Remember the stray dog who found his way to us sometime in February?
Sure, he looks good from the back, but he's a pretty ugly fella sometimes...
But when he looks at me just so...
...good gravy, when he looks at me like that he can come into the house in any ol' rainstorm.
We adored the old fella for the four months he needed us. We waited in the mornings while he worked out the kinks in his old legs, we looked the other way when he was unable to fight the urge to chase a cat harmlessly up a tree on occasion, we tolerated his ever-present, always-disgusting slobber, and..yes...I let him in the laundry room during thunderstorms because he's such a big baby about such things. I couldn't resist his whine and his sad eyes.
In return, he never bothered to so much as sniff at the chicken pen, he 'marked' our yard against other dogs, and he hung out with the kids while they swam in the river.
You probably caught that I said, "for the four months he needed us." Pnut doesn't need us anymore.
One day, about a month ago, one of our neighbors came by and said, "Pnut's owner came calling for him."
"Oh?" I said. In my mind, I called the fella a dirty rotten scoundrel, since he never picked Pnut up after I'd phoned him in February.
"Yeah. He said he was working on an engine in February when it blew up in his face. He's been in Thomas Hospital for the past three months, with 2nd and 3rd degree burns."
Oh. Poor guy.
I'm thankful Pnut turned to us when he needed care for those few months. But I'm even more thankful he keeps coming around.
We see him a couple of times a week, when he runs at us with floppy ears, a floppier mouth and crooked gait, as excited to see us as we are to see him. And then he's off again, across the river or down the road, on his persistent journey to experience all there is to sniff and see.
I'm not a dog person, but even I can't resist such a sweet look.
I'm sorry for your doggie loss, and grateful that at least his "real owner" does love him and will care for him. Sounds like Pnut may need to do some extra protection and nursing for the guy...I'm sure he received good training during his season with your family.
Posted by: Wendy @Sun-Kissed Savages | July 08, 2009 at 07:39 AM
An unexpected end to a nice story. He obviously knew you'd take good care of him while his owner couldn't.
Posted by: robin | July 08, 2009 at 09:41 AM
Great story! Great pics! Hope the next one is about hermit crabs and mancala; you do have pics, don't you!?
Posted by: glenna | July 08, 2009 at 10:50 AM
aw how precious! sometimes we're given things we need for a moment, then they're passed on to others who need the same thing.
p.s. cant help but admire Pnut's collar!!
Posted by: Erica K | July 08, 2009 at 11:26 AM
I am GLAD he at least shows up once in awhile as the kids (and you Sweet daughter) loved Pnut and I must admit he was and is cute!!
Posted by: Mom | July 08, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Awwww....a bittersweet ending to a lovely story!
Posted by: Jerri | July 11, 2009 at 06:33 PM
Oh wow. Glad God sent him your way, even for a short time.
Posted by: Marsha | July 29, 2009 at 12:30 AM