A Lost Dog Tale

The Golden Retriever in the back of the Ranger's van. I've been in one of these and they aren't very nice.

Yesterday Mum, Dad and I went out for our nightly walk. While we were passing the local school we saw an old Golden Retriever walking very slowly (and limping) around the school on his own. Dad tried to get it to come to him, but he just kept walking away. As it was starting to rain, Mum and Dad decided to take me home and come back in their car to see if they could catch him.

Mum and Dad drove around for a while and couldn't see him, so eventually they headed home. Funnily enough the Golden Retriever had made his way up to near Mum and Dad's house, so as they came home they saw him. Mum managed to get him in the car, but once they got home he refused to get out of the car again.

Eventually with a bit of lifting and pushing Mum and Dad got him into the back yard and tried to dry him off as he was very wet. I saw him through the glass door and we wagged tails at each other and he also wagged his tail at the cats.

However it began to rain very hard and he was getting wet even stood under the patio. He was also having trouble standing on his front leg. Mum and Dad decided to bring him into the house, and put him in one of the spare bedrooms.

After Dad used three bath towels to dry him off, the Golden Retriever lay down and fell asleep. He seemed to have a sore front paw, and was very very sad. Dad tried to offer him dinner but he wasn't really hungry.

This morning Dad drove around to see if anyone had put up any posters for a lost dog but they hadn't. Eventually Dad called the Ranger who came to get him. The Golden Retriever was still lying in exactly the same place in the bedroom as he had been the night before. He couldn't even stand when the ranger came to get him, and had to be helped to his feet.

The Ranger said that someone had reported a Golden Retriever missing on Friday and everyone was hoping that this was his family. The Ranger tried to call them but they weren't home so he left a message, and took the Golden Retriever and left.

Mum and Dad were very sad said that if his family couldn't be found that they would try to find a home for him. I asked Dad if we could keep him, but he said no, but he said one of the rescue centres might be able to help. We all just wanted him to go back to his home though.

Anyway, just before I started to write this, Dad checked on the pound website and the Golden Retriever's picture had been taken down, so we are all hoping that he has gone home. Dad is going to call the pound tomorrow to check!

There is just one thing that Mum and Dad have asked me to mention. Will everybody please put a name tag with a contact phone number on their dog? Although the Golden Retriever was wearing a collar he didn't have either a name tag or registration tag. It would have been so much easier to get him back to his family if he had these two tags. A name tag can be ordered from the vet or pet shop and only cost around $20. I have a blue one in the shape of a bone and it is very cool. So please, get a tag for your family pet too!