Flash

THUD!

Suzanne, Marlon and I looked up, at the front door and then at each other.  We were busy putting together a quilting cutting table for me and the THUD at the door startled all of us.  We could see through the door length blinds that no one was there.

THUD!

Let's go back a few weeks.  Sam and I were walking when we came across a little terrier dog with a bad tremor.  It was running down the the road of the subdivision.  I called to it and he came to me.  He had a tag with his name and a phone number, along with his rabies tag.  His name was Flash.  Flash followed us home and I was able to get him secure in my fenced in back yard.  I called his owner, Rachel.  Rachel laughed when I told her I had Flash.  "Oh, just let him go.  He will find his way back to my mother's house about 3/4 of a mile away."  I was appalled.  "No," I told her, "you have to come get him.  I won't let him wander around."  She was very calm and agreed to come get him after they finished dinner and some errands.  I was upset.  Didn't she even care about Flash?  What kind of an owner was she?

It seems Rachel and her kids lived on my street for a couple of years.  She lost her job, rented out her house and moved in with her mother.  During the last year and a half, she fell in love, got married and she, her husband and her kids were moving back into her home.  So, Flash was very familiar with my neighborhood.

Now, I didn't know all of this.  All I knew was I had Flash.  It took over 2 hours for Rachel to arrive.  By this time Sam, Flash and I were waiting on the front porch.  My neighbor, Shane, arrived home.  "Hey," he said, "I see you've met Flash!"  He went on to tell me the story of how Flash was the neighborhood dog.  Most people knew him and looked out for him.  He was an independent little guy and loved nothing more than to visit people.  "You just wait, " Shane said, "some day you will hear a thud at your door and Flash will be calling.

Rachel finally arrived and explained that Flash was getting old.  He has tremors and a large cataract in one eye, but still was a happy, active little fellow.  Rachel also told me that Flash was up-to-date on all of his shots, neutered and very much loved by his family.  I could see he was loved by the way her kids held him.  So, at least he wasn't mistreated and/or abused.  I was still a little upset with her, though. 

A week or so later, Rachel and her family moved back into her home.  I was happy to see a that their house included a large, fenced in yard for Flash.  No more wanderings.

 I had told my Flash story to several other neighbors and all knew of him.  One lady told of a time he came to the door, walked in, ate her dog's food, jumped on a comfy chair, slept for over 3 hours, got up and left without a backward glance.  What a guy he was!

Fast foward.

THUD.

I got up to look.  Sure enough, there was Flash outside the door.  I opened it and he came bounding in.  He greeted Suzanne and Marlon, tolerated Sam's playfulness and proceeded to eat some of Sam's food and drink a lot of water.  He also did a tour of the house, checking it out.   After a few minutes he went to the front door.  Off he went.

A week or so later I was working in the yard.  THUD.  Sam ran to the back gate.  There was Flash.  Apparently not getting an answer at the front door, he came to the back gate.  Again, he somewhat played with Sam, came in the house, ate, drank, checked out the house and off he went. 

Today it was a cold, miserable rainy day.  I went out to get the mail and, low and behold, guess who shows up?  Only today Flash was cold.  His tremors were worse, probably because he was shivering a little.  I dried him off with a big towel, turned on the fireplace and placed Sam's bed in front of it.  Yup.  Flash climbed on and took a little snooze.  I am sure he would have stayed longer if Sam hadn't woke him up wanting to play.  But, he was no longer shaking.  He ate a little, checked out the house and went to the front door.  I felt bad letting him out in the rain, but he trotted off in the direction of his home.  Hopefully, there was someone home to let him in.  But, if not I am sure someone else heard a THUD at their door and let him in for a while.

I do not believe in letting dogs wander around on their own.  But, I have to say Flash is street smart, knows the area and I have been told, even looks both ways when crossing a street.  He has been doing this all his life.  And, he knows he has a safe, warm place here - with plenty of food and water and a soft bed to snooze on for a little while.  From now on I will keep my ears open for the THUD. 

Flash has a pretty good life.