Drat! This morning the stray dog that’s been roaming our neighborhood the last few weeks eluded me again.
I want to say it was about 3 weeks ago when I first saw her. But I wasn’t sure she was a dog.
I spotted her when I was walking Murph at dusk one evening. She was up ahead about a block or so, trotting towards us. At first my guard went up. Stray dog with no owner in sight could spell trouble if she was an aggressive dog.
But as soon as she spotted us, she high-tailed it between some houses and headed for the clearing and the woods beyond.
Because it was dusk and she hadn’t been very close, I wasn’t quite sure what she was. Dog, fox, or coyote. (She kinda sorta reminded me of a dingo, to be honest.)
But then some other dog walkers in the neighborhood also commented on having seen her. And how skittish she was and how she raced off before anyone could get within three houses of her.
Yesterday morning from my office window I spied her sniffing around on our front lawn. Knowing how skittish she is I didn’t alert Murph to her presence. I tried to slip out without disturbing him. (He was asleep in the other room.)
But as soon as she heard the door creak open, she bolted. And as soon as Murph heard the door creak open, he ran to the window to see why I hadn’t invited him outside to help with whatever chore I was doing. That’s when he saw her, the barking began, and she zoomed off with renewed earnest.
However this morning she came back! Not only to sniff our lawn, but her sniffing took her right up the steps to our front porch. I watched her hang out by our front door sniffing Murph’s shaky toy with great interest.
She had no idea I was peering out one of the sidelights debating what to do. She had no collar (something I’d been able to surmise even without being that close before), but I hadn’t realized what a beautiful dog she is. She’s got blond coloring and a white splotch on top of her head and a very delicate, slightly pointed face.
But as soon as I turned the deadbolt, she bolted. She went up our cul-de-sac, so that’s when I threw on my coat, stuffed my pockets with treats, and went out to try and lure her to me.
Even though I found her sniffing a neighbor’s garbage and she’s clearly skinny, she wanted no part of my offerings.
That’s okay. I left some out for her in the front yard in case she comes back tomorrow.
She’s obviously been traumatized by somebody. I’d like to teach her not all people are bad and mean her harm. I only want to help…even if that just means leaving her out a bowl of food everyday so she can get one square meal somewhere.
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