Snoop Dog Goodbye

Dear Dog Lady,

We lost our dog on a Maine island last year. On our last day, as we scrambled to clean up, we realized the dog had vanished. We missed ferry after ferry as we looked for him, but he had disappeared. Finally, we had no other choice but leave him behind. We felt sad but not that sad. We had just gotten the dog from a shelter and hadn’t yet bonded. To wit, we felt inspired only to call him “Snoopy,” a very lame name. We hadn’t yet put any identification on his collar.

When friends went to close their cottage a couple of weeks ago, they called us with the news of a Snoopy sighting. The dog was walking in town with two men and appeared happy. We were relieved. We wonder now what we should do if we run into Snoopy when we return to our rental next summer. Claim him? Ignore him?

Eileen and Lou, Katonah, NY

Eileen and Lou, climb every mountain and conquer any pique about your ex-pet.

Snoopy – and let’s hope the dog has a more lovingly-bestowed moniker by now – has moved on, according to the anecdotal evidence supplied by your friends. Next summer, should you stumble upon a solitary Snoopy looking ragged and hungry, you can claim him long enough to give him a good meal, a warm bed, and the promise of another home. But don’t interfere if you see him keeping company with new human caretakers.

This shelter dog has endured because he’s adaptable to change. His latest adjustment seems like kismet. Silently tip your hats to the survivor dog formerly known as Snoopy and walk on by.

Posted by Dog Lady at September 4, 2007 07:31 PM