On A Soapbox
This is from the heart today. PLEASE give people time to call you back when you have found their dog or pet of any kind. A neighbor, not close, and I thank them, called me re: a Beagle coming into their yard with my number on his tag. I was at the vet without my phone.
Yes, it does happen, gasp, people don't always have their phones on them - and people aren't always on the Internet, either. The family let him go because I didn't call back right away.
When I saw the phone message after getting home, putting away two dogs who needed crating, and situating the rest of the pack ("yes, you can go outside in the sunshine and enjoy it"), it was only 55 minutes since she had called. An hour was too long to not "call back right away?" Thank God, Shiloh came home (my first suspect). I saw him as I was driving to the address.
I then tried to call this person because I'm hoping against hope, if not Shiloh, it is my missing Beagle, Keen. When I get to the house, she is ON THE PHONE and didn't have voice mail set up (which I know because the phone company voice told me). I know these people meant well and I do appreciate them calling. However, many other nights, I would have been on my way to work with my phone off for the night so I don't disturb my patients or families; my attention at work needs to be completely on them.
What I'm saying is, please, have patience. If you find a dog with a tag, call the number(s) and HOLD THE DOG. Please - on a tie-out or in a crate or in a chicken coop (without chickens!). During the day or the next day, if you have no response, please, please, take the dog to the Humane Society - they are watching for my Keen.
With so much instant communication these days, it's easy to forget life takes time - we are working or playing with children or counseling a friend or helping out at church or at the vet for good or bad news: answering phone calls in those circumstances is rude and inappropriate. It's not that we don't care - we do - but we all are involved in hands on/heart in activities away from the phone and Internet.
Thank you to this family. I helped them rehome a Bassett Hound once and they are aware of Keen still being missing. I'm using this situation as a soapbox example to not just let the dog go because you don't get a call back within an hour. The world seems to move faster digitally, but not necessarily in real life.
As long as I have your attention - log off, hang up, walk away from the computer (and I know it can be tough) but there's a lot of life to be lived in the real world. Read a book! Play the piano! Go for a run! Walk your dog and/or walk with your family!
I'll put the soapbox away - for the time being. Thank you.
P.S. Speaking of walking your dog, a new weekly training dog walk begins this coming Saturday, 10:00 AM, in front of Busch Pet Products: Cape Canine Cruisers led by Betsy McCoy, a local and very good trainer. So, put those shoes on, join other folk and walk your dogs under a trainer's guidance.
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