I'm a responsible pet owner. What that means to me is: I do not let my dog roam the neighborhood, he's always on a leash when not in our yard, and when we go out for a walk or run, I always clean up after him.
Today we went for our normal walk/run combo. The course I take when I run alone is along main streets and through neighborhoods where there are always people around. It's safe. Or safer anyway. It's pretty convenient when my running partner, Dan, decides to let go about halfway into our jog because it is right behind our house. That was the case today. So, I bagged up the poo, knotted the bag, and pitched it over the privacy fence into our backyard where I would retrieve it after I finished exercising.
I brought Dan inside and searched the backyard. I couldn't find the black bag anywhere. I even looked in the trees. That's when I realized I must have thrown it into a neighbors yard by mistake. Crap. I walked next door and rang the bell. The couple had only moved in a few weeks before and while I had exchanged a few words with the husband, I had never met the wife.
When she came to the door I introduced myself and told her that I may have thrown dog poo in her backyard and would like to go back to collect it. After all, I didn't want to be caught slinking around their backyard poking around their trees. She was very sweet to someone that air-raided her home with doggy-doo. I went to the backyard, but the bag was nowhere to be seen. Crap. I locked their gate and went to the next house and rang the bell. This was the home of my good friend Teri and her husband, Chris. Their house is almost identical to ours, especially in the back, and when I told Teri what happened she laughed. Chris popped up behind her and said, "I thought I saw a black bag out there. I told Teri that someone threw a bag of dog shit in our backyard." I said, "Yep, that was me! And I have been tracking it down for about 20 minutes now." I entered their perfectly landscaped yard and grabbed the elusive black bag.
NOT the way I wanted to visit with the neighbors. I much prefer block parties or leisurely talking over the fence, or congregating in the cul-de-sac with drinks- not searching for shit through backyards. It's nice to know everyone has a good sense of humor.
