WANDERLUST

Shadow is eager to explore and he doesn't feel that I have to be part of every exploration. This morning as I was heading over to his line, he bolted. As he caught me by surprise and I was holding a rake, he ran and jerked his retractable leash from my hand.

It was cold last night, down in the 20's and 30's and it was only starting to warm up when he made his break. I figured he'd want to come back inside where it is warm but no, it was time to wander the neighborhood. Shadow does NOT have car sense. I am afraid of him darting into the path of something much heavier than himself and he'd get squished.

I started off on my bicycle and found him two houses over but when I called, he just took off running down the street. I went home and got the car figuring he might come to that, but as I rounded the corner, I saw two cars stopped in the road and people milling about. My heart froze; were they looking at my flattened puppy? Luckily not this time, he came trotting towards me but headed over to a neighbor's chicken coop. That held his interest long enough for me to saunter over and step on his leash. I led him back to the car and into his travel crate. I am going to go get a tag today with his name and telephone number on it.

He needs to learn about streets and cars. I love him too much to lose him to his ignorance.