“Good Samaritan” Neighbors

    On the afternoon of the fourth of July, I went out to the back yard to bring the dogs into the house. After looking around our small yard, I realized with a feeling of panic that they were nowhere to be found. The gate was closed and locked, but the dogs were gone.

   Al and I had been careful about keeping that gate shut, having learned from past experience that Teddy and TJ were quick to take any opportunity to escape! Now that we lived in a big city, our major concern was that they could get hit by a car.

   When we adopted them from a pet rescue several years ago, both dogs had chips and were registered with a national organization. Just after relocating to Michigan, I contacted that organization to change our address and phone number. The person I talked to said that the service was only offered for one year after adoption and had expired. It was a good thing that their registration had been renewed before this happened.

    So how did they get out? Our two grandsons who were staying with us for a few days were highly aware of the importance of always closing the gate. But with the excitement of their parents coming to pick them up that afternoon, they ran out of the house by the side door and through the gate out to the driveway. Rather than coming back into the house that same way and closing the gate, everyone came in through the front door. At the same time, I let the dogs out of the house through another door, assuming the gate was shut.

   While we were visiting inside, the two buddies were making their escape, happily running down our street toward a major thoroughfare. Sometime later, Al noticed the open gate and closed it, without realizing what had happened.  It was only after our daughter and her family were on their way home that I discovered Teddy and TJ were missing.

   Just as we were going out the door to look for them, the phone rang. It was someone from the pet watch organization telling us that “Good Samaritan” neighbors had found the dogs, called the number on their tags and were keeping Teddy and TJ in their backyard until we arrived.

    We were very apologetic as we talked to the folks, who found the dogs sniffing in the bushes which line the cemetery adjacent to our house and took them home. At the same time, it was a happy reunion! Thank God they were safe!

    Everything ended well, with just a short search and an opportunity to meet friendly new neighbors. As for the dogs, the whole experience along with the blasts of fireworks around the neighborhood served to shake them up. They were content to stay in the house close to us, at least for a couple of days!

    “Good Samaritan” neighbors…the term reminds me of Jesus’ story of the Rabbi, Levite and Samaritan, each of whom had the opportunity to help someone in need. The only one who had compassion and stopped to help was the man from a hostile area, Samaria. May we take every opportunity to be “Good Samaritan” neighbors!

   

   “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’

   ‘The one who had mercy on him.’

    Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise.’” Luke 10:30,36, 40. NIV

Teddy.. "Haha, I almost made my escape!"

TJ..."Why do I follow him?"