Frankie and Slim

Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

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.

23 comments:

  1. The ending made me cry, too. I am so glad you were able to help him get back to his home. And he sounds as if he was just trying to be friendly to those chickens. :)

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  2. You did good finding his owner..

    he was probably worried he wouldnt see his family again and now he will.

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  3. Lynn -- I actually think he followed the chickens into the pen because it was bedtime. The owner said their chickens often roost with the dogs.

    Sonny -- It wasn't my doing. Fate definitely intervened because if my other neighbor had been home the dog probably would have been shot. I shudder to think of this.

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  4. I gasped when he said, 'Do you want me to shoot it?'
    What a dilemma it must have been.
    I'm relieved it is a loved dog.
    I wonder if he had wandered off to die?

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  5. Wondering off the reservation in OK could be hazardous to your health.
    In our house too.

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  6. Oh, this is just so sweet! I love happy endings.

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  7. Oh my...what a story that turned out to be. So glad he is back home.

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  8. Sad that the dog has cancer but how wonderful that he was reunited with his owner. God truly knows how to direct us to the right people to help in situations, as your story shows. God directed the dog to you and He put you in touch with the right neighbor, who knew exactly where the dog needed to be.

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  9. OMG, this post brought tears to my eyes. You did a great thing and luck was with this pup that day.

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  10. Pat -- You know, I asked myself the same question. He appeared so sickly and I bet the owner thought he had gone off for the same reason.

    Cliff -- Stray dogs around here are in dire straights. I worry that our poor Slim's coloring is much like a deer and I fear someone might shoot her, though she doesn't wander off our property. Strays that venture after livestock are doomed. This dog upset my chickens but I don't think he wanted to hurt them. He just wanted to share their shelter.

    Marla and Steve -- It was a happy ending wasn't it? It could have been so much worse.

    Changes in the wind -- If you remember the horses that visited us a while back, well this dog belonged to the same people.

    Bonnie -- You are so right. It surprised me that the neighbor asked if I wanted him to shoot it because he is the last person who wants to kill a dog. He takes in many strays that people dump around here. I'm sure if he thought it was threatening me or our chickens, he would be ready.

    Ileana -- Yep, that dog definitely had the right karma on Sunday.

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  11. What a story. I was so glad that when I got to the end that it was a good ending. You were right to be so careful, but I am glad the owner was found.

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  12. Oh! Wow. I am glad it all ended up OK.

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  13. Oh, wow. Just "wow." I'm so glad he was reuntied with his owner.

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  14. What a close call! We never know that the appearance is such a small part of the whole tail...no pun intended. I am so glad that he got reunited with his owner and I am sure the cancer has made him confused as well. It makes not difference that he was royalty, but that he was loved.

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  15. I am so glad it turned out okay - I was so worried.

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  16. I got frigtenend about the shooting part and it never crosses my mind at all.

    I am glad too that there is happy reunion and that all is well now.

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  17. I love this story. Thanks for sharing it.

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  18. Oh my goodness! What a story. Thank goodness you were able to help him find his owner eventually and things worked out. How sad though.

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  19. A bird dog who wanted to be with chickens! I'm glad it worked out well for the dog n owner- Maybe he just needed a last field trip to feel like a dog again...

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  20. Jeanie -- I was careful and felt guilty about it. So many of my friends would have jumped right in and handled this stray but too many of my mother's words haunt me from my childhood..."Don't touch that, it might have lice!"

    Riot Kitty -- Yes a happy ending for sure. (I think. Who knows, maybe the owner was an animal abuser...Oh dear, I can't go there...it's over.)

    Beverly -- The doggies certainly seemed happy to see the owner.

    Tabor -- Well of course you are right...royalty or not the dog is loved and safe at home again.

    Chatty Crone -- It does appear to be a worrisome tale at the beginning doesn't it?

    Shionge -- Around here a lot of stay animals are shot because they present a threat to livestock. It's never a happy ending.

    Charlotte Crawley -- Glad you liked the story. I haven't seen you in a long time or your sister. I don't understand about the "circle" thing on your blog.

    Kay -- It was such a mixture of happiness and sadness.

    Snaggle Tooth -- I think you might be right about the field trip thing:)

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  21. Oh my god. A sad story with a happy ending.

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  22. This just goes to show that if you sit in the back of a pick-up long enough, it will take you someplace you want to go.

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  23. Kerry -- Thank you for the visit. I can see that you certainly love dogs. I am astonished every day that this story turned out so well.

    My husband has had several offers for that truck but i cannot bear for him to get rid of it. Yep, it has taken us many, many places so the dog was very smart to wait right there.

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