Close Call

On Friday, to celebrate a beautiful blue sky, the girls and I stopped for frozen yogurt on our walk home from school. I tied Greta up to a post on the sidewalk, and we went in and ordered our treats. We sat at the bar along the window, watching Greta watching us. The man behind the register commented on how nicely Greta was waiting, and he gave me the cutest little cup of yogurt with a bone on top for her. I took it out to her, and she lapped it up gratefully as I went back inside to sit with the girls.

Moments later, an Animal Control truck pulled up and parked (in a no-parking zone) right next to Greta. At first, I hoped it was just a coincidence. But when I saw him approaching Greta with intent, I quickly said to the girls, "I'll be right back!" as I ran out the door. He asked, "Are you this dog's owner?" I nodded. "Well, it's a nice dog, but you can't leave a dog unattended," he told me. I was shocked. "We were right inside watching her the whole time," I told him. He explained that it's illegal to leave a dog unattended due to the risk of dog bites. I was completely blown away. I told him that she was nearly ten, and we'd never heard of this law before. "Regardless, miss, now you know," he said, "dogs cannot be left unattended."

Meanwhile, Lucy came running out of the yogurt shop, sobbing because I left her so abruptly. "Apparently so," I said, "and I can't leave this one unattended, either!" as I hugged Lucy to calm her down. He didn't seem amused by my joke as he got back in his truck and drove away.

I'm very glad that Greta's close call with the Dog Catcher was nothing more than that. Can you imagine if I had taken one of the girls to the restroom or had my back turned for a few moments? Poor Greta girl would have been traumatized by a trip to the dog slammer. Oh, the shame.