I'll tell THE STORY.
Why I didn't tell it the day it happened? Well it was a busy day and I can't vouch for my intelligence level. It was around the time I was seriously doubting my level of intelligence compared to Miss Leeta's
This happened the day we went to Olive Garden for lunch - our 3rd "real world" trip. Here we were, feeling pretty good about going out with Leeta. Days 1 & 2 went quite well and this should be pretty good considering much of the O.G. outing required Leeta to be sedate under the dinner table for an extended length of time and except for her occasional vocalizing, she was (and is) really good at that.
By the way it's 10PM as I write and she's dozing and snoring a couple feet away on her bed. What do dogs dream of that makes them move their legs while they're asleep?
. . . but I digress.
So we're heading to O.G. and we're the first team to pull in and get one of the close handicapped parking spaces. As I'm pulling in, I look towards the entrance door and see two CCI staffers sitting there waiting for us. And in front of the door, on the sidewalk, is . . . wait for it . . . a kitten. Not a nearly full-grown kitten. A ball of fur size that I could hold without too much problem in one hand.
Now a quick bit of background info. During Team Training, we had been told of a really useful tool that is used to get the dogs used to certain situations called a "set-up." A set-up is sort of a controlled situation. For example, say your dog snarfs some food dropped on the floor in a restaurant and you miss the opportunity to correct her. Later, at home, you can recreate the situation and correct her if she does the no-no again. Do that enough times and she'll learn.
So anyway, We're parked and I see the kitten. I roll down the window and call outto the CCI folks - "Hey, is this a set-up?!?"
Of course they swear it wasn't but I still don't know for sure.
So we get out of the car. Remember we're the first ones there. We're all supposed to line up to the side of the entrance and that would put Leeta within about 5 feet of the kitten.
Great.
Really - here we are getting the extra-special situation. But as you can guess from the digging the kibble out of Leeta's throat event, I was not about to show weakness. We strolled right up to the right spot while I was quietly hoping that the ktten would get a look at Leeta and run for the hills.
No such luck. We get up to the assigned spot and I said "Leeta down" and Leeta hit the concrete. I don't know if she just didn't notice the kitten or really had no interest in it whatsoever, but regardless, Leeta was a champ. She didn't pay it any mind, even when the kitten decided to get it's fur up, arch its back and hiss.
I didn't know what to do, but Leeta wasn't doing anything so I figured that was a safe activity. I'd say long story short at this point, but it's a bit too late.
So the kitten hissed and arched and backed up a bit because of Leeta's proximity. I don't remember how long it was, but pretty soon, the kitten realized that the world in front of the O.G was becoming lousy with dogs and people, and it took off and went around the corner.
Leeta did exactly what we hoped she'd do in that situation though from that point on, I never really trusted the trainers ever again.
Kidding. I'm kidding.
The little dog in the stroller that came up in Macy's while we were waiting for our elevator test however, was almost too much.
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