A puppy for the holidays is no uncommon wish among young children. To many parents’ chagrin, a puppy is the ultimate gift — a gift that requires their own food, exercise, care, and has bills. The sad truth is that after the holiday season, many (now older) puppies get dumped at shelters or rescues, due to no fault of their own. But in some cases, for the right person, a puppy can be the gift of a lifetime. For one family, they had little choice – their dog was a gift for the holidays, but he decided to invite himself into their lives!
Home for the holidays
The Parrett family normally resides in North Dakota, but during the holiday season, they made a trip down to Texas in order to catch up with family. To their surprise, during the beginning of their visit, a stray dog showed up and befriended everyone in the family. Although initially wary the dog may be unfriendly or carry disease, he quickly become beloved. “He was so pleasant to the kids, and that is what won us over. Because we were just… We were still, like, no matter what happens, we are not taking this dog home,” Nicole Parrett said. Sadly, the time came to fly back to Texas, and the family left “Country,” as they dubbed the stray dog, behind.
However, Country’s story wasn’t over yet. Mike Parrett, or “Grandpa Mike,” had a surprise in store. He drove lucky Country over 1250 miles up to North Dakota. The kids were elated to get Country back as a Christmas morning surprise.
Safely handling a stray dog
Country’s story is heartwarming, and truly the ideal happy ending every stray dog deserves. Stray dogs aren’t entirely uncommon, especially in rural areas — you’ve likely seen a few in your lifetime. While it can be easy to be overwhelmed with emotion and the need to help, put safety first.
Consider carrying an emergency rescue kit in your vehicle, containing items like gloves, a slip lead, and/or a crate or carrier. Remember that a scared, hungry dog is more likely to act fearfully — don’t put yourself or a family member at risk of a bite when trying to help. And make sure your pets at home are up to date on their vaccinations. Stray dogs have been without medical care for an indeterminate amount of time. Disease transmission is unfortunately common – put your own pets first.
