Escape Artist
She let out a frustrating moan as she picked up the chewed-up shoes and threw them in the bin.
She had no idea how but the small furball had managed to get out and wreck everything he could get his mouth on. But when she found the truth hard to believe if not for the evidence.
Fur Babies
Margeret and Richard Weiss had beautiful little furballs that they considered their own children.
They had to deal with a lot of doghair and chewed up furniture. But it was worth it for their beautiful companions to be in their lives. Even Benny, the naughty one, held a place in their hearts.
Energetic Boy
Margret called Benny an overwound coil spring hopped up on 20 shots of espresso and ants in his pants and it was accurate for the little Jack Russel.
He hated being still anytime ever. He would run around the garden, chew the furniture, explore nooks and crannies, and beg for food. They didn't mind this but it was a problem when both of them had to leave for work.
Keeping Him Active
Margret loved taking him on walks. They would set out every morning before work.
They both needed the exercise and Benny would be less boisterous at home afterward. But the real problem was when he was in his cage. It broke their hearts but they had to put him in there every day when they left for work.
Cage Life
He'd be put in the cage and Margret would put the TV to the "dogs" channel. He hated being confined to a small space when he wanted freedom.
It hurt her to do but she knew the dog walked would come to take him out for an hour before her husband got back another three hours after that.
Getting Fatter
The schedule had been working fine over the last year. However, Margret started to notice that Benny was taking on weight. He had also somehow found a way to get out of his cage and run rampant through the house – destroying anything he found interesting.
But how was this possible? Had he simply learned how to push up the metal latch? The change in his weight also sparked unwanted lectures from her mother-in-law.
Everyone Has An Opinion
More than once, Margret had to leave them room as the know-it-all woman would go on an on about how she knew best ... for pretty much everything in their lives.
She turned up her nose at their dogs and complained how grandchildren would be better. Margert wanted to wrap her hands around the woman’s neck when she called Benny “a fat waste of family space where a kid should have been.”
Taking Action
But Benny’s weight and jail breaks really were becoming a problem.
Was the dog walker not taking him out for the long walk? Or worse, was she not coming over at all? Margret was at her wit’s end. There was only one thing left she could think of ... she needed to see firsthand what was going on. So, she bought a little camera.
Video Proof
The program was simple – and something many dog owners own.
The little camera would stream onto her phone and let her see what was going on in real time. Her stress levels were at a hard 8 out of 10 as she walked out the door to go to work. But they would soon skyrocket to 100.
Nothing Odd
Things started out like she expected.
Benny would bark and yip within his confinement. Then he would settle down and start chewing on his toys, watching the birds on tv, or take a long nap. Then, the door opened. But the person who walked through the door made Margret’s jaw hit the floor.
Caught Red Handed
It was her mother-in-law!
Somehow, she had got a copy of their key without them knowing! The woman scuttled over to the cage, unlocked it, and dumped in a huge mound of dog food. It wasn’t even the kind that Margret and Richard had been told to use by the vet. But things only got worse.
Two Times A Day
The dog walker came and went, probably thinking Benny had been let out by his parents – but with the food already munched up, she was oblivious to the fact that someone else had been there.
Then, a couple hours later, the mother-in-law arrived again! She poured another enormous helping of wet and dry dog kibble into the dish and let him run free again. Margret immediately called Richard.
Calling Out The Guilty
Thankfully, he was just a furious as she was.
Margret sat in the living room, trying not to spill her cup of coffee as she vibrated with anger. Richard paced back and forth, yelling into the phone – saying everything that she was already thinking.
Copied Keys
Besides being a huge violation of privacy, she was feeding their dog to the point of obesity! Her excuse?
At least she was “keeping their dog happy” and letting him be free like the other pets in the house. And of course, she knew best. Richard fumed as he learned that she had taken a copy of their key from the dog walker without telling them.
Changing The Locks
Aside from getting the locks changed and telling the sitter not to give anything to the mother-in-law, they still had a long road ahead.
They would have to put Benny on a new diet and put in extra exercise. But at least they now knew the truth. Also, the camera was now a permanent fixture in their house.