Babysitting Robin for Mary
I have had a rare opportunity to babysit the little dog, Robin, of my sister-in-law Mary.. It has been quite an experience and let me tell the tale.
Mary and my wife were going gambling west of Joplin in Oklahoma on December 1 and planning on staying the night. Mary, not wanting to leave the dog at home needed someone to watch Robin, her little white cute bachon dog. The plan was for Robin to stay with Jake and Amanda but the rendezvous was missed and I received the privilege. Things were going great as I had to stay in the house anyway and wait for a repairman to come and fix the washing machine. I took Robin outside three times in the morning and afternoon but she failed to want to do her 'thing'. Instead she would run around the house and get with my two dogs and run and play a bit. The first time I had to catch her to get her back inside but after that she would come when I approached the door and called her name. I tried to get her to eat and drink but to no avail. Because Jacob and Amanda were not home I was going to collect two children when they got off the bus and watch them until choretime. Finally it was choretime and the repairman had still not shown up. I called him and got his answering machine and left a message that no one would be there until after the evening milking and then I went to milk. The kids and I headed to the barn, they were going to stay with Mitzi until Jacob and Amanda returned around 8:00 p. m. Mitzi had to go to the schoolhouse to pick up "Flossie" from basketball practice at 4:15 p. m. and so I went in the house to watch the other five that were there while she was gone. Milked by myself so took a little longer than normal.
Evening chores done and past 6:30 p. m. I headed back to the house. I thought I should give Robin a chance to use the outside for a bit but I was concerned about it being after dark. Immediately upon opening the door she headed out and around the corner and I lost sight of her. About then the repairman showed up and I had to let him in and escort him to the washing machine so he could get started and I went out to try to call Robin. I could not call her or my two dogs (I think they were off chasing something) . I looked around and called and called and finally I called Mitzi for help. She sent some kids out to help and she came outside with them. Surely she would be in the garden or calf lot that is between the two houses. Mitzi finally spotted her in the road and I headed down the road from my house but Robin turned and headed back to Mitzi's. (Remember it is dark - good thing Robin is white). Again she gave us the slip and we searched and called and searched and called. I am starting to get mighty frustrated with the adventure. The repairman was done and had Glinda's washing machine running again so I had to stop and thank and pay him and see him off. Finally Mitzi or one of the kids spotted her again. She was under an old mulberry tree that has the branches down to the ground beside my stock dog that has to remain tied. The other two dogs had appeared and Robin was reluctant to leave the relative safety of the tree and dogs. I got up close and pounced on her and got bit three times for my trouble, but I did not release my grip on Robin. I held her close and tight and took her into the house where she promptly run and got back in her kennel she has for sleeping and traveling. I examined my wounds and found I was bleeding in three places so I washed up good and tried to stop the bleeding. I let Robin out in the house once more and tried to get her to eat or drink something but it was no use. I was not mad at her because she was just scared and doesn't really know or like me. I thought I will try again tomorrow.
I got up at 3:30 a.m. and headed to the barn to chore after morning coffee. When I was able to return to the house I again made a mistake and thought I could let Robin out this morning in the daylight and she might not run away but when she hit the door she went in a straight line to the southeast of the first field, crawled through the fence and kept going along the fence until she reached the back forty where she again went through the fence. Good thing she stopped to rest and I was able to get her in sight again but when she saw me she slipped through the fence and out onto the road. I called Amanda to come assist as by now we were near their house. I crossed the fence and got in the road and the little varmint crawled up the embankment and back through the fence and left me in the road. Again she is out of my sight so I hustle after her trying to get her in my sight once more. I spotted her heading west and in the second field again so I follow behind. She goes right on into the first field again and heads towards the house and I am over a half field away but then I see Amanda drive in to the driveway and let two of her dogs out and they pursued Robin and got friendly and she slowed down. Amanda and I followed until we kinda had Robin in a corner and Amanda was able to approach and grab her. Robin is back in the house with me now and Amanda and her two dogs have gone home.
Many thanks are extended to Mitzi and the young ones who helped me last night and to Amanda, Sadie and Harley who assisted me this morning. I could not have caught her without your help.
Mary and my wife were going gambling west of Joplin in Oklahoma on December 1 and planning on staying the night. Mary, not wanting to leave the dog at home needed someone to watch Robin, her little white cute bachon dog. The plan was for Robin to stay with Jake and Amanda but the rendezvous was missed and I received the privilege. Things were going great as I had to stay in the house anyway and wait for a repairman to come and fix the washing machine. I took Robin outside three times in the morning and afternoon but she failed to want to do her 'thing'. Instead she would run around the house and get with my two dogs and run and play a bit. The first time I had to catch her to get her back inside but after that she would come when I approached the door and called her name. I tried to get her to eat and drink but to no avail. Because Jacob and Amanda were not home I was going to collect two children when they got off the bus and watch them until choretime. Finally it was choretime and the repairman had still not shown up. I called him and got his answering machine and left a message that no one would be there until after the evening milking and then I went to milk. The kids and I headed to the barn, they were going to stay with Mitzi until Jacob and Amanda returned around 8:00 p. m. Mitzi had to go to the schoolhouse to pick up "Flossie" from basketball practice at 4:15 p. m. and so I went in the house to watch the other five that were there while she was gone. Milked by myself so took a little longer than normal.
Evening chores done and past 6:30 p. m. I headed back to the house. I thought I should give Robin a chance to use the outside for a bit but I was concerned about it being after dark. Immediately upon opening the door she headed out and around the corner and I lost sight of her. About then the repairman showed up and I had to let him in and escort him to the washing machine so he could get started and I went out to try to call Robin. I could not call her or my two dogs (I think they were off chasing something) . I looked around and called and called and finally I called Mitzi for help. She sent some kids out to help and she came outside with them. Surely she would be in the garden or calf lot that is between the two houses. Mitzi finally spotted her in the road and I headed down the road from my house but Robin turned and headed back to Mitzi's. (Remember it is dark - good thing Robin is white). Again she gave us the slip and we searched and called and searched and called. I am starting to get mighty frustrated with the adventure. The repairman was done and had Glinda's washing machine running again so I had to stop and thank and pay him and see him off. Finally Mitzi or one of the kids spotted her again. She was under an old mulberry tree that has the branches down to the ground beside my stock dog that has to remain tied. The other two dogs had appeared and Robin was reluctant to leave the relative safety of the tree and dogs. I got up close and pounced on her and got bit three times for my trouble, but I did not release my grip on Robin. I held her close and tight and took her into the house where she promptly run and got back in her kennel she has for sleeping and traveling. I examined my wounds and found I was bleeding in three places so I washed up good and tried to stop the bleeding. I let Robin out in the house once more and tried to get her to eat or drink something but it was no use. I was not mad at her because she was just scared and doesn't really know or like me. I thought I will try again tomorrow.
I got up at 3:30 a.m. and headed to the barn to chore after morning coffee. When I was able to return to the house I again made a mistake and thought I could let Robin out this morning in the daylight and she might not run away but when she hit the door she went in a straight line to the southeast of the first field, crawled through the fence and kept going along the fence until she reached the back forty where she again went through the fence. Good thing she stopped to rest and I was able to get her in sight again but when she saw me she slipped through the fence and out onto the road. I called Amanda to come assist as by now we were near their house. I crossed the fence and got in the road and the little varmint crawled up the embankment and back through the fence and left me in the road. Again she is out of my sight so I hustle after her trying to get her in my sight once more. I spotted her heading west and in the second field again so I follow behind. She goes right on into the first field again and heads towards the house and I am over a half field away but then I see Amanda drive in to the driveway and let two of her dogs out and they pursued Robin and got friendly and she slowed down. Amanda and I followed until we kinda had Robin in a corner and Amanda was able to approach and grab her. Robin is back in the house with me now and Amanda and her two dogs have gone home.
Many thanks are extended to Mitzi and the young ones who helped me last night and to Amanda, Sadie and Harley who assisted me this morning. I could not have caught her without your help.
Robin - I do not believe she likes me.
Cheerily
IJK
Cheerily
IJK
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