Close Encounters

I had quite the wake-up call this morning. With Jerry off at a Dr appt, it was up to me to get up with the little doggos and take them out for their morning constitutional.

Happily, they didn’t wake me until 8:00 am, but it was pre-coffee, so I admit I wasn’t fully awake.

The minute I stepped out onto the porch , I knew something was amiss, but couldn’t pinpoint the problem.

At first, I thought the dogs just noticed the missing car, but then I saw the mohawk of stiff fur along Baxter’s spine, and Ronni was sniffing the porch decking with avid attention.

Concerned there might be wildlife about; I decided to call them back into the house and potty them on leash a little later, after doing a quick investigation – and as it turned out, I was not a minute too soon!

I shooed two very reluctant dachshunds through the mudroom and into the main house, then walked back to the front door with the intention of going out to check for prints (moose, bear, etc.).

Identification turned out to be super easy, as my front door window was suddenly framed with the huge head of a fluffy, red and white Saint Bernard, standing with his front feet on my door, looking in at me!

*Note; this very type of scenario is exactly why I keep telling Jer not to let Baxter out to potty unsupervised. While it’s true he won’t run off – there is no telling what else might wander by our semi-rural homestead. Jer continues to ignore my cautions. We are going to have another talk.

Anyway, after my heartbeat slowed from the surprise face-to-face, I took stock of the situation. The Saint Bernard looked fairly clean, well groomed and seemed friendly enough – but he wasn’t alone.

Further out in the yard was another dog, and this one was, if anything, even bigger. My best guess was a Husky/Karelian Bear Dog cross. Possibly some GSD (or heck, Great Dane?!?) mixed in? Easily over 100 lbs.

Before doing anything else, I paused and gave thanks that Baxter had come when called.

These two dogs had BEEN ON OUR PORCH already (Ronni’s animated sniffing proved that) and had obviously been nearby while I was pottying the dogs. While Ronni had been on leash, Baxter had not been.

This could have so quickly turned into a tragic situation. I honestly didn’t give a thought to the St. Bernard. The prick-eared Husky-looking dog though … he looked like the type of dog that would/could easily chase down and kill a rabbit (or small dog).

I’m not saying he would have – I’m just saying the thought passed through my mind and I was SO glad I hadn’t needed to race out onto our ice-rink of a yard, in my slippers, to attempt an intervention. 🥺

After weighing my options, keeping these dogs (OK, especially the beautiful Saint Bernard) safe and off the streets won out and I cautiously opened the front door far enough to put a hand out to be sniffed while I spoke softly to him. The St. Bernard was wary but not unfriendly and after a few moments of indecision, he let me pet him. Once I had a hand firmly on his collar, I debated my next move.

Having come straight from bed, I was woefully unprepared for a dog rescue. I didn’t even have my phone with me. It was upstairs, plugged in next to the bed. If I let the dog go and ran for my phone, the two dogs would likely take off. All I could do then would be to put their description on our local Mat-Su Lost & Found Pets Facebook page and hope the owner might see it and know their general vicinity. Not good enough!

Fortunately, I had Rhonda’s leash close to hand, having just taken it off her minutes earlier. I casually clipped it to the big dog’s collar, giving me more control while offering the hesitant dog space to back away from me if he chose to.

I was also keeping a wary eye on the second dog, which had finally come up onto the porch as well. He didn’t look unfriendly, but way too shy to approach.

I wanted to bring the Saint into the mudroom, where I could (hopefully) safely close him in while I ran upstairs for my phone. I didn’t want to frighten him by pulling too hard on the leash and he wasn’t interested in kibble (the only “treats” I could put my hands on from the doorway).

Convincing him to come inside was quite the negotiation, but I didn’t have my glasses on and couldn’t read the numbers on this pretty boy’s dog tag. I needed my glasses and my phone!

Finally, I thought to set Baxter’s food dish on the floor well inside the mudroom. Kibble wasn’t the key, so I thought, maybe he was thirsty? Success! I had to shove his butt over to get the door shut, but he didn’t care.

It was pretty cute watching a 100+ pound St Bernard lapping water from a bowl sized for a 14# dachshund, but it did the trick. I refilled the tiny bowl and squeezed past him into the house – shooing indignant dachshunds away from the door and shutting it firmly behind me.

I took the precaution of kenneling the dachshunds, then retrieved both phone and glasses.

As soon as I had my glasses on and could read the phone number on Victor’s tag, I tried calling the owner, all the while praying he wasn’t at work in Anchorage or something.

My first call went to voicemail, so I left a message, switched to plan two and snapped a few photos. I apologize for the poor quality photos, but it was very close quarters.

Luckily, just as I finished a quick post to the Lost & Found Facebook page, my phone rang. Sure enough, it was a very relieved dog owner. I told him the situation – one dog in the mudroom and another anxious pacing the unfenced yard.

His first response was a hesitant, “Oh. Only two?” It seems he was still missing one dog. Sigh. I described the husky cross as dark, black and sable, with white chest and socks. He had already started his car and was on his way, but asked if I would please keep an eye out for a pretty red and white husky.

I agreed, and told him I could also update the Facebook page with a description of the still-missing red husky, for which he was grateful.

Victor was thrilled to be reunited with his daddy about 15 minutes later, and the shy, anxious husky turned into an adult version of a bouncing puppy, leaping into the cab of the truck as soon as the door opened.

I guess all’s well as ends well – at least for these two. Baxter and Rhonda, after gobbling down their own belated breakfast at nearly 10:00 am, proceeded to suspiciously sniff every corner of the mudroom. Btw, Baxter ate breakfast from an alternative food dish, since his was headed for the dishwasher. You can’t be too careful these days.

I hope the pretty red Husky finds her way home, or some other kind soul manages to entice her close enough to read her tag. Huskies can be much more people-shy than a goofy 10-mo-old St. Bernard.

First cup of coffee … 11:00 am. Groan!