Wednesday, February 19, 2014

All That Remains

A few weeks ago Scooter didn't come home one evening.  He had never done this, being loyal and a bit of a homebody.  A border collie we adopted from a rescue, he was bred to be a farm dog, and he loved his family.  He would visit his friend Bailey each day, but mostly preferred to stay close to home.  Scooter was microchipped, and wearing a collar with his rabies tag from our vet.

We put up signs.  I called shelters and rescues.  As each day passed, we grew more saddened.  Had he been attacked by the coyotes that got into the neighbor's goat herd?  Had someone driving past picked him up to 'adopt the country dog' in spite of the identification he wore, like what happened to our neighbor's dog? 

For the past four and a half years, Scooter has been an integral part of our family.  We miss him.  Small movements, from the corner of my eyes, on the deck or in the pasture, and I think it is his tail.  All that remains are some dog treats, a huge bag of Purina, and a few well-loved toys.  Plus a small amount of dwindling hope, and a huge dose of memories.
I wish that serendipity would strike, and Scooter would come running up the driveway again, barking in happiness. 

It's hard not knowing.

54 comments:

jp@A Green Ridge said...

Baby Girl, that was the hardest part for me when Copper vanished...Scooter is curled up with a new family waiting to run and play as he did at your house. He was Two Bears' Angel and you had him. He left good memories and smiles....:)JP

Melanie said...

Not knowing is awful! So sorry to read this and hoping for the best.

Vision By Mila said...

Oh I hope he will return! :(

Sunnybrook Farm said...

I liked the photos of Scooter, as they remind me of our border collie cross. Our dog will stay close by me and then once in awhile will smell something and just take off. It takes lots of yelling to get her attention. Scooter could still be out there being wild dog in your area some where or over the mountain. She may yet turn up.

Bas. said...

misschien morgen?

Endah Murniyati said...

Poor Scooter..., it should be so hard. Please come back.

Alica said...

Aww...I'm sorry! They're part of the family, aren't they?!

Buttons Thoughts said...

Oh I am sorry Lisa. Hug B

Aodhnait said...

Sorry to hear about Scooter. I hope he comes home soon.

Elizabeth Edwards said...

i wish i was there to hug you & the family 2. i am sorry to hear this ... i admit i'm crying. i need a tissue or two. brings back to many childhood memories of losing pets. that is tough. loss hurts.

sending lots of hugs. ( :

Unknown said...

I sure hate to hear your news and hope you will look up, even today, and see him coming home.

Z@KickingKilos said...

:( I hope you can move on in a good way.
Maybe he found his girl ans is happy. I know, that's what you tell your kids!

Monkeywrangler said...

So sorry your Scooter has vanished. I know it is hard on you and the boys. I sure hope he is ok, and will find his way back home soon.

Linda said...

Hugs for you all. And you are right, not knowing is the worst part. Linda@Wetcreek Blog

M.E. Masterson said...

Hope he returns soon!

L.L.E said...

Oh, I am so sorry to read this. I hope he turns up today, or sometime very soon.

Coloring Outside the Lines said...

I hope he will come home soon Lisa!

Anonymous said...

I am so very sorry.

Nancy said...

I'm so sorry about Scooter, Lisa -- have you checked with your local animal shelters?

Out on the prairie said...

I had one dog who took off for almost 3 months staying on the trail system near my home. Hopefully you may see yours again.

LONDONLULU said...

Oh no, Lisa, I'm so sorry. Have you also checked with local police (something the rescue group where we adopted our dog had once advised)? I hope he comes back soon too.

Frank said...

That's a very hard thing to have to go through. I've lost dogs up in the national forest. They go up in there and just don't come back. Sorry your family has to go through this.

Anonymous said...

Oh that stinks. Our cat used to leave for days at a time and I'd worry so...then she'd return. But I'd be looking for her and checking roadsides and ditches in worry until she came home.
I'm sorry about your dog going MIA.

TexWisGirl said...

oh, my heart goes out to you! the worst is the not knowing! and you'll ALWAYS look for him!

Sally said...

How very sad. I'm so sorry. :(

Some things are just too hard to accept, and the not knowing is rough.

Scooter? Come home please!

xoxo

Sandy said...

Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! :(

Rachel Elizabeth said...

How heartbreaking. I hope he comes home. Our friends recently had a dog pop back up in their neighborhood after he was lost for a year.

Mere said...

I've been wondering about Scooter. I'm sorry he hasn't returned to you yet. I know he was really special to all of you. :(

Tina Fariss Barbour said...

Lisa, I am so, so, sorry. I hope that he will show up. I wish I could say something that would help you and your family feel better, but I know it's just so heartbreaking.

mail4rosey said...

Many years ago now (before I was married), our family dog left. He was gone for months and I was heartbroken. One day he showed up with like 5 other dogs, no joke. They dropped him off and left, it was crazy. His pads were rubbed thin, he was limping, but he was very happy to be home, and he never left again. :) I hope your dog makes it back safe and sound too. It is hard not knowing!!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

This makes my heart ache and my eyes tear up. I am praying for a miracle...((HUGS))

Chatty Crone said...

Gosh that has to be HARD not knowing about him. I do hope he comes home or someone calls. I am so sorry. I can't imagine. Sandie

~mel said...

So sorry to read this ~ that not knowing is the hardest:(

Our Neck of the Woods said...

I'm so sorry, Lisa. The not knowing has to be the hardest part. One time our cat, Baby, was gone for about two weeks but came home. I hope your Scooter will return to you soon!

Lin said...

Aw, crud. I'm so sorry. It's hard to lose them this way because you just never know...and you'll always look for them. I've lost animals like that too...and you always look....just in case....

I will pray for a miracle.

Angela said...

I know you and the boys are just heartbroken over this! I'm so sorry he is missing. It is really hard when they go missing like that because you look and look for them. I had a dog someone dropped off that lived here for 2 or 3 years. One day we went for a ride on our mule. When we came home he was gone. Never seen him again. I like to think someone took him as people did call and say they thought he was at a house a few miles from here but when I went to look it wasn't him. Hopefully your dog was taken by someone who wanted a dog. That's sad that someone would do that though too...

IanH said...

Sorry that this has happened! Take care.

Gail Dixon said...

Oh, no, this is awful. Hope he returns.

Jeanne said...

So sorry about your wonderful dog that is missing. That is so hard when a pet you love just disappears and you have no idea what happened to him. Keeping my fingers crossed for a Lassie Like miracle. know it would make you and your boys very happy!

Harry Flashman said...

I accidentally left my comment under a name you don't recognize. Should have been Harry Flashman. Sorry about your dog, but maybe he will come home yet. He has that chip.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Hug those memories!
love
tweedles

Michelle said...

I am so sorry to hear this. I do hope Scooter turns up.

Marie said...

I'm so sorry! I know you won't give up hope. Make sure to check all shelters and the internet.

Willow said...

Oh my heart goes out to you , it really does ~ it is so hard not knowing too.
There's still hope , I'm praying he comes home .

Unknown said...

I hope he comes home soon. I know how hard it can be not knowing.

Busy Bee Suz said...

I am so sorry to read this Lisa. My thoughts and prayers go out to Scooter....hoping he gets home safely. I'm sure the boys are heartbroken as well.
XO

Slamdunk said...

Sorry to hear that. I am sure the kids are crushed as well. I am hoping for a miracle.

Carol said...

I am so very sorry to hear this, Lisa. I remember how Scooter liked to stay with us in the motorhome and how he and Bogie liked to run and play. He is a sweet dog. Let's try and keep our hope up that he may come home soon.

Lynn said...

This is the stuff one can live without, I do hope Scooter is just out on an exploration trip. My fingers are crossed and my heart and hope is with all of you.

Linda said...

Aw, I hope he is okay. Will watch for updates.

An Apel a Day said...

That is so sad! Can you track him through his microchip?

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry. I hope he just got sidetracked somewhere and will return very soon!

Barbara said...

That's so sad. Did he ever find his way back home?

Sonya @ Under the Desert Sky said...

Oh, no! I've been away from blog-land too long. I had no idea he was gone. :( So sad. I hope he's okay wherever he is.