The good samaritan

My faith in humanity has been roundly restored over the past couple of weeks by strangers. First there was the lovely couple who found Mrs B when she ran off (see lost and found post) and then last night a random phone call from a guy who’d found Mrs Bitey’s collar and harness after the most recent MIA episode (see AWOL post).

The unnamed good samaritan had found both items stuck on a barbed wire fence (Lord knows how Mrs B had wriggled her way out of them, I’d like to have seen it), took them home, washed them, found my number on the tag, rang me to check that Mrs B was ok and also to give me his address where both items were bagged up and hanging on the gate post for me to collect.

I’d not imagined that the collar or harness would ever be seen again so to get both back is great. Collars, tags and harnesses are not cheap and the ones that she lost were her ‘best’ ones.

Naturally, Mrs B is also over the moon as it means that there is an alternative option to the Halti. I’m letting her run with that mistaken idea for today only…

AWOL (again)

Today’s events neatly sum up Mrs Bitey.

We walked the common land early, the sun was up and there were very few souls around. It was so still and peaceful that I found myself slipping into a lull listening to my boots squelching along in the muddy grass- it was really quite hypnotic and I felt at one with the world.

Mrs B was hopping about, sniffing, pausing to look around, having a run… in short just being herself.

Then looming on the horizon we spotted her Nemesis – another terrier she had a nasty scrap with back last summer. The owner was even worse and had sent me a very poisonous threatening letter – I’d apologised profusely and paid the vet fees for her dog to be checked over but clearly that wasn’t enough.

A rematch was the last thing that I wanted so we detoured to the very edge of the common- BIG mistake. There is a small copse of trees clinging perilously to the side of the steepest part of the hill. In places it is practically a sheer drop. Wooded areas are not good news for me as they offer endless scope for hunting and adventure for Mrs B.

I reached out to grab her but was too late- she’d spotted a squirrel or bird or possibly just a stray leaf and took to her heels. Her ears shut down in that infuriating terrier selective hearing way and that was it for 20 minutes.

The 20 minutes I could live with, the climbing down to find her and the state of her when she emerged grinning from under a bush I could not.

She was triumphant and sans collar, harness and half of one of her back claws. The claw had needed a trim I guess. The nearly new harness, posh collar and matching tag remain at large and I can only imagine that somewhere a squirrel has donned the collar, is using the harness as a hammock and wearing the claw hung from a string round its neck as a necklace (thanks Neil for that last unforgettable image!).

The silver lining is that it means that the new Halti will be pressed into service tomorrow.

Can’t wait.

Lost and found

The joy of walkies hit a wall today.

Mrs Bitey ran off and I thought I’d lost her for good.

She disappeared off into a wood and just could not be found anywhere for ages. Whilst she has disappeared before, this had a whole different feel to it. I could hear her barking for a while and then there was silence. I didn’t know where to start looking, the landscape around me just became a huge dynamic maze. The possibilities of where she might be were endless. I acutely felt this huge wave of loss- I honestly did not think that I would find her again. The idea of this was devastating- she is one of the most important elements in my life and the idea of her been gone for good was just too awful to contemplate.

I have never been so glad to hear my mobile go- a very kind couple had found her some distance away and brought her back. She was scratched to bits and was covered in blood. Thankfully no serious damage was done but it was one of those moments when I felt so powerless, so unable to act or even know what to do. I hysterically rang my family who all pitched up to help. I was in such a state, it was unreal.

I have learnt from today and had a sharp wake up call. I must always remember that Mrs B is an animal with animal instincts. She is not a mini human despite her intuitive ways and obvious intelligence. It is really easy to forget this, especially given the prominance that she has in my life.

So it’s back to boundaries- and a long lead tomorrow. We both need to remember who’s boss.