The Culprit Has Been Apprehended!

He is demanding a retrial, and claiming all the evidence is circumstantial, but a jury of his peers (Cricket and Sheba) have convicted Luke of what is now being referred to by the media as “The Great Carrot Caper”. With Judge Momz presiding, the girls presented their evidence:
Exhibit A: Luke has previously been caught red-pawed stealing carrots right out of the garden. He is also a well known carrot lover. “Inadmissable!” He claimed. The judge, however, allowed it.

Exhibit B: Luke has been practicing counter surfing ever since he was a puppy and couldn’t even reach the counter yet!

Exhibit C: That bed in front of the woodstove is the scene of some of his other vegetable-related past crimes.

Luke chose to represent himself in spite of having a well-respected Blogville attorney recommended to him. His defense consisted mostly of trying to cast aspersions on his fellow suspects. He insists that if we had that video surveillance camera that Emma told us about, he could be cleared. Good story, but we doubt that.
We thought the beagle would be ruled out completely because of her small size. However, Luke was quick to pick up on this clever reader’s comment: Pamela pointed out that in spite of the fact that the stolen item was healthy (Luke is known for his good eating habits): “Of course, there is that viral video of the beagle climbing up on the counter to get herself a snack. So who knows?” But it’s pretty well known around here that Cricket sticks her nose up at any fresh fruits or vegetables.
Only two readers suggested it might be Sheba (she IS the tallest, and that innocent look IS meant to fool you…but not this time), and two others thought it was Cricket (everyone else either chose not to get involved or felt it might have been a joint effort).
Jackie felt that Luke looked guilty, as well as having motive and access. “Did he have a decent alibi?” she asked. No, he did not. He was found just standing in the kitchen after all, and no one can verify that he was anywhere else but there. Plus, after the crime scene photos were taken, he went back in and ate the evidence.
A total of 9 out of 22 readers felt Luke was the guilty party. But M.K. hit the nail on the head: “I hate to rat Luke out, but doesn’t he dig up carrots? Call a lawyer Luke, because I think you have trouble! BOL!” Good memory, M.K!
Luke has yet to be sentenced, but word is that Judge Momz is pretty lenient, so he will probably be getting off easy. There may be some rehabilitation in his future, however. By the way, does anyone have any recommendations for breaking a dog of his bad counter surfing habits? Other than the obvious one of training the humans to stop leaving things within his reach?
Thanks to everyone that played along!
LOL Luke you are a devil. Yes I have suggestions that work to break this but you won’t like them. 🙂
I knew it was Luke for the same reason MK did. Plus, I’d forgotten that Cricket had at one time crawled up onto a counter. I figured with Sheba’s arthritis, she might not be comfortable with counter surfing.
As for training Luke to NOT counter surf? I’m afraid I have no ideas that work when there’s a second human in the house. Especially one who sneaks food to the dogs from the counter when the other human isn’t looking. Callie was my counter surfer; but after her 2nd ACL surgery, she didn’t do it much any more. I still put some foods on top of the fridge though just to keep the temptation under control.
Sheba has never been a counter surfer…she’s such a good girl! 🙂
I hear you on the 2nd human thing! I had trained Luke to stay in his bed just outside of the kitchen when I’m cooking. He can still see me, but knew he wouldn’t get a nibble unless he was in the bed. Then he started breaking his stay there more and more. I couldn’t figure out why until the day I caught my hubby working in the kitchen with Luke lying right next to him! Aaargghhh….all my hard work!
Oh, top of the fridge….good idea! With Luke’s long legs, he can now reach all the way to the back of the counter!
Our hubbys must be related somehow! Sam doesn’t even try to sneak stuff to the girls any more…he just does it whether I like it or not. So, as long as it’s not something potentially bad for them, I just overlook it. They both know Mama won’t do it; but they all look to ME for guidance when they’re unsure.
Why do they make us be the bad guys?
What annoys me most with my hubby is that he’s the one that yells loudest when he sees Luke jumping up on the counter!
I did say something though, and today at least he did make Luke go to his bed when he was cutting up fruit. We’ll see if it lasts!
Hahaha!!! I knew it was Luke because if the story was mine, the guilty party would have been Koda, and since they are “brotha’s from anontha motha”… it had to be so!
ღ husky hugz ღ frum our pack at Love is being owned by a husky!
Yes, of course you knew! 🙂
When you solve the counter surfing training problems, please pass your wisdom on to me. Barley needs some counter surfing rehab, too, and I have no idea how to deal with it since it usually happens the second I go into the bathroom or can’t immediately redirect her for other reasons (like having raw hamburger all over my hands the other day!).
I will definitely share with you if I ever figure it out!! He’ll stay in his bed just outside of the kitchen when I’m in there, but if I leave….forget it.
Oh whoops! Sometimes it’s hard to resist things on the counter!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Oh Luke! We understand how hard it is to resist those things on the counter.
Luke, we still think you were framed:)
Thank you! It’s good to know someone is on my side!
Woofs, Luke
Dang it, I was late to the party again! I did post my comment on the original post before I read this one. Honest I did. (If you go back and read what I wrote, you’ll think I cheated.) 😉
I hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
Of course I believe you, Jodi, because I know you completely understand the counter/sink surfing thing!
YAY for M.K.!!!! Can’t sneak anything by her!
That is too funny! Poor Luke can’t help that he loves his carrots. I recommend a bag of baby carrots because they don’t make as much of a mess. LOL!
He might be spoiled by fresh garden carrots though and refuse anything else…..Well, probably not. 🙂
The tree rat did it
Lily & Edward
I would call it carrotgate. All circumstantial, no real proof, the girls are ganging up on you Luke. The best revenge? Be the best boy you can be.
I do wish I’d thought of carrotgate! Let’s hope Luke decides to take your advice!
Everything can be caught on camera Luke!! Well, you are so cute so I think you’ll be ok 🙂 I have no tips for stopping this behavior since Cocoa Bean is a surfing expert!!
Be happy he is the only one. At our house, Bailie and Bert tag team it, and it is nearly impossible to break that crime ring! Our new security camera might help since you can talk to them from where ever you are too. It’s a self rewarding behavior so it will be a tough one to stop.
Hmmm…I can picture myself at work yelling into my phone (if that’s how it works) “Luke, OFF!” LOL
That is pretty much what happened and then Mom realized how others might wonder what in the world she was up too. LOL! Stay tuned later this week to see how it worked out.
wow it was you Luke? I thought boys like you and me are more on the meat-side and we throw a dinosaur or a mammouth in the house :o) but after all that was a nice decoration, you can add some acorns and pine branches to get a cool cthanksgiving decoration :o)
Darn it, Easy, the humans seem to be smart enough not to actually leave meat out on the counter where I can reach it! I do like some variety in my diet though, and vegetables are also irresistible to me!
Woofs, Luke