My Dog Is Missing, Now...So Am I

My dog is missing, now so am I. I came home from visiting relatives in a nearby town and he was gone. What bothers me most is that he was unsnapped from his lead. It wasn't broken, it wasn't pulled out, it was unsnapped. Someone deliberately unsnapped him from his lead while standing at my back door. It unnerves me that someone would do that, but most of all....he is missing...and I am missing him.

There is more to just missing my pet. Beyond the fact that he is my pet is the foundation that he is my youngest son's pet. I was entrusted with his care. "Feed Diesel both soft and hard food. Make sure to check Diesel's water. Does Diesel have any toys? Get Diesel another bone. Are you playing with Diesel?" are all tidbits of our conversations over the past couple of weeks. My son, Dillon, just moved out of the house. We live in the country and he moved to town. Diesel is a rescued pup. He is scared of men. Diesel stayed here so he would have room to roam and not have to be intimidated by the hustle and bustle of town. He has a tender mouth and will only gently bite down on anything, even food. We think he may have been seriously abused. He is a sweet baby. He is gentle and careful. He is afraid of cows and pumpkins. Yes, pumpkins. He runs and hides from a pumpkin. Living in town could have been traumatic for him. He stayed behind with me. We cried together, missing Dillon. We have adjusted together, missing Dillon. Diesel's missing. So am I. I am missing Diesel and I am missing Dillon, again.

When I pull into the driveway, he runs and finds an object, a toy, a bone, his rug, SOMETHING... he brings it to me, his gift to me for coming back home! He sits and lets my grandbabies love on him and he snuggles into them and licks their hands, legs and knees. He LOVES children. When my elderly parents come to visit, he sits and respectfully allows them by without fear or worry that he will be underfoot. He has been the perfect pet. Protective when a stranger is near with barks and alert attention, gentle with family, playful and loving. I miss him! I spent hours calling his name, searching the barn, along the highway out front, calling the neighbors, even praying for his return. He is still missing. I am still missing him.

I called Dillon. He said, "It's okay, Mom. He'll come home. It will be okay. I'll come look." Today, I have looked, called, walked, searched. I have not found Diesel. What I have found is that he is not Dillon's pet. He is MY pet. MY pet is missing. So am I.

My concern also stems from the fact that Diesel is such a baby, but he is also a German Shepherd/Pit Bull mix. He has the Pit Bull body, coloring, ears, chest and neck and attentive stance. He has a German shepherd nose and heart. I am concerned that IF he is found, they will see him as a stray pit bull and will shoot him. We live in the country, remember? He will not be welcome as a stray. He will not be welcome as a pit bull. He is afraid of men, therefore WILL bark at them. He will be shot. If they moo at him or step near a pumpkin.......he will RUN!! Who will know that?? They will shoot, not moo. I don't want him shot. It would be better if he were taken, but then again, "WHO took my dog!!?? I want him back!"

If he was taken, then it was someone standing at my back door who stole my dog. I live on a highway, but in the country. A stranger at my door, stealing my dog, is not a good thing. My security guard is gone. My husband works nights, my nest is empty, it is me. Alone. My security is missing. I am missing. Missing my security, missing my dog, missing my son, and missing me.

Good grief! I gotta go find that goofy, loving dog!!! I will let you know if I do!

Photo and Text Copyright 2011 Deborah M. Carey Updated 2015