We’ve had some cute dogs hanging around the school recently. We don’t know where they came from, but they certainly made themselves at home quickly. When the weather was wet, they were especially likely to hang around the school in either our covered shrubs or garage. As cute as they were, stray dogs present a sensitive problem.
Some people have compassion on the plight of the stray dog, and think we should do whatever we can to find the stray a good home. Others view a stray dog as a safety hazard, and believe we should do whatever we can to remove a stray. Even when you can trap a stray dog, there is the questions of the appropriate shelter. Is it better to take it to a shelter which may euthanize dogs unlikely to get adopted? Is it better to use a “no-kill” shelter, which may not have room to take in new strays and may by its nature accumulate undesirable strays over time?
Stray dogs around a school is an even more sensitive matter. Compound the above tension with presence of children, and you have a compounded sensitive matter on your hands. A few weeks ago, The Tenney School had to face this very conundrum. Quite unexpectedly, our property became the home of two smallish stray dogs-one light brown, one black. Both appeared healthy enough that it was expected they had not been strays for long. Neither dog would allow you within 25 feet.
We’re happy to report that this stray dog story has a happy ending. Both “Tenney strays” have been captured and found new homes. Our neighbor to the north captured the brown stray. They report that the dog was happy and healthy and was turned over to “no kill” adoption network.
And then there’s the black dog. The black dog was trapped on The Tenney School property. The black dog could not resist entering the crate near out back stairwell to satisfy a taste for bacon. The door to his stray life was closed at that time (see the adjacent photo).
But what to do with the black stray once trapped. This is where Tenney staff member Mrs. Patniyot enters the story. When word went out that we were looking for a good home for our former school stray, Mrs. Patniyot immediately volunteered. It seems the Patniyot’s had been in need of a new pet since the passing of their beloved Boxers. After a family naming ceremony, it was decided the black dog would be known as Rufus. Rufus has quite the life these days, being spoiled by man and child alike in the Patniyot household.