Nine Lives

Although the saying usually goes that cats are the ones with nine lives I'm beginning to think that this might apply to dogs as well. Some of you might recall the horrid event two years ago in which my sweet dog Sophie escaped from the house and was missing for two hours. (In case you missed it, you can read about it here.) That was one of the worst few hours of my life! However, another worst moment of my life happened again this week. I was upstairs doing laundry while Coy was out watering the lawn when I realized I hadn't seen Sophie in a little while. After frantically searching the house, the backyard, under the deck, and in all closets it was official that she was GONE. Not only was she gone but she got out of the house on hubby's watch (meaning she escaped on one of his trips in or outside the house). 

I ran through the neighborhood, in my pajamas, in the dark searching for her. However, she is almost completely deaf now so yelling was of no use. I finally got back in the car while Coy searched on foot. As I drove through the neighborhood, which was now completely dark, I prayed and prayed that she would return, for myself and to spare my marriage the stress of added conflict of blaming Coy for her disappearance the loss of Sophie and the sorrow this could cause me. 

As I neared our house and was on the brink of giving up a neighbor was pulling out of his driveway and asked if I was looking for a dog - a gray/black small dog that doesn't hear very well. He had just finished a conversation with his next door neighbor who told him about a dog he found wandering around. The sweet, precious man saved Sophie, picked her up, and took her inside his house where he called the police. The timing of this was nothing short of a miracle and I know that my prayers were heard. Not only was she safe but my marriage was saved. (Okay - this is an exaggeration, I love Coy enough to forgive him, but I anticipate that it would have been a rough journey to get there). 

I think however that Sophie has used up her last pass. I'm hoping this is the case anyway because my heart cannot take any more of these hours of misery while she is out living in up on her own. 

It is not her time yet and I am hoping for many more years with this 

sweet thirteen year old princess dog.