plumtreeblossom | Little Dog Lost, Little Dog Found

Walking down College Avenue on my way to work this morning, I spotted a little Toto-like dog off-leash who was clearly lost. The dog was pleasant but timid and I couldn't get a look at the collar tags. I was concerned because the dog was very clueless about streets, stopping to sniff in the middle of them. Fortunately a couple also walking toward the T noticed it too, and together we caught it just outside the T entrance.

The tag said "Molly" and there was a phone number. The man from the couple called the number, but got no answer. He then called 311 and got bounced around between 311 and animal control, which wasn't open (it seems Animal Control is never open).

A passer-by asked if the dog was lost, and told us there was a woman with a leash walking around the streets off College calling for a dog. The man ran to look for her. I stayed put with Molly, who was very cute but wanted to wander. I kept hold of her, though, and in about 10 minutes, the man returned with Molly's relieved owner. Turns out the family had recently replaced their yard fence, and Molly had apparently found a breach in the new fence to escape through.

I was late to work, but my boss is a dog lover and was very understanding. I was so glad I stayed to help reunite her with her owner, and that we were lucky enough to have been successful. Its good to live in a neighborhood where spontaneous teamwork between strangers happens like that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

oneagain.livejournal.com

Have I mentioned recently how much you rock?

http://users.livejournal.com/_mattt/

That was very nice of you. If you hadn't interceded, something bad might have happened in such an busy area. The poor owner must have been worried sick.

plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com

Yes, the dog was definitely not street-wise, and didn't seem to know the first thing about cars. Had she wandered into the busy intersection in Davis, it would have been very easy for a driver to not see a dog that small.

I'm not exactly sure how street wise dogs (or cats, for that matter) ever become.

I think cats learn it is a dangerous place to be out in the open, perhaps dogs too, but I have routinely seen dogs and cats dart in front of my car. I'm not sure how well either can perceive the motion or danger.

Plus, the neighborhood free-range cats seem to think under the local parked cars is a great place to hang out in the summer.

For me, this is particularly worrisome; with a hybrid vehicle, my car will start to move on battery and thus make no noise.

Edited Date: 2008-12-11 03:22 pm (UTC)