Gracie got out of our yard last night.
I’m not quite sure how she did it. All I know is, I went to let her back into the house after her evening constitutional and the gate was wide open. Ok, so I know how she got out of the yard – she ran through the gate. I’m just not sure how the gate got opened in the first place. I’m really hoping that she hasn’t discovered how to get the damn thing open. That would be some serious suckage. Of course the alternative, some random person was in our backyard, is not exactly anymore comforting.
Murphy’s Law being in full effect, Gracie got out the one night this week that I didn’t have time to chase her all over the neighborhood. I was wearing heels. And a rather tight pencil skirt. And I needed to be at the Malden Catholic College Fair in 20 minutes to represent my alma mater. I’d already been warned by the admissions office not to be late.
(The guidelines that they sent me also included a note about not taunting the other colleges and universities there, but I was more concerned at that point about my punctuality).
I love Trinity, but Gracie takes priority. I got into my truck and started driving around the neighborhood. The neighbor’s kids sent me in every which direction. “She was playing with my cousin but she ran away!” “She’s over by the train tracks!” ” “I think she’s smoking cigarettes behind the junior high!” Just as I was about to give up in despair, one of our neighbors pulled up in their SUV… with Gracie in the back! They’d seen her taking off and decided to try and track her down themselves. I wish I’d shown better gratitude, but all I could say was “thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!!!” and then I had put Gracie in our house and drive off. I’m not even sure which house was theres to drop some cookies off at.
This morning, Gracie seemed really off. She wouldn’t eat anything, not even the tastiest bits of chicken that Kristian pulled aside for her. And she crawled into my lap the way the cats do. I was literally looking up the vet’s phone number when she decided that it would be ok to eat her breakfast. But she was still off her game. Because I have no idea what she could have gotten up to last night, my imagination filled in all of the blanks. And it wasn’t pretty.
I asked my boss if I could bring her in to keep an eye on her. As soon as I brought her in and everyone started petting her, she perked up. Way to make me look like a liar, Gracie.
I’m just glad you’re ok.
I think that was the “don’t be mad at me, look at me being pitiful and sorry” act. Glad she made it home OK.
Weird that for people an invitation to tag along to work definitely wouldn’t be cheering anyone up. Dogs are all “woohoo, I’m going to WORK!!!” Too bad we can’t send them in our place every day.
Glad you found her! How scary! I wish we could bring dogs to work.
maybe she was just scared and wanting to snuggle up with you. so probably taking her to work was a good strategy! you’re a good momma 🙂
Lisa – I just wish that I could teach Gracie how to clean projector screens! She’s a working dog, so she should enjoy being useful. :p
Kristina – It’s almost worth being scared this AM to have her here today. Almost.
Nancy – I think she might have eaten something that she wasn’t supposed to. She seems to be recovering pretty well, but I’m still a little nervous about her!
Hope, do you have one of those gate latches that’s sort of U-shaped? If so, it is very easy for an inquisitive dog to lift the latch with her nose and then push open the gate. (We had a dog years ago who learned that trick. We had to keep something in the lock-hole so the latch wouldn’t go up. Glad that she’s okay.
I get to occasionally bring Nat & Pyxi to work with me. I love having them here in the office. The office cats are not as thrilled.
It’s a latch about 4 feet up. It’s pretty hard for me to open and I have opposable thumbs. :p I’m not sure how to describe the latch but it’s metal and sometimes it pinches my fingers.
A dog’s motto? Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
OMG! I’m soooo happy you found her! How scary. Also, I LOVE HER! She’s gorgeous! I really, really want a puppy. Darn my job and it’s consistent travel!!!
I hope Grace is back to her old self now!