My little runaway, run-run-run-run-runaway

The Dog, Katydid, ran away yesterday. She used to do this with some frequency, but it has been months since she even made an attempt. The only way she got out this time was the utility guy opened our fence and did not close it when he left. We jumped in the Huckablazer and followed her as she ran through our neighborhood. The Husband had a pocket full of Goldfish and her leash, hoping to lure her close enough to re-think her jaunt. The Son called “KAAAAAATY DOG! KAAAATY DOG! BACK KAAAATY!” through the open window. I drove, and contemplated what to do when she darted across the street right in front of the truck. I have told you how bad she is right? She is a BAD dog. It is totally our fault, we let her do whatever she feels like, our only accomplishments have been potty training her and teaching her how to “be a ballerina” for a snack. One of our neighbors caught her and brought her home after about 45 minutes. To be honest, if it were not for the fact(s?) that The Son adores her, that she cleans up toddler food spills nicely, and that I think it is my responsibility to take care of her….I would have not even gone after her.

About a month after The Husband and I got married, I was watering flowers on our front porch and left the front door cracked. An adorable wee little bunny hopped across the yard, Katy saw it, and slipped out the door before I knew what was happening. Now this was BC (before child) and Katy was my baby. I bought her a coat and even a little hat to wear. She was our flower dog at the wedding for cripes sake. I loved that dog. I dropped the hose and ran (barefoot of course, lordy, we never wear shoes around here) after her. The front door was left wide open and the hose was left running. I thought I would catch her in two minutes in the neighbor’s yard. But she ran, and she ran, and she ran…..and, I followed her. She weaved in and out of quiet rows of houses. She crossed two busy streets. And, I followed her. “Katy! Katy! STOP! COME BACK TO MAMA!!” I sobbed, and wheezed. My feet hurt. I did not have my cell phone to call The Husband, and we had traveled some distance by this time. I saw her run into the parking lot of the neighborhood Walgreens, I thought, thank the Lord, she is cornered. Then an elderly man came out the front door….and she went in! That damn dog was INSIDE Walgreens! I followed her. As soon as I stepped inside the front door, the cashier said, “EXCUSE ME! Excuse me, Ma’am you can NOT come all up in here with no shoes on!” I stared at her and gasped out, “But my dog just ran in!” “WHAT!? You can’t bring no dogs in here!” “Yes, I realize that, help me catch her and we will both leave.” We finally got her cornered by the Wet and Wild makeup. I scooped her up and with my head held high, dripping sweat, my filthy, sore feet screaming, we started for home.

Of course I had no leash, I had no belt or shoelace to use as a leash, she was too short to let her walk without me crawling beside her, so I carried her, all thirty-two pounds of her. When I finally reached home, it was an hour after she first bolted after that freakin’ rabbit. The hose was still running, creating Lake Erie in the front yard. The front door was still standing wide open, the living room now a humid black fly breeding ground. I dropped Katy in the entry way, walked back to the office where The Husband and BIL were doing some sort of geeky computer something, and stood in the doorway with my hands on my hips. The Husband looked at his new bride, covered in sweat, dirt, and dog hair and said, “Hey, what happened to you?” They did not even know I was missing! Men! Hummff. Dogs! Hummff.

Filed under Boy is my face red |