Holding that frightened little dog in the heart of the storm.
Beginning in late afternoon and continuing well into the evening yesterday, we had a real "gullywasher" here in North Florida. It rained off and on all day, but by late afternoon the skies turned from gray to nearly black as the heavy stuff set in. The rain was as hard as I've ever seen it around here and the dark clouds were nearly stationary for an extended time. I learned this morning that the total was six inches, causing the pasture to flood while the outdoor animals headed for their usual hiding places in the garage or barn.
Just before darkness set in, my wife and I were watching a video while having a bite to eat and she decided to take a look out and see how much water was in the pasture while it could still be seen. As she opened the main door to look out through the glass storm door, she saw something running to her. It was a cute little dog, wet and afraid in the thunderstorm and he ran right up to the door. My modern day Doctor Dolittle stepped outside, scooped up the little fellow and brought him in to give shelter from the weather. After drying him, she looked at his collar which listed his name, Lucas, and a phone number. No one answered the phone when she called the number so she left a text message about Lucas.
Within a short time, she got a message back, identifying the owner as the visiting niece of a neighbor who said she would pick the dog up as soon as she could get out of the driveway. Out here where we live, entrances to rural properties often flood and preclude passage for hours at a time. It's just one of the shortcomings in an otherwise glorious place to live.
The rain went on unabated half of the night, so we fed Lucas and he quickly made friends with our own dogs. At bedtime he curled up beside our bed like he'd been here forever and this morning he followed me around like my shadow. He even accompanied me to the barn for horse feeding time, even in more rain. Having someone with him made him feel secure.
It's amazing how things work out when you love and live with a woman who has an uncanny way with animals, be they dogs, cats, horses and even birds and he occasional wild thing in pain. And after having a number of lost and frightened domestic animals show up to visit us over the years we've been together, I truly believe there must be a neon sign which follows my Doctor Dolittle wherever she goes. It must be unseen by humans, but the animals find it and know that they will be welcomed here. It must be right at the end of our lane where it reaches the paved roadway. And little lost Lucas saw it and headed down the lonely wet lane, knowing that there would be help when he followed that sign.
The happy ending came just a few short hours ago when his owner drove up to the gate to retrieve her little dog. And as I handed her Lucas and she pulled in to turn around, little Lucas was standing at the passenger side window wagging his tail at me. He was a joy for that short visit and I'm glad that we helped him through a stormy night and I'm sure that unseen neon sign will direct other poor creatures to our door when they need help. When you are married to a Doctor Dolittle, that's as it should be.
Just before darkness set in, my wife and I were watching a video while having a bite to eat and she decided to take a look out and see how much water was in the pasture while it could still be seen. As she opened the main door to look out through the glass storm door, she saw something running to her. It was a cute little dog, wet and afraid in the thunderstorm and he ran right up to the door. My modern day Doctor Dolittle stepped outside, scooped up the little fellow and brought him in to give shelter from the weather. After drying him, she looked at his collar which listed his name, Lucas, and a phone number. No one answered the phone when she called the number so she left a text message about Lucas.
Within a short time, she got a message back, identifying the owner as the visiting niece of a neighbor who said she would pick the dog up as soon as she could get out of the driveway. Out here where we live, entrances to rural properties often flood and preclude passage for hours at a time. It's just one of the shortcomings in an otherwise glorious place to live.
The rain went on unabated half of the night, so we fed Lucas and he quickly made friends with our own dogs. At bedtime he curled up beside our bed like he'd been here forever and this morning he followed me around like my shadow. He even accompanied me to the barn for horse feeding time, even in more rain. Having someone with him made him feel secure.
It's amazing how things work out when you love and live with a woman who has an uncanny way with animals, be they dogs, cats, horses and even birds and he occasional wild thing in pain. And after having a number of lost and frightened domestic animals show up to visit us over the years we've been together, I truly believe there must be a neon sign which follows my Doctor Dolittle wherever she goes. It must be unseen by humans, but the animals find it and know that they will be welcomed here. It must be right at the end of our lane where it reaches the paved roadway. And little lost Lucas saw it and headed down the lonely wet lane, knowing that there would be help when he followed that sign.
The happy ending came just a few short hours ago when his owner drove up to the gate to retrieve her little dog. And as I handed her Lucas and she pulled in to turn around, little Lucas was standing at the passenger side window wagging his tail at me. He was a joy for that short visit and I'm glad that we helped him through a stormy night and I'm sure that unseen neon sign will direct other poor creatures to our door when they need help. When you are married to a Doctor Dolittle, that's as it should be.
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