Three Dogs, Four Adults and Two Children--One on a Scooter

Last night was a delighfully balmy spring evening. I took Krystal out for a stroll around 8:15, anticipating a soothing walk after a busy day.

Early in the walk I had indications that "soothing" probably wouldn't be part of that evening's experience. We had come to a T in the road, and decided to turn right. Immediately Krystal started deep sniffing, straining on her leash, and barking up a storm.

She's a hunting dog (half West Highland Terrier and half Poodle), so I recognized the symptoms of a "dog on the hunt." There are several dogs in the neighborhood that trigger this reaction in her, so I knew no commands to sit, leave it, etc were going to distract her from following this scent with the utmost of enthusiasm.

I turned around and started walking in the other direction. Krystal easily joined me, and calmed somewhat. She remained distracted, sniffing the extraordinarily interesting scent of that dog who had gone in the other direction.

About 2 blocks later, a man approached us asking if we had seen a Golden Retriever. I suggested he go the way we had come thinking maybe his Golden was the dog Krystal had scented. Off he went.

On our way back home, we ran into the man again. He was more distracted than Krystal, worried about his dog, Jake, and told us he was going to drive around the neighborhood.

Thank goodness I made him point out his house to me. I was just coming up on that T in the road when I spotted several of my neighbors. They immediately asked me if I knew of anyone looking for a Golden Retreiver.

by Bonnaboo

We started walking back to the Golden Retriever's house en masse. Our caravan consisted of a mom and her two kids--one was on a scooter. A grandfather, unrelated to the mom and two kids, Krystal and myself. As we moved down the street the story came out.

The mom and kids were outside playing when the Golden approached them, tail wagging. The Golden was a friendly dog with no tags. Everyone knew the grandfather further down the street had just brought a new Golden Retriever into his home. So the mom took dog and kids in tow, and walked down to what she thought was the Golden Retriever's home.

The little street party arrived just as the grandfather was driving up. He was mystified as to how his own dog got out of the house, but opened up the front door and the stray Golden walzed right in as though he belonged there.

Within moments the grandfather realized he now had two Goldens in his home, and one of them belonged elsewhere.

I believe the boy on the scooter was the first to arrive at the Golden's house. With the car still gone, we began knocking on neighbors' doors to see if someone would take the Golden (who remained at the grandfather's house.) While we were calling on the neighbors, the man drove up.

With leash in hand, he joined our moving street party, as we walked toward the grandfather's house. Each of us told our part in this story of community--a pack of people and dogs watching out for each other.

Comments

[jan`]

I can just picture your caravan. How great when people watch out for others and dogs.

[Kaye Swafford]

Thanks, Jan,

We all felt like we were an impromptu dog rescue group!

Kaye

[Harmony]

Just found your blog through Barbara at Blogging Without A Blog. OH MY. I must subscribe.
If you get a chance just go the about me page on my blog and you will know why!

I will see you often!

Harmony and Ginger

[Kaye Swafford]

Hi Harony and Ginger,

Thanks so much for joining Krystal and me on our happiness journey. I'm sure Ginger was glad to hear one of her cousin Golden Retrievers has been returned to his home.

Barbara sure is a wonderful person to know!

Kaye