We’d stepped outside and begun exploring the yard, when suddenly chaos broke out. Tucker had gotten loose from his leash

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heila Porter was selling a sprawling three-story home that I thought Gavi and Hadassah Gutman would love. One Sunday, we headed over there together. I knew Sheila owned a little poodle and I also knew that Hadassah Gutman was terrified of dogs, so I called Sheila on our way over.

“No worries, Nicky,” she said breezily. “Tucker is out here with us in the backyard — I have some friends over. Let yourself in, see the house, and when you’re ready to view the yard, let me know and I’ll put my cutie on a leash.”

We slowly explored the house, Gavi and Hadassah exclaiming over the sun-drenched kitchen, the finished basement, and the spacious dining room. Finally, we’d seen everything, and the couple wanted to see the grounds and the pool.

I knocked on the window, gesturing to Sheila. She nodded, ambled over to her dog, and snapped a leash around his neck. A young boy, around ten, took the leash as he pet the dog.

We’d stepped outside and begun exploring the yard, when suddenly chaos broke out. Tucker had gotten loose from his leash.

Hadassah, seeing a huge dog amble up to her, panicked. She started shrieking and running, which, of course, made Tucker bark and run. Things got so frenzied that Hadassah nearly fell into the pool; I pulled her back just in time.