One September, Lloyd is visited by his older sister, Beth, who gifts him a Border Collie-Mudi puppy out of concern for his wellbeing.
Two days after the incident, Lloyd is visited by Gibson, a game warden with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Gibson informs Lloyd that the alligator has been captured and that it had been hidden alongside the boardwalk for several weeks, guarding a clutch of eggs.
"[1] Lloyd Sunderland and Laurie make a cameo appearance in King's 2024 novella Rattlesnakes, attending the funeral of a resident of the Key.
[11] Mike Finn suggested that "there's no high horror here but there is a solid story", describing "Laurie" as "another take on being old and alone and trying to give your life shape and purpose".
[12] Writing for Corriere della Sera, Stefano Ferri described "Laurie" as a "very strange story", suggesting "the plot has nothing to do with the dog but only with the owner".
[14] Reviewing You Like It Darker for The Spectator World, Brice Stratford interpreted the collection as being a reflection on King's own life, with "Laurie" being an "exploration of old age and mortality".