Tales from a Dog Catcher

Lisa Duffy-Korpics, a writer and a high school social studies teacher, was previously an animal control officer. Her stories have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover’s Soul and four other Chicken Soup books. She lives in Orange County, New York.

Table of Contents My Fair CharlieA badly behaved wild cat accidentally spends a few uninvited months of “rehab” on top of a kitchen cabinet to prepare for a homecoming no one could ever predict, and a recently widowed woman discovers that sometimes what you need can be exactly what you thought you didn’t. Bless the Beasts and the ChildrenA mysterious white dog whose life spent at a convent meets a tragic end only to reappear later to those who have faith. The Few, The Proud, The PekingeseWhen this bad dog bites the hand that feeds him, his owners finally have him taken away, But the question remains; are there really bad dogs…or just bad people? A former Marine police Sergeant who rules his shift straight by the book finds that in some matters …it’s best to rule with your heart. Rescued by Love (previously published in Chicken Soup for the Cat & Dog Lover’s Soul)When a developmentally disabled man finds that he can not have his dog in public housing, he chooses to live in a car. His brave decision and selfless actionsillustrate that sometimes those least able in our society, are the real role modelsThe Lions of Bear MountainA recent transplant from New York City who incorrectly assumes that she lives in the wilderness, insists that the wild animal trapped in her garage could be a mountain lion. Bad colds and bad attitudes abound until I realize that getting to know about a new neighborhood can be the difference between a place where you live…and a place where you’re home.He Who Barks LastA decade’s long feud between two long time enemies, who use each other’s dogs to hurt each other, culminates in a dramatic courtroom battle where they unwittingly end up helping each other. Groundhog DayStruggling with grief from the recent death of his wife, the task of calling the department to pick up a dead animal from the parking lot outside his building seems to give the usually jovial building superintendent even more reasons to be depressed. When the dead groundhog suddenly comes back to life, unsecured in my car, the sadness is lifted a bit when he realizes that it is the first time he has laughed since his wife had diedThe Serial Killer of Main StreetA black and white Great Dane named Sammy may be responsible for a canine crime wave. Can a mentally imbalanced dog actually entice other dogs into the middle of a busy main street with the intent to kill? The extreme measures I go through to try and prove this theory and stop Sammy before he targets his next victim meet with mixed results and also causes some questions about my own mental state!Odd BlessingsA call to surrender 23 cats turns into a surprising revelation that this elderly woman unknowingly created a turning point years before, that shaped my views on life forever, however, she will never remember. For Every Cat there is a Reason (previously published in Chicken Soup for the Cat Lover’s Soul)In the busy world of city government, an orphaned kitten brings an entire police department and city court together to ensure her survival. Of Moons and MinksA language barrier, a culture barrier and much confusion help to create a situation where a woman ends up watering her cats like plants. All ends well, save for some damp kittens, but the laughter continues for miles.Buster’s Last Stand (previously published in Chicken Soup for the Dog Lover’s Soul)The final adventure of an aging bulldog known for terrorizing the neighborhood takes him to a high school where he holds an entire hallway filled with students hostage while his seemingly emotionless owner illustrates that appearances; both human and canine, can be deceiving. His Master’s VoiceWhen a loyal Schnauzer is separated from his beloved owner by the man’s death, the next of kin make a decision about the dog’s fate that is unacceptable to many members of the police department. In a race against time, everyone eventually becomes involved trying to beat the clock so that a day that began with the tragedy of one death, does not end with two.The Protest MarchIt’s the day before Thanksgiving and a large flock of turkeys have decided to take their grievances to the street. Could they possibly know the meaning of the holiday? Is it just a coincidence? Realizing that city drivers may not be prepared for this spectacle, it’s a race to bottom of a long, steep hill to try and stop them before they get to the road and become turkey salad.The Bonds of EarthLife can change in a moment. The Challenger Shuttle disaster convinces an elderly woman who shares her home with her aging rescued cats to prepare for a time when she will no longer be here to care for them. Realizing that her surviving relatives would not understand how important they are to her, she reaches out for help. Sentenced by ManA beautiful large German Shepherd is declared a dangerous dog after attacking a child. This powerful dog seems incredibly aggressive with everyone, except for me. After spending the entire day with this dog, I find that I have mixed feelings about his temperament. After some investigation I find that he had been abused since he was a puppy, including by the child he had bitten. He was non-adoptable due to his aggression and history, yet the reasons for his behavior were easy to understand. During the course of the day, I become attached to this beautiful and sad animal who is peaceful in my presence. Putting it off as long as I can, my hands tied by the law, I begin the journey to the animal shelter where at the end of this journey he will euthanized. The Luckiest DuckWhen a cruel prank results in a duck at the riverfront park losing a leg, the rest of the flock rejects him. The time taken to find an appropriate place for him to recover and adjust to his new situation runs into the evening which means, much to the dismay of the night shift and the large amount of prisoners arrested in a raid, that this duck is doing some jail time.When it Wasn’t FateA call to a simple noise complaint on July 4th ends up being much more than expected when a dying man surrenders his beloved cat to be taken to a better home than the one he will be leaving behind. I have great difficulty handling the situation until this incredible man teaches me about acceptance…and faith.The Randy RaccoonsA mysterious blonde woman with dark glasses breaks up the boredom of a quiet day at the police station by filing a complaint about a “Peeping Tom”. When she insists on speaking to the animal control officer, everyone’s surprised…until she describes just who the “peepers” are. Twilight TimeA rough edged man, who has shared his life with his beloved Alaskan Malamute for over 20 years, must come to terms with the fact that his dog is dying. His difficulty and final acceptance of this prove that sometimes the hardest way to love is by letting go.Karma and Get MeA woman insists that the stray dog in her yard is her reincarnated husband. When After weeks of extreme measures to ensure that this dog is not lost so she could adopt him, I find that, due to the fact that she had had a miserable marriage, she is now relishing the opportunity to have him taken away!Sometimes It Chooses YouI am not too happy when the Chief of Police forces me into a public relations presentation to a group of students at the high school. To make matters worse, upon arriving at the school I find that this is a special class for students with a history of difficult behavior. After a few awkward moments, I find that I seem to be at ease, and even enjoying, the experience. Surprised at how well it went, and drawn to these engaging teenagers, I realize that sometimes what you are meant to do with your life is not always something that you choose. Sometimes it chooses you.