The whole incident began with this very cool "survival bracelet" dog collar that Daniel made for Maddie. We didn't feel like going to buy her a collar when she came into our lives because we were so convinced this was Maddox and he (although it was really "she") would be going home within hours if not by the end of the day. So Daniel made him (her) a collar. Daniel is a "paracord expert" but not necessarily a "knot expert" (this will become very important later).
We put her on a leash, really just a length of paracord and tied her in the front yard when she wasn't in the house jumping on my lap or resting in her kennel. Actually it was Rosie's kennel but Maddie didn't know that. (although Rosie did) (but she didn't care) (in fact, I am pretty sure she was happy to share it) (because it kept Maddie out of her hair) (and she pretty much hated it, anyway)
Anyway, this morning Maddie stood by the front door, patiently asking to go outside. Let me rephrase that, Maddie stood by the front door and jumped three feet straight up into the air, over and over again. That got my attention all right and I grabbed the paracord leash to attach to her collar. As I did so, I noticed that another length of paracord had been tied on. Not being a boy scout, I didn't inspect the knot. Rememer the whole thing about Daniel not being a knot expert? Yeah. Right. Soon that would become very important. Maddie saw a squirrel across the streeet or heard another dog or smelled something very interesting. Something clicked in her little brain so she and I set off in pursuit of whatever she was tracking.
Suddenly, she lunged forward and the knot gave way. She dashed off across the street and I dashed off in pursuit of her. Soon she gave up on the squirrel or whatever it was that had originally piqued her interest and zoomed off in another direction. I zoomed right behind her. In my own way. Which was not a pretty sight. I soon began to huff and puff and there was a stitch in my side and desperation in my heart. She was so fast I was afraid I would lose sight of her. I ran faster than I have ever run--probably since junior high when I took second place in the 50 yard dash. I called her but since she wasn't really Maddox or Maddie, she didn't pay the slightest bit of attention to me--she was busy pretending to be a greyhound or a bloodhound or...something.
Next comes the part which is kinda embarrassing. I slowed down, since I really couldn't keep up with her pace, anyway, and called her quietly and then I said, (oh, yes, I did) "Why are you doing this to Mommy? Please come back..." in a most pitiful tone. Luckily for me, no one in my family or any of my neighbors or casual acquaintances or even random strangers on the street witnessed this moment. (I hope)
Maddie paid no attention. She continued to run down the street. Until something in the storm drain caught her attention. She stopped to sniff and investigate. I got closer and was astute enough to stop running and began to casually walk toward her when her interest in the storm drain was satisfied. Then she set off to check out a flower bed in somebody's yard. I was closer to her now than I had been during this whole ordeal. Her back was to me and her nose was in some petunias--I grabbed her and she wrestled with me a bit until after some petting and soft words (I will not relate what I said to her) she calmed down and we walked back home. Emphasis on the word "walked."
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