PANIC

That about sums it up - sheer panic. That out of control, I don't have control and I have to fix this right now feeling and the strongest desire to turn the clock back 30 seconds before "it" happened.

"It" in this case, is that split second when your newly arrived, long awaited rescue boston forever baby bolts out the door, slips her collar or escapes through a unseen hole in the fence or an open gate.

It is an awful feeling to watch this baby that came to live with you disappear from sight at a dead run. You can't catch them, you know that, yet you still try and running toward them only makes them run faster. They don't know you yet, after all, they were rescued from one home or shelter, placed in another home for foster care, then delivered to another strange home. Makes you think you would run away if that summed up the last 6 months of your life too, doesn't it?

BTRNC is thrilled to report that the last 3 dogs who made such an escape hours after arriving at their forever homes were all eventually recovered, unharmed to their new families. The families grew a whole lot of new gray hairs during the period of their adventure on the lam. One dog was gone for 2 weeks in a wooded area near his new home and eventually trapped in a humane possum trap. His new family drove the trap with the dog still in it home and into the garage and closed the door before the door was opened. In a second escape, a good Samaritan called someone who knew someone who knew someone that was looking for another lost angel and she was eventually corned in a parking lot. Our most recent escapee took off leash and all as her new Dad was trying to leash her up to take her for her first walk. Though the help of neighbors and friends, she was found and surrendered by rolling on her back.

The three sweetest words that anyone who has ever lost a dog are, "we have her."

The new family is heart sick and feels like it was their fault, the foster family who just said goodbye to the latest foster that they have fallen in love with is heart broken and thinks they should have kept this fur baby for themselves.

It is not any one's fault, it just happened! So for all your prospective pooch parents, keep in mind that your new arrival is scared and confused. They don't know you, your house your animals, your neighborhood. Some may escape from fear, others from excitement as they bounce themselves out your door and still others may suddenly be bitten by wanderlust and want a great adventure.

Keep their collars no looser than the width of two fingers under the collar, or harness, leash them inside, don't open any door in the house without securing the dog first, don't let younger children hold the leash outside the house, and never assume anything with your newest addition. These tips won't guarantee the avoidance of panic but may improve your odds.

We wish for no more panic and for very many more happy endings!