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So, about two weeks ago, I was minding my own business, getting ready for work and not paying much attention to anything else.
When all of a sudden I notice that my male cat, Mr. Kitty, is going crazy. (I didn't name him.)
He is clawing and scratching at the glass on my back door.
His hair is standing on end and he is hissing like there is a snake loose somewhere in the house.
I had never seen him act this way in the 12 or so years I have had him.
He got my attention.
So, I have a quick look outside to see what is causing him such disdain.
Through my dining room doors, I see a dog staring back at me. Wagging its tail and smiling.
No, really. She was smiling.
For an instant, I thought to myself, "God sent me a dog!"
In the next second, I thought, "You're an idiot, Julie."
No, God had not sent me a dog. At all.
But He did send across my path what I would describe as being a cute little brown chow mix.
Certainly not the type of dog I have ever thought about owning.
I have been wanting my Labradoodle.
Or perhaps finally giving in and getting a Golden Retriever -- despite the fact there is a good chance they will get cancer and won't live a very long life.
I have never really paid too much attention to a Chow. Or whatever type of breed this particular dog happened to be.
But I had to admit, she was adorable.
I believe it was her personality that sealed the deal for me.
If it was a she.
I really didn't notice.
And I certainly didn't look.
She was a guest in my home and I wasn't about to be all weird.
Now, every once in a while, a dog will get loose and run through my backyard.
I will usually just wave hello and forget about it.
But, if no one is around and I do not see anyone out looking for a loose or missing pet, I will try to catch him to see if he has a collar identifying where he lives.
Even if I can't catch him, I will try to snap a picture and post it to Facebook, asking if anyone is missing their dog.
And that is exactly what I did in this case.
It happened to be 7 o'clock in the morning, however, and I was on my way out the door to work.
The one day I was actually going to be early and then this happens.
Well, being that it is 7 a.m., there wasn't too many people using Facebook.
I received no replies or comments to my posting in the hour that my photo and comment had been up.
This dog seemed to really want my attention as she stood at the back door looking in.
I believe she would have knocked had she been capable of doing so.
Reminds me of when the dog rang the doorbell on "Father Knows Best."
What a great show.
Anyway, I decided to let her inside.
She didn't want a drink of water nor did she care for the food that had been set out for her.
She also stood right beside you and didn't run around all over the place getting into garbage or eating anyone's shoe.
So, I attached a leash to the collar she was wearing and walked her to the top of Biltmore Avenue.
I assumed she came from this way.
At least it was a place to start.
We walked up the hill a couple of times.
For me to walk, you have to be pretty special. Especially uphill.
Heck, we even trekked through a couple of people's side yard and backyard. Sorry about that in case anyone noticed. But no one was out. Anywhere.
And the one neighbor I did see didn't know whose dog this was either.
I was hoping she would take me to her house during our walk.
I don't know why I thought she would. I guess I expect dogs to talk to me telepathically.
I do consider them like people. Because they are family.
But no such luck. She didn't show me where she lived nor did she tell me.
So we went back to my house.
Still, no one had responded to my Facebook request. And therefore, I had no choice but to let her loose and leave for work.
I am not a dog thief.
And I could not leave her alone in a house with three cats. I knew that she belonged to someone.
She appeared pretty well-taken care of, as a matter of fact.
She wasn't matted and wore a collar. Her manners were impeccable.
When she had to use the bathroom, she didn't go in the house. She went to the back door. And she didn't go in the yard, but rather, chose the bush out back.
Right then, I loved her even more.
I was hoping she would find her way back home by herself. I prayed that everything would turn out OK.
Driving to work, I watched as she ran across the street, crossed the alley, turned up a hill and cut across somebody's front yard.
I was hoping she was home.
She looked like she knew where she was going.
However, I learned later that day that someone had posted on Facebook that they found the dog walking around and picked it up. They were taking her to the Humane Society.
Ugh. That is not what I wanted to happen.
I immediately text my friend who works at the shelter, asking if the dog happened to be there.
She told me I needed to call and ask the receptionist if the dog was there and what I needed to do about seeing if I could adopt or foster her.
I was told by the receptionist the owner had already been contacted. They have a few days in which they can go and claim their animal. I think it's three, but I am not positive.
If the owner doesn't show, then the animal can be given to someone else.
What she said next though, absolutely broke my heart. She told me there were already two people at the shelter who wanted this dog for their own.
I would be third on the list.
I knew right then that this meant I was never going to get this dog.
So, I kindly replied, "Yes. Place my name on the list." And hung up.
Apparently, the owner came the next day and retrieved their dog and I was forced to quickly forget about her. Well, as best I could, anyway.
People were commenting on Facebook about the dog being taken to the pound.
They were saying the owner has physical problems or that something is wrong with him in a way that he cannot care for the dog like he should.
But I know how people talk.
And I never believe everything I hear.
A couple of days ago, a picture of this adorable little pup was back on Facebook.
She was in someone else's yard a few streets over from where I live.
Loose again.
I was at work so there was nothing I could do about it.
Today, I am not sure what has become of her. I can only hope she is being cared for and is safe.
I'd like to say to the owner, if you can no longer care for your pet the way she needs to be taken care of, that I will gladly take her from you. And I will love her as much as humanly possible.
Because I would love nothing more than to believe that God truly did, indeed, send me a dog to love.
(Stenger is the community editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times.)