With regard to stray animals: A mystery shopper's story.
Last spring, whilst was driving hubby's old SUV on a route in the rural part of Illinois, I noticed two large Labrador Retrevior type dogs running down the county highway. With a farm very nearby, I made the assumption that they were part of that farm and continued on.
However, as I passed them, I saw a leash being dragged by one, and as I watched in my mirror, an auto coming from the opposite direction narrowly missed hitting one of them. The larger of the two, sat down in the middle of the road and the other one came over to him.
That's it! I thought, I have to go back!
I turned my SUV around and returned. By this time, they had run further down the road. When I did catch up to them, I stopped and opened the rear door. They both hopped in, without a moment's hesitation.
Once again, I turned around and headed toward the nearest farm, thinking they had wandered away. One of them jumped over the rear seat, licked me on my neck, its drool running down my back. That is when I noticed a collar and a tag. Stopping again, I looked at the tag. It had a telephone number! I called the number on my mobile and a man answered.
Quickly I described what happened. He was on his mobile as well, searching for the escapees. They had been missing for hours he said.
We agreed to meet at an intersection, where they could be reunited.
All ended well. The two dogs howled, almost crying with relief and joy upon their master's arrival. He told me he lived in the little town a few miles away and that the pair escaped when his young daughter attempted to walk them.
I wore a silly grin the rest of the day.