Our Dear Dog Eloisa Went Missing

In all of this concern about elections and worries about jobs, savings the recession, etc., small good things in life slip by. Last Saturday afternoon, we let our dear dog of almost 10 years, Eloisa, out. At best she would go to our large back yard, bark and got to the bathroom. At worst, she would go under the hole in the fence and go around the neighborhood to her doggie friends.

After we let her out, we had our Saturday afternoon nap. Two hours passed and we did not hear Eloisa scratching at the door and begging to get back in, We knew something was wrong. We got up and did a local search. We found nothing. We got in the car and went around the area where Eloisa normally goes, we found nothing. We went to the beach. Elena walked the beach and found no sign of her. We were sad and desperate. We had to come back and tell Eloisa's son Copernicus that his mother was gone.

The saddest part of the whole thing was not losing a member of the family of ten years. It was the idea that Eloisa was gone and we did not know what happened to her. Had she been hit by a car? Had some angry person killed her. Had her death been quick and painless or slow and very painful? Had someone picked her up and taken her far away in their car? We called the police and the animal shelter. There was no report of a missing dog being sighted or brought in.

We had a sad and an empty night. I went to church the next morning. I prayed for some help. After church, I drove up and down Highway 1. Perhaps she had wondered out on the highway and been hit by a car. I expected to see a broken body. At least then I would know what happened to her. No sign of her was seen.

I came home and did another search in the area around the house. I feared that she had wondered into the hills above the house. Perhaps a pack of Coyotes or a mountain lion had found her and eaten her?

After lunch, Elena and I made the long drive to San Mateo, California to the Mid-Peninsula Humane Society. Thankfully they were open. We went in and found the desk that handled missing animals. We looked at the book of animals brought in dead on arrival. Thankfully our dog was not on the list of dead animals brought in. We looked at the book of dogs reported picked up. The first report was a description of a dog that was a German Shepherd/Boston Terrier. The estimated weight was 45 lbs. The estimated age was 5 years old. I was sure it was Eloisa despite the inconsistencies. Elena was very skeptical. We took a tour of the facility and looked at all of the animals brought in. We did not see Eloisa. We got the phone number of a lady named Karen who had reported picking up a stray dog that I was sure was Eloisa. Later in the afternoon I called Karen. We talked and she described the animal she had found wondering on the beach the day before. I was sure it was Eloisa. Elena was still very frightened.

We drove over to the house where the dog was staying. It was in an upscale neighborhood with all houses worth over $1 million US. We found the house and talked to the husband. He took us inside the house. Much to our relief, our dog Eloisa was safe and in good spirits. She had found her way to a mansion. We were so relieved! We thanked the husband. We put Eloisa's harness on her. We took her to our car and loaded her in the back. She came home. She was greeted by her son Copernicus.

It was a beautiful and sunny day. Elena and I went to a Mexican restaurant we love. We ate out on the patio.We had Margaritas and great Mexican food. We were so relieved and happy!

Two days later I was up in the hills above the house. I always take the dogs there for their morning walk. It is one of the few places in the area where the dogs can legally be off leash. A lady pulled up in a car. She posted a picture of her missing cat. I talked to her at length. I told her about our experience with Eloisa. I felt so sad for her.