chicken chase!

Rusty got away from us this morning and headed down the driveway. He almost came back (he turned toward the house), but unfortunately one of the neighbor's chickens decided to poke her head through the hedge. There followed a hectic 15 minutes of Dennis and me chasing Rusty chasing chickens around our neighbor's house. Tabasco and Marzipan watched the fun (probably the most excitement they've had in years), and stayed mostly away from the action (though Basco did try to sniff a chicken once). I didn't know chickens could move that fast while simultaneously making that much noise. And had the episode ended better, I'd be laughing a bit harder about it now. I had to go back home and get the car so that Rusty would come to the car. He came up to it, but then he turned back to hunt chickens again. I went up to fetch him from their porch, and he came to me and sat down, but when I reached for him, he rather savagely bit my thumb. I walked back to the car and opened the door, and the little devil followed me. I opened the door and told him to get in, and suddenly a soaking wet Tabasco reappeared and launched himself (100 lbs of stinky, dripping, muddy wet dog) into the car. He was an equal opportunity dripper, soaking each seat and occupant the same amount. I decided Rusty could fend for himself and went around the car to haul Tabasco out of the car. And this is when Rusty jumped in the car! I drove him back up to our house, hoping to get him safely into his crate so Dennis and I could finally head to the lake. But he refused to leave the car when we got back home, and we refused to attempt to make him do so. We left the car door open and hid in the house until he came out. Then we jumped in the car and left, with the dog still wandering in the yard. I disinfected my thumb and I think it'll be fine, and I hoped the chickens would give him hell while we were away. David found him while on his lunch break and scooped him up and brought him home and crated him (and doesn't have a tooth mark to show for it). Clearly, he has to go. He's a cute little dog, but I can't have a pet I can't trust around my child.

The rest of the day was happier, thank goodness! We spent it at the lake with Gran and Gigi and had a wonderful time. Dennis spent some time cuddling with me, sitting in my lap and snuggling. I savored the moment, knowing the time will come when he will decide he's too old for such. And he and his Gran planted some tomato plants together this afternoon, and he helped haul boxes and cardboard around--he was thrilled to be so important!