I’m getting really bored at the dog hotel. All I can find to post is this prickly pear picture.
The prickly pear didn’t have many flowers this year, so I really had to look hard to find one.
I sure hope my person comes and gets me out of here soon.
I need to have more adventures.
.
.
I’m stuck at the dog hotel and I take no responsibility for what’s posted here.
This is the third time this has happened this year.
No, I didn’t run away and get put in dog jail, but sometimes it feels the same.
Like I’m locked behind bars.
But my person keeps bringing me here and then leaves.
It’s not fair.
It’s totally not fair.
My person should never be allowed to go anywhere without me. That’s just not right.
If she’s going on vacation I should be able to go along. This dog hotel isn’t anything like a vacation.
Same old scenery. It’s not even as good as my trails.
Oh, wait. I think my person said something about driving all day long through the desert.
And she said it’s going to be even hotter than my trails have been lately.
And my only options would be to hang out in the car for a long, long time – or to get out in the hot, hot desert where the sand would probably burn through the pads on my paws.
So don’t tell my person that I have some really cool friends at this dog hotel.
And one of them really plays with me a lot.
I don’t want my person to think I’m having any fun here while she’s roasting in the desert.
Because next time she leaves she might be going to a place that I want to go.
Like swimming or something.
And I didn’t tell my person this, but I saved up some of my adventures so while I’m in the dog hotel I can still pretend I’m out having adventures on my trails, and I can share them with you.
Got to go now.
I think one of my friends wants to play.
Finally, my person came and brought me home from the dog hotel. But I think she had an ulterior motive when she got me.
You see, today is Pet Owner’s Day. I think my person came and got me because she thought I would treat her special today. I bet if it wasn’t Pet Owner’s Day my person would have let me just sit in the dog hotel. Who knows when she would have come to let me out.
My person probably thinks I’m going to get her something special for Pet Owner’s Day. She probably thinks I’m going to get her a special treat – like chocolate or something. And she probably thinks I’m going to do special things for her – like take her on an extra long walk or something.
Well, I’ve got a surprise for her. Because I found a new friend at the dog hotel and she played with me – a lot.
I had great fun with my new friend, but now I’m totally worn out.
So that extra long walk isn’t coming – and I need that chocolate more than my person does.
So my person is out of luck this Pet Owner’s Day. Unless, that is, she can get Scratchy to do something special for her.
I’m going to take a nap.
The weekend is over and here I am, still stuck at the dog hotel. And all I have left to show you are flower pictures. I hope you don’t get too bored with them.
In the spring I see a lot of these plants with these purple blossoms.
But this is the only one of these plants I’ve seen that did this.
I’d really like to get out of this dog hotel so I can go after those pesky scrub jays on my trails.
And the quail that snuck into my yard.
I don’t believe it! My person has dumped me off in the dog hotel again and she said she doesn’t even have time to be my secretary while she’s gone. I can’t write about my adventures or anything. This will be a wordless week for sure.
My person gets so crazy with her camera that she even takes pictures of weeds.
I pushed my way in front of the camera so I could eat those things.
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 11th 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 11th 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 11th 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 11th 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.
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