and then there were 3

Today I went for a bike ride and told the kids I really needed some "me" time and to PLEASE not call unless it was an emergency. Well, their idea and my idea of emergencies aren't always the same so when I heard my phone ring I have to say I was a little irritated.

I pulled over got my phone out and called them back and all I heard was a hysterical little girl who was crying so hard I could barely understand her keep saying "mommy, Myah got my chicken, Myah killed my chicken." After calming her down some I found out she was trying to feed the chickens and Myah pulled open the gate behind her and came into the coop and grabbed her chicken and ran out. I was 15 minutes from home and told her to try and get the dog inside. After I got home we looked and looked but couldn't find HOP (dead or alive). There were no feathers or signs of chicken distress anywhere so I let the dog out who frantically searched the yard and didn't come up with anything herself so I thought there was hope. We kept Myah out of the back yard all day in case Hop came back but we never could find him so I told the kids to just let the dog out and about 20 minutes later Nojah yelled that he had found Hop, and when we came running out he said "but it's dead" and sure enough the dog had killed the chicken and it was in the yard. I honestly think the chicken came back to the yard or was injured somewhere because it appeared freshly killed. I am having mixed feelings having let her outside and think I should have waited until morning but it's over now and there isn't much I can do but let it go.

I just feel bad for this little girl.......
who loved her little Hop so much and was so eagerly watching her grow each day. I know it's just a chicken but it was her chicken and it's hard to see your little girls heart broke.