Jamie Calls Me for Work

On May 29, Jamie called and asked if I could work on Tuesday. My wife reluctantly said I probably could. When I arrived on Tuesday morning, Jamie said thank you. He explained that Tom had been involved in an auto accident on his way home Saturday and would be unavailable for several months. He said the fellow he had hired was in the barn and getting to know the dogs.

Jamie called to Wes to come out and meet me. Wes came to the door and said that two dogs were loose and he needed help. Jamie and I moved quickly and had both dogs contained without problems developing. When we looked for Wes, we could not find him. Jamie said his bicycle was gone as well as the Schnauzer.

Jamie said for me to stay with the dogs and he would go after Wes and the dog.

An hour later, Jamie returned with sheriff Carl and showed him where the Schnauzer was missing. As they were talking, I noticed the Schnauzer coming around the house with a chain attached to the collar. I called Jamie and Carl and moved toward the dog. By the time Jamie and Carl came out of the barn, I had the dog under control. I showed this to them and said that end of the chain was broken and we may find where he had been. Carl told us to stay here and he would take the dog and chain with him and have one of his deputies back trace the dog.

After Carl left, Jamie and I talked and Jamie said he was embarrassed that he had been taken so badly. I told Jamie that he was fortunate that is was not later when more trust may have been established and he took you for more dogs when you went to town for dog food. I then asked Jamie if he had been paid in full for the Saint Bernard. Jamie said that was one reason he had hired the fellow as he had paid him in full. I asked if he still had the money and he said he had planned to deposit it later today. I said you should have Carl check it when he comes back.

I could see that Jamie was now very upset and when he spoke, I could tell he was, as he asked what else could go wrong today. I said let's exercise the dogs and let them blow off some steam. Jamie said to do that and he went to the house. Shortly, Jamie came out and said he was going to town. I told him that Carl had told us to stay here and wait for a deputy to arrive.

As if the deputy had been listening, he came around the house on the same path as the Schnauzer had traveled. Jamie went to talk to him and the deputy told him to go back into the house. Jamie asked him if he would come to the house and look at something he had. The sheriff deputy said he would after he got back to his car and talked with sheriff Carl. The deputy pointed at the house and told Jamie when he returned, he had better find him there.

The deputy asked me to come to him and when I got there, he asked to see the bottom of my shoes. I said yes that is my shoe imprint as I went toward the dog when I saw him with a chain on his collar. Sheriff Carl was here and saw me here. The deputy asked if the Schnauzer is the only missing dog. I said as far as I know, yes. If you are asking about a Saint Bernard, Jamie did sell the dog to Wes. And that is the reason Jamie wants to talk to you. He may be concerned that the money he received is counterfeit.

The deputy turned and walked straight to the house and Jamie let him in the door. I returned to the barn and continued to exercise the dogs. Again, the German Shepherd wanted to stay out. After another 15 minutes, the dog came in and went to his kennel. Next Jamie called to me and said he was giving the deputy a ride back to his car. And he came into the barn and said that the fellow would be here within the next 15 minutes to put fencing in to split the north lot and expand the east lot. He took me to the north lot and showed me where he had marked for the fence to be installed.

Then he hurried out to take the deputy back to his car. I did not exercise any more dogs and the person doing the fencing arrived as Jamie said. I showed the fellow the points Jamie had made and he unloaded his equipment and started on the post holes.

I started becoming concerned as the fellow had all the posts in and was putting in the wire fencing and he would be ready to start on the east lot in half an hour.

As the fellow was finishing the last post, Jamie and sheriff Carl arrive with the Schnauzer and the Saint Bernard.

Carl thanked me for telling his deputy about where I had met the Schnauzer as he had forgot to tell him. I said that was okay, as I knew what had happened, and knew you would confirm that. Jamie had the two dogs back in their kennels and thanked the sheriff for helping him.

Sheriff Carl said good-bye and left. Jamie saw the person doing the fencing and walked to talk to him. Together they went to the east lot and Jamie showed him where to put the second fence and the fellow started on that fence.

Jamie found me with the Boxer and asked me to come out of the kennel. He said that I was correct in thinking the money I had received for the Saint Bernard was counterfeit and the deputy confirmed it. Wes has evaded law enforcement and a state wide alert has been issued. Jamie said he was surprised that the Schnauzer had returned here and apparently, Wes had broken the chain to cause further delay in finding him.

Jamie said he was going to need more help now and would be having the two he was going to possibly hire in as soon as he could. He would be advertising for one or two more trainers. Jamie continued that he would need me more often than planned now.