Little Dog Visits

We had an unexpected visitor this morning.  Shortly after Tony got home from dropping kids off at school he looked out the window and said "you have a dog at the door."  Never one to pass a stray, I opened the door to check for tags, and the little guy walked right in!  No collar, no tags, but he was wearing a red bandanna that was tattered along the edge.  His left eye and left nostril were caked (eye cold - little antibiotic would clear that right up).  Tony about came unglued when the little dog walked in - he knows me too well and was worried I'd want to keep him.

I waited ten or fifteen minutes to see if anyone would come around calling for him or looking, but I didn't see or hear anyone.  I posted his photo to a Facebook pets group and called animal control.  I hate to send animals to the shelter, but this guy needs to see a vet, and my cats were falling over themselves hissing and spitting at him.  The animal control officer (Don) was here very quickly, and scanned the dog.  Turns out he has a microchip, so I hope he was able to be reunited with his family.  He looked well cared for, and I'm sure someone was missing him.  If not, at least I know he's warm and safe now.  Cute little guy, and well mannered.  He was afraid of the cranky cats, but he was in love with the baby.  Every time #5 would giggle or squeal, the dog would perk up and want to get closer.

This is the second stray dog we've found and turned over to animal control in the last month.  I wonder if I'm just out and about more, or if there are more dogs running loose with it beginning to warm up a bit now.

Funny - warming up a bit... we are expecting up to 8-inches of snow in the next 48 hours, followed by several days in the high 40's and low 50's to melt it all away.  Anybody else have spring fever?  I am excitedly waiting to start building my raised garden beds.  We may try straw bale gardening as well - something new and different.  I'm all about wacky and unconventional.