The house I grew up in was never locked. In fact, though the front door could lock, we didn't have a key for it, and the side door didn't have a lock at all. We left the car keys in the ignition when parked at home, though, as a nod to security, typically we would leave them in the console when parked somewhere in town.

My parents built and moved into a new house a couple of years ago, and this house has locks on the doors, but of course, it's still never locked.

Except, when I arrived this time, there was a key in the lock of the front door. On the outside. Just hanging there, somewhat mysteriously.

What gives?

It turns out that my parents' dog is able to open the door and let himself out, so sometimes they lock the door to keep the dog in.

Welcome home!