Lost and found ...

Well what an unexpectedly action packed and adventurous Saturday I have had.

It all began this morning … when I was lolling around in my pyjamas … because this is what I do on Saturday mornings when I have no action or adventures planned.

My peaceful introspection was disturbed suddenly and rudely by a burst of excited, manic barking from Buster.  The cause of such behaviour required investigation and was explained when I found a gorgeous puppy sitting on the front doorstep gazing interestedly through the sidelight beside the door.

Buster is an unsociable pig of a dog … who believes that no other animal has any right to be anywhere near our house … or anywhere at all for that matter.  The level of his fury escalates in direct proportion to the size of the dog.  This was quite a large puppy.  Buster was not happy.

By the time I got to the door the cute interloper had disappeared.

However by the time I had showered and dressed … she was back … peering through the door.  The momentum of her wagging tail increasing in direct proportion to Buster's fury.

So I grabbed a leash and a few treats … and went out to corral the wild beast.

It wasn't exactly hard … I do believe she thought I was her long lost mother … and the only danger I was in was being licked to death.

So then we put Plan A into action ... Master 16 and I went off on a walk around the neighbourhood … knocking on doors … trying to find someone missing a big, licky puppy.  We were given a few leads … but they all came to nothing … no one was missing this beautiful girl … and no one could recall seeing her before. No success.

It was time for Plan B … we piled her into the car and drove to the vet in hopes of locating a micro chip. The vet advised us that should a micro chip be present they would be able to contact the owners and keep her at the surgery until her collection … if there wasn't one they wouldn't be able to keep her.  Unfortunately … despite all our crossed fingers and toes … no micro chip could be located.  No success.

Now for Plan C … the plan we had been hoping to avoid … it was time for the pound.  The vet assured us that there was no chance she would be euthanised.  The pound would keep her for seven days … giving the owners a chance to claim her … and if they didn't she would be adopted out.  It was with very heavy hearts that we took her in and handed her over.  At which point she was placed unhappily into one of these … jail cells.

We drove away … feeling guilty.  But surely someone would claim her … surely.  The pound would be the obvious place to go searching for a lost puppy … wouldn't it?

That could have been the end of the story … but for the power of social media.

I discovered a page on Facebook aimed at reuniting Lost and Found animals and owners on the Central Coast.

So I posted this.

Then 12 minutes later … someone posted this.

There was a flurry of commenting and tagging … as everyone put two and two together … and they all lived happily ever after.