Page 15 of Rescue Them

The dogs barked like crazy, and he wandered what was wrong.As soon as he unlocked the door, they hurried around him and James, desperate for pets and reassurance.Once he got inside, Lyle checked everything out but didn’t see anything amiss.He took the dogs downstairs and let them out.They peed and pooped but stayed close to him once they had done their business.

“What’s going on?”James asked as he joined him.“They seem weird.”

“I know.I can’t find anything out of place.Did you check upstairs?”

“Yeah.There’s a toy that’s been eviscerated with fluff all over the place, but other than that I can’t find anything.”

Lyle paused.“They never rip their toys apart.”That was most definitely strange—they were usually very careful.They shook the toys and growled, but they didn’t chew them apart.He needed to take a look.After closing the door, he went upstairs and found fluff everywhere in the hall outside the bedrooms.He picked up what was left of the toy and looked it over as the dogs sniffed around.

“What the hell?”he exclaimed as James came up with him.

“I know.The dogs are as confused as I am.”

Lyle handed over what was left of the black and white cow.“Does that look cut to you?”He handed it to James, who looked closely and shook his head.

“It looks ripped apart to me, but these dogs don’t do that… at least not as far as I’ve ever seen.Maybe they were stressed and did it, but it seems out of character.”He bent down and began picking up bigger pieces of fluff while Lyle got the vacuum and finished cleaning up the rest of the mess.He also checked the other rooms.During the day, he closed the doors, so he wasn’t surprised that those rooms were pristine.“I hope they don’t disturb the new neighbors once they move in.”All he needed was more drama.

“Me too.”He put the vacuum away and then they sat on the sofa, giving attention and plenty of belly rubs to the dogs.“You guys need to be quiet when I’m gone.”The thing was that they didn’t bark when he left.“Something must have gotten them riled up and anxious, but I can’t figure out what it is.”

“I wonder if someone was over at Corky’s old place.Maybe they were painting to get ready for the new renters and the noise set them off?I don’t really know, but I did notice empty paint stuff outside the back door over there.I know they’re usually calm, but it’s the only explanation that I have.”

“Well, if that’s the case, we’ll see how the dogs react if they come back.”It was the best explanation they had, but Lyle wasn’t so sure.Something in his gut told him there was more to this, but he had no idea what.“How about some lunch?”

“Sure,” James answered as his phone rang.“It’s Mitchell.”He took the call, and Lyle half listened to his side of the conversation.“Right now?Okay.”He turned to Lyle.“I’ll ask if he can come.”He ended the call.“Mitchell heard from the sheriff’s office.They were called to a house out in the alphabet streets.They found the owner had passed away, and there are at least ten dogs.They asked if he could take them.”

“When do we need to leave?”He hated leaving his own dogs at home alone again, but hopefully it wouldn’t be for too long.

“Mitchell is texting me the address, and we can meet him there.He’s got a truck with carriers, but with that many dogs, he’s going to need help.”He petted Lyle’s dogs as he spoke.“I can meet him if you think you need to stay here.”

“No.Let’s go.I’d like to bring the dogs with.They could stay in the car.But….”

James nodded.“Then let’s get their leashes and we can go.”

LYLE DIDN’Tknow quite what to expect.He parked in the shade and cracked the windows before getting out.The yard around the house was overgrown.Mitchell was out front with a deputy as they approached.“We aren’t sure what you’re going to find.I suggest gloves and a mask.I opened the door, and the smell nearly knocked me over.There is poop and pee everywhere.So I imagine these dogs have been on their own for a while.”

“Got it.I’ve encountered places like this before.I’m assuming there isn’t a tiger in a cage out back?”he asked with a smile.The deputy looked at him blankly.“Last year I got a call about an animal hoarder and that’s what we found… among other things.”

“Jesus,” Lyle said under his breath.

“Nope.No tigers, just dogs.Lots of them,” she added.

“Okay.Let’s unload all the carriers onto the lawn,” Mitchell said, and they got to work.Once everything was unloaded, they went inside.“Get the friendly ones out right away and into a carrier.Fill a bowl with some water and give each a little food to tide them over.”

“Okay,” Lyle said, along with James, and he steeled himself for what he was going to find.

His imagination did not prepare him.The smell that came out as soon as they opened the door was enough to bowl them over.Lyle pulled on a mask from the truck and breathed through his mouth as best he could before entering.A toy poodle mix practically danced around his feet.He gently picked him up and petted him, saying soothing things as he carried him out.He carefully put him in a carrier and got some water and sprinkled in some food, which the dog gobbled up.

Lyle passed Mitchell with a small terrier mix who squirmed in Mitchell’s embrace.Lyle opened the door to a carrier and got water and food for the dog, who, like the other, gobbled it right up.He went back inside and found a graying dog on a bed.Lyle coaxed him into his arms and gently carried him out.He whimpered when Lyle put him into the carrier, and Lyle gave him water and a little food.Then he saw Mitchell come out with a collie mix on a lead.“I’ll take him.You need to look at this guy.I think he’s hurting.”Lyle took the collie and got him into a large carrier.

Mitchell bent down and gently looked at the older dog.“Jesus.He has an abscess of some kind.”Mitchell groaned.“I should have expected this kind of thing.Can you get him on the floor in the cab of the truck and start loading the others?James and I will get the rest.”

“Okay.”Lyle said and carefully placed the carriers in the back of the truck.Once he had them loaded, he helped get the rest of the dogs fed and watered before loading them, until they had eleven dogs in all.

“Mitchell, there’s one more.She’s hiding under the bed, and I can’t get to her.I know she’s scared and all….”the deputy explained.

“I’ll see what I can do,” Lyle said and followed the deputy back inside, thankful that the deputy had opened windows to dissipate the smell.Still, his eyes watered as James led him to the back bedroom.The smell was worse in there and the carpet damp.He knelt on a couple layers of cardboard that James had found and peered under the bed.

“Oh, you sweet girl,” he said softly.“I know you’re scared, but I’m here to help you.”He reached into his pocket and pulled out some food, holding out his hand.It was pretty obvious that she was hungry.Her nose twitched, and Lyle held still with the food.