Maybe you remembers Miss Lucile sent to me many boxesful of the handwritin’ of WT, my own ancestor. I has been spending evenings reading them to learn I cannot tell how much.

Me, I did not know that Mr. Lincoln was the first President what kept a cat as friend. I now knows now that Tabby was none other than ol’ WT, which moniker he assumed during his undercover investigatory duties, WT bein’ short like for White House Tabby. Imagine that.

One night, I was reflectin’ on lessons of history when I was startled awake by confusion and consternation emanatin’ noisy like from the dog kennels.  They was all shouting, “Strangers! Strangers, has busted the window and are comin’ in!”

So right away I thinks real hard. “What should I do?” An I sez to myself, “I am responsible if anyone comes prowling around the office” and also, “I hope them silent alarms is workin’ an’ I do not have to do all of the protecting my ownself.”

It was maybe 15 minutes, which I can tell you is a long time when  a kennel full of dogs is shouting an’ your own imagination is running around in your head. All that time I keeps thinkin’ I hears familiar voices but still no one is checkin’ in.  When all of a sudden like I sees flashlight beams and hear them. Strangers coming down the hallway!

I am feelin’ my back arched up and keepin’ my eyes open tryin’ to decide should I go high or make myself small and get under a desk. I decides to make myself small but too late!  They area already here and one of them sez, “Freeze, Police!” all growl and menace like.  Me, I am not too convinced, so to cover I turns around real slow and sez, “What gives gentlemen?” An’ I am whisker to whisker with one intense K9 officer, which I was not expecting.  Made me jump, just a little.

From on top of Kristen’s desk, I sees the Police Officers are breathin’ a sigh of relief, just like me. One of them sez, “Stay put!” only polite like. Which I does.  Finally they lets the Exec in and we can compare notes. I was right, I did hear her voice, but when the broken window was found, she called the police.

How did it turn out? Some cheapskate or cheapskates unknown tried to steal a dog, which they did, but not too successful like since she ran away from them after they removed her from the building.  Katrina, that’s the dog, came back to the shelter next day and has since time been removed to a safe location.  Me, I am happy that everyone is safe, but sorry the perpetrators got away.

I gotta tell you the Salem Police officers was sure impressive, brave like and polite.  I am lucky to work with a great bunch of people, not all of them are here at the shelter, some of them respond in an emergency.