Community dogs

Skeet and Casey often appear on Chapmans' deck, expecting doggie treats

Our neighborhood has always had community dogs. Farmer Kirk, who used to own our farm, used to take the Chapmans' dog to town all day with him. Then, his own german shephards usually went down to Chapmans'. After Farmer died, his widow Eula's big husky, Mandy, actually moved to Chapmans' when she moved into town. Later, Chapmans' short-haired pointer, Ace, always came up to inspect progress on our house addition. He once came into it for a tour after it was done and then (not realizing it was completed), shook pond water all over the floor.

More recently, Schafers' orchard dogs make themselves at home at our house when they escape their chains at their assigned deer-deterring locations.

Skeet and Casey have made themselves at home at the Chapmans' since 1998, when we moved to the farm. Skeet makes a trip down there every morning to check for leftover cat food and to get her daily doggy bone. Skeet has even gone so far as to go into the house, jump up on the kitchen chair, and help herself to bread.

Skeet appears to be smiling on the deck