal creature by nature—continued to wait, believing, as all dogs do, that his owner’s actions were just a sign of bad times that would soon pass.
But as days turned into weeks and weeks into months, the truth became unbearable. Rocky’s body had grown frail and thin, and the chain that held him had begun to wear away at his spirit. Still, he waited. Every time he heard the crunch of footsteps, his heart would race in hope. Maybe today would be different. Maybe today, Sam would come to him and untie the steel wire that had been biting into his skin. But the pain never stopped. The footsteps always came and went, and Sam’s indifference never wavered.
Rocky had tried to move, but every attempt to pull against the chain was met with excruciating pain. His paws were sore from dragging his body across the rough ground, and his coat was stiff with dirt and dried blood. Yet, still, he didn’t give up. He couldn’t. Dogs, by nature, are loyal creatures, and their devotion to their owners is unwavering. Even when everything else in their world is falling apart, even when all they know is pain, they still wait.
On one particularly cold morning, as the wind howled through the trees, a faint voice could be heard from beyond the fence. It was Mrs. Caldwell, the neighbor from two houses down. She had been noticing Rocky for some time now, and her heart had broken every time she saw the suffering dog chained up and left alone in the yard.
“Poor thing,” she murmured to herself as she watched Rocky from her window. She had seen Sam come and go, but never had she seen him interact with the dog, not once offering any semblance of affection. Mrs. Caldwell could no longer stand by and do nothing. It was time to intervene.
She called animal services, but the response was slow. The local authorities were underfunded, and many of the cases were too overwhelming to address in time. In the meantime, Mrs. Caldwell did what she could. She left food by the fence, hoping that Rocky would come close enough to eat it. But the dog remained where he was, his body trembling from the cold and hunger, his eyes locked on the house where Sam stayed. He was waiting, as he always did.
One afternoon, Mrs. Caldwell decided to approach the house herself. She walked slowly up to the fence, her eyes filled with pity as she took in the state of Rocky. His body was so frail, his once vibrant fur now covered in dirt, and his eyes—those once bright eyes—were now dull and empty.
“Rocky,” she whispered softly, crouching down to his level. “You don’t have to wait for him anymore. Please, let me help you.”
But Rocky didn’t move. He could hear her, but he didn’t respond. His body was too weak, and his spirit was too broken to trust anyone anymore. His loyalty to Sam, the man who had caused him so much pain, kept him chained to the spot. He was waiting, as he had done so many times before, hoping for something that would never come. His owner, the one person he had always looked to for care and love, was the one who had forsaken him.
Mrs. Caldwell’s heart ached. She knew she couldn’t stand by any longer. She called animal services again, demanding they come out immediately. They promised they would send someone, but it would take a few hours.
In the meantime, Mrs. Caldwell sat at the edge of the fence, her eyes fixed on Rocky. She could see the tremble in his body, the way his eyes flickered between hope and despair. He still believed in Sam. Even though Sam had never treated him with kindness, the dog’s heart still longed for the man to come and offer the love that he had once promised.
“I’m so sorry, Rocky,” Mrs. Caldwell whispered, her voice breaking. “I wish I could take you now, but we have to wait for help.”
As the hours passed, Rocky’s suffering became unbearable to watch. He had started to moan softly, his body contorting as he tried to shift under the unyielding chain. Every movement sent waves of pain through his frail body, but he didn’t stop. He kept trying to move, to free himself from the steel wire, to find a way to escape the agony.
When animal services finally arrived, they immediately assessed the situation. The rescue worker, a woman named Karen, approached Rocky cautiously. She could see the deep cuts on his neck, the visible signs of malnutrition, and the general despair that hung over him like a dark cloud.
“Poor thing,” Karen muttered, kneeling beside him. She reached out slowly, offering her hand. Rocky flinched, but then, after a moment, he cautiously reached forward with his nose, sniffing her fingers. It was a small gesture, but it was the first sign of trust he had shown in months.
The worker carefully removed the wire from around Rocky’s neck. As the cold metal loosened, Rocky let out a soft whimper, and for the first time in so long, he relaxed. His neck was raw, the skin tender from where the wire had cut into him, but the feeling of freedom, of having the chain removed, was enough to bring a flicker of relief.
Karen gently helped Rocky stand, and for the first time in what felt like forever, the dog didn’t tremble with pain. His legs were shaky, but he managed to stay on his feet, the weight of the chain finally lifted from him. Mrs. Caldwell, standing by the fence, wiped a tear from her cheek as she watched the dog take a few hesitant steps toward her.
But then, as they prepared to leave, something heartbreaking happened. Rocky stopped in his tracks. He turned his head back toward the house, his eyes scanning the door. For a brief moment, he seemed to hesitate. His body trembled again, but not from the pain—this time, it was from the force of his loyalty, a loyalty that ran deeper than the agony he had endured. He was waiting for Sam. He was waiting for the one who had caused him so much suffering to come and rescue him, to finally show him the love he had longed for.
But Sam didn’t come.
Rocky’s gaze lingered for only a few moments before he turned and slowly walked toward Karen and Mrs. Caldwell. He had made his choice. His trust in Sam, while unyielding, had been broken. And though his heart ached, he knew that the life he had with Sam was over.
As they led Rocky to the car, Mrs. Caldwell turned back one last time to look at the house. It was a house that had once been full of promise and potential, a place where a dog could be loved and cared for. But instead, it had become a place of suffering, a place where a loyal dog waited in vain for an owner who could never give him what he needed most.
When Rocky arrived at the rescue center, he was given medical care, food, and a warm bed to sleep in. His transformation was slow, but over time, he began to trust again. He still carried the scars of his past, but he also carried the hope that there was a future for him—one filled with kindness, care, and love.
And for the first time in his life, Rocky didn’t have to wait anymore. He was free.
Take-it-easy policy
Climb into the rear, and first impressions are of a superior seat and higher-spec cabin with a good amount of legroom. Those wanting more space can use the ‘boss seat’ function and electrically push the front passenger seat forward.
Backrest reclines to 36 degrees, the seat base feels like it is higher, and you have blinds all around.
Once settled, the nicely cushioned seats feel plusher, the seat backs are more rounded, and you feel you are seated higher for better comfort. The backrest even reclines further (to 36 rather than 35 degrees on the current car), the soft neck pillow feels great when you sink into the seat, and you can even electrically extend the thigh support by a couple of inches. It’s not a full Pullman seat, so no large support cushion pops up for your calves. There’s no screen on the extended centre section, but you do get extra storage, a secure place to put your phone, and sunblinds at the sides and rear. Headroom is also sufficient, and though this new car feels marginally wider, sitting on the small centre seat – with the rear climate control popping out – is still only workable for short drives.
Four-zone aircon uprated, should work better here.
The new E now gets four-zone climate control, and the blower at the rear works in a relatively more silent manner. Just how much more effective this aircon system is in the back compared to the current car (which isn’t great on a hot day) will best be tested in our hotter ambient conditions. Also, there’s only one cup holder. However, you do get wireless chargers, and this car gets cooled rear seats.
On a cruise
Climbing in behind the wheel of the E-Class for the first time, I’m flooded with memories and mental images of earlier E-Classes. Will this new high-tech-looking spaceship really feel like an E-Class from behind the wheel? The refinement, the hush in the cabin, the supple ride, the agile and effortless performance? Must say, the seat feels just as welcoming and comfortable but with a touch more side support. Merc’s big steering wheel, with its piano black spokes, also suits this car more than the sporty AMG one.
The four-cylinder has a strong midrange and is quick to respond.
On the move, initial impressions are of a car that rides very comfortably. Most roads in Beijing are well paved, but out towards the suburbs, road surfaces tend to get more varied, with the occasional bad patches and broken sections popping up. And it’s here that the E-Class shines. There’s a suppleness to the suspension that isolates the cabin from the road really well, and this new E-Class also rides flat, with very little noticeable pitching and bobbing. However, the springs aren’t marshmallow-soft, and at low speeds, you do get a hint of stiffness over horizontal ridges and large bumps. Do note that the car in India will be raised (Merc calls it the rough-road package), and this could change things. The cabin is also quieter than the current E. Merc claims to have done a lot of extra isolation and sound absorption work here, and both road noise and wind noise are well-damped; the hush when you close the world outside is also more palpable.
The new E also feels more agile and lighter on its feet. The steering needs less effort at low speeds; the five-metre-long car feels more willing to turn, and what’s nice is that the steering even weighs up progressively as you go faster, with a fair amount of feel and connect coming through to your hands. It’s even more agile around corners, as the front and rear suspension work together better in unison. Please remember, though, that it still is a long car and won’t dart into corners or encourage you to drive fast.
It feels more cohesive and agile and, so, not as big from behind the wheel.
The straight-line stability, with the long wheelbase, is very good, and this helps you relax on long drives. The brakes are well-calibrated and have good stopping power, but a bit more initial bite would be nice.
The E300L, with its four-cylinder engine and 400Nm of torque, also feels effortless to get off the line. Peak torque comes in low at 2,000rpm, and what’s nice is that even the buildup from, say, 1,500rpm is strong due to the extra E-boost from the Integrated Starter Generator. Press down harder, and there’s even more grunt, especially with the more powerful 258hp engine making its presence felt after 2,500rpm. Stay on the gas past 4,000rpm, and the E-Class continues to pull hard, the power delivery belying the fact that it’s merely a 2.0-litre engine. It feels quick, too, with 0-100kph coming up in a claimed 6.6 seconds. Rev the engine hard, past 5,000rpm, and it feels strained and reveals its humble four-cylinder origins. This clearly is no creamy Merc straight six, and it shows. While the gearbox is mostly smooth and free from hesitation at low speeds, it does seem to take its time when you are in a hurry.
