Viral email

We've all received one of them at some time or another--an email from a familiar name with a somewhat suspicious but plausible subject line, such as "Re:  Hi".  You open it and it's immediately obvious that it did not originate from the ostensible sender.  Mine are usually something like "Click here to see the amazing prices from this Canadian pharmacy."  It's safe to assume that your friend's computer has a virus, not that they have taken up pimping for a north of the border drug company.  I received such an email the other day and recogized the name of the sender as Tucson's adopter.

The email was followed by one that was actually from her, confirming that the email was viral.  She also sent this picture of Tucson (left) and his buddy Percy (right).  Tucson was adopted back at the end of 2005.  His owner had left Arizona with all his possessions, including Tucson, loaded into a rather small car.  He was en route to his mother's place in Florida but was stopping over here to spend a few days with his sister who lives at a commune in Louisa County.  Lousia County, just to our north, is as unlikely a place for a commune as Buckingham County, just to our south, is for an ashram, but there they are. 

Anyway, this guy was going to stay at the commune for 4-5 days to visit his sister, but outside dogs were not welcome there.  He had somehow gotten in touch with Caring for Creatures, who thoughtfully gave him my number, or they gave me his, (Thanks, Jan.)  I agreed to keep his little dog, a shepherd mix named Tucson, while he stayed at the commune.  The week passed and he never called or came back.  I finally called his mother's house in Florida and soon thereafter got a call from him.  The call confirmed what I suspected, that the dog had been dumped on me. 

He was adopted by a nice young couple who had an SPCA beagle named Percy.  They sent me the picture on the right not long after the adoption.  They had some rough times at the beginning as I recall, but they worked through them.  It was a happy outcome for Tucson, who found himself in the unfortunate position of being no longer convenient for his owner's lifestyle.