Goodbye Rapha

Yesterday I was walking Rapha. We went to the post office together and I tied her up behind the building. I was only in there for about a minute when the postal worker got a strange look on her face. She asked who owned that dog. I sheepishly admitted that the barking scoundrel was indeed my dog. Wanting to take a look, she stepped outside. To my horror, she then declared that this dog was in fact her friend's dog who had gone missing over a month ago. She promptly got on the phone and told her friend she found her dog. Apparently Rapha belong to a seven-year-old girl who had named her Sparkles. I cringed--both at the thought of the broken-hearted girl and the disgrace of baring the name "Sparkles." Kennedy told me she would get me another lab, if I wanted one. I only shook my head, choking back tears. I didn't want just any old dumb dog. I wanted Rapha.

I took Rapha home yesterday and cried my eyes out and waited for her owner to come pick her up. I called a few TFA friends and told them the sad news. They all urged me not to give Rapha back, saying it was my dog now. But you know, if Rapha ran away from me, I would want someone to return her. What should I tell that little girl? I am a 23-year-old with no one to come home to so I need her more than you? Real mature.

I don't know if she got lost or what, but the old owner never came, so for now Rapha remains with me. I will admit though, I thinking of forever avoiding the post office...

B

P.S. I took some pictures with Rapha in case I ever have to give her up.