Escape!

[stoutfellow]

Buster got out this morning.

I had been working on the computer, and was getting ready for a shower. Both dogs get excited about then, normally, because it usually means I'm about to get dressed and take them for a walk. This time, though, only Gracie came over to do her dance. I decided I'd better check on Buster. He wasn't in the house. I glanced out several different windows, but he didn't seem to be in the yard. Not the garage, either....

I pulled on pants and a sweater and stuffed a leash into my pocket. (I didn't bother with shoes or socks; they would have taken too much time.) Heading out, I paused to check the likeliest escape point - the gap Ben slipped through once before. I'd fixed it, but, sure enough, Buster had forced it open. I jammed it shut again and went after him.

Peer east down the block. Nothing. (The east-west blocks are long and straight.) Trot the short block south and look east again: still nothing. (There's not much to the west.) Sick at heart, turn back north. There's a little white blur two short blocks away. Run, sucking chilly air into your lungs. Half a block away - yes, it's Buster - slow to a walk and start calling his name. He looks up, and then rockets past you, back the way you came. Turn and trot back, wheezing. Turn the corner: he's only a short distance away, but then he vanishes again. Slow to a walk again, all you can manage. He's on the porch, waiting to be let back in.

I think I've resealed the gap, beyond his power to force it. I hope.

Comments

[al-zorra.livejournal.com]

I hope you'd at least had coffee prior to the canine recovery operation!

Even some breakfast?

Love, C.

[threeringedmoon.livejournal.com]

Glad you found him so quickly. Our Collie was an escape artist from our dog run years ago and we could not identify the gap for a couple of weeks. I took our other dog outside and walked up and down where she could see us feeding him treats while Jack watched. Finally, Lody went over to the gap she was using and lay down on her side to shimmy through. After we fixed that gap we had no trouble keeping her in.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

One thing I'm grateful for: this is a low-traffic residential area.

[stoutfellow.livejournal.com]

Yes, this was well past breakfast time. (My mornings are leisurely affairs.)

[mmegaera.livejournal.com]

Yikes. I'm so glad he didn't have a close encounter with a car before you could get him back in.

[hornedhopper.livejournal.com]

Yikes! No wonder you ended up with a cold. They don't have any idea how much they can scare their People, do they?