Well. I have had time to digest and think about the last few days. I am still emotional about. And I can`t stop looking at him. It is so incredibly awful to think that he could still be out there- scared, in the dark and cold alone.
There is a difference between a dog that ran away and a dog that is running scared. Boone was running scared. Probably frantic the whole time. One of the sightings I got of him was from a girl who said he ran laps around the soccer field for three hours while they practiced. What kind of dog runs in circles for three hours. I think that he was confused and scared the whole time and it makes me so sad that he had to go through that.
I still have no idea when or how he got out. He is not a dog that runs away- he is off leash all the time with no problem. Even when he`s scared he will come to me. My theory is that something REALLY spooked him and no one was there to comfort him so he did what he does best- run. Away. Until he was calm, and then he was lost. He traveled a lot- probably non stop. I am hoping to have time to make a map to publish here- of all the sightings, and where was eventually found. Dogs are amazing. But it`s no wonder that he`s exhausted!
I am so grateful to my friends. Sunday night every where I looked there were people out looking for him. It was strange and and heartwarming all at the same time. I don`t know what I would have done without them.
And of course my dad- who walked and searched until I told him to go home. He got up at 6 Monday morning to go to the schools while it was still quiet- and waited until the kids showed up so he could ask each of them if they had seen a grey shaggy dog. I am surprised he wasn`t arrested. :)
I am also surprised at the amount of great people in the world. Strangers, who had never met me (or the elusive grey shaggy dog) were more than willing to look for him and spread the word. It is an incredible feeling to know that there are people out there who will go the extra mile.
I am not an emotional person and can`t count on one hand- okay half a hand the amount of times I have cried in public. But this about killed me. Sunday night I broke down more than once as I walked the dark alleys. I almost cried again when the woman on the phone said that she might have found my dog. And I did cry as he crawled out from under the van towards me. I love my dogs. A lot. And Boone holds a special place in my heart- the dog no one wanted, and who has worked so hard these past few years. So there should be no surprise that I am still crying. He just means so much to me.
As dog people you all understand.
So thank you all- for being with me for the past few days. It is nice to know who your friends are. :)
manymuddypaws; a blog about dogs, training, dog sports, life, and pretty pictures too...
13 comments:
A big hug for you, Amanda.
Great to hear he's home. As a dog lover I completely understand how scary it was. Thank god he's home.
so glad to hear Boone is home safe and sound...I do know how you felt.. my bouvier went walkabout for 24 hours, but we live in the country and no one saw him..he has a great nose and we figure he got on the trail of a coyote or bear and away he went.. my hubby went looking for him out in the bush... went to turn his truck around,(about 5 miles from home) and Jackson showed up..he had heard the sound of the truck..and came to it...he had run all night, so i know that awful feeling..damn dogs sure get into your soul don't they
Amanda, so happy to hear Boone, is safe at home. I couldn't imagine your last few days. Take care, thinking of you lots.
I am so so glad Boone made it home safely. I can only imagine the feeling of helplessness and fear you have for your dog, knowing they are out there alone.
last year, a friends Great Dane jumped his fence. When someone tried to catch him, he spooked and ran into the street and got hit by a car. Luckily the car wasn't going fast and the dog bounced off...but he kept on going and didn't stop. We could find his bloody footprints heading down into one of the canyons in the neighborhood, but for 5 days couldn't locate him. When he was finally found, he had lost about 30 pounds and was very close to death. He probably wouldn't have made it another day.
The entire neighborhood/community got involved in finding him though, and without their help he probably wouldn't have made it. Its an amazing feeling to have that support from people you don't even know. Give's me a little more faith in humans, that's for sure!
Give Boone a big hug!
Murphydog's Mom
I came in late to the story and Boone was already home by the time I read this but I was still holding my breath. Almost nothing more frighting than a lost dog. Hugs to you and Boone and your team of "lookers".
God Amanda, losing a dog is all our worst nightmare with our own dogs and you had to live through that nightmare with yours. I couldn't imagine the horror you must have been going through. I am so glad Boone is back where he belongs. Take care Amanda. Take care Boone.
Believe me, we're all crying too, as we read these posts of yours. We've been holding lumps in our throats, sharing in your fear and distress. Thank heavens everything turned out all right....this is a dog lover's nightmare. So thankful, that yours had a happy ending. Poor Boone may be distressed for some time to come. He couldn't be with anyone better to see him through it though.
I was so happy to read that he was found. I thought of you endlessly the entire time he was missing and I sure wish I was there to help.
I didn't want to say anything at the time...but you know that I know EXACTLY how you were feeling. It is the worst experience, I know.
I'm sure glad you got your little boy back and had a happy ending.
You're probably right about something spooking him. And if it's a larger thing than just something in the yard, they keep getting respooked and running, trying to get away. Like some dogs I know who spooked at fireworks and at a major earthquake with all its aftershocks, just going and going. I really am so glad he's home--he's my favorite!
Oh my. I'm so glad he's home, and I know exactly how you feel. Our cardi got spooked by a freak thunderstorm and was missing for two days...I don't think either my husband or I slept at all. Finally, by some stroke of luck I showed up at the county shelter just as a woman was calling in that she had found him shivering on her front porch. I cried like a baby.
The biggest change I've noticed in Rufus is that he's become way more attached...he's always been almost cat-like in that he tends to need his space. Now he's always about 2 feet away at the most!
(((HUGS))) I know what you went through and I am so thankful that you had the same ending as we had when Chloe/Eva went missing last year.
Give Boone a great big hug for us!@
Just reading this made me cry. I know how I felt when I lost Taivas for just a couple of hours, if I'd been without her for two days I would be a total wreck. Thank goodness Boone is home.
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