Yesterday I took a walk around town. I usually head into the residential area as there is less car traffic, generally speaking.
As I was approaching a house to the right, I noticed a little dog standing in front, off-leash with no owner in sight. I got about 6 feet from the dog and tried calling her, but she just stood there and stared at me. I tried to steer her towards the yard. No dice. I had noticed the gate was open so I called out and there were two men standing there. I asked if she was their dog and then they said, ‘how did she get out?’
They came to get her but as soon as they tried to grab her, she ran. They were working at the house, not the owners. So, one guy started running after her but as soon as he did that, she picked up speed. She turned onto the next street. I kept walking, looking for her, and they got in their work van and started driving slowly around the area.
I called the Police Department non-emergency number and Animal Rescue was off-duty, but the dispatcher said she would contact an officer about it.
I saw the two guys and said I had called the PD. One guy got out and started looking on foot while the other one kept driving around.
In a couple minutes, the dispatch called me back and said the officer had the dog. She asked for my location and told me to wait there for the officer to come by. The guy walking around also looking was nearby so I called out that the police had the dog. Then she called me back and asked if the officer had arrived yet. I said no.
Then she called back and said the officer actually couldn’t grab the dog, so he didn’t have her. So, I started walking back to the house where the dog was and by now the owner was home and was out calling for her dog. I walked past a guy who had been standing outside of his house the whole time and told him about the dog and he said ‘little black one’? I said yes and he said he ‘booked’ past him and turned at the corner (which is where the dog’s house is) like ‘he knew where he was going.’
I saw the police officer in front of the house and told him I was the one that called. He said he tried to get the dog but she ran.
Then I noticed the woman who owned the dog up the block calling for “Olive.” I walked up to her and told her I was the one that had called the PD. Then she remembered she had put an AirPod on the dog’s collar. I walked with her back to her house. She pulled out her phone and said, ‘It says she’s here.’ She called again but the dog didn’t come.
Then she went to check inside the house. Guess who was in there!
Apparently she ran home and ran in through the doggie door! The two workers got back and we told them she was home. The one guy who was looking on foot said, ‘This was the worst work day I’ve ever had! So glad we found her!’ The woman gave both of us a little ‘pop out’ card for helping, and then I went on my way home.
Today I was walking with some friends to go to a Local Authors Event. On the way there, guess who we ran into? Olive and her mom! They live across town from me so it was funny to see them on my side. I said something about her knowing where her dog was and she said ‘Oh! You’re the one who helped me yesterday! Thank you so much! I owe you!’ And then we introduced ourselves to each other.
I told her that I liked the little card so much I was going to order some and keep them on hand to hand out.
Here’s the card. What a great ending to the little saga! So glad Olive knew enough to go home!
