Dog disappeared sometime yesterday; evidently, the batteries in his collar had weakened enough for him to take off.  He hadn’t gone to his usual haunt, a home a couple of miles away with four dogs and a really nice pond, because they always call and let me know.  Since I hadn’t heard, I knew he wasn’t there.  He was missing all night, which is actually a rare occurrence.

This morning after an early meeting on the East end of town, I stopped by the Animal Shelter ("dog pound") to inquire as to whether they’d seen him.  Unfortunately,  they keep worse than bankers’ hours — 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. — and I was unavoidably scheduled to be elsewhere in the afternoon.

Employing the only alternative I could see, I stood near a large vent in the kennel area and called for Dog.  Immediately, I heard him respond — I could easily tell where he was within the building (other end, right side) over and above the usual kennel uproar.  Such is the bond between Dog and his mistress; he will always answer to me.  I will always discern his voice above others.

Just to hear him bark again, I called a second time.  Dog responded enthusiastically — so much so, that an animal control employee came to the door, unlocked it, and asked if I needed help.  (Dog is loud.  This was working brilliantly.)

I still cannot believe my good fortune, that the shelter employee was kind enough to let me post bail and bring Bad Boy home — top down, ears flapping in the breeze — without waiting until the posted opening hour.  According to reliable sources, he was picked up about six miles from our house, hanging around a place with a female in heat.   There’s a screen door somewhere in town that I need to replace, but it’s not at the address given to me by the animal shelter (I checked already), so I have no choice but to wait until they contact me.

Gamma and I just polished off a couple of T-bone steaks on the deck, sharing the bones with Dog (who consumes them in entirety).   It’s good to have him back home, and new batteries will be installed this evening, so that he may roam the yard unfettered tonight.

Alpha has been retrieved, Dog is back.  All is almost right with the world.