Mason's Big Day Out

It's been really windy the past two days. The wind has been blowing at 30 mph, with gusts of 60 mph. Dave received a call at 4:50 this afternoon from the police--a call no one wants to get: the front door to your house was found standing wide open. The police walked through the house and stated that everything appeared to be undisturbed.

Dave came home and checked everything out; I did the same. It seems the wind really did just blow the front door open. We were told a neighbor called the police, so I went door-to-door tonight to thank our kind neighbor. Three doors down, I discovered that the Halls had called the police, and I was able to piece together more of the story because Mason isn't saying a word.

Evidently Mrs. Hall saw Mason outside through her kitchen window. Being a dog-lover, she went outside to get him to come to her. She bent down and called to him. He came near, but decided that he didn't know her, so he retreated. She then whistled to him because he was heading back up the cul-de-sac toward the busy road. Mason trotted back, but still wouldn't come to Mrs. Hall. When Mason retreated again toward the street, Mr. Hall followed him. Mason ran right into the open front door of the house. The sight of the open door alarmed Mr. Hall. He walked toward it to call into the house, but was greeted by a snarling, barking Mason who was protecting his house. Concerned that someone might be hurt or that the house might be burglarized, Mr. Hall went home to call the police. Mason followed him out of the house, sniffing Mr. Hall's path the entire way. After getting a good sniff, Mason headed back up the cul de sac toward the street. Mr. Hall followed him hoping that he could get Mason to run back into the house. Mason obliged.

Two police cars arrived as Mr. Hall waited outside. Mason must not like men in uniform for he barked even more ferociously when the police entered the house calling to find out if anyone was home. A bit intimidated by Mason, the police called animal control. The nice man from animal control thought Mason was not problem, so he contained Mason while the police secured the house. After searching the house and finding nothing amiss, the police called Dave to tell them of the trouble. Mason was left in the house and the police exited through the garage. (They must be experts at jumping over that child-safety beam in garages.)

Mason has gotten praise for not running into the street and for protecting the house. Dave gave him some chips, a few dog biscuits, and even some roast as treats. I have been repeatedly scolded for not locking the deadbolt after checking the mail yesterday. Dave shared his secret fear that I was home and hurt when the police called. We've both exhaled sighs of relief that Mason didn't run into the street; the outcome is unspeakable. So, I'll be extra careful about locking the front door from now on. And maybe, just maybe we'll look into getting the front door repaired so that it latches properly.