Rescuing Junior

Junior, my rascal dog

Junior, my dog went missing earlier today.

He’d gone out earlier to do his business but had not returned by 7pm. Junior never goes out that long. If he does it usually means he’s lost.

So mom and I went out in the car looking for him, but he did not turn up. I went out for dinner, and when I came back, I told mom I’d look for him on foot. Walked around the neighbourhood calling him, until I heard branches and leaves rustling.

No one was around me, but it felt like Junior. He’d walk side by side with me if he caught me on the way home from a run. I walked over to the rain drains and lo and behold.

The poor baby had fallen into the drain. He seemed alright but confused. I called out to him and somehow he decided to turn around and head back in the direction of the house.

Which was where I was trying to get him. The drain was too steep on the sides where I found him for me to go in and get him out safely.

I called out to him, encouraging him to walk in the direction I wanted until I could get in front of him. Then I got into the drain and he came to me. He seemed equal terrified and annoyed.

I tried to carry him a few times to get him out but he growled at me. Then he stepped on my shoe. Babi.

I regret not signing up to a gym to do weights.

The final time, I just heaved and put him on the rough gravel on top of the drain. He’d stopped growling but his body had gone shock still. I soothed him by repeating the word “Up” several times and keeping my hand on his back. When he got his bearings, he began to move and that was when I got out of the drain too.

My left shoe now feels funny but that’s a small price to pay for having my doggie back. I hope he won’t go into any more drains though.