CHRISTMAS GIFT GONE WRONG

As I was returning from town the other day a really strange sight greeted me. Our roads are narrow, winding and hilly with narrow shoulders. Finding a place to pull off is usually a problem. I saw two cars pulled mostly off on opposite sides of the road and a man appeared to be walking back and forth across the road.  There was a tiny squirrel on the road also.

The man seemed oblivious to traffic so not wanting to hit him, I pulled off the road behind him and the scenario unfolded. A woman on the left side of the road was wringing her hands and looking totally frantic. The man, probably from the car on the right sided appeared to be trying to catch the squirrel---OMG, it was not a squirrel but a tiny Yorkie puppy.



Not my picture

These dogs average 3 to 4 pounds full grown. That puppy had to be maybe a pound. I suspect it was  running loose from a potty break gone bad. The little fellow at times looked like he was having the time of his life running from the fellow but when a large truck would crest the hill, he would get quite scared and run unpredictably in all directions, just like a squirrel.  Lots of squealing tires and gasping from the gathering crowd each time.

Sometimes he would run right at the man, only to veer off to the opposite side of the road at the last minute. The little fellow was amazingly quick. Time and again, he barely dodged a terrible ending.

This went on for several minutes and had all the makings for an ugly conclusion. I was horrified that I might be forced to witness an absolutely terrible sight.

I kept the traffic in my lane at bay but the facing hill and curve posed a serious threat. Cars and trucks periodically just appeared over the hill to all our terror. I could barely breathe. Eventually, someone one on the other side of the hill was at least slowing the vehicles down. That helped reduce the threat of human tragedy enormously.  

I heard a door slam as the guy behind me got out and stalked towards the confused struggle. At first I thought this might be a really bad idea for the little dog was so unpredictable and stressed that there was no telling where he would zoom off to with a new monster chasing him.

This guy however had obviously worked cows. With arms spread wide, he very slowly walked toward the puppy, deliberately steering him towards the owner. The pup was totally concentrating on the new giant person with the huge wing span and didn't realize he was being backed right into the other fellows grasp. He was quickly snatched up.

I heard all kinds of muffled cheering coming from about 6 cars backed up on my side of the road alone.  Cheering came from over the hill also. There was quite an audience and we all started breathing normally again.

The woman looked at the pup with tears in her eyes and weakly mouthed the words, "A Christmas gift” as he was placed in her arms. Not sure if it had been given to her or was intended for someone else. It obviously had not been a carefully thought out gift either way. Giving pets as a gift rarely works out. It is like picking out a child for someone. 

All were safely tucked away and as if nothing had happened, traffic resumed calmly. This story, thank goodness, had a happy ending but I'll bet the first thing on that little guy's education agenda, even before housebreaking, will be  to come immediately when called.  I hope on her list of things learned, was that you don't let a puppy out to pee on a country road with no leash.

When I got home, I gave Mighty a huge, prolonged hug that must have made him wonder,"Huh??"