The Doggy Saga

On the Feast of the Holy Innocents, a golden retriever appeared at the parsonage and hung around the whole day.  When Cindi got home from some shopping, the dog attempted to enter the house with her.  We figured it would go away sooner or later, but it ran around here the whole day and that evening after the Divine Service, Becky took him to the vet to see if he had a microchip.  Nada.  But we learned he was a neutered male.  She kept him that night, and we debated what on earth to do with him.  She brought him back the next day and we put up some signs in Hamel at the Shell Station and at the post office.  But nary a word was heard.  We, of course, HAVE  a dog, our tiny little beagle, Lucy.  We were nervous about letting the Retriever (whom we named Samwise) in, but he seemed to get along okay and mostly just ignored Lucy.  He would go out, do his business, and then come and sit on the porch till you let him in.  I even tethered Lucy to him one day and HE took her out potty and brought her back.  Sweet! Then out of the blue on Friday, I heard Lucy scream - no other word for it.  David and I ran to the kitchen and the retriever had Lucy in his mouth.  He let her go, but she was shaking and continued her screaming.  He had gotten her ear and her neck, but thankfully no permanent damage.  Then what to do?  We kept them separated with a fence or kept Lucy in her cage, but we knew that whatever happened, the dog couldn't remain here.  Pastor Gleason thought about taking him.  Others expressed interest.  I was getting more nervous about having him in the house around Lucy by the hour - I couldn't get the poor thing's screams out of my head.  And she just wanted to be held and cuddled and comforted for hours afterward.  Then out of the blue we got a phone call from Crys:  our friends and parishioners, Dennis and Cathy, had LOST their golden.  THANKS BE TO GOD.  They arrived later that evening and picked him up.  He was sweet as could be to US the whole time, but it was a vast relief to see him go and know he was going back to his own home.  Lucy is breathing easier and seems almost back to her old self again (though she seemed to explore the house rather tentatively this a.m. to make sure the big beastie wasn't around).  So, all's well that ends well.