Saturday, April 14, 2007

The Return of the Prodigal Dog

The dog came home around 4:15 a.m. I heard him do his usual "it's nightime so I bark softly with a 'woof ' instead of a WOOF" bark.

The smell of recently sprayed skunk greeted me as I opened the door.

I sigh and begin my search. See, he won't come back INTO the yard because he has his electric fence collar on. It's not worth getting shocked to come back home and sleep on the boy's bed and dine on Iams Weight Control food. So, I wander around and the flashlite beam falls on a pair of yellowish eyes. I can't see anything else so I head in that direction. By the time I get there - he's gone but I hear him running through the leaves. Or at least, at this point, I'm hoping it's him and not a coyote that I'm chasing down. Because that? Would suck.

Anyhow, I next spot him (and it was him - this time I could make out his outline) running by another neighbor's yard. I know he's trying to work out a way to get closer to our yard but he's not keen on electrocution (the baby) so he's giving it a wide berth. I get closer and he runs across my path - not even glancing in my direction. Nice. He goes in a big patch of trees and underbrush in the neighbor's yard. I go in but am quickly blocked by an errant stick filled azelea and some other green stuff. So I back out and walk until I can get a glimpse of him. I call him and he comes out, head bowed down. I take his shocker collar off and he runs. Straight toward the neighbor's porch. Again, nice. I have to physically hold his regular collar and walk him over the invisible fence line. He bolts for the porch, goes in the house, drinks a bowl of water and passes out on the living room floor - too tired to climb the stairs to the boy's room.

His paw pads are h.o.t. hot. Like he's been running on the pavement for a few hours. There ain't a heck of a lotta pavement around here unless you count the main roads and a parking lot in the camp next door. Hmmmm. I've no idea where he's been or what he's been up to.

And for some blessed, it's no longer Friday the Thirteenth reason - the skunk sprayed but it DID NOT spray the dog. Phew.

At least I can sleep tonight.

5 comments:

blackbird said...

whew...on several fronts.

Our dog wandered off last week - and that's how I knew the batteries were dead in her collar.

Jennifer said...

So glad he's home safe and sound.

Sarah Louise said...

So glad he's home. Ours would run away too--I'll have to ask my mom about that, it's been over 23 years since I've had a dog.

Mig said...

I can't wait to hear about what he pukes up.

Then maybe you'll know where he's been.

;-)

Amy said...

oooh, sp speaks from experience, I can tell!! So glad we have to physically take our dog out (did I just say that?) each and every time (the thrills of not having your own yard). I would never be able to sleep if my pooch were out on his own.

and a big WHEW about the skunk!!