Published Thursday, December 06, 2007 2:52 PM
Updated Monday, January 28, 2008 7:39 PM

 

Priest's Confessions

Harry Tales, Part II

Harry (aka Goober) took a little trip recently. For those of you who don't remember, Harry is my recently adopted, formerly abused Coonhound. Despite fence reinforcement, he escaped again. My daughter called me one night in a panic because Harry could not be found. I left the lovely Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours Function I was attending, and drove 2 hours to Aiken in the dark and the rain. I too looked for Harry. Harry was not to be found.

We finally gave up and went to bed. I left the fence gate open thinking he might return at night. He did not. I got up early and returned to Summerville in the dark and the rain.

We called the SPCA. We called Animal Control. We put up posters.

Now Harry has a very distinct face. He cannot be mistaken for another dog. His scarred mug makes it impossible to go incognito.

We looked for two days, but no Harry.

At 10:00 pm of the second night, the phone rang. It was my daughter. She and her fiancÇ had gone to a bonfire and picnic at a friend's house. They got out of the car, and there sat - Harry. He was happily visiting all those attending and being handfed hamburgers and hotdogs.

Now this area is about five miles from our house, through the woods - no easy trip.

Harry was not very anxious to leave the picnic, as you can imagine.

My daughter got this 80-pound dog into her car and drove him back home.

He slept for two days.

We could not figure out how, Harry the Houdini had escaped the reinforced fencing.

The following night, Harry once again disappeared from the yard.

We heard a noise under the house.

Harry had learned how to pry open the door to access under the house, crawl in the crawl space to the front of the house, and re-appear there, in a non-fenced area.

Harry may be a Goober, but he is a lot smarter than we ever gave him credit for.

We have now reinforced the crawl space doors with locks.

Unfortunately, animals sometimes do not realize that you are trying to protect them by restricting their movements.

Harry sure doesn't.

We love Harry. He still has no manners, hogs all the food, wants to bark all the time, and steps on the smaller dogs.

And he tries to do things that are not in his best interests.

Was it fate - or Heavenly intervention - that brought Harry to us in the first place, and has now returned him to us?

I'm not sure, but I do know that it was meant to be.

We are stuck with him, and all his faults, and he is stuck with us: people who refuse to yield to his innate yearning to be free and will try to protect him from further harm for the remainder of his years, however long that should be.

Harry adds spice to our lives. He gives us tales to tell. He is a character.

The animal shelters are full of animals year round. If you have room in your homes for an animal this holiday season, visit the Frances R. Willis SPCA today and consider bringing your own "Harry" home with you. Your life may not be easier, but it will be more interesting, that I can promise you.

Contact Ellen Priest at epriest@journalscene.com or 873-9424, Ext. 211.