Stray
Yesterday when I picked up Cody from summer school, a pit bull/lab mix trotted onto the school ground and ran amongst the parents waiting for the buses. (I transport Cody to the local elementary then they are bussed to the summer school location.) A bunch of the parents were a bit freaked out about this pit bull-looking dog but she seemed rather friendly and looked like she was looking for someone to play with.
I called her over to me and saw that she had a name tag and a phone number. Her name was Halley. I let her go and she went back to sniffing everyone and trotting around us. Mothers were pulling their kids away from her in fear and I felt bad for the dog. No one seemed to want to do anything about it so once Cody got off the bus, I called her back to me (by name this time) and she came right to me. I took her by the collar and led her to my van. She hopped right in. I called the number on her tag and got an answering machine. I left a message then waited a few minutes. Everyone was leaving and I didn’t want to leave the dog at the school alone, so I ended up taking her home.
She was just a sweetheart and a half. She got along well with my doggies and she loved the kids. She hung out with us all day until her owner called me thanking me for taking her in while she was at work. Apparently this isn’t the first time she’s gotten out and they keep having to reinforce their fence. They suspect she may be jumping it now. I told her with the dog being a pit bull mix, she should really do all she can to keep it safe on her property because the general reaction to her from the parents at the school was not good. You could tell she wasn’t a pure bred, but she definitely looked like she had pit in her.
I don’t like pit bulls myself. But I can usually recognize a friendly dog when I see one. This one was smart, well cared for, trained, and loved people. I’m glad she’s back home safe and sound and hope she stays that way. At least I know where to take her if I see her again. 
