Lost Dog Karma

Whilst on a gusty walk this morning I met the usual doggy suspects:  Flynn, Bracka, Seema and Brodie the labradoodles and the man they allow to walk with them and Belle, the flat coated retriever and her nice lady companion.  With Belle was a very tired and ill looking beagle.  Belle's owner had found her curled up in one of the fields, had put her on the lead and was taking her home.  We all had a good look at her (dogs and humans) and concluded that she had recently had puppies and wasn't in the best of health.  My heart went out to the little thing, her belly was sagging and her perinium was almost down to her knees.  She didn't have a collar on.  We all hoped that the local vet would find a chip and that she could be returned safely to a loving family.  As we parted company my mind raced on and I started wondering if she had been dumped in the fields on purpose.  Who would do such a thing? I thought of my own great lumoxes curled up in a field trying to keep warm on a cold morning, lost and hungry, their skinny flanks shivering and their teeth chattering.  The one time Gordon MacDonald got lost on a walk, a neighbour of mine had kindly taken him in after she found him pacing anxiously up and down my back gate (at this point I was running around the local streets frantic with worry).  Several people had seen him, but nobody had thought to catch him and keep him safe.  I nearly kissed her when she finally managed to flag me down and let me into her house where a terrified and very contrite Gordon MacDonald collapsed into my arms.   Since then I have taken several waifs and strays into my care and returned them safely to their owners.  I think of it as good Karma, and hope that, should such a thing ever happen to either of my dogs again, some kind person will keep them safe and return them to me.  Here's hoping that the little beagle finds a safe bed and a warm and loving family to live with.