A dog’s eye view of the issue

To the editor:
    Hi folks. My name is Lacey. I'm a German shorthaired pointer-skinny as all get out. Actually, I'm supposed to be that way. I'm also a VVD (Very Valuable Dog). After all the fuss that was caused a few weeks ago, I'm going to keep thinking I'm just that, a VVD.
    It all started when, what I now call the "cookie monster", pulled into my yard while I was snoozing. I'd had my daily trip down the back field behind the house. Did my "business" and then meandered up behind the garage. Dropped down to the back yard of the house next door, said "Hello" to two buddies of mine in a yard there and came on home. I ate a great meal prepared for me by my master. I let him think he's the boss but everyone knows the real boss is the one who sleeps on the lawn all day! I laid there listening to the sounds of the neighborhood that I have heard for the past thirteen years of my life. Just can't seem to run and play like I used to. There was a young man raking the lawn across the road and the voice of the lady who runs a day care there could be heard occasionally. As I lay there sunning myself, I heard my owner working in his shop and making a trip into the house now and then. Everything was as usual.
    A car pulled into the driveway. Nothing out of the ordinary about that as people stopped by quite often. They usually say "Hi" to me and keep on going, either into the garage or the house. I give my tail a "thump" or two to acknowledge them. This was different. I heard steps approaching me! A hand appeared holding a cookie. A cookie! Oh, joy! I hardly ever get a cookie! One reason is that they are saved for something special and another reason is that too many cookies just aren't good for you, dogs or people. Then, more joy! Those magical words, would I like to go for a ride in the car? That lady even helped me into the car! It doesn't get any better than that.
    As we pulled out of the driveway, I saw the young man who had been raking, throw down his rake and go tearing across the road. He was yelling something. Maybe he'd wanted to go for a ride too. Oh well, maybe next time. We hadn't ridden very far when we pulled into a driveway. I was hauled out of the car and put into a pen. Me! In a pen! What an insult! My owner was going to hear about this. This was unacceptable for a VVD like me.
    While I waited, I got to thinking how slick the Cookie Monster (there was no doubt in my mind now that she was a monster) had been able to get me into her car. But what really worried me, and I shuddered in horror at this thought. Instead of me in that car, it could have been one of those little kids at the day care. They are very well cared for, but it took less than a few seconds to get old lame me into a car. A child could have been grabbed much quicker. I decided right then that when I got back home, I'd figured out by now that the young man had been yelling for my master, that I would get someone to help me get this message out about the cookie monster.
    You can imagine how disgusted I was when, three hours later and someone finally took me home, to find I was thought to be a homeless and starving nuisance! A VVD like me! The boss was a raving lunatic. Don't think I have ever seen him so mad. Had good reason to be too. You'd think the cookie monster would have checked before luring me away from him, now wouldn't you? I've got this nice collar with both our names on it and I'm sleeping in my own yard with my owner inside the house! From now on, I'm sleeping on the deck within sight of the boss.
    We now know there was no criminal intent, just poor judgment, in what happened to me and my owner. But it was downright upsetting for everyone concerned. Along with him, I'm waiting for the lady with the cookie to apologize. (She'd better not offer me a cookie, though. This old VVD just might take a bite out of her).
Lacey
(with a little help
from a friend)
P.S. I did learn later that the cookie lady came and talked to the children at the day care. Seems they were quite upset to see me so ungraciously hauled away in a police car! Right here in America!