The 1951 movie starring Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal was a great, old movie.  It was science fiction with a purpose.  The story was good, but the title was even better.  Dealing with Lewis on a daily basis makes the title relevant on a daily basis.

A case in point…I occasionally enter a classic car in the annual World of Wheels show in Birmingham.  It requires a physical presence for approximately 10-12 hours a day for an entire weekend.  Problem: What to do with Lewis for those 12 hours each day.  Solution:  Place Lewis in doggie daycare at the vet’s office for the weekend. Check.  Problem: Get Lewis in to the car to ride to the vet’s office.  Solution:  Coax Lewis with his favorite dog treat. Check.  Anh (that’s a buzzer sound). No check.  So, it finally happened.

It was the day the earth stood still, or rather Lewis did.  He had the perfect set up, a big ramp to walk calmly up into the SUV, and off we go.  Anh.

So, what do you do when a 140-pound dog decides to lie down in the middle of the driveway and keeps making the buzzer go off.  Got a treat for you.  Anh.  Look Lewis, I’m in the front seat waiting on you to help me drive.  Anh.  Lewis, PLEASE get up and get in the car.  Anh.

I’ve been dreading this day for some time now.  How do you transport a big dog who insists on doing it his way (thank you, Frank Sinatra)?  My mind has wandered through the maze of options to get Lewis on board.  Forget doggie treats.  How about a full-blown meat entrée?  That sounds good, but I have to admit, that idea didn’t work on….the day the earth stood still.

What about a towel under his hind quarters?  That worked on a previous dog I owned.  Of course, that dog only weighed 80 pounds.

Then there is what I refer to as the nuclear option.  I have an engine hoist that I use for car repair and other heavy lifting of objects of great weight.  Last I looked, I’m pretty sure Lewis qualifies.    Swinging this dog around on a small crane, however, just ain’t right as we say here in the South.

I wish I could end this blog with a great success story, but alas, the only one with a success story here is Lewis.  He’s so large, he laid down, and the earth stood still. 

Of course, he did that to my world the very first time I saw him.