Once Again They Come to Me...

Once again they come to me... a beautiful autumn afternoon in the yard, enjoying the mildness of +13c in late October, stepping into the house for a bathroom moment and a coffee re-fill. My ears pick up a cry out back when waiting for the kettle boil. I look out and what do I see but this young dog looking up at me.



This is the second time in less than one month that a dog has shown up on my property, straying from their home.

I've said it before, I said it this time and am certain I will say it again... "It's a very good thing for my neighbours that I am aware on where the animals live."

Unfortunately for this fellow I only know because his family has a tendency to leave him outside for lengthy amounts of time on weekend mornings. He is not happy with this and a couple Saturdays ago it was rather frosty out there; and this dog sure was voicing his unhappiness. It lead me out to see where the cries were coming from. It hurt me to see him so sad. I've not had many dogs in my life and am not sure if this is part of the training process... waiting for him to go to the bathroom maybe?

Now after today I am wondering if his family is neglectful? They had no idea he was gone. I had him with me for about 45 minutes. I played with him. I chased him. He chased me back. I wanted to go inside to get my camera, and tried such commands as "sit" and "stay" to keep him at bay till I returned, but nothing worked. Not even a firm voice, pressing his butt to the ground worked. As I left him out back he stood up to my deck and cried away. He rejoiced my return outside. Meadow was not happy with any of this.

His energy kept going. I sat at the deck for a moment and he stopped in what is left of my vegetable garden, sitting and waiting for me.



He munched on remains of cow manure and peat moss chunks in the soil. Was he hungry? Did this appeal to him?

I finally had enough of this, figured it was time to get him home as his family might be in a panic at this moment realizing he is gone. Another example showed me this dog is probably not in the best of homes... I tried to affix part of Meadow's leash to his collar as to walk him home. He is no where near being leash trained. He snarled and rolled about, doing everything in his power to get that leash off, he wanted no part of this going for a walk. I scooped him up in my arms and carried him up my street to the next, around the corner and about 10 homes down to his. He made no fuss or fight with me carrying him and even licked my chin a few times. He was quite content in my arms.

I knocked on the door not once, not twice, but three times. After the first knock I had heard someone inside and that is why I didn't give up. There were no cars in the driveway and I might'a taken him back home with me if I didn't hear the noise. An 18 year old answers the door with a bit of a surprised look on his face. He sure was wondering who I was, why I was holding his dog. I said "I found him in my yard over on Bernice." He concluded the dog must've gotten through the back fence and found his way over to me. Brilliant conclusion! He thanked me, gave the dog a light scolding and shut the door.

So it bothered me that he had no clue his dog went missing. The dog is maybe 6 months old and more trouble than a 3 year old. We are steps away from a busy street. I found him during rush hour. It could have been a tragic ending for this dog, and I nor his family would have known, if he went the other way. Thankfully he didn't and ended up here as they all seem to do...

I do plan on keeping a closer eye on this dog. I can see their yard from the very back of mine under the apple trees.