Kiara's Story - Please read & keep this as a reminder...

[cloverfdx]

Tears here aswell . This coming weekend it will have been a year since Tinny took off and went missing, she was only gone a day but it felt like a lifetime. The territiory she was lost in was dangerous...Bushland, with a busy highway running through which she crossed a good few time according to people who had seen her . I was not expecting to find her alive, and when El found her and she was ok (Exhausted and starving) it was the happiest moment.

{{Hugs}} For Kiara and Mama.

[kallisto4529]

Thank you so much for this much needed reminder, it is what I keep trying to drill into my husband now that we have a 9wk old puppy to train and take care of, yes he may come now, but there will be that day that he might not. I am so glad God was taking care of your littler girl and brought her home safely.

[pitc9]

{{hugs}} to you and the crew!

[Tollers-n-Dobes]

Such a beautifully written story, Kay. I completely agree.

I'm so glad that Ki made it home safely.

[cassiesmom]

kfamr - could you please give Kiara a 6-month anniversary hug for me. And the other Muttlies too! Happy "welcome home" anniversary, Kiara!

[My Peanuts]

Kay, reading that and remembering your torture has me in tears. I'm so glad that Kiara was found.

Luckily my little misbehaving pack ALWAYS has to be on leash, with the acceptation of Sylvia who has earned the privilege to walk down the driveway into the yard after a walk. She's so focused on the yard and getting a drink that I don’t worry about her going elsewhere.

[Blue_Frog]

I know all about dogs getting out ....

These little guys are my dads Beagles - Mike and his sister Blue.


One day last year, my dad had just got home from the cottage and was in the process of unpacking the truck. Unfortunately, he hadn't latched the gate 100%, and Mike managed to pull through a teeny gap and run down the drive. Mike managed to time it perfectly, and ran right out into the road in front of a lady that didn't have time to stop.

He suffered nerve damage in his front leg -- and after all kinds of differnet treatments over a month and a half (with no change), they had to amputate. Hes still a happy little tripod dog, but I know my dad still feels horribly guilty about the whole thing.

Heres 3-legged Mike

[Logan]

I'm so glad that you posted this, Kay. We all need to read it and heed the advice that you have provided. I think we all breathed a sigh of relief when we knew you had your precious girl back with you.

Every person I know. including myself, is delighted when they have a dog they can have off leash, but I worry about every single one of them. Even my own, precious Lilly, who is the only dog I have owned that could go off leash, without running away, worried me to death. I loved her companionship in the yard, outside of the fence, but I was constantly watching her, calling her back, and sometimes I would simply "forget" about her, and that was her opportunity to slip away. Dogs (and cats) are fearless, and a good sniff in the air that brings an interesting smell, will send them off on an expedition, every single time. Even Lilly, who didn't go far, didn't run, would get a wild hair, every now and then, and take off. We were very, very lucky that she was so lucky, and always came back home. And if you add any kind of noise fear, those "great" dogs, that do so well, off leash, become missing dogs, just like Kiara.

I know, for a fact, that our Zipper was a stray because he was frightened, probably because of a thunder storm. He showed up as a stray, picked up by animal control, during the summer. Obviously someone loved him in his early life, but probably left him outdoors, and he ran away out of fear. It was our luck that he landed in the shelter, was taken in by our Golden Retriever rescue, and the rest was history. But we learned, quickly, that "thunderphobia" was his issue, and we always worked to protect him from that fear.

We all live and learn. Unfortunately, some of us learn the hard way.

Logan

[Kfamr]

Today marks the two year "anniversary" of the week Kiara went missing. Please keep our mistake as a reminder to keep your babies safe.

[chocolatepuppy]

Oh, I remember that week all too well. Thank God you got Kiara back Kay! Her gone missing was the reason my pups are microchipped. Big {hugs} Kiara.

[Cinder & Smoke]

Kiara was a dog who I trusted off leash, anytime - anywhere - with anyone. She had a perfect recall, didn't care one bit about other people, cars, animals, dogs, etc. Not a care in the world. If another dog walked by our yard they went by without being noticed by Kiara.

Even when she was a tiny bit spooked by something she still came to me when called. NEVER had I expected her to run off.

But, it happened
and I know there are many others out there with the mindset I had.
That their dog's recall was perfect and
something so horrible would never happen.

Please, everyone use caution when your beloved angels aren't
contained or on lead. Please be cautious of your surroundings
when your dogs accompany you.

AND PLEASE, if you ever find yourself in the same situation
NEVER give up hope.
There were many times I thought we were never to find her again.
It was only a week but it felt what seemed like a lifetime.
I was angry, I was upset, I was losing my mind.

Today marks the two year "anniversary" of the week Kiara went missing.
Please keep our mistake as a reminder to keep your babies safe.

WHY don't I listen? Even my "good kids" have wandered off!

My lil Foster Mutt - Heidi - affectionately called Mini-Mutt ...
is a (Thank God) living, although slightly battered, example of what
Kay has so beautifully reminded us of ... Dogs DO run off ...
and the results can be devestating to both the 4-Legger and the BiPeds.

Can't happen, you say?
Here's another Sad Tail that proves that YES, it CAN happen >>>
"We have'company' at the Ranch ..."
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=81353

THANKS, Kay, for your well written reminder.
May God give me the strength to start heeding it.

/s/ Phred

[lizbud]

WHY don't I listen? Even my "good kids" have wandered off!

My lil Foster Mutt - Heidi - affectionately called Mini-Mutt ...
is a (Thank God) living, although slightly battered, example of what
Kay has so beautifully reminded us of ... Dogs DO run off ...
and the results can be devestating to both the 4-Legger and the BiPeds.

Can't happen, you say?
Here's another Sad Tail that proves that YES, it CAN happen >>>
"We have'company' at the Ranch ..."
http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?t=81353

THANKS, Kay, for your well written reminder.
May God give me the strength to start heeding it.

/s/ Phred

Amen Phred. I remember when Kiara went missing & after awhile I did
start to fear the worst for her. This can happen to anyone & this thread
is a great reminder to all of us.

[cassiesmom]

[[[[[HUGS]]]]] Kiki, Mufasa, Simba, Nala and Kay!

[caseysmom]

I remember your despair and anguish like it was yesterday Kay, its a good lesson for all of us.