Ponies on Parole, Part 2

***On last week's episode, Denise and family had been notified that their three horses were loose and Animal Control had been called in to take care of them****

4:40 a.m.  We were now driving around the neighborhood following the sheriff's vague directions that the horses were just "up the street."  The husband was the only one dressed and in a semblance of order (but he's sort of like that).  I had jumped into sweatpants and my tall rubber muck boots and threw a jacket over my knee-length lime green night shirt emblazoned a cartoon weiner dog and the saying "I wanted to be around you."

Jess was lying on her stomach, with her head between the two front seats (we'd not taken the time to fold up the seats in the Expedition) barking orders.  It appeared as though we were taking orders from a disembodied head.

4:55 a.m.  Still trying to determine just exactly where "up the street" is.  Denise is becoming more hysterical.  Allan calls the sheriff dispatch for better directions.

5:05 a.m.   We spot a pile of horse poop and just beyond that an animal control officer holding a big, brown horse.  Dutchie!  As I leap out of the truck, the woman says, “Thank goodness you are here.  We couldn’t get this one to load in the trailer.  The other two are already gone.” 

What?!  

“When they come back, maybe you can help us load him.” 

Do you not see the lime green tee shirt and the bed head?  Do I look like an animal control officer?  This is my horse!

5:10 a.m.  We clear up the confusion and Dutchie is released into our custody.  I’ve got instructions to pick up the other two at the Animal Shelter and lead my one remaining horse home with a dog’s leash around his neck.

(fast forward)

2:00 p.m.  My good friend, Teri, and I are heading down to the shelter with the horse trailer to spring the jailbirds.  When we arrive, the lobby is packed.  We sign in and go looking for the horses.  Suddenly, Teri spots this:

We grab an employee walking by and tell him they are MY horses!  They're going to adopt them out in two days?  Where are they?  He says they are in the back, BUT I have to be able to ID them.  Okay, but how?  Veterinarian reports, pictures, bill of sale.  He then takes us through all the offices and into the back lot where the two miscreants are dozing in a pipe corral. 

As soon as I see them, I shout, “Oreo!  What happened?  Who opened the gate?”  Both ponies snap to attention and come to the rail.  Oreo whinnies and flips her head, then curls her lip up in the flehmen response.  The employee starts laughing and says, “Well, that’s a positive ID if I’ve ever seen one!”

Back to the lobby.  We wait.  We wait some more.  And then a little longer…until ---

4:30 p.m.

We’re the only ones left.  Teri, above, is calling home to tell them we are still here… then my name is called!  We run to the counter and after writing a rather unpleasant check to bail them out, we head for home.

Remember this picture?  Really?  No one could figure out who might have owned these horses?