Mr and Mrs Macgregor live in a village near Inverness in the north of Scotland. One morning, they found a dog in their garden, They took the dog in, gave it some scraps of meat, and watched it go into a corner and go to sleep. They decided to let the animal stay overnight, and to look for its owner in the morning, Then they left home to pay a visit to their daughter in Inverness.
They came home about eleven. As they opened the front door, they were welcomed by a snarling boxer, standing with bared teeth. Any attempt to calm the animal met with furious barking. Soon. all the neighbours were awake, and came out to offer helpful advice.
Then the fire brigade was called. They arrived at midnight. But all their attempts only made the dog more savage. They couldn’t get near it. The fire brigade gave up and called the police. When they arrived, it was one in the morning, and nearly all the village was gathered in the Macgregor’s garden. The police thought about it. They advised that the dog should be shot.
However, someone went for an expert dog handler. This expert arrived at two in the morning with a huge alsatian. He said: “This won’t take long.”
But it did. The two animals stood and stared and snarled at each other. It was a draw.
Then a veterinary surgeon was sent for. By the time he arrived, it was four am. The vet borrowed a rope, made a lasso, and threw the loop over the boxer’s head.
He dragged it into the garden, stuck a needle in it, and put it to sleep. The police removed it.
Macgregor said: “This animal will make a wonderful watchdog. But the new owners must be prepared to stay indoors for a few days until the dog gets to know them.”
Answer
1. Did they leave it outside?
2. Did they decide to keep it until the morning?
3. Did the neighbours tell them what they ought to do?
4. Did he put it to sleep?
5. Will it help keep away burglars and people?
Answer guide
1. No. They took it in. 2. Yes. They let it stay overnight. 3. Yes. They came out to offer helpful advice. 4. Yes. He stuck a needle in it 5. Yes. It will make a wonderful watchdog.
