My dog is a traitor!
Yesterday afternoon our dog went missing. We had contractors here on Friday and one of them left a side gate open when they left. It happens to be on the side that's furthest from the garage, that we never use, so we didn't notice. Later we let the dog out to run around in the backyard and she must have gone to the far side, saw the open gate and took off. We searched the routes we usually walk her, but no luck. I stayed up all night in the living room so I could see if she would return home in the night and come to the front porch, but she didn't.
By this morning I was absolutely going nuts, not just because I was worried about the dog, but because I was worried about having to tell my DD. She is away at university and is staying an extra month to pick up extra courses. Our dog is basically her dog, because she's the one who dotes on her like there's no tomorrow, and considers the dog like her child almost. Long story short is that we had called everywhere to see if she had been turned in or picked up by animal control, but they were all closed until Monday, so I was making up posters to place around the area when my DS walked in from outside with the dog!
He was working on the car while waiting for me to finish the posters when he heard a familiar jingling sound (of dog tags) and looked up to see our dog Jessie coming up the street. A man was running a bit behind, and clearly trying to catch the dog. Of course our dog went to my son when she saw him, and he scooped her up, so happy to see her. The man caught up and before my son could tell him she is ours, he said "Yeah, she's a friendly little dog. I saw her around 10 o'clock last night when I was pulling into my driveway. She was just walking down our street alone, so I bent down and called her and she came right to me and let me pick her up and bring her inside. No place is open til Monday for me to trace her owner, so I kept her overnight and will again tonight until I can make some calls in the morning.
At that point my DS was able to break in and tell the man that in fact she is OUR missing dog, and that's why he scooped her up so quickly. He told the man to stay there so he could run inside and show his mother the dog was back. Well I just about died with happiness when I saw her, and ran outside with my almost finished posters in hand. I explained how she had escaped and thanked the man profusely, showing him the LOST DOG posters I was in the midst of making. He laughed and said that in fact he had photographed her and was making up FOUND DOG posters, while our dog was playing in his backyard with his dog. Suddenly he saw her scramble below their fence which had just enough room for an 8 lb. dog to sneak under. He instantly ran out the front door so he could try and recapture her, to ensure her safety until he could return her.
That's when my DS heard the jingling and saw our dog jogging up the street and bent down to catch her. Now why do I say she is a traitor? Because the man who found her said he lives one street over from us, so she hadn't gone more than 2 minutes away from our house. She could have easily come home at night, after enjoying her afternoon sojurn through the neighbourhood, but no, she chose to stay out exploring until he saw her, and kept us awake with worry all night.
Then, the man told us she happily followed them everywhere in their house, tail wagging and even taking some of his dog's toys to play with. She ate all the food and treats they offered and settled between them for the night to sleep, while their own dog slept at the foot of the bed! When they sat on their sofa, she jumped and lay beside them (like she does at home) and when the husband sat at his computer, she hopped up onto his lap like she does when DS is at his computer! He said he was startled, as their dog is a large retriever, but he laughed and said now he knows why little dogs are called "lap dogs."
I apologized for her rude manners and offered him a reward, but he wouldn't accept it. I just couldn't believe that Jessie absolutely didn't care that it wasn't her house, her bed, (she doesn't sleep with us) her food, her treats, or her toys, when I could neither eat nor sleep! We, her kind, loving, dedicated LOYAL family, were pining away for her, when she meanwhile could give a fig and was living the life of Riley. While I'm eternally greatful she's back, part of me wants to strangle the little scallywag! How dare the dog we've adored for 12 years be such a traitor!? Tomorrow I'm going to pick up a bottle of wine, thank you card and a bag of dog treats and leave it at their door.
Comments (9)
Linda Wayman
joyfulguy
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