The first encounter with this motley pair was during a morning walk with three other women. This pair of canines came from the opposite direction, surrounded us and barked while nipping at our calves and butts. I gave them a cat treat each hoping they would go away. Instead they focused in on me, cornering me as I found my way onto a stranger's porch. Harley threatened with his barking as any good guard dog might. The woman who lived in the house came out. I explained to her that I was trapped here, hoped she would forgive me, and the police who I had called would soon arrive. Well, Chief Johnson finally drove up in his squad car, leaned out the window and said, "Harley, what are you up to now?" and then backed up with the dogs following him. Chief Johnson took the dogs to Harley's and informed the owner of the behavior of his little Pranksters.
On the second encounter, I was walking alone. The two dogs ran up to me, not allowing me to move from the street. I stood perfectly still, slowly dialed 911 and explained that I was being held hostage on the street by two dogs. The operator finally understood me and very soon after, because it is a very small village, Chief Johnson arrived. However, as soon as I called 911, Taca Belle moved slowly to the nearest house and sat down on the porch, giving the impression she lived there and had been there for hours. At the same time, Harley stole slowly down the driveway of the same house, turned around and sat there with a wondering demeanor. When he arrived, Chief Johnson first looked at me without saying a word, then we both looked at these innocent looking dogs and burst our laughing at how clever they were. Nevertheless, Chief Johnson paid a visit to the real owner, reminding him of the leash laws.
I also ran into the Mayor as I continued my walk and told him what was happening. He offered to go see the owner himself. He did what he said he would do.
the third encounter with these two was on a walk again, with my friends. The two dogs came toward us from the opposite direction and walked right on past us as if we didn't exist. Needless to say, we all laughed for a long time as we went on.
The fourth time I saw the two was on my porch. I caught them before they ate the cat food and told them in no uncertain terms were they to continue their pursuit and directed them to leave the porch. They did. I called the police, but they were long gone before he got there. While I was talking to the police, they managed to sneak back onto the porch, finish off the cat food, and beat hell into the bushes. This time, I went to see the owner myself. I have not seen the two dogs anywhere since that visit.
Why I have been so deeply addressed by these encounters with these dogs is a question I was drawn to answer. I was annoyed that these dogs would be running loose. I was impressed with the support I received from the police and with their light-hearted but serious response. That the dogs knew enough to go through the routine of curbing an intruder (as if the streets were their domain) and were smart enough to try to look innocent when they realized their mistake, really placed me in empathy's squeeze. When they were food hunting, I really felt their primal drive to survive and felt called to solve this problem humanely.
Dogs, like humans, get confused sometimes. Sometimes we claim space as our domain which is not ours. Sometimes we catch ourselves in old patterns which no longer serve our better judgment and we opt to attempt to cover our mistakes with an aura of innocence. Sometimes, we hunger for food or love and nothing will stop us from getting those needs met.
I am considering writing a children's book about Harley and Taca Belle. Their story is transparent to what most of us experience at any given time.
Which encounters have affected your life into a place of empathy in a way that draws you into telling the story?
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