Rusty Stories

It was 1 week before Thanksgiving and Rusty was excited.  Rusty loved Thanksgiving and always got his own little plate of food with Turkey, potatoes and stuffing.  For those who aren’t familiar with Rusty, he’s a dog.  Rusty lives with Sam, the local veterinarian. 

Rusty got adopted by Sam after his previous owner, Mrs. Wilson had to go into a Nursing Home. Rusty and Sam still visit her every Thursday and if Sam has to go somewhere that Rusty cannot come, Sam brings Rusty to stay at the home.  Normally the Shady Rest Home doesn’t allow live in pets, but Rusty is special. 

Rusty also always goes to work at the clinic with Sam.  Sam’s assistant, Molly and the receptionist, Dot, consider Rusty a part of the staff.  Rusty loves the clinic and looks forward to going there.  The only issue for Rusty is Fluffy, the white Persian cat that lives at the clinic.  Fluffy was another pet of a now resident of Shady Rest and the staff consider Fluffy an important part of the clinic.  Rusty does not. 

Fluffy is usually up on “her” filing cabinet behind the front desk, where her bed is located. To Rusty, it appears that Fluffy is looking down on everyone from her special perch.  Sam and the staff just keep the two apart.

It was a normal Thursday at the clinic and Rusty was napping in his bed in Sam’s office when Farmer Jones came in.  Rusty heard his voice and immediately came out.   Farmer Jones makes his own venison meat sticks and always has a treat for Rusty.  Farmer Jones allegedly has a first name, but Rusty had never heard it. 

Rusty noticed Farmer Jones was carrying a large cage with him, which was unusual, as he normally brings in his German Shepherd, Max.  Rusty and Max enjoy playing together.  Max was way too big to fit in a cage.  “I need some help,” Farmer Jones told Dot. “If Sam can fit me in.” Dot looked puzzled by the cage too, but said, “Sure Farmer Jones., He’ll have a break right after he’s done with his current appointment.  Just have a chair.”

Rusty followed Farmer Jones to the waiting room and sat down expectantly by him.  “Sorry boy,” Farmer Jones told Rusty, “I don’t have any treats today, I’m too upset.”  Just then, the cage made a strange noise, sounding like “Gobble.” Rusty looked inside the cage and to his surprise saw a large bird with something hanging from it’s neck. 

Rusty lay down next to him and waited for Sam.  Pretty soon Dot brought Farmer Jones, Rusty and the mysterious bird into the exam room.  Sam looked in the cage and told Farmer Jones, “Well this is a change for you to bring in a Turkey.”  THIS is a turkey? Rusty thought? He had never seen one before it came out of the oven on Thanksgiving.

“I’m in a right mess.” Farmer Jones told Sam, “I’ve raised this bird from a chick for our Thanksgiving meal.  Now it seems like it’s sickly.  I don’t want my family to get sick, so I thought I’d have you check it out. On top of that, my best laying hen has stopped producing.”

“Well Turkeys aren’t my normal prevue, but I can run some bloodwork and do an exam.” Sam opened the cage and took the turkey out.  It drooped over.  “Well it certainly seems like something is wrong.” Sam said after he poked and prodded the turkey a bit. “Lets get some blood drawn and see what we see.  I can also come out and look at the hen if you’d like.”

Farmer Jones replied, “No I’ve got Julie looking over my flock, she comes every 3 weeks. If it keeps up, I’ll have her look at the hen.  But, call it instinct or a gut feeling but I feel like the two are related somehow.”

Sam said, “Julie is the best vet tech I’ve ever had, don’t tell Molly I said that! What she can’t answer on a egg problem hasn’t been asked.”

Farmer Jones nodded, “She is good for sure, my egg production has gone up since she’s been helping me out.  Can I leave the turkey with you and come back? I have some work I need to get to at my farm that can’t wait.” Sam agreed and put the turkey back in the cage and brought it toward the back for Molly to do the bloodwork.

“When you are done drawing the blood,” Sam told her, “We will head out for lunch.” Every year Sam took Dot and Molly out for lunch on the week before Thanksgiving to show how thankful he was for them. 

Rusty was not attending due to a “No Dogs allowed” rule at the restaurant.  “Sorry boy,” Sam said, “I’ll bring you a doggy bag.”

They headed out shortly thereafter and locked up the office.  If Rusty had to go he had a doggy door to use. 

Rusty went to lay down in his bed while they were gone until he heard a strange sound coming from the other room.  It sounded like “Gobble!!” “Gobble” “GoooooBle” Rusty went to investigate and found it was coming from the turkey’s cage.  The turkey was banging its beak on the cage door and gobbling up a storm.  Rusty figured it wanted out of its cage.  So, he used his nose to lift the latch and the door swung open. 

A mass of feathers and gobbling flew by Rusty and headed out to the lobby area.  Rusty followed.  The turkey looked healthy now.  When Rusty got to the lobby the turkey appeared to be trying to throw itself through a window.  Rusty knew that wouldn’t end well.  Rusty barked and got the turkey’s attention and motioned for it to follow him.

The turkey seemed to understand and came up behind him.  Rusty lead the turkey to the doggy door.  Rusty went first and held it open with his tail for the turkey.  The turkey hopped through.  It was a cold blustery November day, not a good day to spend a lot of time outside. Rusty brought the turkey to the big pine tree it had branches that reached the ground and a sheltering area underneath.  This would keep the turkey out of the wind.  The turkey followed Rusty and Rusty got it settled under the tree.

Now what? Rusty might be a dog, but he got the idea.  The turkey was playing sick to avoid being dinner.  Rusty could see its point, however, he didn’t think Farmer Jones or Sam would like his part in hiding the Jones’ family Thanksgiving main course.  Rusty was at a loss as to what to do.  For right now, he decided to leave the turkey under the tree and head back into the clinic so he was there when Sam and the others returned.  The turkey appeared to be settling into a nest like area under the tree and resting. 

When Rusty headed back into the clinic, Fluffy was off the filing cabinet and heading toward the doggy door.  This was weird, Fluffy never goes outside when  its not nice out.  Fluffy is a fair weather cat.  But, Rusty had learned never to involve himself with cats, he’s been swatted on the nose one too many times.

Sam found Rusty in his bed when he got back.  “Hey boy,” Sam told him, “I got you a piece of steak and some potato. Chef Tim, told me he made it especially for you.” Rusty was well known in town.

Rusty was excited about the treat, but worried about when Sam discovered the missing turkey. 

Sam had an appointment with Miss Millie and her poodle, “Pierpoint” immediately when he got back, so he didn’t look in on the turkey.  Rusty avoided Pierpoint almost as much as cats.  To his mind, poodles and cats were in the same league.   After the appointment, however, Molly came and told Sam the bloodwork was back and all looked normal. 

“Can you call Farmer Jones and tell him?” Sam asked, “I’ll talk to him when he gets here.”

Meanwhile, Rusty headed out to “do his business” and check on the turkey.  But, when Rusty got under the tree, the turkey was gone! Rusty was at a loss as to where the turkey could have gotten to, but had to go back inside.  At 3:00 every Tuesday Sam and Rusty go to Shady Rest to see the residents and specifically Mrs. Wilson. 

When Rusty came in, Farmer Jones was there and he heard Sam say, “I don’t’ get it, it was here when we went to lunch.” Farmer Jones responded, “Well its not here now! And I have no Thanksgiving turkey!” Sam put his hand on Farmer Jones shoulder and told him, “We’ll search the clinic and the grounds it will turn up.  Rusty and I are going to Shady Rest.  I’ll look along our route and look some more when we get back.  We’ll find it.”  Farmer Jones sighed, “I hope so, honestly, this turkey has been more trouble than its worth.”

They headed out to Shady Rest driving slowly along their route to look along the roadway and into the fields to see if any lost turkeys were seen.  There was nothing, a herd of sheep in one field, cows in two more and some horses in another.  Their town was very rural so filled with animals of all kinds, but they didn’t see one turkey.

Upon arriving at Shady Rest, the receptionist, Junie, Dot’s sister greeted them! “Hello!! Dr. Sam and Rusty! The residents are so excited to see you both!!” She lead them into the main room where everyone was gathered.  “We are excited to see them too.” Sam told her and Rusty barked. 

Everyone called, “Rusty! Over here!” when they saw them.  Rusty made the rounds getting pets, treats and good wishes wherever he went.  Sam walked over to Mr. Green who everyone called, “The investigator”.  Mr. Green had been the Sheriff for years and was known for solving many a crime in his day.  “Have I got a case for you!” Sam told him, “I’m missing a turkey.”

The investigator looked up from the crossword he had been working on and said, “A turkey at this time of year! He’ll be lucky if he doesn’t wind up on someone’s table!’ Sam responded, “He was supposed to be on Farmer Jones table, but he somehow got out of his cage and has disappeared from my clinic.”

“Well, we need to look at this like any other crime, do we have any witnesses?” Sam told him, “Me and Dot and Molly were out for lunch.” Rusty and Fluffy were at the clinic and that’s it.”

“Mmmmm” the investigator looked thoughtful and said to Rusty, “Did you see anyone?” Rusty tried to look as innocent as possible.  “The obvious is often the answer.” Said the Investigator looking at Rusty.  “Are you saying Rusty took the turkey?” Sam asked.

“I’m saying Rusty was there, so at the very least, he’s a witness.” Sam smiled, “I love Rusty, but I don’t think he’d do well on the stand in court.” The investigator smiled, “No but I think he could show you what happened.  If he’s willing.”  The investigator was good and Rusty was having trouble with his innocent look. 

“Rusty?” Sam asked, “Can you show me?” Rusty barked in the affirmative.  They finished their visit and promised to return on Thanksgiving.  When they got back to the clinic, Rusty lead Sam to the turkey’s cage and showed him how he lifted the latch with his nose.  “That is very clever!” Sam said.

Then, Rusty lead Sam to the pine tree where the turkey was last seen.  And that was all he had to show.  “So after the pine tree, you didn’t see it either?” Rusty barked.  Sam said, “I guess I’m heading out to Joe’s to see what kind of turkey’s he has for sale.  Farmer Jones will want a replacement.” 

They headed home and on the way stopped at Joe’s Butcher Shop.  Joe always had a bone for Rusty when they stopped in and today was no exception.  “Here you go!” Joe told Rusty handing him a steak bone with a little meat still on it.  Sam looked at Rusty and told Joe, “Rusty was an accomplice in the Great Turkey Escape earlier today. I need a new one for Farmer Jones.” 

“Yeah,” Joe said, “I’ve heard about it.” In a small town, news travels fast.  “Have you got a nice turkey I can give to the Jones?” Joe said he had a few left.  Sam headed over to look and picked out one.  Rusty couldn’t see how the featherless body could compare to the real live turkey rusty had helped earlier. 

Rusty and Sam brought the bird home and Sam put it in the refrigerator.  “We’ll deliver it tomorrow.”

The next day on the way to the clinic, Sam and Rusty stopped out at Farmer Jone’s.  He was just coming out of the barn when they arrived and he approached the car.  “You’ll never guess what!” He said to them. 

Sam said, “What?”

“It came back!” Farmer Jones said. “ I went into the chicken coop and there it was sitting with the hens, next to Penelope.  She looks much better and is laying again. I was right, the two issues were related.  The turkey and hen are unlikely friends.“

“I think instead of having the turkey for dinner, I’m going to have to keep it to keep Penelope happy.”

 Sam gave Farmer Jones the turkey he’d bought.  “That wasn’t necessary,” Farmer Jones said, “I got my turkey back.” Sam told him, “Consider it a Thanksgiving present.  Rusty did help your turkey escape. “

“Yes but Fluffy brought it back.” Farmer Jones said.

“Fluffy??” Sam said. 

“I noticed her coming out of the hen house right before I saw the turkey was back.  She was my barn cat before Mrs. Smith got her.”

“I didn’t know that,” Sam said.  Rusty hadn’t known either.  Rusty thought Fluffy had gone from Mrs. Smith’s house to the Vet clinic.  So if Fluffy had been Farmer Jones barn cat, she knew the way to the farm.

“It’s still odd that Fluffy would lead the turkey back.” Sam said. 

“Fluffy always was a friend to the hens and other fowl, most cats tried to eat them, but Fluffy always hung out with them and was protective over them.” Farmer Jones explained. 

Rusty thought, maybe there is more to Fluffy than he knew.  Though he didn’t want to let his guard down entirely, he’d keep an open mind about the cats better qualities….from a distance to protect his nose.

Farmer Jones thanked them again for their help and gave them one of his wife’s famous pies.  Rusty barked a thank you and from the chicken coop, the turkey added a “gobble”. 

The End