"Something is licking my feet..."

While we were enjoying a late breakfast today, we noticed the kids next door (actually, more like young adults -- maybe in their late teens, early twenties), wandering up and down the road. The one guy was knee deep in the bush across the road, while a young woman sort of wandered distractedly further up.

About half an hour later, I heard my mother shriek, "Argh!!!! Help!!!!!" and immediately page the entire family. I heard the screen door to the deck open (my poor mother still shrieking), and next thing I knew, some wee furry thing came trotting into the living room.

It was a tiny little puppy (I've posted a photo below).

Seems my mother was hanging laundry outside when she felt something furry licking her feet... and had no idea what it was.

Well, the entire family became enamoured of the little guy, who was really quite... well, lick-y. He was delighted by my six-year-old nephew's face. And also into chewing fingers and hands (and my dad's beard, for some reason -- perhaps the pup thought it some kind of sinister enemy, or furry toy). We grudgingly brought it outside, and handed the fella to the folks next door.

Seems they were dogsitting for someone -- and lost the dog. (Note to self -- do not leave anything with people next door... especially small animals and children. Or rare works of art.)