These kind of things make me cry with relief. The shock and fear of what "could of" happened always gets to me. This is all too close to comfort after what happened to us not too long ago.
A couple of weeks ago Jay's mother had a heart attack and we rushed down to CT from MA to see her in the hospital. It was chilly up here and we knew it was a 2hr+ drive down, then back and who knows how long we'd be at the hospital. So we made the decision to bring Tenchi along, since he has a bit of separation anxiety. Well when we go to where his Mom was, it was sweltering. I sent Jay and the kids in a head of me until I figured out what to do. I was frantic and besides myself with worry for both Jay's mom and leaving Tenchi in the car in the heat.
We didn't know how bad his mom was and I was worried about leaving Tenchi overheating in the car. So I parked the car in the shade. I put the seats and windows down (we have a subaru legacy station wagon) and opened the hatchback. Then I poured his water/ice into his bowl and tied his leash so that he couldn't take off. I've used this method before when I've brought him to family member's houses and need to run in quick and he is always fine. Tenchi thinks of the car as his portable crate since he's in it most of the time with me. When I put the hatchback up he ends up sleeping with the breeze keeping it nice and cool in the car.
I ran in to check on Jay, the kids and his mom(who luckily was ok, but had to be kept for observation a couple of days) . I came back out and Tenchi was sleeping, so I ran back and forth between the car and the hospital for the entire time we were there. I woke Tenchi up a couple of times and walked him, but he just wanted to go back in the car and sleep.
Then we're getting ready to leave and an announcement comes over the radio, "Will the owner of a green subaru with out of state plates please come to the front desk". I feel all the blood rush out of me and run as fast as I can, past the desk and out into the parking lot. As soon as I run down the sidewalk, TENCHI comes running up to greet me, dragging his leash that was chewed through!!!!!! A frightened security guard stopped me(with his hand on his holster) asking me if that was my dog and if he was friendly. I told him yes a couple of times before he relaxed and then I burst into tears. The parking lot was across the road from the hospital, so that means that my baby had to have crossed it. Just the fact that he found his way to me is a miracle in itself, the fact that he wasn't hit by a car or stolen because of my stupidity just washed over me and I broke down right there bawling my eyes out.
What happened with Angus was a mistake and mistakes happen. However I was an idiot, and I thank God that I was given another chance with my sweet boy. It makes us appreciate them even more when that realization hits.
Stay safe sweet Angus and don't scare your family anymore, ok?
