Ellie's Interview

Yesterday, Ellie and I had a nice experience at the schoolyard where we walk each evening.

We had walked around the front of the school and were heading toward the playgrounds in the back when we encountered three young brothers.  We have seen and spoken to these young gentlemen before, but this was the first time they got to meet Ellie close up.

They had so many questions!

BOYS: "Why does she smell the ground so much?" ME: "Because she is a hunting dog, a scent hound, and smelling is how they find what they need to hunt."

BOYS: "Does she get baths?" ME: "Yes, but beagles need oil on their fur, so they don't need to be bathed too often. She gets a bath about once a month, unless she rolls around in something stinky. " (Ellie then rolls in the grass to illustrate my point). 

BOYS:  "Why does she roll around in the grass like that?"  ME:  "I think it feels good to her.  I think it scratches her back.  She loves to do it."

BOYS: "Does she like to be petted?"  ME: "She loves to be scratched under her chin, and she loves to have her shoulders rubbed.  She doesn't like to have her back scratched or petted much.  And she does NOT like to be petted on the top of her head."

BOYS: "Where did you get her?"  ME: "From a wonderful breeder in Louisiana." (Then I had to explain to the youngest what and where Louisiana was.  When I told him it was next to Mississippi, he understood because he said they had gone to the beach in Mississippi once.)

BOYS: "When will she have puppies?"  ME: "NEVER!"  The boys didn't pursue that thought, and I'm glad because I didn't want to explain why she would never have puppies.

BOYS: "Where does she sleep?"  ME: "She has a bed in one of our bedrooms, but most of the time she sleeps with us. OLDEST BOY: "No, that's too crowded."  ME:

"Actually, I love it.  She comes and snuggles close to me, and then she snuggles just a tiny bit more.  I find it very comforting."

BOYS: "What does she eat?"  ME: "She eats dog food and a little bit of chicken to give her extra protein."

The boys asked other questions, which I can't remember, but we had a nice time together discussing Ellie and her care.  I relay this experience because we never know what seeds we plant in the hearts and minds of children by being kind and responsive to them.  I didn't share the Lord with them, but I formed a platform of mutual respect and communication that may well give them the opportunity to do so another time.  And I believe, Ellie now has three more admirers.