[at-l] The Priest And The Pooch

[stephensadams at hotmail.com (Steve Adams)]

Kevin,

Reference your post, dated 12-2-04, advising of a beagle following you about 
on your hike.

I see you?re from New York.

Rat now iz dere huntin seezun whar yew wuz hikin.

In New York, dogs chasing game are commonly shot.  Here, in good ole 
V?Ginny, good ole boys use dogs to chase deer.  Beagles are commonly used.  
Some hunters keep dogs year around, others take beagles from the pound, 
leave them fairly hungry, then chase deer with them.  Dogs hunt better 
hungry.  After the season ends, they return the beagles to the shelter.

This is one of the less attractive aspects of southern living.  It's not 
discussed much in our polite society.

Most of the dogs know where the pick-up point is and return after dark to 
await the truck.  It seems cruel - - well, it is cruel - - but that?s the 
way it works.

Sorry you had to become a part of it,

Steve