The Oldest Excuse in the Book

I honestly didn't think the “My-Dog-Ate-My-Homework” excuse was still in circulation. I thought some law had been passed—or at least some unspoken code had been woven into the fabric of modern society—that prevented its use.

But today I got this email:

Dr. Svigel, this sounds crazy I know, but do you have any extra copies of the mid-term. We have a puppy, and our puppy has half the mid-term in his belly at the moment. He some how found liberty to get stuff off my desk now.

Anyway, I can come by your office on Monday if that is possible. Sorry for the trouble. One can feel pretty stupid when his excuse is the oldest line in the book.

How would you respond?