So, yesterday I met up with Dustin after work. I got out at 12:30, so we went and had some lunch, then headed over to Lowe's to pick up a new, desperately needed lawnmower and weed-eater. We came home excited to get them put together and start on getting our lawn in shape.
Unfortunately, we came home to both dogs nowhere in sight. He had left them in the yard, like we always do. The house just gets too warm to leave them inside on sunny days. It's never been a problem. Until yesterday.
I'm not sure whether I am totally convinced that they just escaped on their own. They've shown no precedence to do such a thing before. In any event, whether or not they got out of their own will, or someone elses', they were gone. Dustin scoured the neighborhood looking for them. When we got the kids from school, we drove around to the neighborhood on the other side of the trees to see if anyone there had seen them. We left our names and phone numbers with various people in case they spotted them.
Then this morning, Dustin called the Humane Society to see if any dogs were brought in that matched Muttley or Sam's description. They had a dog that matched Muttley's. But not one for Sam. We went in, and sure enough, there he was, scared and excited to see us. But they did not have Sam. This is not a big surprise, since Muttley is much more apt to come up to someone whereas Sam is more likely to just run.
Luckily though, the gal helping us do the paperwork to get Muttley back was able to contact the animal control officer who had picked Muttley up. He told her that he had not seen another dog with Muttley, but had reports that a lady had possession of another dog spotted with Muttley at her house, and a control officer was on his way there to pick her up. We got that officers name and number, and the address for the house, and headed out.
When we got there, there she was! The officer was already there, talking with the lady. She said they had both shown up, having run across a huge field that ran from our backyard to hers (we're talking, maybe a mile across here, if not more). She said Muttley ran away, and so did Sam at first, but then Sam returned alone, scared and lost. She fed her, and got her to come to her. Then she called the Humane Society to let them know she had her.
I was sooooooo incredibly thankful that both were found and both were safe and sheltered from last night's rain! It was hard for me to sleep last night, listening to it pounding on my rooftop, thinking of them both stuck out in it, lost and alone. I thanked the woman who took Sam in profusely.
Even better, we paid nickles compared to what this could have cost us. Since Muttley got brought in after when we could have come got him yesterday, the woman at the shelter did not charge us yesterday's kennel fee. And the officer who met us to pick up Sam said he'll just use this instance as a warning. That's a $120 ticket we're free from right there. All in all, what we were thinking was going to cost us about $300, only cost us just over $60. With the money we saved from that, we are going to build up the fence around the yard so that they are physically unable to jump it or dig under it. Some nice lattice, some chicken-wire for underneath, some planter boxes and flowers for outside... maybe some berry bushes and roses for thorny deterrents. I get a safer spot for the dogs to go, and some more gardening for me! It's win-win as far as I'm concerned.
So, here's to lost dogs found, better sleep, and a negative getting turned into a positive.
Last week our dogs got out of the yard. That is really nothing new, as the puppy digs escape holes from under the fence, and the older dog can jump the fence. Since the neighbor dogs are always out running loose, while the dogs escaping bothers me, it does not necessarily worry me.
Well, this last time, Muttley, the older one, came home when called. The puppy, Bear, did not. This was peculiar, and worrisome. So Dustin got Muttley on his leash, and went walking the neighborhood looking for the pup, knocking door to door. He got a couple sightings, but did not find him.
The irritating part is the lady at the end of the drive who said that she played with the pup, and fed him, while Muttley, she says, was prancing and jumping around, as if trying to round the pup up and take him home. So, instead of letting Muttley bring him home, she gave him a bunch of attention, and Muttley finally came home without him.
We searched for him daily. Dustin had talked to the neighbors, so everyone knew where he belonged if they found him. We live in a heavily treed area, and it's rather rural, so we figured he must be holed up at some one's house. He had been out of the yard plenty of times to know his way back. We took daily trips up the drive, looking and calling for him.
Then yesterday, I was browsing Craigslist and saw a picture of him at the pound. Turns out, there is a road not far behind the lady who fed him. But it is one we did not realize was there, as you have to get to it from the other side of town. As it is, apparently after hanging out with the lady who fed him, he went to the house behind hers, and the owners there, who Dustin did not talk to since we were unaware that neighborhood was so close to ours, took him in, and then took him to the pound on Friday. We got ahold of them today to let them know he was ours, and were told that since he has been "listed" that it will cost us at least $120 to get him back. We just don't have that kind of money. It is disappointing, to say the least. While I was not a fan of his constant peeing in the house, it did seem like he was making progress and might come around. That, and Muttley and our cat, Booska, wander around looking for him still.
I am happy to know that he is sheltered and not wandering the area hurt somewhere (we have black bears out here, which was my main concern). I am glad that I no longer have to worry about one of the kids seeing him dead on the side of the road somewhere. But I hate knowing where he is and knowing there is nothing we can do. I was thinking of rehoming him, but didn't want it to go like this.
I hope that whomever decides to adopt him will give him a great life. I hope they have the time and patience to devote to him and his training. I hope that he loves where he winds up, and that they give him all the love and attention he deserves. .jpg)
Have a good life, Bear Pup.