Freedom's just another word for "It's cold and dark out here."
A couple of nights ago, I had let the dogs into the fenced backyard for a evening romp. It was dark outside, but the backyard is well lighted, so I don't worry about letting them out at night. Jesse came home while they were out, and promptly decided it was time to clean the litter box. (Wonder why.)
Jesse took the litter box outside to do the task and came back in a little while later. The dogs always call me at the back door with a couple of sharp barks when they are ready to come in, and I had not yet heard the call.
In a bit, I heard Jesse go to the front door and open it.
"What's Skipper doing outside?" he called. I jumped up to see, and there was our intrepid terrier prancing in the front door. Jesse had heard him scratching on the door and let him in.
It turns out that Jesse had gone out the back door and left the gate open when he went around to come back in through the basement. Both Skipper and Sophie had taken the chance to escape. Now I don't worry much about Sophie. She can be trusted with freedom. She never runs wild. But not so with Skipper Lou Blue. Ever since he has come to The Yellow House to live, I have had to either keep him confined with a fence or keep him leashed, or there ensues a chase around the neighborhood to corral him.
But Skipper is here to report that the saying "Live like somebody left the gate open," is not what it is cracked up to be. Somebody left the gate open, he escaped, it was dark, and Skip wanted back in the safety of his home. I had very mixed emotions about this incident. If you would have asked me what would have happened in such an event, I would have said we would never see Skipper again. I was happy to find out that the little fellow does indeed know where he lives and is not anxious to leave. But I was chilled to think what if I had been right. I would never have seen my Skipper again.
Where was Sophie during this hullabaloo? Over at the next-door-neighbor's house sniffing at the cat door to the garage. One command of "come Sophie" was all it took to retrieve her. And even though we've seen that Skipper is more reliable than we had thought, Jesse has promised to be more attentive to closing the gate behind him.
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On 11/08/2013, Barbara Anne said ...
Ah, we used to have a dog who dashed for the great outdoors anytime she could. After driving around the neighborhood (she'd jump in the car in a heartbeat) after one escape, I headed home only to find her at the front door. So glad your story had a happy ending!
One of the things that drives us nuts in movies is the many, many times a character goes thru a gate and then doesn't close it securely. What is the gate keep IN or OUT??? In one of the last scenes in The Holiday, Carmen Diaz dashes across a snowy field and back into Rose Cottage leaving 3 gates open in the process. Those gates were closed when she got to them. Dang!
It's that lesson from childhood: "Put it back like you found it."
Cute photo of one happy to be home Skipper!
Hugs!
On 11/08/2013, Nicole said ...
Ozzie has done that a few times. He always comes back, but usually does something to make the neighbors hate us while he is running free.
On 11/08/2013, Sandy said ...
I'm wondering if this little escapade will cause him to give up on digging his way to China??? Guess we'll have to wait and see!! He is such a cutie and he just oozes with personality. So happy he didn't run away and is safely home. Have a great weekend Susan.
On 11/08/2013, Betty said ...
Scary adventure
On 11/08/2013, Jan said ...
There's no place like home…lessons learned for Skipper & Jesse! So glad everyone is back where they belong!
On 11/09/2013, sophie said ...
I'm so glad that it all turned out well. I have, perhaps stupidly, started the habit of taking the cats outside in my arms. They both love it; neither has ever tried to jump out into the wild, but they now demand it whenever I'm in the kitchen (near the front door) or living room (with doors out to the patio). Even though I'm afraid that if they get away from me, they'll be off into the adjacent arroyo and at risk of being attacked by coyotes, I cannot deny them. I'm hoping the snow arrives soon ... because I know they don't like to walk in it ;-)
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