My route home from work goes along a lane through a gorgeous tiny village - it's literally just a few houses, a green, a farm and a church. The lane is quiet but a few people use it as a cut-through around rush hour time.
As I was going through there this evening, I saw a little blue roan cocker trotting along the verge all by itself - not a human in sight. Couldn't just leave it, so pulled over, stuck my hazards on and called it over to me.
Well, it was just gorgeous. She (as I discovered she was) was so friendly and happy to see a nice human, she came scampering up for a fuss and was happy to be handled and stroked. However she had no collar on - which posed a problem. As a friend whose dog nearly lost its nose will confirm, Henry is great with other dogs BUT he doesn't really like sharing car space, and as the boot of my car is rammed with junk and the back seat is currently housing a wooden pallet on which I shall be storing firewood, space for a second dog is limited. So I opened the passenger door of the car, and while Henry and the wee stray were having a snog (But I luuuurved her - Henry) I furtled Henry's slip lead over her head. Then I shut Hen back in the car (How could you do it to me? - Henry) and took our new friend off to knock on doors, in the hope that someone would recognise her.
Well, we traipsed from house to house to house - no one was in, everyone was at work. At this point I was starting to worry - how on earth was I going to get her and Henry to my vet safely to scan for a microchip - and what if she didn't have one?
Fortunately, the fifth or sixth house we went to had got an occupant who recognised the little miscreant - who was called Cloud. Not only that but as we arrived there we heard someone calling for her. Her owner had been checking the fuses as the area had had a powercut, and while she was doing that madam spaniel had taken herself for a walk. In fact, her house was the very first one we had tried - the lady just hadn't heard my knocking.
So madam Cloud has gone home, and young Henry is sulking that I have deprived him of a potential new buddy. But I can't deny, I was half tempted to bring her home....
Good deed for the day - done!
Just goes to show though - microchip your dogs, people! If I had been unable to find Cloud's owners there and then, my only hope would have been to take her to the vets to have her scanned. It only costs a few quid, it doesn't hurt the dog, and it could be the difference between getting your best friend back or never seeing them again. In the words of the ad man - Just Do It.
A gratuitous picture of Henry on his holidays last week. Because it has to be done.
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