Howard liked to get up...
Illustration
Howard liked to get up with the sun. It was a habit he'd started as a boy when he had farm chores to do before he could go to school. Somehow, the habit had never left him. He still liked to get out and feed the chickens and gather the eggs before breakfast. He liked the feel and the sounds of the barnyard at that time of day. That's why he knew something was wrong as soon as he stepped out into the yard that summer morning. Something felt wrong! It didn't sound right, either. Howard went back into the house, grabbed his shotgun and rushed back out to the barn. He couldn't believe the sight that met his eyes. Boards had been torn off the side of his barn and his chickens lay injured or dead on the ground. He'd never seen anything like it. Over 100 chickens -- slaughtered. The government inspector thought it looked like a dog had done the damage. Signs went up on all the telephone posts warning other farmers to keep their eyes open. Two pigs, a calf and a few more chickens were killed before the dog was captured. It was a house dog, gone wild: a family pet that got out of control. How ironic that Howard's family dog was able to go out into the fields and round up the 20 or so chickens that had managed to escape. What an image! A house dog gone wild as he scattered and killed, and a house dog that was able to round up the strays and bring them home. -- Conroy
