The Tale of the Lost Dogs

I am very much a dog lover. And my dog is very much a dog magnet.

Yesterday me and two friends were walking out the door around 8:30 pm when we spotted two loose dogs roaming the neighborhood: an older yellow lab and a young Basenji-looking dog. Both dogs were wearing collars and the lab looked as if it had an ID tag dangling from the collar. My friends and I tried to catch the dogs with no luck. I immediately called in my trusty dog catcher, Kodie. The dogs immediately ran up to Kodie and wanted to be friends. Jackpot! Works every time!

So we took the dogs back to my house and put them in my back yard. Then we realized neither dog was wearing any identification. We were in a hurry and decided to leave the dogs in my backyard where they were at least safe and deal with them later. As we took two steps down the driveway the smaller Basenji-dog slipped right through the railings on my deck and acted as though he was ready to go with us.

I was really torn with what we should do. We finally decided let both dogs loose and hope either Animal Control or their owners would pick them up so they would be safe. After opening the gate, both dogs trotted down the road as if they'd had fun but were on their way home. Sadly my friends and I went on with our plans and left.

Brad and I returned to my house about 11:30 pm or 11:45 pm. When we pulled in the driveway the two dogs were snuggled up with each other lying in front of my fence gate. They blinked sleepy eyes at us as if to say, "Thank goodness you're home. We've been waiting and we're so tired!"

Now we really didn't know what to do. I couldn't just let these two stray dogs live in my driveway. As we wandered around talking over our options the dogs followed right on our heels as if they were trying to help make the decision: We all go in the house and live happily ever after.

Soon Brad and I realized the only real option was to take them to the drop-off place at the Animal Control/Lexington Humane Society. I fed them dinner first and wrote a note describing the situtation.

Once we arrived at the Animal Control building, we had to call a number to get the pass code so the door would open. I answered all the questions the officer asked. Then he said, "What kind of dogs are they?" I told him and he replied with, "Hey! I know those dogs! I've impounded them 3 or 4 times!"

He said the owners always come pick them up. That made me feel better. Kind of.

As I used the pass code to open the door, Brad went in first to open one of the kennel doors. The two dogs followed us in and went straight into the kennel as if they knew EXACTLY what to do. They sat down in the kennel and looked at us like, "Thank you! We're so tired and now we're in our napping spot!"

Brad and I both laughed. And as we turned to exit the building a stray cat trotted leisurely down the walkway in front of the door as if to see who'd just arrived.

We about died laughing. Brad said, "Maybe we should catch the cat and tell them we found it on Animal Control's doorstep!"

Since it was now like 1:30 am, I opted to go home and go to bed knowing that the two dogs were at least safe now.