Lost & Found

Where did she go?

Phew! — it’s been a crazy few days at the Rancho! On Wednesday afternoon Inky went missing.  When Paul picked me up at the train station that evening, Frito on his lap, I naturally asked where Inky was. He shamefacedly admitted that he didn’t know. One minute she and Frito were playing in the yard, and the next she was nowhere to be found. I was horrified … had Inky escaped through the fence again (a favorite activity of late)? Had she been dognapped by the overly interested teenaged girls we’d seen at our deck last weekend (there were reports of a thieving girl gang in the ‘hood, after all)? Had a wild predator taken her off (I’m not being dramatic, I’ve seen coyotes and their victims in the neighborhood)? While Paul continued searching in the car, I created and printed a flyer for posting … but, by now it was dark and we, and Frito, were very upset. Where could Inky be?

_____________________________

Wednesday was a bad night. With Frito’s crying for his sister and bedmate, and our fears for her, we didn’t get much sleep. Thursday: more worry. I was afraid to mention Inky’s disappearance, fearing that speaking of her would somehow jinx her return, but I did tell a couple of colleagues and they were concerned, too. Everyone wanted Inky to return to us … Thursday night we allowed Frito into the bedroom so he wouldn’t be lonely (and so we might get some sleep). The plan only partly worked, though, as during the night Paul became convinced Frito had also disappeared, and was outside looking for him at 3am (He was actually in bed beside me). This was getting bad — we needed Inky home! Friday, while I was at the office, Paul continued the investigation at the new Riverside animal shelter, and while it was very nice and there many sweet little dogs up for adoption, none of them were Inky. After leaving his card with the staff, he looked skyward and said: “I’ve done everything — can I have my dog back now?!”  Back at home he prepared for some volunteer work and the phone rang … it was a kind woman named Rhonda saying she had found Inky! Paul called me with the good news, and ever-cautious, I said we should wait and make sure it was her … 20-minutes later he called with confirmation: it was Inky!

Inky with chewable pitbull

She’d been found a great distance away (for her) in another part of downtown; we don’t how exactly she got there or why. We’re just so thankful she’s safe again at home. Thanks, Rhonda, for being her guardian angel!  Inky’s disappearance was  not a good thing, so we’ll be taking further steps to ensure she neither escapes again, or is easily removed from the yard.

Frito & Inky together again

Here’re the happy siblings literally chewing the scenery this morning. So far they’ve gnawed on a defenseless agave, some elephant food succulent, an old necktie, railroad ties and a lizard. Last night the two were alternately rough-housing and canoodling, obviously very happy to be back together … and Paul and I know just how they feel.