Frank is in a room with two arguing women while he talking about how happy Puddles was to be sitting in some woman’s lap. I think Frank may wish he could be where Puddles is.
So Frank has identified Puddles “rescuer” as female.
That narrows things down a bit.
BUT, Lu is assuming big time here.
Assuming that the lady that found Pud will do the right thing and return him.
Somehow, I get the feeling that this “person” is not a nice person, has invoked the “finders keepers” clause and has NO intention of returning Pud.
IF that’s the case, the “finder” being Ann Eiffel, or Stella, ain’t so far-fetched. Though I cannot imagine either of those “ladies” bothering to pick up a stray dog.
A new character, perhaps?
Or is Frank goofing Luann to teach her a lesson, and it’ll be revealed later that Puddle has been in his care all along?
Okay so Luann’s found a bit of hope, Frank is rehashing what he saw, so what does Nancy do? Oh yes, let’s instantly blame Luann. I’m not trying to say that Luann is without fault, but guess what Nancy you were not at the park to be aware of details. Absolutely ask for details, but perhaps don’t ask those questions as a means to make your daughter feel guilty.
There is this thing called empathy Nancy. Try to use it to realize your daughter has been stressed and that dumping more onto that stress is not helpful.
Right now the concern is “How do you all get Puddles back”. From what Frank says the dog may be with a nice old woman. Luann hopes that the woman is going to go get his chip scanned, but let’s be realistic… Luann is likely scared out of her mind that this Stranger may not do the right thing. For all Luann knows this Stranger intends to keep her dog because if this stranger is anything like Nancy, they may believe that Luann having lost the dog doesn’t deserve the dog.
Sure Nancy hasn’t stated that in those words, but that’s how her behavior is being presented.
Luann’s Adult Score – 8/10 (She does lose points for not paying attention to her dog at the park such that she lost it but overall she’s handled the situation well.)Frank’s Adult Score – 9/10 (He’s doing well, it’s clear he knows what’s going on and is trying to engage in a constructive way in the conversation. He does get a point knocked off though as he looks like he’s about to drink directly from the carton. He gets his point back if he doesn’t do that.)Nancy – 5/10 (She means well but as she decided to bombard Luann with three questions each more judgemental than the last without letting Luann answer any of them results in her low score.)
TLDR: Luann is an adult. She’s not without fault but is already aware of it. Nancy, can you stop trying to find fault and instead try to empathize and/or help?
Luann lost her parakeet when she was six, so her father said she couldn’t have a horse when she was 13. Now she has lost her dog when she is 19. She still isn’t responsible with her pet. I think she is going to have a hard time getting Puddles back because I think that was Tara’s cousin.
Luann, it was not Puddles who did wrong – it was YOU. You are avoiding your mom’s point because you know she’s right. If you were engaged with Puddles, he’d not wander off and find that hole in the fence. You thought a dog park is a safe place for dogs and put too much trust in the park’s maintenance of the dog play place. An engaged dog would be too busy to find that hole or eyeball the gates for an escape attempt. Now who is the woman? Apparently Frank doesn’t know her. Too bad.
I see that once again Luann refuses to look at the role her own actions played in setting up her current predicament, just like when she got in trouble at work.
The level of nonchalance by everyone means it’s someone they know and would not be concerned about. Toni or Bernice would drive him straight home. Someone out of left field like Delta would be commented on. Tiffany or Dez?
So, Frank says it was a “she” that picked up Puddles, while most of the commentors, including me, think it was a “he”. Maybe it’s Frank who picked up the pup and is stringing Luann along to teach her a lesson.
I think that this strip has finally fully jumped the shark. I’ll stick around until next Monday to see if things improve. At least the father is still in the strip (I live just 2 miles from where “The Goldbergs” is set, and that show went from one of the best on TV to a total train wreck)! If not, I’m “outta here” (as the late, great voice of the Phillies, Harry Kalas, used to say) after a quarter century of reading “Luann,” starting in print and then online.
C’mon Nancy, focus! I can understand she’s angry that Puddles ran away, but this is not the time to scold her already worried daughter!!! If Frank is right, Puddles probably already knows the person who found him. What a relief! It could be Tara or some other friend. By the way, I’m sure Jack is still out looking for Puddle and he will soon call Luann to find out what the situation is like.
People think it might be Ann Eiffel but she wouldn’t drive a car like that and she wouldn’t be picking up stray dogs. She doesn’t know who Puddles belongs to.
My guess is it was Tara. I don’t think Frank knows Tara, does he? Whoever it was, he didn’t recognize the person.
It is sort of odd that he didn’t think it at all out of the ordinary that Puddles was in some total stranger’s car.
Luann, Nancy is basically saying that you’re being a terrible mother by not keeping your eye on Puddles or playing with him. You were so distracted, that you ignored him.
So Dad sees someone drive off with his dog and is so concerned he comes home and casually checks the fridge. Mom as usual criticizes her daughter. Those two are a piece of work.
I have been to dog parks many times and I have seen few owners who spend more time watching and playing with their pets than they spend talking with other dog owners. I think Nancy is expressing unreasonable expectations towards her daughter.
On the other hand, my dog rarely goes more than 10 feet from me except in our yard unless he is on a retractable leashes, even in the dog park or my house where he follows me from room to room. So if a dog is prone to wander, you should pay more attention.
Luann’s in trouble! And yet, she is oblivious to the fact. She’s actually blaming PUDDLES for this debacle at the dog park. I do not like the look on Nancy’s face. I hope Puddles comes home soon, but not before Luann learns an important lesson.
If my dog was missing I would not be having any of these conversations. I would ask what the car looked like, what the woman looked like and which direction the car was heading.
Boy each panel has a story in the story arc generally. Panel 1 has Frank describing, calmly, Pud being on some unidentified female, Luann, whose belief thst a kind person intervened, with the chip (which is a psa reminding people to chip their animals), so as she said in Panel 3, in answer to Nancy’s query, deflects any blame on Pud, hotly I might add. There are so many things here, and our girl is drawn to show such irresponsbility, although I don’t think that’s the point. Tomorrow will be revealing.
Interesting insights to who and what Karen Evans is. We now see that she is a person who is self centered, delusional, shallow, selfish and blames everyone except herself for her problems. Even an innocent dog. I don’t like her at all. She is a real bitc#, and not the dog kind.
Guess those big arms and hands were a diversion? Frank seems clueless. I’m with Nancy. So what’s next? Frank could tell Puddles was happy but didn’t recognize the person driving the car? Luann’s not taking any responsibility. Sheesh.
yes let’s focus on what to do now. Call the the police and give a description of the car and whatever info Frank has. Post information on missing pet websites (jack did that). Let friends know that Pud is missing so others can be on the lookout.
Thank you Karen Evans for a really distressing story. You seriously need to take a course in storytelling. Ever since you started writing, this comic has gone right down the toilet. Can’t even tell you how disgusted your writing makes me, so I will continue to write whatever I can to give you a much needed wake up call and hope that your dim witted brain will catch on if your father’s fans complain enough.
Ouch. We have 4 more days of this arc…3 days of angst…Puddle’s rescuer brings him to the vet’s office where Jack works. There is a joyful reunion with hugs and many kisses…Jack and Luann live happily if not cluelessly ever after.
Dog snatching is a big problem in SF and other CA cities. Usually they’re English Bulldogs or other dogs that have a resale value. Can’t believe that Pug would have any value to anyone other than the Luann household so I don’t think the “snatcher” is an evil person. All this criticism of Luann is off base: she obviously cares about Pug and she could expect a dog park to be a safe place to let her pet off it’s leash so it could romp and play with other dogs. She had no way of knowing there was a hole in the fence so we can’t blame her for that. Also, a teenage girl is going to have her attention taken away from her pet when a hunk shows up and sits next to her. If the person who snatched Pug takes him to the vet for a checkup, the chip will be found and Pug will be reunited with Luann.
If my dog got loose, I would be on the phone, calling everyone who might know anything, especially the police. I know that a dog chip needs to be paid for every year and the owner is responsible for changing any data on the chip as needed, such as a move, phone number change, whatever. I would have been on the phone from the dog park, and still calling. Whining and guessing won’t locate a dog.
Nancy is about to really let Luann have it. She doesn’t appreciate her deflection of her responsibilities onto Puddles. Luann’s behavior is disappointing! Hope they find the little guy soon.
Disappointed it’s not a new love interest for Luann. I don’t get Frank at all – he doesn’t seem fazed in the slightest that Puddles is in some strange lady’s car. Could he have gotten the license plate? I wonder why Karen hates Luann so much?
“What Pud did wrong”? Are you kidding, air-head doofus, or are you really that dumb? Mom Nancy is absolutely correct. So, let’s focus on what irresponsible Luann did wrong!
Frank, did you recognize this lady-driver/dognapper?
lvlax over 2 years ago
Uh oh…. Is it Ann Eifel??
Templo S.U.D. over 2 years ago
Yeah, let’s focus on Puddles’ misbehaviour here.
Tyge over 2 years ago
Did he say she? Someone Puds could look happy with? Tara and Pru come to mind. They should be familiar to Puds – the little scamp!
Tyge over 2 years ago
@lvlax Ann Eiffel!?!? Do we have a Cruella De Vil episode in the making? Y I K E S !
lvlax over 2 years ago
Poor woman.. whoever she is, she has Man Hands. LOL
beb01 over 2 years ago
She? With those wrists? Those were a man’s wrist.
sallymargret over 2 years ago
Yeah—let’s focus on what Luann did wrong.
brendancalling over 2 years ago
I love how on the rare occasions the title character appears in this strip, she’s portrayed as an utter moron.
J. Scarbrough over 2 years ago
Sigh. What a dog-eat-dog world this is.
aesirson4 over 2 years ago
And the dad shows no signs of alarm or concern at all.This strip is SO unrealistic and poorly written.
howtheduck over 2 years ago
Frank is in a room with two arguing women while he talking about how happy Puddles was to be sitting in some woman’s lap. I think Frank may wish he could be where Puddles is.
Mordock999 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Ah.
So Frank has identified Puddles “rescuer” as female.
That narrows things down a bit.
BUT, Lu is assuming big time here.
Assuming that the lady that found Pud will do the right thing and return him.
Somehow, I get the feeling that this “person” is not a nice person, has invoked the “finders keepers” clause and has NO intention of returning Pud.
IF that’s the case, the “finder” being Ann Eiffel, or Stella, ain’t so far-fetched. Though I cannot imagine either of those “ladies” bothering to pick up a stray dog.
A new character, perhaps?
Or is Frank goofing Luann to teach her a lesson, and it’ll be revealed later that Puddle has been in his care all along?
Geeky Meerkat over 2 years ago
Okay so Luann’s found a bit of hope, Frank is rehashing what he saw, so what does Nancy do? Oh yes, let’s instantly blame Luann. I’m not trying to say that Luann is without fault, but guess what Nancy you were not at the park to be aware of details. Absolutely ask for details, but perhaps don’t ask those questions as a means to make your daughter feel guilty.
There is this thing called empathy Nancy. Try to use it to realize your daughter has been stressed and that dumping more onto that stress is not helpful.
Right now the concern is “How do you all get Puddles back”. From what Frank says the dog may be with a nice old woman. Luann hopes that the woman is going to go get his chip scanned, but let’s be realistic… Luann is likely scared out of her mind that this Stranger may not do the right thing. For all Luann knows this Stranger intends to keep her dog because if this stranger is anything like Nancy, they may believe that Luann having lost the dog doesn’t deserve the dog.
Sure Nancy hasn’t stated that in those words, but that’s how her behavior is being presented.
Luann’s Adult Score – 8/10 (She does lose points for not paying attention to her dog at the park such that she lost it but overall she’s handled the situation well.)Frank’s Adult Score – 9/10 (He’s doing well, it’s clear he knows what’s going on and is trying to engage in a constructive way in the conversation. He does get a point knocked off though as he looks like he’s about to drink directly from the carton. He gets his point back if he doesn’t do that.)Nancy – 5/10 (She means well but as she decided to bombard Luann with three questions each more judgemental than the last without letting Luann answer any of them results in her low score.)
TLDR: Luann is an adult. She’s not without fault but is already aware of it. Nancy, can you stop trying to find fault and instead try to empathize and/or help?
Willow Mt Lyon over 2 years ago
Luann lost her parakeet when she was six, so her father said she couldn’t have a horse when she was 13. Now she has lost her dog when she is 19. She still isn’t responsible with her pet. I think she is going to have a hard time getting Puddles back because I think that was Tara’s cousin.
sallymargret over 2 years ago
I hope they don’t focus on “what Luann did wrong.” She’s had Puddles for at least 7 years and never lost him before.
capricorn9th over 2 years ago
Luann, it was not Puddles who did wrong – it was YOU. You are avoiding your mom’s point because you know she’s right. If you were engaged with Puddles, he’d not wander off and find that hole in the fence. You thought a dog park is a safe place for dogs and put too much trust in the park’s maintenance of the dog play place. An engaged dog would be too busy to find that hole or eyeball the gates for an escape attempt. Now who is the woman? Apparently Frank doesn’t know her. Too bad.
ronaldspence over 2 years ago
Maybe it was Delta who came back to town, saw Freckles and rescued him! (Still guessing Ann Eiffel tho)
Brdshtt Premium Member over 2 years ago
So, it comes out that Frank definitely ID’d Puddles on a strange woman’s lap in a strange car, and he did nothing. Then, “What Puddles did wrong?”
.
How FUBAR can this get??
capricorn9th over 2 years ago
Having seen how Frank responds to a lost family pet, I think I can say with confidence that Greg Evans never had a dog.
Caldonia over 2 years ago
Wow, who knew Puddles was so tall.
BJShipley1 over 2 years ago
I see that once again Luann refuses to look at the role her own actions played in setting up her current predicament, just like when she got in trouble at work.
JCB over 2 years ago
Hmmm… Nancy makes the same point I made a few days ago. Why weren’t you watching your dog?
Joe1962 over 2 years ago
Stef, Ann could have pick up Pud.
SFGuy415 over 2 years ago
Doesn’t seem like Frank recognized the woman or I would have guessed the woman was Toni or Bernice.
GirlGeek Premium Member over 2 years ago
Why are these people so happy? Their dog might actually be kidnapped.
kenhense over 2 years ago
Luann’s pitch – Low and outside.
Busrayne over 2 years ago
The level of nonchalance by everyone means it’s someone they know and would not be concerned about. Toni or Bernice would drive him straight home. Someone out of left field like Delta would be commented on. Tiffany or Dez?
Rhetorical_Question over 2 years ago
Grim Reaper? , or maybe Karen?
Rhetorical_Question over 2 years ago
Why is Luann assuming that the finder will return Puddles?
Rhetorical_Question over 2 years ago
Irma Berger Gray? The vehicle is a full size sedan.
D.E.N. over 2 years ago
So, Frank says it was a “she” that picked up Puddles, while most of the commentors, including me, think it was a “he”. Maybe it’s Frank who picked up the pup and is stringing Luann along to teach her a lesson.
[Unnamed Reader - 905c8e] over 2 years ago
Luann is an idiot
OldsVistaCruiser over 2 years ago
I think that this strip has finally fully jumped the shark. I’ll stick around until next Monday to see if things improve. At least the father is still in the strip (I live just 2 miles from where “The Goldbergs” is set, and that show went from one of the best on TV to a total train wreck)! If not, I’m “outta here” (as the late, great voice of the Phillies, Harry Kalas, used to say) after a quarter century of reading “Luann,” starting in print and then online.
JonnyT over 2 years ago
Frankly, Dad doesn’t seem terribly upset either. Can we just make Dez the star of this strip? She’s become the only likable one in the bunch.
Susan00100 over 2 years ago
I still believe it was Tara who found Puddles.
Johnnyrico over 2 years ago
Luann “Not culpable for anything”..
drewpamon over 2 years ago
Has luann ever met ann?
Aladar30 Premium Member over 2 years ago
C’mon Nancy, focus! I can understand she’s angry that Puddles ran away, but this is not the time to scold her already worried daughter!!! If Frank is right, Puddles probably already knows the person who found him. What a relief! It could be Tara or some other friend. By the way, I’m sure Jack is still out looking for Puddle and he will soon call Luann to find out what the situation is like.
Frank Farkel over 2 years ago
Ann Awful is still a possibility…yippee, what a lousy 2 – 4 weeks that arc would be.
markobx1 over 2 years ago
Bye bye Puddles
Decepticomic over 2 years ago
Frank, you might want to leave the kitchen for this.
sueb1863 over 2 years ago
People think it might be Ann Eiffel but she wouldn’t drive a car like that and she wouldn’t be picking up stray dogs. She doesn’t know who Puddles belongs to.
My guess is it was Tara. I don’t think Frank knows Tara, does he? Whoever it was, he didn’t recognize the person.
It is sort of odd that he didn’t think it at all out of the ordinary that Puddles was in some total stranger’s car.
Ellis97 over 2 years ago
Luann, Nancy is basically saying that you’re being a terrible mother by not keeping your eye on Puddles or playing with him. You were so distracted, that you ignored him.
di@2610 over 2 years ago
Remember, that lady who got Luann in trouble at Kids 1st, what if it her?
Just So So Premium Member over 2 years ago
So Dad sees someone drive off with his dog and is so concerned he comes home and casually checks the fridge. Mom as usual criticizes her daughter. Those two are a piece of work.
DM2860 over 2 years ago
I have been to dog parks many times and I have seen few owners who spend more time watching and playing with their pets than they spend talking with other dog owners. I think Nancy is expressing unreasonable expectations towards her daughter.
On the other hand, my dog rarely goes more than 10 feet from me except in our yard unless he is on a retractable leashes, even in the dog park or my house where he follows me from room to room. So if a dog is prone to wander, you should pay more attention.
rickmac1937 Premium Member over 2 years ago
Luann you’re a freaking airhead
VeggieDoggie over 2 years ago
Nancy is right though. You should always be watching your dog at the park. Most of the time it’s fine, but a fight can break out in an instant.
The Pro from Dover over 2 years ago
They both were looking for someone to play with them.
dayle2 over 2 years ago
If he recognized the dog, WHY didn’t he follow the car?
dv1093 over 2 years ago
They all sure are calm to have had their dog just driven off by some stranger in a car.
DawnQuinn1 over 2 years ago
That is Luann’s mother.
Tyge over 2 years ago
Once again the Pater Familia is completely ignored. Poor Frank.
eladee AKA Wally over 2 years ago
Luann’s in trouble! And yet, she is oblivious to the fact. She’s actually blaming PUDDLES for this debacle at the dog park. I do not like the look on Nancy’s face. I hope Puddles comes home soon, but not before Luann learns an important lesson.
Tyge over 2 years ago
Didn’t Puds bite Ann Eiffel? No. Wait. That was Shannon at Weenie World. In the dim past.
R.W.Singer -SF over 2 years ago
Pud?
leighabc123 over 2 years ago
Luann is so immature! She has not shown any maturity in the past 7 Luann years!
locake over 2 years ago
Luann DID lose Puddles at the dog park. Her answer should have been Yes to Nancy’s question.
locake over 2 years ago
If my dog was missing I would not be having any of these conversations. I would ask what the car looked like, what the woman looked like and which direction the car was heading.
luann1212 over 2 years ago
Boy each panel has a story in the story arc generally. Panel 1 has Frank describing, calmly, Pud being on some unidentified female, Luann, whose belief thst a kind person intervened, with the chip (which is a psa reminding people to chip their animals), so as she said in Panel 3, in answer to Nancy’s query, deflects any blame on Pud, hotly I might add. There are so many things here, and our girl is drawn to show such irresponsbility, although I don’t think that’s the point. Tomorrow will be revealing.
comic reader 22 over 2 years ago
Interesting insights to who and what Karen Evans is. We now see that she is a person who is self centered, delusional, shallow, selfish and blames everyone except herself for her problems. Even an innocent dog. I don’t like her at all. She is a real bitc#, and not the dog kind.
YorkGirl Premium Member over 2 years ago
Guess those big arms and hands were a diversion? Frank seems clueless. I’m with Nancy. So what’s next? Frank could tell Puddles was happy but didn’t recognize the person driving the car? Luann’s not taking any responsibility. Sheesh.
Same2Ubuddy over 2 years ago
The “lady” that picked up Puddles was Gunther in a dress. Now the truth comes out.
mindjob over 2 years ago
It’ll be a new character
RSH over 2 years ago
yes let’s focus on what to do now. Call the the police and give a description of the car and whatever info Frank has. Post information on missing pet websites (jack did that). Let friends know that Pud is missing so others can be on the lookout.
Joe1962 over 2 years ago
Toni would not be the likely driver.
comic reader 22 over 2 years ago
Thank you Karen Evans for a really distressing story. You seriously need to take a course in storytelling. Ever since you started writing, this comic has gone right down the toilet. Can’t even tell you how disgusted your writing makes me, so I will continue to write whatever I can to give you a much needed wake up call and hope that your dim witted brain will catch on if your father’s fans complain enough.
David Huie Green LoveJoyAndPeace over 2 years ago
He has the heart of an adventurer.
(And that was just for lunch.)
198.23.5.11 over 2 years ago
Luann wouldn’t be THAT happy to see Ann Eiffel,and neither would Puddles.
Delta.You finally gave in.
TravelinMan over 2 years ago
Plot twist: it was Mrs. Horner, who takes Puddles to be the new service dog at the Home.
daddo52 over 2 years ago
Okay, lets focus on what you did wrong
ckvarick over 2 years ago
Ouch. We have 4 more days of this arc…3 days of angst…Puddle’s rescuer brings him to the vet’s office where Jack works. There is a joyful reunion with hugs and many kisses…Jack and Luann live happily if not cluelessly ever after.
paulscon over 2 years ago
Dog snatching is a big problem in SF and other CA cities. Usually they’re English Bulldogs or other dogs that have a resale value. Can’t believe that Pug would have any value to anyone other than the Luann household so I don’t think the “snatcher” is an evil person. All this criticism of Luann is off base: she obviously cares about Pug and she could expect a dog park to be a safe place to let her pet off it’s leash so it could romp and play with other dogs. She had no way of knowing there was a hole in the fence so we can’t blame her for that. Also, a teenage girl is going to have her attention taken away from her pet when a hunk shows up and sits next to her. If the person who snatched Pug takes him to the vet for a checkup, the chip will be found and Pug will be reunited with Luann.
198.23.5.11 over 2 years ago
Nobody’s mentioning cheerleader Steffi,one of the few females who DOESN’T know where Luann lives.
Of course,if Steffi found Puddles;she’ll return him smelling like 59 cent perfume and with 18 ribbons in his hair.
If Luann t hought Ann Eiffel had Puddles;she’d call out The National Guard AND The Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
DG over 2 years ago
Can we advance the strip 30 years to see an elderly Frank and Nancy sitting on a couch with Nancy asking Frank why LuAnn no longer visits or calls.
Moonkey Premium Member over 2 years ago
If my dog got loose, I would be on the phone, calling everyone who might know anything, especially the police. I know that a dog chip needs to be paid for every year and the owner is responsible for changing any data on the chip as needed, such as a move, phone number change, whatever. I would have been on the phone from the dog park, and still calling. Whining and guessing won’t locate a dog.
Ryan B Premium Member over 2 years ago
Hmm..Puddles “looking kind of happy” might be a problem when it’s time to come back home (?)
eladee AKA Wally over 2 years ago
Nancy is about to really let Luann have it. She doesn’t appreciate her deflection of her responsibilities onto Puddles. Luann’s behavior is disappointing! Hope they find the little guy soon.
RSH over 2 years ago
1st panel: one could wonder what kind of drug Luann is on.
kittysquared Premium Member over 2 years ago
Disappointed it’s not a new love interest for Luann. I don’t get Frank at all – he doesn’t seem fazed in the slightest that Puddles is in some strange lady’s car. Could he have gotten the license plate? I wonder why Karen hates Luann so much?
Otis Rufus Driftwood over 2 years ago
Are they even listening to each other?
w16521 over 2 years ago
I wonder if G Evans will every show Luann growing up? Like becoming mature and responsible.
Sisyphos over 2 years ago
“What Pud did wrong”? Are you kidding, air-head doofus, or are you really that dumb? Mom Nancy is absolutely correct. So, let’s focus on what irresponsible Luann did wrong!
Frank, did you recognize this lady-driver/dognapper?
mnexplorer+ over 2 years ago
OK, she wasn’t focusing on what Pud did wrong.
Kenezg over 2 years ago
Well, I guess it won’t be Luann’s heart throb.