Pets 911

One time my neighbor called my the patron saint of lost animals. (Because they tend to find me.) I think I just come across them and also stop to help, so it seems like it happens to me more.

This past Friday morning, I was out running with Jasmine. On the way home, we walked and practiced sit, stay, & come. I had walked about 15 feet away from her, and gave her the command "Come!" She ran about 1/2 the way towards me, then froze. I looked at her, then turned around.

A big black lab and a Jack Russell terrier were behind me. (with no owner in sight!) I called Jaz to me, and she came right as the lab started rushing towards her. I was able to grab the collar on the lab. (The Jack Russell didn't have a collar, and was harder to catch.) I tried knocking on doors nearby, but no one was home. So I decided to take these dogs home until I could find their owners.

I put Jaz's leash on the lab, but the Jack Russell didn't have a collar. Once I caught him, he was squirmy and didn't want to be held. So I ended up putting Jaz's collar on him, and hooked the leash under it- so I had at least some control of these dogs! (who wanted to go in separate directions!)

I was SOOOO proud of Jasmine!! She walked the entire way home with no leash and no collar!! All those hours of dog training classes sure came in handy!! She stayed with us the entire way. Once we got in our own neighborhood, she knew the way home and started getting excited. She would go ahead of the group. But I would say "waiiiiiit" when she got to the street, and she would wait on the sidewalk until I caught up, then we'd all cross together! :) Such a good girl!!

I took some pictures of the lost dogs so I could make up a MISSING DOGS flyer and post the pic on pets911.com. I called the phone # I got off the lab's license, but it wasn't current.
You can tell they are somebody's pets. Because when I brought out milkbone treats and told them to sit. The black lab sat immediately, and the terrier sat up on her hind legs. (and as much as I enjoy dog training... I can't train them THAT fast!!)

So I left the dogs in my backyard, and left to put signs up around Val Vista Lakes.

Anyway, this story has a happy ending. About 2 hours later, a got a phone call from a lady named Cami. She and her 3 kids had come home from Christmas shopping, and discovered their gate was knocked down. They had been driving for a while trying to find their run-away dogs. When they finally decided to quit and go home, that's when they saw my signs. The older daughter (about age 10) was pretty upset. I overheard the mom telling her "it's ok, it's ok... we found them." They were all just so overwhelmingly grateful for everything I did to help. It's hard to explain how good it made me feel to reunite this family with their dogs.

Sunday night, Cami called again. The kids had made me a plate of sugar cookies that they wanted to bring over to say thank you again. It was very cute! The sugar cookies were shapped like doggies! :) YUM! :)