Out of the Woodwork

I arrived home from running errands and Mark told me that someone had called asking about little dogs. He said he didn't recognize the number, and when he picked up, the first thing this total stranger said was not "hello" or anything civil, but "DO YOU HAVE ANY LITTLE DOGS?"

Huh.

She apparently rambled on just a little bit, like crazy people often do, and Mark told her that his wife would call her back. I arrived home a short time later and got the message. Ugh.

I didn't formulate a plan as to whether I would actually phone back or not. We're not all about adopting to crazy people, and I just don't like the phone. Fortunately, I didn't have to think about my next move, because the crazy lady skipped a turn by not waiting for a return call, but calling me back again shortly after I got home.

"ARE YOU THE LADY THAT HAS LITTLE DOGS?"

"Sometimes," I told her, "but not right now."

She told me she wanted to adopt a little puppy so I told her to go look online at our group's website because I didn't have any small dogs for adoption in my house at the moment.

She countered by telling me she didn't have a computer. Somehow, I knew this would be the answer before she said it. I told her to go to the library or phone a friend with a computer. Sorry lady, I'm NOT your personal shopper.

You guys might think this was mean, but I never publish my phone number in association with animal rescue, so I don't feel an obligation to help total strangers that somehow get it and don't bother mentioning how they found me. Especially strangers that live a half hour away from me. This person is not my neighbour, or a friend. I don't have a small dog in care. She doesn't have a particular dog in mind. I cannot personally help you, crazy lady.

So she asks for the website. I say "it's A... S... D..."

"--ASP?"

"No, D, as in "dog". A, S, D, rescue.com."

"A, S, P, D, rescue?"

"No A, S, D, rescue.com."

"A, S, P, rescue.com?"

"... yes."

I know. I could have maybe got through to her. I tried though, and I didn't. I got off the phone with her as quickly as I could, and then went upstairs to Mark's office to gossip about her with him. I was washing dishes a little while later, and the phone rang. I had a bad feeling. Looking at the caller i.d., I saw that it was the crazy lady calling. Again.

I continued washing dishes. Leave me alone, crazy lady.