The James T. Callow Folklore Archive

DEAD DOG

THERE WAS A RICH COUPLE WHO WENT ACROSS THE RIVER ON
THEIR BOAT TO A PARTY. THEY WERE MILES AWAY AND
COULDN'T BE REACHED. THEY HIRED A BABY-SITTER WHO SAT
READING A BOOK, PETTING THE DOG, AND LISTENING TO THE
RADIO AT THE SAME TIME. SHE HEARD OVER THE RADIO THAT
A MURDERER HAD ESCAPED FROM AN ASYLUM AND THAT HE
KILLED PEOPLE BY HANGING THEM BY THEIR HEELS.
SUDDENLY SHE HEARD A DRIP, DRIP. SHE CHECKED ALL THE
WATER FAUCETS, BUT DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING. THEN, SHE
HEARD THE BABY CRYING. SHE WENT UP TO THE BABY'S ROOM,
BUT FOUND THAT HE WASN'T CRYING. SHE CAME BACK
DOWNSTAIRS, SAT DOWN, AND STARTED TO PET THE DOG AND
READ HER BOOK. SHE STILL HEARD THE DRIP, DRIP. SHE
WENT INTO THE BATHROOM AND SAW THE DEAD DOG HANGING
BY HIS FEET IN THE BATHROOM.
WHEN SHE CAME BACK TO THE LIVING ROOM SHE SAW THAT
SHE HAD BEEN PETTING THE MURDERER AND NOT THE DOG.

Submitter comment: BABYSITTER LOOKS FOR SOURCE OF DRIPS AND FINDS MURDERED DOG IN
BATHROOM. SHE HAS BEEN PETTING MURDERER, NOT DOG.

Where learned: MICHIGAN ; BERKELEY

Date learned: 08-11-1964