Lost Sheltie found 16 months later

Piper's mom said:
Read this story and thought I had to share. Can’t imagine a day without any of mine but 16 months of survival is just unimaginable! https://wbng.com/2020/12/07/i-knew-...Yc8aeXskD-j87nQ4daJAqJ1PlhkkQr6qoFwDoMVZoD7Sk
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Wow I can't even imagine what they all must have went through, to lose a pet for that amount of time is unthinkable...and then to be reunited is such a happy end. I couldn't even comprehend how I would cope if it had been Harley or Monty.
Such a strong little Sheltie as well to survive all that time on their own as well!

Margi said:
Got a little dusty in here reading that. I lived it for 10 days, wanted to die. I can't imagine that long. Mackie was a mess mentally for a long time. He never really got over it, truth be told.
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Oh wow I didn't know you went through something similar Margi, that must have been awful. I'm pleased you managed to find each other, it's just a shame he didn't really get over the experience.
 
Darren said:
Oh wow I didn't know you went through something similar Margi, that must have been awful. I'm pleased you managed to find each other, it's just a shame he didn't really get over the experience.
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Worst part was he bolted the first day we brought him home. He'd been here all of an hour and Rod opened the back door just as a thunderbolt sounded and he was gone in a flash. He didn't know us or the area. I got up everyday and drove/walked/golfcarted the entire neighborhood repeatedly looking for him. Finally on day 8 a man called after having seen him on his street at 5 am. He just happened to stop for coffee that morning and saw the lost poster in the convenience store. The breeder finally came out two days later with a dog Mackie was good friends with and we walked the area he'd been seen. Nothing. So we were heading back to the house via a shortcut through the desert and there he was--hiding behind a cactus. I backed way off, she let out 16' of leash so the friend dog could get close to Mackie first. He wouldn't even go to the breeder. Took forever, with her talking softly to him. When she finally hooked a finger in his collar I started crying and breathing again. I wanted to give him back and not keep him. The guilt was overwhelming. My husband said any dog that could survive like that was one smart lil dog and we should keep him. So we did. He was named McQueen for Steve McQueen in the Great Escape. But he was a mess. Hid under the desk for about 4 months. When he finally came out, he attached himself to me and was a velcro dog for the rest of his life. I never want to live through that kind of nightmare again.
 
Margi said:
Worst part was he bolted the first day we brought him home. He'd been here all of an hour and Rod opened the back door just as a thunderbolt sounded and he was gone in a flash. He didn't know us or the area. I got up everyday and drove/walked/golfcarted the entire neighborhood repeatedly looking for him. Finally on day 8 a man called after having seen him on his street at 5 am. He just happened to stop for coffee that morning and saw the lost poster in the convenience store. The breeder finally came out two days later with a dog Mackie was good friends with and we walked the area he'd been seen. Nothing. So we were heading back to the house via a shortcut through the desert and there he was--hiding behind a cactus. I backed way off, she let out 16' of leash so the friend dog could get close to Mackie first. He wouldn't even go to the breeder. Took forever, with her talking softly to him. When she finally hooked a finger in his collar I started crying and breathing again. I wanted to give him back and not keep him. The guilt was overwhelming. My husband said any dog that could survive like that was one smart lil dog and we should keep him. So we did. He was named McQueen for Steve McQueen in the Great Escape. But he was a mess. Hid under the desk for about 4 months. When he finally came out, he attached himself to me and was a velcro dog for the rest of his life. I never want to live through that kind of nightmare again.
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HOLY COW Margi. What an absolutely awful experience. I'm sure you lost a few years off your life. Phew.
 
What a horrible experience, Margi, but I'm so glad it had a happy ending. We lost our Ivy for 5 hours years ago when some guys who were working on the house left a door open. I found her through a fluke, -- two dogs that lived several doors down from us were barking at the woods behind us and that's where she was hiding -- just hours before the first blizzard of the season was due to roll in. It was the longest 5 hours of my life, so I can imagine what 10 days was like. I'm not surprised it left an impression on McQueen.
 
Margi said:
Worst part was he bolted the first day we brought him home. He'd been here all of an hour and Rod opened the back door just as a thunderbolt sounded and he was gone in a flash. He didn't know us or the area. I got up everyday and drove/walked/golfcarted the entire neighborhood repeatedly looking for him. Finally on day 8 a man called after having seen him on his street at 5 am. He just happened to stop for coffee that morning and saw the lost poster in the convenience store. The breeder finally came out two days later with a dog Mackie was good friends with and we walked the area he'd been seen. Nothing. So we were heading back to the house via a shortcut through the desert and there he was--hiding behind a cactus. I backed way off, she let out 16' of leash so the friend dog could get close to Mackie first. He wouldn't even go to the breeder. Took forever, with her talking softly to him. When she finally hooked a finger in his collar I started crying and breathing again. I wanted to give him back and not keep him. The guilt was overwhelming. My husband said any dog that could survive like that was one smart lil dog and we should keep him. So we did. He was named McQueen for Steve McQueen in the Great Escape. But he was a mess. Hid under the desk for about 4 months. When he finally came out, he attached himself to me and was a velcro dog for the rest of his life. I never want to live through that kind of nightmare again.
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Oh Margi that sounds like a nightmare, the fact it was his first day must have made everything so much harder on you and him. I'm so pleased it had a mostly happy ending, I can understand how it must have made you feel but it was one of those freak accidents that you just can't prepare for :hugs
 
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