A true happy story – names were changed to protect the innocent.
Dear Friends and Family-
With all the tragedy and sad stories circulating in the world, I thought it would be nice to share a happy one. This is all true and took place Monday, December 11, 2006.
It was almost time for lunch; I couldn’t wait, I was so hungry. Before I could partake in my daily ritual however, I had to “run” to the bank. The bank errand was quick and uneventful, other than a little chitchat between me and the teller since we share the same first name. I was happy to be done with the task so soon, and off I went to the nearest fast food establishment for my “happy meal”.
After turning onto highway 98 (a 4-lane highway with a median), I changed lanes, sped up, and then immediately had to brake as the car in front of me stopped suddenly. After a few seconds, they accelerated as if nothing were wrong, so I complied. It soon became apparent what the problem was. There was a dog walking towards us in the middle of our lane!!! I slammed on the brakes again to avoid hitting it, and pulled off the road onto the median. It was a small dog (looked like the one on the sit com Frasier but black and white) and he was wearing a collar.
Once I got out of the car and looked behind me, I noticed more cars having the same plight. The woman who had been behind me, opened her door, and the dog jumped in her car. I thought, “Oh good, the owner has found her dog…” This, of course, was wishful thinking. I knew it was, but it never hurts to hope. She drove up to me and I told her it wasn’t my dog either. We both had to go back to work but guess who drew the short straw? Or maybe I’m just too nice (or would that be stupid?). So “Fido” jumped in my car and off we went. I looked at his collar and there was no tag (that would be too easy). So, I had no choice except to take him to my house before returning to work; as I drove with him, I got the impression that he was upset because I was taking him away from his home.
I was wondering how my boyfriend, Todd, would react, but since he is so considerate, I wasn’t too worried. As “luck” would have it, he pulled up in the driveway at the same time I did. The first thing he did when I got out of the car and he heard my “but honey he was in the middle of the road and was going to get hit and cause an accident and and…” was laugh. Not a condescending laugh, just a hearty playful laugh. Maybe he is Santa and just doesn’t know it yet?
We took Fido into the house, and after a little ruckus (Cat Terrorism 101), we put him on the screen porch and let him run out into the back yard. He bounced around as Cassie (one of my Calicos who is more doglike than feline) watched him from the other side of the sliding glass door. Todd called him “Sparky” as he continued to bounce. I returned to work and Todd “dog sat” while trying to prep for a new class he had to teach (isn’t he a sweetheart?).
About an hour went by as I was trying to figure out a “find the dog a home” plan. We were suppose to go and get the car worked on as soon as I got home. I called Todd.
“Hey honey, I was thinking…maybe you could take the car in and I’ll go back where I found the dog and knock on some doors and maybe I’ll get lucky…, “ I said, hoping this would sound like a feasible option.
“Yes that sounds good, as he is howling and terrorizing the cats and scratching at the door and I think he will keep us up all night…,” he said with a soft tone.
I know it is hard to imagine a soft tone here, but believe me I don’t respond well to harshness, so if it hadn’t been, my next response would have been much different.
“Okay, I’ll be home as soon as possible.”
So the plan was set. Not a very good plan, but something to try. It was time for my prayer. You know one of those that starts off with guilt…”Yes, it’s me…I know I only seem to pray when I need something, but this is for the dog…” Yeah right, for the dog!
Todd didn’t get all of his prepping done (imagine that!) so he decided he would take the lap top to the car place and work on it while they were fixing the car. When I got home, we rushed around (so he could get to the car place before they closed, and I could knock on doors before it was dark).
Right before we left he looked at me and said, “Would you prefer it if I went with you to help with the dog?” I loved the way he asked- not insisting because he knew I would resist.
I said, “But I thought you needed to prep at the car place?”
He said, “I do, but I think you need my help.”
I wasn’t one to claim wisdom at this point and he was so sympathetic, I agreed. I told him to leave first, since the car place would close soon, and I would pick him up there.
Brilliant one that I am decided to skip buying a leash to save time and money…bad idea. I found some skinny rope in the garage and turned that into a leash – If you aren’t familiar with this mistake already, two nice rope burns from Sparky (trying out for “reindeerhood” – dash away, dash away…), will teach you.
Another ruckus with rope burns and Sparky and I were in the car. I picked up Todd at the car place and it is 5:03 pm. He informed me that we needed to be back at the car place at 6:00 pm cause that was when they closed. If we couldn’t be back there by 6:00, then we would have to pick the car up the next morning which would be difficult as we both had to work and he had to go to Mobile, AL.
Trying to keep the situation positive, I said “No problem, it’s almost dark, so I’m just going to knock on a couple doors so we’ll be back by 6:00.” Only trouble was, it was about 15 minutes just to get to where we could knock on doors (IE – where I found the dog).
The other thing was, I found him on Highway 98, and there were many houses around this area!!
As Todd held Sparky tightly so he wouldn’t bounce around the car, we passed apartment buildings.
“Hey honey, there’s a big complex right there,” he said.
“Yeah I know, but those are apartments and we are going to this little neighborhood up here,” I said pointing ahead like I knew what I was doing. “Besides, when I found him, he was going this direction”, I joked, as I pointed ahead again.
He smiled and remarked, “It’s times like these, when I wish I were Doctor Doolittle.”
We pulled into the cookie-cutter neighborhood and I stopped in front of the first house on the right.
“We’re going to this house right here; it has Christmas lights and looks friendly, “I said. He rolled his eyes.
A very large Frankenstein-sized man answered the door. He was too big for the house. Sparky was surprisingly still; I couldn’t tell if Todd was holding him too tightly or if it was just pure fear.
“You wouldn’t happen to be missing a dog would you? I found this one walking down the highway…”
“No ma’am, I wouldn’t, but the people across the street have a dog.”
“Okay, well thank you.” Hmmm…maybe they need another dog?
“They don’t look like they’re home,” Todd said, as we crossed the street.
I rang the doorbell anyway.
This time a very small child with long brown hair and glasses answered the door.
“You don’t know who owns this dog, do you? “ I inquired.
“That’s my dog,” she said softly.
“You’re pulling my leg!!” I said in disbelief.
Hoping to get validation, I peered over the small child’s head.
A short fairly petite, yet somewhat athletic woman cocked her head in the background and came towards us.
“Oh my god, it’s Max!” she exclaimed as she cupped her hand over her mouth and took the dog from Todd.
I told her I found the dog walking down the highway towards traffic in the middle of the lane and almost hit him.
“On highway 98?!?!!?”
She told us that he had gotten out of the back yard earlier that day…
“I have to go tell Mother!” she exclaimed as she went running to the house next door (dog in hand, rope daggling dangerously by her feet). Todd motioned me to follow.
We followed her and met the rest of the gang, (a mixture of kids, adults and oh yes more dogs!) as Max joyfully played with his cohorts.
Wishing you and yours joyous times with family and fur babies…
