Ken, our friend and Mike’s hunting buddy, was called out of town on a family emergency, so he boarded his dog Zeda. (Or is it Zeta? I’m really not sure.) Ken’s previous dog Pepper passed to the great dog park in the beyond some months ago, and friends allowed him to take Zeda, one of their several German Shorthairs, so that he could continue his bird-hunting adventures. She’s six years old – a beautiful white dog with brown patches. She’s a good hunter, but she’s nervous, skittish, and afraid of her own shadow, other dogs, and unfamiliar surroundings.
When Ken was called out of town due to a family emergency, he boarded Zeda at a veterinary clinic, and Mike agreed to exercise her from time to time. We have helped with Ken’s dogs for years while he traveled. Ken suggested a certain locale along the river where he often exercises her, so on Monday, we checked Zeda out of the facility and took her to that place. Before we had gone very far, she bolted and ran back to the car. The point was that she should exercise, and she clearly wasn’t having any of it.
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| The arrow indicates Zeda's location (photo from 2016) |
So, on Wednesday, we tried again. About 4:00, we picked up Zeda and went to the dog park at Swallows Nest, which is bordered by a fence on one side and the river on the other. We thought she would be safely confined. WRONG! She ran to the other side of the park and then to a “pond” on the south side. Naturally, we humans couldn’t keep up, and Bess just didn’t care. When we got to the pond, Zeda had swum to the other side (Mike estimates 100 yards) and was seeking a way to climb the bank. The only way to get to her was to leave the dog park and go around the long way on dry land, which Mike did. He managed to retrieve her and brought her back on leash. And that’s when the real excitement began.
Mike had re-entered the park with Zeda on leash when another dog approached her and she freaked out. She slipped her collar, ducked under the gate, and ran across the highway (scary!). “I hate when they do that,” another dog owner remarked. Mike caught sight of Zeda running up the hill, so we jumped in the car and drove around that neighborhood looking for her. As it happens, Ken lives in that vicinity, so we stopped at his house several times, thinking she might go there.
So, we went back to the vet’s and reported Zeda as a runaway. Long story short, the vet posted her on Facebook as a missing dog, and apparently a couple of girls saw this and happened to spot her not far from the vet’s. Between the girls and the vet, they nabbed her about 5:45. Mike and I were so relieved.
"All’s well that ends well," we said, and then we added, "Never again!" Zeda can just do without exercise. KW
6 comments:
What will she do without excersize? Is there something you could do with her on a leash? You are probably getting too old to be chasing dogs.
The boarding vet does have a small yard. And possibly she could stay with her family of origin where she could run and play in safety. Ken will be home soon, but he will have to travel again in a couple of weeks. (I don't care how young you are, you couldn't catch that dog!)
We use a harness for Primo—mostly to control his desire to pull, but it’s also more secure than a collar. Never fun to have a dog on the loose. Luckily, when it happens to us, we know just where he is—across the street looking for cats!
Bess has a harness for her retirement home visits. However, we thought Zeda would run at the dog park. The idea was that she should exercise. It isn't going to happen again. No one wants it to happen again. A much better option has come to light, and we're pleased for that.
What is your better option?
Zeda might be able to stay at her former home, but that's between Ken and those people.
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