Today is one of those wonderful, almost spring days where the sky is blue, the trees are budding out and the birds sing all day. It is the kind of day that I don't want to end and I am thankful to be alive and outside.
Lucy, our boxer, walks with me and we often go down one of the country roads nearby. On that road, I get to enjoy seeing horses, cows, sheep and a pair of bloodhounds that begin announcing us before we see them and continue until we are out of sight. But, there is one sight along that walk that I don't like. We pass a black lab mix dog, by himself in a pen behind a garage, who always seems lonely and sad. He is well fed and has water and shade, but is always in his pen alone and I have never seen anyone paying any attention to him or allowing him out of the pen.
Today he found freedom. I am unsure how or why he got out, but there he was, free and wandering around nearby the area where he lives. His expression was so different, and being a male, he was interested in watching Lucy. Normally, if we approach the side of the street near his pen, he cowers and turns away, tail tucked and head down. Today, he was confident, alert and walked towards us for a better look. I wanted to tell him to run and escape while he could, but I know that would be just another stray around the country neighborhood. As we left, he remained in the yard near his home, waiting on his owner to return. I walked away hoping he would at least have the rest of the afternoon to enjoy life outside the chain fence.
Back at home, I watched our donkeys and llamas enjoying each other and the freedom of spacious pastures. The chickens got to free range and our three dogs stayed outside with me the rest of the afternoon, enjoying this near perfect spring-eve day.
