“We are all born bad dogs. Bad dogs in a bad town.”

“So which dogs are good?” asked the dog, who just learned she was a Bad Dog. 

“Dogs who stay in this house are good dogs,” said the other dog, who knew she was a Good Dog. 

“Is that why you invited me here?” The Bad Dog stared down at her kibble. “I thought you just wanted to be friends.”

“You must become a good dog like us. You must be loyal to the Master.”

The Bad Dog perked up her ears. “Do you mean the Caretaker? My pack has already taught me about him – ”

“They’re wrong. Only we know how to serve the Master.” The Good Dog looked up at the ceiling. “Someday, he will move this house with us good dogs in it. We will go somewhere far away. Then he’ll burn down this town and all the bad dogs in it. Do you understand?”

The Bad Dog thought. “I don’t know if that’s true. My pack taught me that the Caretaker wants good for us. That this town can be a good home, if we work together – “

“Your pack is just lost dogs,” insisted the Good Dog. “You have to believe us. Otherwise you will stay a bad dog.” She sniffed the air, and her fur ruffled. “He’s near! Hide!”

The door opened. The Master. He looked around the room, then under the table, where he saw the Bad Dog. 

“Don’t set me on fire!” she whimpered. 

She stepped back as he reached under the table and … held out his hand. A treat was inside. The dog sniffed, then took the treat carefully. 

“That can’t be the true Master!” said the Good Dog, in disbelief and hidden behind a couch. “He would know who you are!”

But the Bad Ddog knew that this was him, the Caretaker. And he knew who she was. She resisted the urge to run away, and the Caretaker pet her head. 

Then he headed to the door. The dog, who wasn’t all bad, followed closely and stepped outside with him. The other dog, who wasn’t purely good, was still afraid, but followed too. They walked down the path, up to the park, and saw many dogs. Some were showing the pups how to catch a ball. Some were sharing treats. Some were taking naps. Just like their town, they weren’t good or bad. Just dogs. 

The Caretaker turned to the dogs at his side. “Now, go live.”

Good Dog Bad Dog is a parable about taking a step of faith out of a religious mindset of fear and into God’s love for us and the world.