Renée's blog

Took my puppy Sunshine to the coffee shop with me, thinking that she and I could sit outside while I enjoyed a cup of coffee. In fact, I had asked one of the owners last week if it was okay to sit in their outdoor area with a dog and she said we were welcome and loved the idea.

So, knowing that I shouldn't bring a dog inside the shop, and not wanting Sunshine to stay even a couple minutes in the car in 90 degree weather,

while I got my coffee, I tied her to one of their outdoor wrought-iron-looking tables. After two minutes, I hadn't placed my order yet, but I thought I had better go check on puppy. Imagine my shock when Sunny was not there! And neither was the table!

I called, "Sunshine," and, "Sunny," but she did not come. A young family helped me look and the dad even went into the back parking lot and asked a trucker (who was unloading dog food for the neighboring pet store) if he had seen her. Sunshine was nowhere in sight. How far could she have gone with her leash tied to a TABLE? Someone must have seen her! How far could she have gone, dragging something that large behind her? She is only four months old and weighs twenty-two pounds!

Well, one of the coffee shop employees was kind enough to come out and help me look - and spotted the collapsible table flat on the ground behind a nearby car in the parking lot. There was Sunshine, still tied to the table, scared to death and hiding under the car! She wouldn't come out in spite of coaxing and I didn't have any dog treats on me. I had to drag her out!

Next, I picked her up and hugged her, and she clung to me, so glad to see her "mama." It must have been scary when that table fell and then followed her!

I should have learned this lesson from reading "Marley & Me," and from having seen the movie, but I guess I had to learn the hard way!

Sunshine is home and happy now.