Murphy's too old to go into kennels any more, so this year while we were away Murphy went to stay with Emily and Alex and Maddie went to stay with Nick and Elle. Gizzy stayed at home and a nice lady came in every day to feed her and talk to her.
I'm not sure who had the best deal - well I am, it was Emily and Alex. Murphy went on holiday with them to Skye, with Glen as well. Murphy schmoozed his way round the available tourists and was universally told how handsome he was and what a lovely boy, etc. He did apparently bark if he got left behind anywhere so he wasn't entirely perfect!
Maddie, on the other hand, ran away four times, spent one morning curled up on the feet of the headmistress of the local secondary school and was most upset when Nick took her to work one day and left her in the dog-pen with (gasp!) another dog!
The dog warden grew to recognise her and we had a letter waiting for us when we got back to say that as she had no previous, they returned her without charge but we wouldn't be so lucky next time - £61.50 for a return plus £10 per night for any sleepovers!!
They must've thought we were very irresponsible owners - the first time she was caught and returned Alex and Andy were both IN THE HOUSE! I have pieced together various stories and ... the dog walker came and took Murphy and Glen out but didn't realise Maddie was in the kitchen. She decided she wasn't staying alone and went out the back garden (and over the wall) to look for them. When she was returned the dog walker came to the door and asked if they were missing a dog. The boys were most confused and replied along variations of "I don't think so", "Isn't she on her walk?" and "Which one?"!!!
The second time she was somehow captured at the school and the headmistress was charmed at her "beautifully-behaved" demeanour. this was spoken to Elle who had (after reporting her missing to the dog warden and then being appraised of her whereabouts after the school called it in) come over at lunch time to pick her up. Elle (who only left that school about 6 or 7 years ago!) then had to take her round all the offices to show everyone that "dog and owner were reunited" - her protestations (probably through a fixed grin) that she wasn't her dog were apparently overlooked.
Added to that is (1) the fact that she made a break for freedom from their house twice, once over to visit the neighbours and once running down the road in the dark in the rain while Elle was trying to oversee another puppy's toileting, and (2) her inability to stay in bed after about 5am, coming and pawing at the door to try to get in to see if it was time to get up. I think you'll agree that darling Maddie has outstayed her welcome in the Junior Karasek household. Next time, kennels!
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