by Thom Page
My first in-person court trial since COVID was to get this wonderful girl back in her loving owner’s arms after being taken for almost a year. Once the judge ruled our client was entitled to Eloise’s immediate possession, I asked a state marshal to retrieve her from the defendant.
Marshals are always surprised at this rare request for their official services, and are often a bit skeptical about handling a dog they don’t know and who doesn’t know them. For this reason, they ask me to accompany them, where I then get to finally meet our real client.
As it turned out, Eloise was not inclined to jump into the strange marshal’s car for the ride back to the courthouse parking lot where her mother anxiously awaited, so I leashed her up and off we went.
On our walk, Eloise opened up as I suspected she would. She went crazy upon seeing (smelling?) her mother after so long, and as I went to leave, she turned and gave me a look of thanks.
Yes, she certainly knew who I was, and the thanks from her meant everything.
