Liam Lost and Found

LIAM ON HIS PERCH

Liam at 7 years old does not like the snow. Puppy Liam was okay with it and seemed to have fun in it. Seemed to but did he really? I am now rethinking my memory of his snow sojourns. What I saw as carefree leaping and snow swimming might have been desperate attempts to keep the snow away from his body, and get his business done quickly.

ANY WAY OUT? I HAVE TO STEP IN THIS?

Liam pounds his side door poochie bells signaling a desire to be released to do his bathroom break. Startled to see snow, he practically dances to the back yard. Liam does not like the feel of the snow on his feet. To avoid sinking in he steps in previously established paw prints or human shoe impressions.

I HAVE TO FIND MY PRINTS

HERE ARE SOME MORE

 SNOUT SNIFF

His low slung body dips into the snow and crouching promises more frigid feelings. Visits outside have become opportunities for sniffing yellow patches and adding his own DNA.

How to escape? Is the snow less on the other side?
Liam has been fixated on the yard abutting ours.

THE BACK FENCE

And it has become more interesting over the years as the pieces of the fence have fallen off affording a view into our neighbors' lives.

THE KNOWN OPENING TIED UP

We don't know whose fence it is. It will have to be replaced. So far tying it back up with rope is the way we are fixing it. We did not notice that one plank had drifted back creating a triangular opening, small at the bottom and widening as it reached the top.

Liam noticed. He often sat in front of this aperture looking into their yard. A little dog used to lived there and possibly Liam was hoping for its return. Or maybe looking for a less snowy yard.

On a recent Sunday, I left him looking, returning to the house for my phone, intending to snap some shots. I was gone a few minutes at most. I reentered the backyard, the phone camera ready and aimed at Liam. Or where he had been. "Liam, Liam, LIAM!" Where are you? I looked, I called. I went around the far side of the house. No sign of him. The "lost" pet checklist flashed in front of me as well as the difficulties in finding a lost Liam.

Liam 

Micro chipped.

Has his name and address and phone number on his collar.

Has a Home Again tag.

Has a rabies ID number
Has a Town of North Hempstead ID number

That adds up to a lot of identifying jewelry around his neck.

And he is known in the 'hood. A celebrity. He owns a blog. He is a social media star.

Liam

A chaser of squirrels
birds and rabbits

Non discriminating about strangers. He will go to anyone.

Has a disregard for traffic

                                                           strong stubborn independent

Will not always come when called

I rushed back to the side door, yelled into Paul. "Is Liam back in?" No. Both of us are now out and searching. I am one of those pet parents who has shaken my head when I hear of a lost pet. Always thinking that the human must have been less than vigilant. Well, animals are wily. They can slink and jump and burrow and climb. They slip out of harnesses and leashes. It happens to every pet parent. and now it is happening to us. Paul runs to the front of the house and calls "Liam." A few shouts and he sees Liam on the corner trotting along as if he owns the boulevard. Upon hearing his name Liam turns up our block to meet Paul. And he is back with us. He does not seem afraid. Upon entering the yard he races around the perimeter several times.
A joyful release? Or an expression of anxiety?

Liam is the same. Not us. It takes a while for us to recover. We tie up the hanging plank.

The space is too small for Liam right now. but this is only buying a bit of time. We have to do something down the line to ensure that he stays safe.

 And the snows continue...
 Liam keeps looking and exploring.

WHERE IS TANGO? MAYBE SHE WILL HELP ME ESCAPE

IN THE SUMMER THERE WAS A HOLE HERE

Liam wants out of this snow playpen. He believes the grass is greener on the other side.

Liam, it is not.
But he is trying to get out. Click to see

Please don't scare your parents again.

Stay home, soak up the sun. Get your Vitamin D.

Curl up on the couch.

Forecast
Cold with Snow.
Parents with Worry.

Woof, Woof