You can take the dog out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the dog

So notes our Washington correspondent about the attached photo (pictured: Gracie the Wonder Pup).

"A bird flew into the kitchen window with great force and died. Gracie graciously retrieved it for me. Unlike what she usually does to my arm or knees, she handled it with a soft mouth. She also left it outside the door, so I could neatly take care of the poor thing."