He Directs My Steps

In the early afternoon of last Tuesday morning, a sweet, senior beagle appeared in our yard. The reason I knew something was amiss was that Rain, our son’s pit bull, was barking incessantly! I went out to see why she was barking and there sat this sweet dog, looking at Rain as if to say, “Would you please hush? I am desperately trying to get some shut eye on this warm, sunny day and you are interrupting my reverie!” Unlike a stray, he seemed to be well cared for, so I surmised this was someone’s much loved pet.

I immediately posted this gentleman’s picture on our neighborhood social media website, and heard from several people who offered suggestions, expressed concern that he be reunited with his owner, and who commented on what a sweet “senior” dog he seemed to be. I even had one lady indicate that if I could not find his owner, she would take him!

On Thursday, I decided to take him to our vet at St. Clair Animal Clinic to see if he was microchipped and to have him checked for heartworms and intestinal worms. Since he had a rather unusual gait, I assumed he suffered with arthritis, and his teeth had been ground down pretty significantly. The vet prescribed some medication for the arthritis and hookworms. In addition he was bathed, his nails clipped,etc. He had a regular day at the spa!

He got along extraordinarily well with our other three dogs; they were best buds in no time! He enjoyed wandering (which undoubtedly was the reason he landed in unknown territory in the first place), and since I had no clue what his name was, I was communicating with him by motioning to him…it worked fine as long as he was focused on me, otherwise it was most unsatisfactory! Consequently, I put him on a leash to walk him; thankfully, he was leash trained!

On Friday morning, it was raining and cold, and I knew I would have to get up and walk the “new” dog. While Harold is tolerant of my love for animals and loves our pets, but he would be perfectly fine with only one animal, thank you! And on this cold wet morning, he said, “Honey, you sleep in, I will take the dog out!” This my friends is what I call LOVE!

That morning I printed posters with a picture of the dog, the message that he’d been FOUND, and my contact information. I laminated them to put up around the neighborhood. By afternoon, the floodgates had opened and it was raining in earnest, so I had to postpone placing the posters.

Meanwhile, our lab, Onyx, needed to see the vet because I suspected she had a urinary tract infection. As I had done the day before with the new dog, I called St. Clair Animal Clinic and requested an appointment for that afternoon. I was told that there were no appointment times available either that day, nor on Saturday, and that the earliest I could see someone would be Monday. I inquired whether I could make an appointment for Monday, but be prescribed an antibiotic to get my dog through the weekend, and was told antibiotics could not be prescribed unless the animal was seen.

Truthfully, I was a little put out that our lab could not be seen, nor could an antibiotic be prescribed for her prior to an appointment. I get it…. rules are rules; I am married to a physician….but when your dog has recurring urinary tract issues, you know the symptoms!

Prior to the opening of St. Clair Animal Clinic, we had gone to Branchville Animal Hospital, but when Dr. Bean, from Branchville Animal Hospital opened St. Clair Animal Clinic, it was closer to my home and more convenient. Since I was familiar with Branchville Animal Hospital, I called to see if they could see Onyx, and they told me to come on with her. At the last minute, I decided to take one of the laminated posters of the “senior’ beagle I had made to Branchville, hoping they would put it up in the veterinary clinic.

After I had registered Onyx, I handed the laminated flier to the receptionist and asked if she could display it somewhere. She immediately produced a picture of a much younger version of the same dog! I learned that his name is Scout and he lives about a mile from me! His owner is Mr. Billy Young and not only was Scout glad to see him, he was equally as delighted to see Scout! It was a happy reunion!

As I thought about my irritation at being unable to go to the nearest veterinary clinic, I was reminded of my prayer asking the Lord to help me locate this dog’s rightful owner. And He had done just that! The Lord Jesus had planned my steps so as to find this sweet dog’s owner. Because there were no available appointments at our regular veterinary clinic, I was forced to go to Branchville…and that is the clinic where Mr. Young took Scout! My sovereign Lord is interested in every aspect of my life…even finding the true owner of this sweet old dog….He just had to redirect my steps!

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