Before the Arizona rains came and the boys did this,

we saved a morning dove from much distress and perhaps even an early death.

Husband and the boys had taken the dogs for a walk while I stayed home and lesson planned.  I met up with them as they were nearing the park.  The sky was graying and the clouds were tripping over each other.  Carter, always the one to take the path less traveled, was trolling through the desert brush at the edges of the park while the rest of us took the more traditional sidewalk.

Suddenly from the depths of the scrub brush, Carter called out, “Momma!  Momma!  Come quick!  There is a morning dove stuck in a bush!”

Husband and I looked at each other.  He handed me the two leashes and slowly picked his way around cactus and ducked low hanging tree branches.  I stayed near the sidewalk with the two dogs and my flip-flops.

Apparently the poor bird had become entangled in some discarded fishing line (there are a couple ponds in the park, in case you were wondering why there was fishing line in the middle of Phoenix).  The fishing line was wrapped around her neck and each end was caught in the bush, leaving her to wildly flap but get no where.  Awful!  It took a few tries but Husband was able to catch her and untangle the line from the bush.  He could not get the line, however, undone from her neck.

So with bird in tow, we headed back to the house:  Husband, myself, two boys, two dogs, and a morning dove.

Using scissors and great care we were able to relieve her of the line.  The boys each gave her a gentle pet and then Husband let her go.

She took flight, a bit wobbly at first, and then disappeared from sight.  Into the gray layered clouds.

The boys are planning to make up some posters to hang in the park with the picture of the bird, reminding people to properly throw away their fishing line.  I am proud of the boys for the concern they felt for the bird and for the steps they are taking to keep it from happening again.