Sadie and the Shoe in My Yard

There is a man’s shoe in my yard. This in and of itself is strange. Combine the fact that it is not my shoe and the mystery deepens. I’m sure you’ve identified the obvious suspect, and under most circumstances, I would agree. My dog, Lily, is not above such snatchery, though I’ve yet to see her open a door and take a neighbor’s footwear. Perhaps because she has an invisible fence and can’t get out of my yard. I actually suspect this is the only reason I haven’t seen her picking a neighbor’s lock. Nevertheless, this shocking limitation is difficult to overcome. Difficult, but not impossible.

That is where I believe her accomplice, Sadie, comes in. Yesterday, we received a phone call from Sadie’s mother. For the record, Sadie is an adorable yellow retriever mix who visits our house to play with Lily. She lives just outside our neighborhood. Lily loves her, and she apparently loves Lily. Back to the phone call. Sadie lives up to her heritage. Her mom wanted to know if we were missing a lunch box and a miniature snowman. Sadie, it seems, had found them and brought them home. It also seems likely that Sadie brought Lily a shoe. I am convinced this is part of one of Lily’s diabolical plans, like body snatching or garden removal. If there is a jar of peanut butter in my yard tomorrow morning, my suspicions will be confirmed.