Monthly Archives: March 2013

It’s been a long week here at the dog hotel. I’ve been passing the time by making up a story of an imaginary dog. If you want to read it from the beginning you can go back to Monday, March 11^th for the rest of the story.

***

Eric didn’t want to leave the shelter. “There must be some mistake. We just dropped that puppy off two days ago. How could he not be here?”

“Let’s go Eric. He’s not here.” Dad gently placed his hand on Eric’s shoulder.

As they walked past the front desk Eric spoke to the woman at the counter. “If that puppy shows up please give us a call.”

The woman nodded but didn’t look up from the book she was reading.

Eric didn’t even notice the pile of slush he stood in as he stepped out the door. “Dad, do you mind if I just walk around for a bit?”

“Go ahead Eric. I’ll wait for you in the truck.”

A nearby field looked like a good place for Eric to calm his mind. He didn’t care that it was covered with wet, heavy snow and he trudged along through it heading toward the back of the shelter building. Around back he noticed a lot of footprints, and paw prints and figured this must be where the dogs were taken for walks.

Off in the distance stood several trees and Eric noticed that many of the tracks headed that direction. He began following the tracks to the trees.

“What am I doing? My dad’s got to get to work soon.” Eric turned to head back.

As Eric turned he thought he heard something that sounded like a yip. He turned back toward the trees but saw nothing. Walking back toward the direction of the truck Eric heard the sound again. This time when he turned around he saw a puppy tugging at the end of a leash. Was it? Could it be? It looked like it.

Running as fast as the sloshing snow would allow, Eric made his way toward the puppy. Dropping his knees into the snow he scooped up that puppy, while the puppy turned into a bundle of wiggles and kisses.

“I take it you two know each other,” said the woman holding the puppy’s leash.

“We sure do,” said Eric. “I thought I’d lost this little guy.”

“I normally come and walk the dogs later in the day, but I have to be somewhere today so I came in early. Looks like we got back just in time.”

Eric could hardly speak through his tears. “Thank you. Thank you,” he said.

“Let me take this little guy inside and get him dried off. You can go around front and fill out the paperwork. He should be ready about the same time you are.”

***

Eric held the puppy tightly in his lap as they headed home.

“Eric, we’ve still got one thing to work out,” his dad said.

“What’s that,” said Eric getting a little worried.

They stopped at a traffic light and Dad looked directly at Eric. “Just one thing Eric. What are you going to name him?”

“I’ll come up with something,” Eric said.

***

Now that that puppy has a home, I sure hope my person shows up at this dog hotel and takes me back home soon.                       Bongo

I’m stuck at the dog hotel this week and haven’t been able to have any adventures, so I’m making one up about an imaginary dog. I started doing this on Monday, so if you want to get the story from the beginning you can go back to the March 11^th post and start from there.

***

Eric usually enjoyed church, but this morning he wasn’t focused. He mouthed the words to the songs and couldn’t remember later what songs were sung. The Scripture reading was from Matthew 6, where Jesus tells us not to worry. When the reader read verse 26 “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” all Eric could think about was the puppy. The puppy that could be put down any minute while Eric sat in church. Does God take care of puppies? Why was that puppy alone in the snow in the first place?

Dad had to tap Eric on the shoulder when it was time to leave. What happened to the time? Eric thought. Did the pastor finish his sermon already? The puppy had been the only thing on his mind.

At lunch Eric spent more time moving food around his plate than he did eating any of it?

“Eric, “Dad said, “the puppy will get plenty of food when we bring him home tomorrow. Eat yours now.”

“Dad, what if he’s not there anymore?”

“He’ll be there. Now eat.”

***

After a nearly sleepless night Monday morning finally arrived.

“Come on, Dad. We’ve got to get going,” Eric said as he rushed out the door.

“Eric, if we leave now we’ll be waiting for half an hour for their doors to open.”

After what seemed like forever to Eric, he and his dad were on their way. When they arrived in the shelter’s parking lot Eric jumped out of the truck and ran to the door.

It was locked.

Tears filled Eric’s eyes as his dad caught up with him.

“It’s not 8:00 o’clock yet Eric. Someone will be here soon.”

The rattle of the lock could be heard from the opposite side of the door and then it opened. Eric stepped in.

The woman behind the counter met him with an emotionless stare.

“I’m here to pick up my puppy,” said Eric.

“Your puppy?” the woman asked.

“We dropped him off here on Saturday and we’ve decided to keep him,” said Eric.

The woman checked the computer. After what seemed like forever to Eric the woman said, “there were three puppies dropped here on Saturday. What did he look like?”

“He was part beagle. Brown and white. About this big,” Eric said as he held out his hands.

The woman stared at the computer screen. “I don’t see any puppies fitting that description here. We don’t have him.”

“He’s got to be here,” said Eric.

“You can go look if you like,” the woman said.

“Of course I’d like,” said Eric.

The woman led Eric and his dad to the back where the dogs were kept. “Take as long as you want. Maybe you’ll find another dog to take home with you. I’ll be up front when you’re ready to go.”

Eric could not stand the thought of another dog. He wanted his puppy. He and his dad walked past cages and cages of dogs, all of them barking as they walked by.

The puppy wasn’t there.

***

To be continued tomorrow.

I’m hanging out at the dog hotel this week and since it’s hard to have adventures of my own here I’ve been making up a story about a dog and his adventures. If you want to start from the beginning you can go back to the post on Monday, March 11^th and follow the story from there.

***

“We can’t take him in.” The person behind the counter of the shelter looked down as he said the words. “This is a no-kill shelter and we can only accept additional pets as we have room for them. Right now we’re full up.”

“Do you have any suggestions?” Dad asked the man.

“I do,” said the man. “This young man of yours looks like he’s already attached to this little guy. I can take the information incase we’re contacted by the owners. Why don’t you take him back home with you? You look like you’d make good dog people.”

“That’s not an option,” said Dad.

“Dad, mom will adjust,” said Eric as he held a squirmy puppy tight to his chest.

“Eric, she’s just not ready yet. It hasn’t been enough time.”

The shelter man spoke. “I don’t like to mention this place, but there’s another shelter down the road that will take him. I don’t think he’ll last long there though.”

“Thank you,” said Dad. ”I don’t think we have a choice. How do we get to this place?”

***

Eric looked longingly toward the door of the second shelter as they pulled away. “Dad, they’ll kill him there.”

“That’s not our problem now, Eric.”

“But Dad, we could save this puppy. I already did once, and now it doesn’t seem to matter.”

“Eric, it’s just too soon after losing Benny. I don’t think I’m ready for another dog yet – especially a surprise dog like this. And I know your mother isn’t ready.”

Eric didn’t expect the tears to come again as he thought of Benny, the family dog he’d grown up with. He still missed Benny a lot, but he knew he could open his heart to another. He decided it was better not to say anything though and he and his dad rode home in silence.

***

“Why the glum faces?” Mom asked as the guys walked in the door.

Eric explained where they’d left the puppy.

“Oh,” Mom said.

Mom gave a deep sigh. “I didn’t think I’d be ready for another dog for a long time after losing Benny. I’m still not sure I am, but after seeing you with that puppy Eric – well, just because we lost one dog doesn’t mean we should condemn another one to death. Why don’t you two go back and bring that puppy home.”

“Are you sure hun?” Dad asked.

“I’m sure. Now go!”

“Race you to the truck, Dad!” shouted Eric as he ran out the door.

***

The door of the shelter wouldn’t budge when Eric tried to pull it open.

“We were just here,” said Eric.

“What does that sign say the hours are?” asked Dad.

Eric checked the sign and breathed out in disgust. “They just closed a few minutes ago and they won’t be open again until Monday at 8:00. I’ve got to be at school then.”

“I don’t have to start work until later on Monday. Do you have any classes that you absolutely can’t miss Monday morning?”

“Nope, I don’t Dad.”

“We’ll be here first thing Monday morning then.”

***

To be continued tomorrow.

I’m stuck at the dog hotel so I’m making up a story about an imaginary dog with imaginary adventures since I can’t have my own adventures this week. If you want to start the story at the beginning go back to the post on Monday, March 11^th and follow the story from there.

***

“But mom, I can’t take the puppy back. I found him in the snow. He’ll freeze out there.”

Eric thought he saw a tear glisten in his mom’s eye, but she turned back to her work.

“I guess you’re right,” Eric’s mom said as she chopped a little too hard on a carrot. “We can’t leave him out in the cold. There’s some of Benny’s leftover food in the pantry. Get that puppy something to eat and then find a warm place for him to sleep. And then wash up and come help me. I’ve got to get your dad’s cake in the oven. He’ll be home soon.”

When Eric heard his dad’s truck pull up he prayed that the puppy would continue sleeping until after they’d eaten. He figured the conversation would go better on a full stomach.

Eric greeted his dad as he walked in the door “Hi Dad. Did you have a good day?”

“Yes, I did Eric. Thanks. But it looks like not as interesting as your day. What’s that behind you?”

Eric turned just as the puppy reached him and rubbed on his leg.

“Um, you’re not going to believe this dad but I found this puppy sleeping in the snow. I couldn’t leave him out there. I was kind of hoping you wouldn’t see him until after dinner. By the way Dad, happy birthday.”

“Dinner’s on the table,” called Mom from the dining room.

“It smells wonderful,” said Dad. “Let me wash up and I’ll be right there.”

***

They finished dinner in silence. The puppy’s gentle breathing seemed to be the loudest sound in the room.

“We can’t ignore the subject any longer,” said Dad. “Tomorrow’s Saturday. We’ll take the puppy to the shelter. Maybe they can track down where he belongs.”

***

To be continued tomorrow.