Good news for dog lovers everywhere, and especially for the senior community residents and staff who were concerned about the friendly stray dog who turned up at Waterfalls Cafe yesterday. He had no collar, no microchip, a fatty tumor on his leg, and wasn’t neutered.
He was clearly a people dog. He was desperate to get inside, and keep look longingly though the window. Everyone went out to pet him and he gave us “that look” dog lovers know so well.
As a group of us pondered what to do with the dog Kiba who was soaking wet from the rain - we fed him bacon to reassure him.
Another resident and I took him to my vet to be scanned for a microchip. He jumped right in the back of my car like we were old friends. As I suspected, he had no microchip.
By the time we got back the head of security had arrived. Apparently the dog KIba had been trying to get inside and some residents were afraid. Who could blame the dog Kiba, it was raining, and he was a people lover trying to find some dog lovers.
We were told in no uncertain terms that unless one of us would take immediately responsibility for him he’d have to be taken to the animal shelter (aka the dog pound).
I went into a mode that one of my best friends who was also a colleague when I worked as a mental health center director described in various ways: fire in your eyes, a look that could kill, and worse.
While the security head seems to think he’s a cop and is not used to being defied, I actually was a cop (albeit a reserve officer who loved cats and dogs) for 20 years — an empathic cop who comforted crime and accident victims, and to whom other cops came to for therapy and often marriage counseling (one of my specialities). I also became an early expert on police stress with a top rated website, but that’s another story.
I have a tendency to be blunt with those who I feel are being insensitive, manipulative, or lying. Here in ever-so-polite Portand, Oregon I’m been told my New York manners leave a lot to be desired. Generally I avoid getting into too much trouble with my words.
After all, I’m the kid who in high school got into a heated argument with a frenemy named Rocco, whose uncle I later learned actually was in the Mafia. He shoved me and I tumbled down a flight of stairs. At our 25th high school reunion Rocco remembered the incident. He said “you had some mouth on you, Brown.”
But I digress.
We were given no time to decide what to do with the dog Kiba... the pressure was on. Myself and several residents delayed, stalled, and distracted as the alarm went out. I felt that we were being pressured because the security head felt he had better things to do.
My mouth was unleashed: “You want to send him to the pound where he’ll be killed.”
“They will try to adopt him out.”
“Without a collar and license, with no microchip, they will probably give it a day and kill him.” And then my attempt at a coup de grâce, “why you just don’t go out an shoot him?”
Let’s say that this comment didn’t go over too well.
Like Rocco said oh those many years ago, I do have some mouth on me.
Within minutes the word went out among staff and residents. It seemed like hours, but an angel arrived, made one phone call, and found a new loving family for the dog Kiba….
When they arrived a few minutes later the dog (yet to be named - stay tuned) Kiba — eagerly hopped into the back seat to be warmly welcome to his loving new family.
Despite the news from the Fascist Kakocracy continuing as a never-ending deluge of molten shit I had the happiest day since Trump won the election.
Afterword: There was no word from the owner on the found pets notices I put on Facebook and Craig’s list. I feel sorry if the dog is from a home with kids, but I think that while well-fed, his owner has been irresponsible. I took the found dog notices down.
Friday, Feb 10, 2017 · 6:05:55 PM +00:00 · HalBrown
I have been taken to task by a lawyer friend just now…. a former head counsel for a university who defended the security man. He made his case that the dog was a lawsuit waiting to happen. Sure, but I still contend he could have assessed the situation the the dog was calm, under control, and not about to go berserk and bite someone. He could have given us some time. Plus, I don’t do well with an authoritarian approach. (I wasn’t the stereotypical cop, more like Barney Miller.)