NEW KID ON THE BLOCK

By Rufus and Y’Mommy

About a week ago I was sleeping peacefully on my perch on the back of the sofa when I detected a new smell drifting around. I was immediately awake and alert to anything that might invade our house and harm Y’Mommy or me. And there outside was a NEW DOG walking down our street. Of course, I jumped off onto the floor and flew to the door barking loud enough to wake the dead.

Things were very peaceful until Rufus set up a racket like a bear was in the yard. I looked out the window and there was a young woman walking a beautiful greyhound. He was so stately and dignified and looking toward our house with a puzzled expression on his face, wondering I’m sure what all the shrill barking was about. The noise continued until the two were out of sight.

Y’Mommy didn’t seem too worried – in fact, she kept talking about how handsome that big dog was. For the next few mornings the same thing happened. That dog just kept coming into my territory to take his walk. Then one morning, there was a knock on the door and there they stood - - - on OUR porch!

The greyhound’s owner had seen a little white dog running loose up the street and wanted to make sure that Rufus was safe inside and hadn’t gotten loose. Of course, this was all said over the LOUD barking of Rufus --- he was going crazy over this blatant invasion of HIS house and yard.

Then yesterday Y’Mommy carried me out to the street to meet him. His name is Hulk and he didn’t seem very nice to me. In fact, Y’Daddy came out and took me back inside while Y’Mommy stayed and visited with them. I didn’t like this idea at all and I let them know it.

I went out to meet the dog (and owner) to see if he was a former racer because I had heard that greyhounds that have raced are not very keen on small white animals. I was right to be cautious. The young woman said that he had indeed raced and was “funny” about white cats and dogs (and also rabbits, I’ll bet!). So we will just continue to bark and wave at them from inside our house and not up close!