Beggars Can Be Choosers

This morning I walked across the street to buy my weekly Sunday bagel at Safeway’s.  As usual there was a panhandler standing in front of the store’s main door asking for money.  I have seen this guy before and he always has two dogs  with him, a small terrier and a larger brown dog.  I felt kind of sorry for the pooches and decided that I would also get some doggie treats as life is probably not easy for them sleeping in alleys.

I purchased a bag of dog treats and as I left the store I walked over to the panhandler and gave him the package saying, “This is for your dogs.”  He looked at it, turned it over and read the ingredients.  “It has corn in it and my little dog is allergic to it,” and tried to hand it back.

“I don’t have a dog perhaps you do know someone and can give it to them,” I said.

“Oh, she does,” he says pointing to a female pan-handler just coming out of the store to retrieve her dog tied to the handrail.

No one even said, “Thank you.” I must remember that no good deed goes unpunished.