08/21/2026
"Jeane...Catch the Dog!"
Years ago, Woody and I raised Great Pyrenees puppies.
We loved every minute of it.
Eventually, though, we stopped because we realized something heartbreaking—you can never guarantee that every puppy will end up in a loving home. That weighed heavily on both of us.
Whenever we sold one of our puppies, our contract included one very important promise:
If, at any time, the puppy had a serious health problem or you simply couldn't keep it, bring it back to us. We would refund every penny.
One afternoon I received a phone call from a man who had purchased one of our puppies.
He told me they were going to have her put to sleep because she had bad knees. The condition is called patellar luxation.
I immediately said, "Please don't euthanize her. Bring her back. We'll refund every dollar you paid."
His answer stunned me.
He said he wanted his children to learn that not everything is worthy of living, and sometimes putting an animal down was part of life.
I pleaded with him.
"Please...just let us have her."
He refused.
I was desperate.
Believe it or not, I found an animal attorney in Spokane who immediately helped place a legal stop on any euthanasia until the situation could be sorted out.
Finally, the man agreed to meet us at our veterinarian's office.
Woody and I arrived with cash for his full refund.
A few minutes later, the man walked in carrying our little puppy.
Her name was Zoe.
I had named her before we ever sold her.
"Zoe" is the Greek word for life.
I knelt down on the floor.
"Hi, Zoe."
That sweet little puppy waddled over to me with her tail wagging as fast as it could.
Yes, her little legs were crooked.
But she was full of kisses, full of love...
..and very much alive.
As I sat there petting her, the man suddenly grabbed Zoe and said,
"This is a mistake. I don't care what anybody says. I'll take her outside and shoot her myself."
He turned toward the door.
I looked at Woody.
"Woody...do something!"
For just a split second, Woody looked completely panicked.
Then, just like that...
He had a plan.
He grabbed the man by the front of his shirt and pulled him close.
He drew his fist back.
Then he looked at me and calmly said,
"Genie...catch the dog."
I stared at him.
He continued...
"When I hit him, he's going to drop the puppy. Catch her before she hits the floor."
Then he looked over at the receptionist.
"Call the police...because I'm going to jail."
Then he looked back at me.
"Genie...come bail me out."
He had the entire operation planned out in about three seconds.
Save the puppy.
Hit the guy.
Go to jail.
Have your wife post bail.
Simple enough.
About that time, our veterinarian came running into the lobby yelling,
"Whoa! Whoa! Everybody stop!"
The clinic staff separated us into different rooms.
The man accepted his refund.
And finally...
He handed Zoe back to us.
Woody never had to throw the punch.
And he never had to go to jail.
We brought Zoe home.
She had surgery on both knees and recovered beautifully.
Not long afterward, I received a phone call from a wonderful woman who owned a resort ranch in Canada.
She already had another Great Pyrenees and wanted a companion—not a perfect dog, just a loving one.
She didn't care that Zoe had undergone surgery.
She simply wanted her.
The woman flew all the way to Idaho in a Learjet to pick Zoe up.
Our little puppy climbed aboard that airplane and flew off to a beautiful ranch in Canada, where she lived the life every dog deserves.
Every time I think about that day, I laugh.
Not because Woody almost got into a fistfight...
But because, in the middle of all the chaos, his first concern wasn't the man.
It wasn't even himself.
It was the puppy.
"Genie...catch the dog."
That was Grandpa Woody.
Protect the innocent first.
Deal with the consequences later.
❤️ P.S. Woody never did go to jail...and Zoe got the happy ending she deserved.
