//I’M THE PIED PIPER//
Went jogging this morning and it happened again. Don’t know why, really. I must have a certain odor.
Two well-cared-for-yet-stray dogs started to happily follow me, and continued to do so until I was two blocks from home. Thankfully, someone’s curbside trash-day treasure distracted them long enough for me to escape.
I like dogs. I have two of them. But why do most dogs LOVE me? Thought it was because they pick up my dogs’ scents, but
some incidents predate my doggy ownership.
The following is a breakdown of memorable occurrences in my Doggy Pied Piper life. It does not include dogs that followed me for short distance and then gave up or got distracted. Those stories are too numerous (and cumbersomely boring) to mention. The highlights:
1. After a tough semester in college, I took a needed solo trip to the Texas coast. I walked on the beach one afternoon and happened across a hot chick playing with her dog in the surf (Wet T-shirt moment!). She smiled at me and said “Nice dogs.” I turned around and saw two strays following me. Their footprints stretched as far as I could see, so they must have been tailing me awhile. Coincidence?
Took a walk the next day, came across the same woman with her dog, and guess what? My tagalong pals were right behind me again. Must have been something about me, because I passed a lot of families on my sandy trek who should have distracted the salty mutts. But no!
2. First apartment out of college I got myself a beagle (“Jigsaw”). A stray happened upon me and Jigsaw romping one evening and decided to join in. Part of the attraction, I’m sure, was Jigsaw’s presence. We all played together several nights in a row.
One day, “Bermuda” (so named because our trio formed a triangle), followed me during a long bicycle ride and all the way back to the apartment. Freaky dog! A couple three units down eventually adopted her and gave her a new leash on life.
3. I was riding my bicycle through the neighborhood around our rented house. A big black dog followed me all the way home, so I led him into our back yard. Called the number on his ID tag, and a young couple came to fetch him. They were surprised he had made it all the way to our house. Dogs tend to do that!
4. Was walking in our current neighborhood last year when a dog joined me. She had tags, but wouldn’t let me get close enough to read them. That dog followed me all 3 miles of my normal route, so I corralled her in our garage and managed to get the number off her tag. Argh!
See a pattern here? I’m always out and about when the dogs latch onto me. I bet a lot of it has to do with me being the only human visible at the time. But I swear I must have an odor that only dogs can smell. I even yelled at the pair today in an attempt to ditch them, but no dice!
I’ll never go to a dog show or rescue shelter for fear of being smothered. Though if I could make some extra money as a Pet Detective, I’d consider it. The wife said she thinks dogs can usually sense when a person is friendly.
People can have that same sense at times, thankfully without having to sniff a stranger’s crotch or lick their hands. True, you can’t ALWAYS judge a book by its cover ... but many times you can. So the moral of the story is to be unafraid of showing kindness to strangers, but beware of strays who fall in love with you. And if you have a dog, take it on regular walks! That way it can learn its way home if it ever gets loose.
Either that, or you’ll be getting a phone call from me.
