Adventures in Pet Sitting - Escape Artists
Thankfully, over the years, I haven't had to deal with this problem very often. Vigilance does pay off. But, there are those situations that crop up where everything else gets put on hold. (You might want to grab a drink or a snack. This could get a little long.)
The first time it happened it was at a 'meet and greet' with a new client. We were heading into the house through the garage. The automatic door closer had about one-quarter of the way to go yet, when the inside door opened and Bailey, the Beagle, made a break for it. The owner managed to catch Peyton, her other Beagle before he could get past her. It took us and a couple neighbors twenty minutes to find him by the river a half a block away. I had been searching in the opposite direction in an overgrown brushy area discovering an abundance of wild roses. Ouch!!
In a side note, I was relieved that it was the owner who hadn't fully shut the inside door. Letting critters loose is not a good way to impress folks, you know?
Next, we have Tucker and Sasha. You've met Tucker already. This is his 'sister', Sasha, a Herding Breed mix.
I arrived and let them out in the backyard as was our usual routine. I stayed inside, checking for messes and topping off their water bowl. Normally by that time, they were back at the door, trying to work me for treats. When that didn't happen, my next thought was they found something interesting in the yard (which odds are they weren't supposed to have whatever it was), so I went out to look for them. No critters. That's when I noticed the gate was slightly open. (The lawn crew mistakenly didn't latch it all the way.)
Damn.
So, off I go, hollering their names at the top my lungs. Luckily, after about 10 minutes, Sasha is heading towards me (whew!), looking for treats. No Tucker, though. Hmmm..... I stash Sasha in the house and resume the search. Besides the neighboring yards, I checked a vacant field and lost track of how far I actually walked. All tolled, it took another 20 minutes. Still no Tucker. With no other options, I decide to go back to the house for a more thorough inspection. Lo and behold, the little stinker had been in the house the whole time. He was hiding in Mom's bedroom instead of getting in trouble with Sasha. I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so I did both.
This one has a handy visual. Scout and Riley's neighborhood:
The gate on this fence had a weak latch and was touchy. It was a day I needed to use the bathroom in hurry, but I decided to let the kids out first. I went back inside to do my thing and then went right back out to give them their 'good potty' treats. In that space of time, they were out touring the neighborhood. Oh, and it was raining. A miserable, cold drizzle. I spotted Riley fast. I got her back with a bribe. One down, one to go. Scout, on the other hand, has decided that this was a grand game and took off across the street, into the woods. (In the picture, Riley is looking square at the spot I saw him.) Bonus - in addition to dealing with the rain, I discover my second batch of wild roses. Oh, joy....
A few hundred F-bombs later, soaked to bone, scratched and bleeding, I finally get Scout tired out and ready for treats. Really?!? Treats? I'm not sure, but I think I actually literally growled at him when I got him inside. Aunt Deb was NOT happy. Sigh.
Lastly, is someone I mentioned in passing in Ode to Teddy - Bubba.
I've known Bubba since December 2009 and we have had an ongoing game revolving around his going outside. His case is different because once out, he never leaves the back yard. His goal is to get past me when I want him to stay in, usually because of the weather. He's got too many hidey-holes that I can't reach, so I need to block him when he makes a break for it. I know most of his moves, but the one I can't beat is when he uses the big boys for cover. Sneaky lil so-and-so. Then he'll sit on the deck, just out of reach and gloat. He's a good boy just looking for a little challenge to spice up the day. Besides, I get head butts and purrs when I let him have his way. Win-win!
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excellent writing ....... I love puppy ..... upvoted :)
Thank you!
We have three cats in the house. Two of them spend their lives eating and trying to escape every time someone is at the door. They are persistent. When our Tabby, Junior gets outside, he always gets torn up in fights with other cats and raccoons. He ends up costing us a hundred dollars or more when he escapes.
Cats are definitely harder to corral. You would think, though, after a couple of fights that they would shy away from confrontations. Evidently, Junior considers himself the winner and is taking on challengers. It sounds like they both return after their adventures and that's half the battle. I would rather look for a missing dog than a cat any day as it's levels of magnitude easier.
They are sneaky little boogers and have a strong will to be independent.
We had a tabby like that years ago. Jack. He wanted out all the time and even tho I had the water spray bottle close to the doors, he would find a way out. Picture 5 people chasing the cat down the street with blankets, coats, sweaters to throw over him to get him back. It was like a video you'd see on America's Funniest.
Oh, yeah, they plot and plan. Add in the fact that if they can get their head through a space, they're gone. They're slippery, clever and as you described, almost impossible to catch in a chase. (That would have made an awesome video, btw!) Your best bet is to try to outsmart them or use a weakness - treats, catnip, whatever - as a lure and hope it's enough to get them within reach.
Bubba taunts me from under the deck. Even though I know he's safe, I worry about cold & wet. Yet, he sits there, cleaning his paws and looks me right in the eye. If a cat could flip me off, Bubba would do it. Lol!