permaculture advocate in Zimbabwe - too little/too much rain

My mornings were now starting with a walk to the gate to check on our friendly dog outside, and his reaction was never disappointing. He would stand on his two hind legs with the two front ones pressed on the gate while his tail wagged. He would bounce up and down, making high-pitched playful barks, as I drew near to greet him. I didn't know that his presence was growing on me until yesterday, when I did not see him. My heart sank, and I was left with a hollow feeling. This dog did not leave on its own accord. We had heard whistles in the night, but we were too scared to go out. We had not found the dog's owner yet, and we were still waiting for the SPCA people to come. I felt angry towards whoever had taken it. The character of a person who sneaks in the night to steal a dog is questionable, and it's making me wonder if he will take good care of the dog.

As evening was drawing, I found out who had taken the dog. My plan is to actively look for the real owner and bring him to the dog thief to get his dog. In as much as it was a stray dog, it looked like the owner had taken good care of it before, so I will see if he wants his dog back.

I met with the man who has been said to be having "our" dog, and when I asked him about it, he just asked me who had told me he had the dog. I choked in my statement, his friend is the one who told me that he had it, and the tone the man used made me not to be sure whether it was a good idea to say out his friend's name. I cannot report him because it's not even my dog. SPCA people never showed up.

It has taken a while, but I have managed to get someone to adjust the chickens' cage so that it can open at the bottom. The cost was so much more than I would have ever imagined, but I think it is worth it, the weeds in our yard are growing really fast, it will be straining to keep the weeds in control. If the chicken tractor works this could be an initial solution to the weeding problem. The job will take a day, I am anxious to see the finished job.

I am relieved that I found the lost dog. It has a proper home now, until it finds it's original owner.