Fairy Tale

I have a great idea for a revenue source for the Lake Austin Animal Shelter. They should offer boarding.

It would require nothing special. Simply, people who had taken puppies straight out of well cared-for litters into permanent loving homes would send their adolescent pups to the dog pound for a few weeks just to introduce a new perspective.

Weegie in her crate You could charge a lot for this service, and there'd be no need for special clean, soft beds or tasty foods. Just a concrete cell and a steel bowl of cheap kibble.

Weegie of Arabia

Once a day, a disgruntled city employee in rubber boots would hose out the cages. He would greet the dogs with a curt growl, unmoved by rounded ears and pleading paws. Immune to cuteness, he would nudge the steel bowl with his toe and see no reason to replace the untouched kibble; it cannot spoil.

After two or three weeks of this (during which time we would be in, oh, Scotland?), we'd return. We would hug our stinking, chastised little puppy, bathe and groom her unresisted, cuddle with her on the couch unbitten and unyapped at, and feed her fine, home-cooked food, which she would finish gratefully.

Then we'd tuck her in her cushioned crate beside the bed. We'd wake her from her nightmares, and she'd see that she was safe at home again at last. Then she would wake up to the next day of her happy life, and it would be like that forever. Sigh.