Do you remember John’s saying? “Anyone who has two dogs always has one sweet, gentle, kindhearted, old soul. And one crackhead.” You’ll want that reference for this story.
Before we got the Labs, we knew how much the breed loves the outdoors. We’d concocted visions of bringing them to the ranch, so they could frolic in the woods as we sat on the porch and enjoyed their antics.
After we got to know Rebel, we still nurtured dreams of taking her to the ranch. But we had an ulterior motive—wearing out our crackhead dog and watching her flop on the ground, then pass out from exhaustion. I played that dream in my head many times as I gathered up the pieces from another hat or pair of shoes she’d destroyed.
A few weeks ago, we pulled the trigger and turned our dreams into reality. We took all three dogs to the ranch for a sleepover. I grabbed my hiking boots and walking stick and took off into the woods with one, two…no, just two dogs running in front of me. Rebel chose to leap over the cattle guard and head for the cows. She made a few loops around the herd at full speed, then sailed back across the guard. That evening all three dogs crashed and we enjoyed a lovely rest. Everything was going well—no one had run away, no one had disappeared into the woods for an adventure.
The next morning John and I reclined on the porch, drinking coffee and reflecting on our blessed life. What a fabulous idea we’d put into play! Why had we been so reluctant to try it? Then we heard the splash.
Our crackhead dog had jumped in the pond. The pond with two alligators. The pond with two eight-foot alligators that aren’t afraid of humans. Oh, that’s right—Labs love water! We called and called, but Rebel had her own plan. She exited the water but jumped in two more times before joining us. The alligators watched her from a distance, and one even followed her. But they left her alone, thank goodness.
We won’t be going back until John has re-homed the alligators. Oh, and fun fact—our reptile friends are male and female, and they’ve been busy! John spotted five baby alligators a few days later swimming with Mama. Fortunately, we have several other ponds on other pieces of land far away from our ranch house. And we know a few experts to help us relocate our alligator family. Thank goodness for our little crackhead the alligators weren’t in the mood for chocolate—chocolate Labrador Retriever, that is.
Jann Goar Franklin graduated Russellville High School in 1989 and resides in Grand Cane, Louisiana. You can reach her at jann@jannfranklin.com