The Great Dog Escape

I only regret not having my camera along on this one…

Last night, Paul and I decided to walk into town to grab some ice cream. Our evening stroll turned into quite an adventure when Grandpa Paul’s dog, Stacy, decided to come along as well. Stacy is smart in a dumb-Black-Labrador sort of way, and she’s fiercely loyal to Paul’s grandfather. Grandpa had left for the day, and Stacy must have figured that her best chance at finding him was to follow us. We didn’t think much of our four legged companion as we walked the country back roads that led from the farm to Linton’s main street. We hoped the dog would turn back, since she had never been that far from home before. Unfortunately, we made it all the way to the ice cream shop on the edge of town, troublesome Lab in tow. We decided to take our ice cream outside so we could sit with the dog. The lucky animal got several bites from us, and the lady running the shop even brought her out a small bowl of vanilla ice cream!

Paul’s best childhood and high school friend was in town, and while we were eating ice cream he invited us to come hang out at one of the local bars. When we informed him of our uninvited guest, he offered to let us keep her in the back of his truck. And so, with our half baked plan, we set out for the Green Lantern Bar. We figured after the ice cream and a couple bowls of water, our loyal friend wouldn’t think to stray from our side. We were wrong.

Linton isn’t a big town, but for Stacy, it may as well have been a metropolis rivaling New York or Vegas. She went wild! We couldn’t keep her under control as she ran after cars, people, and even crashed a children’s pool party! We chased and herded her toward the bar, but it became increasingly obvious that she would not be tamed merely by a few bites of ice cream, and she wasn’t going quietly into anyone’s truck.

Paul and I entered the bar and found Chris and his parents, enjoying a few good Lutheran beverages. When we explained to dog situation, everyone jumped up to help. Paul, Chris, Chris’ mom Brenda, and Chris’ godmother Bernice all ran outside to chase down that dumb dog. Chris’s dad Lenny and I stayed behind to guard the drinks. ;-)

Paul and Chris literally chased the dog up and down Main Street at a full out run. Brenda bought some beef jerky to lure the dog in, and Bernice dug around her car until she found something that approximated a leash. Just when things couldn’t get any worse (or more comical), a police car came rolling down the street. Stacy, with no registration, shots, or any other things that good law-abiding puppies should have, was animal control fee bait. Paul shouted to Chris, “The Police are coming!,” and Chris took off on a headlong sprint toward the dog. Stacy, fatigued and probably overwhelmed, just laid down and finally allowed herself to be caught. The four dog chasers tied up the dog, called Grandpa Paul to pick her up, and finally came back in for a few well deserved drinks.

It was a great evening. We sat in the Green late into the night, sharing drinks, stories, and playing good 80’s music on the Juke Box, and laughing about that stupid, stupid dog.