VISITING ROYALTY

He came on our property on Sunday.  His ribs were sticking out and his belly was sunken,  He did not seem to have much energy. When Slim tried to do her job of running the stray off our property, the visitor simply laid down.  Finally Slim managed to move the dog and it jumped in the back of Ron's pickup.  This stranger spent most of the day pretending to be going somewhere in the truck. 

Since it was Sunday there was no one available at the animal shelter plus if anyone would take him, we would have to deliver him and I feared trying to get close though he did seem like a nice dog. Still, who knew what disease he might be carrying. I wanted to feed him, but Ron pointed out that he would then be my dog. 

Soon the situation became more fragile.  The chickens were bedding down in the hen house and White-Spotted Dog joined them there.  Frenzy followed and the chickens went berserk with the intruder in their home.  Neither Slim nor I could coax the dog out of the chicken house so I called neighbors and found one at home willing to help.  "Do you want me to shoot him?" the fellow inquired and I reluctantly replied "Maybe.  It does seem awfully sick and that might be the best thing."

My dog-loving neighbor arrived and did not get out with the gun.  First he went in the hen house and introduced himself to this stray who seemed mighty glad to be getting petted.  My good Samaritan then told me that he knew this dog and would contact the owner.  He called the fellow and it wasn't his but he knew who it belonged to.  The owner had been looking for the dog all day. 

This dog that I thought about having shot turned out to be the last of his blood line and he was a 12 year old Grand National Champion bird dog ...with cancer.  The reunion with his owner made me cry. Thank God the neighbor I found at home was willing to help, knew what to do and was not eager to shoot this registered royalty.