Sharp Canine Ears and a Lassie Instinct

Continued:

So Farlie had rescued the trapped Buddy and alerted us to the fact that our kitchen was rapidly filling-up with smoke from Fran's somewhat overdone piopcorn.We were getting impressed:

Then, last Spring, Fran was working in a room into which Farlie was not allowed and so was surprised to see the dog craning her head in as far as she could reach.  Fran shooed her out and Farlie moved away down the hall.

A moment passed and Fran felt a bump on the back of her legs.  Turning to scold Farlie, she realized that, once again, she was being urged to follow.

She removed her headset and heard very faint cries for help.

Again Farlie nudged her and the two of them proceeded outside where they found the next door neighbour, a recent amputee, lying on the ground.  Her wheelchair had tipped as she was attempting to maneuver out of her apartment.  Our neighbour re-named Farlie, Lassie, and proclaimed her a hero.

As this story spread, several people suggested that I should write about it – a feel good story is one that should find itself in print.

But somehow, something else always arose to catch my attention – that is, until last night when we were visiting friends just outside of town. 

Their yard is fenced and Farlie and Finn, their dog, were outside.

At one point, there was a mild mannered woof from the back door. We conveniently ignored it.   There followed another woof and a spate of quiet crying that finally roused me.

As I opened the screen, Farlie rushed, not in, but away, toward the gate.

I then received the tell-tale head butt and she made her way, again, toward the gate.

Once out onto the road, I saw an overturned motorcycle lying on what turned-out to be a young woman.  She was pinned, face down, in a ditch.

Cutting to the chase, but not to diminish Farlie’s alert, as it turned-out, she had cuts, scrapes and bruises and a badly marred ego, but nothing worse. 

It was her position, under the weight of the bike, feet up, head down into the ditch that had incapacitated her.

However and even being aware of Farlie’s record, what really surprised all of us was that the young woman had not called for help.  She had yelled as the bike went over but beyond that, she had stayed quiet trying to assess how best to free herself with the least attention – something that could not have happened.

Sharp canine ears and a Lassie instinct – feel good stories deserve to find themselves in print.

And, yes, I could go on and on but I won't  :-)