A doggie hole.
I felt the iPhone 6 vibrate in my pocket as I talked to my boss Diane at the Liverpool Public Library. Once, twice, three times it rang.
I ignored it, figuring I’d look to see the number come quitting time and discover yet another listing of one of the folks you don’t call back because they’ve earned a spot on the scammer’s list you can discover on Google.
But then came the one short vibrate signaling a voice message.
I snuck a peek and saw “Tim and Lorraine” on the screen.
Good Neighbor Tim. My next door neighbor.
Uh-oh. He doesn’t call me when I’m at work unless …
Ellie B aka Dogamous Pyle was out in the backyard of the Little Bitty and couldn’t seem to get back onto the porch, the message said. And he was worried because of the incoming storm.
I told Diane I’d make up the time and piloted my Chevy Cruze toward the Syracuse city neighborhood of Eastwood as fast as I could without drawing any unwanted attention on Onondaga Lake Parkway. I heard Ellie B crying as soon as I opened my car door.
Somehow she’d opened the French door after my dear wife Karen had left for work at SMG and gotten out on the porch. Must not have locked it, Karen said later. And then our beloved rescue mutt bent the metal plating I’d fasted over the bottom screen and worked her way through that hole and the screen.
She trashed the door, basically.
I was thankful she did not try to get back in that hole. She would have cut herself on the metal plate.
Fixed the problem.
On Saturday we put up a new screen door, purchased from Lowe’s. It has a solid wood bottom. I borrowed some tools from Good Neighbor Tim to make the job easier.
Not fretting the new door.
The dog did not freak out about the new door as I figured she would.
No. Ellie B has been a bit skittish about going out in the backyard by herself, though, prefering the company of me or Karen when she needs to do her thing.
Have you had a pet who made a great escape artist, and if so, what were the routes? What kind of trouble has your pet gotten itself into? Do you think Ellie B will try to get out the new door, and if so, what will be her plan?
Mark Bialczak 
Glad Ellie B. is safe. I had a cat who–twice in his 17-plus-years on this planet–escaped for ten days. He roamed our street and I could only recapture him using bait and a racoon trap. Always on day ten.
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I guess that cat had its roam-free limit, Tracy. I’m glad it came back, albeit to a trap and bait. Happy ending, twice.
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Glad she’s safe!
Goliath, my psycho shepherd once escaped from a friend’s house where he was staying while John and I were away. He was found trying to cross a busy street. Thankfully, the woman, an insurance agent with a window overlooking the road, wasalsoa dog trainer. She went out, ordered Goliath to sit, took him by the collar, and brought him into her office where he sold insurance for the afternoon. Still makes me shudder!
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I bet Goliath was a fantastic insurance salesman in his brief career, Elyse. Who could avoid buying from that face? 🙂
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Oh bless. Those are good neighbors. I’m glad everyone and everything is okay.
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Yes, to have those two looking after our place is a real blessing for sure, Joey. We return the favor by keeping our eyes out for them and others as well. Makes for a better cluster of homes, you bet. 🙂
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Oh, Ellie B-careful next time. (っ*´∀｀*)っ
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Animal power, NBC.
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( ᐛ )و
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I think Elile was frightened and so happy to see you and be back inside her home safe! Good job to neighbor Tim to the rescue (so to speak!). Alert neighbors are a blessing. Happy endings-and the new door looks very nice Terp! Have a good weekend. Gatorette.
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Thank you, Gatorette. Happy day to you down south, my dear. ❤
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Glad she is safe. We once had a rabbit who escaped into our neighbours garden. He spent the rest of the day with them and we managed to catch him fairly easily – I was so grateful that I didn’t have to spend my evening chasing him around someone else’s garden.
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You were quite fortunate, Rachel! A rabbit on the loose is so vulnerable. I don’t even want to think about your poor pet on the loose. That’s a happy ending, my friend. Lucky for you guys.
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glad this had a happy ending and thankfully, you have such kind and thoughtful neighbors. glen the cat escaped just the other night and came running back in the morning when he saw my daughter outside. we were all worried, but it turned out well –
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Glen Frey the Cat is an Eagle eye spotting your daughter worrying, Beth. Phew. Glad it ended up OK after a whole night out with the band!
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Mark, I was on bated breath when I saw that title. I am so glad Ellie B. was OK, so scary. This is one of my worst nightmares, that Ricky (who is also a Yellow Lab — eight years old and like a colt) will get out of one of the gates and be on the freeway in minutes. Poor little girl. Her crate is like his and he loves that thing. We also put covers over it just the way you do. I see you keep her water bowl handy there. I think I will do the same. Great idea. A hug to all of you from us. We know how you must have felt on that drive back home. ❤
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Yes, our beloved pooches need their comfort crates, Beth. Covering them like we do is one extra security measure for Ricky and Ellie, right? Keeps the world out, we think. Yeah, the water bowl in the crate, she loves it there. We draw the line at the food bowl, though. She has to go out to the laundry room for breakfast and dinner. There’s a second water bowl next to the food bowl. I hope Ricky stays safely inside his Cali yard, Beth. ❤ You and Geoffrey don't need that chase and worry.
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Such is your power Mark that we went out yesterday and bought a bowl that attaches to the crate, and a second one so there is always a clean one to swap out. Now I wonder why we hadn’t done this before! Thank you for that. And, yes, at night, everyone should have a cover so they feel quiet and safe. Psyche, our parrot has one too. ❤
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Whew! Good thing neighbor Tim had an eye out. It’s great to live in a neighborhood where everyone looks out for each other. I’m sure Ellie B. will get used to the new door. Being a rescue dog, it wouldn’t surprise me if it takes her a bit longer to get used to changes – but I’m sure she’ll be fine.
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What she’s getting used to more slowly is the trauma of finding herself alone outside in the yard for that long, Paul. Usually we open the door to let her back into the house at first bark, or darn close to it.
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