Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Gone Walkabout

by Maggie Sefton









Gayle Carline said...

My dogs have their names and my phone number on their tags, so imagine my surprise one Saturday afternoon when I got a phone call from a stranger, saying, "Duffy is down at the park unsupervised." Duffy is my Corgi, and my son had left the side gate open. The funny part of the story is the guy on the phone says, "I've got him with me at the park. I'm the one in blue shorts and a white tee-shirt." Yeah, thanks, because I wouldn't recognize MY DOG.

PS I sent my son to the park. It was, after all, his negligence that gave the Duffman an escape route.

Cynnara Tregarth said...

Since I have had custody of my beloved husky, Shango, there have been no escapes. However, when my fiance 's best friend was rehabbing him before we received my precious joy-- he and his "sister", Jewel(who should have been named Houdini) went for a run. Together. Without appropriate supervision.

Our friend, Steve, went into panic mode. Huskies love to wander. They love to go on walkabouts. So imagine his surprise when a mile down the road when he spots Shango sniffing prize-winning roses and watering them.

He opened the car door and yelled for my dog, who looked up and was like, "Awesome trip, but it's time to go home so I can bother brother Tova." Then he had to search another few blocks or so before retrieving the instigator of the affair. She was heard to be singing, "Freedom..."

So, we have always been careful with Shango. Until we realized that incident changed him into "follow Mommy everywhere" dog. If I turn around, he is there. He might go ahead 15 feet from me, but then he stops and waits, like I am the one trying to go on walkabout!

Aurian said...

That is sure cause for panic, I am really glad you got them back safe and sound!

Anonymous said...

My Blue Heeler Loki went on a walkabout for a year back in June 2009. Left in a fenced-in backyard for no more than 15 minutes with three other dogs, he figured out how to escape (either by jumping onto trash cans and then leaping the fence or some other method) and went on the lam. It about broke my and my then-boyfriend/now husband's hearts. Thank goodness that Loki still had his collar and county tag on him when Animal Control trapped him a small bear trap (he ballooned from 32 to 75 pounds! unheard of!) in June 2010.

Almost three years later, I am still so glad to have him back.

Maggie Sefton said...

Gayle---You were so lucky that guy called. I have IDs for the dogs but their collars were off because I'd just brought them back from the kennel after a trip. Theire collars were still on the the floor. :(

Rachelle21 said...

I have a cat that loves to me outside. She usually will come back and wait at the front door to be let in but we worry all the time she is out.

When we had a toy poodle, he considered the whole block as his backyard. He had our address on his name tag and sometimes college students would see him and bring him home (though he would have found his way on his own).

Maggie Sefton said...

I love that image of Shango following "Mommy" everywhere. Good dog, Shango. :)

Maggie Sefton said...

Thanks, Aurian. So am I.

Maggie Sefton said...

Anonymous---Those Blue Heelers are notorious for escaping! You were lucky he was found again. Both my dogs are chipped which helps. Love that you named him Loki. :) The god of mischief. I still remember that Jim Carrey movie from years ago.

Maggie Sefton said...

Rachelle---I have always allowed my cats to go outside even though it can be risky. I simply cannot bear the thought of Nature's best hunter not being allowed to do what they love. I know, I know. . .inside cats live longer than my outside cats. I guess I must have been a cat in a former life. :)