Home Alone

by Elna Beck Stoscher
This article first appeared in the May 1997 issue of Sigin' The Kerry Blues
Copyrighted by the Kerry Blue Terrier Club of Northern California

Arranging vacations when Kerries are part of your family can be a tricky undertaking. Putting your surrogate children into a kennel is unthinkable yet finding a willing person (family, friend or even foe) to move in and provide doggie sitting is not always easy. But after four years with no vacations Denny and I were ready! We bribed Danica, a good friend of daughter Kate, with the idea of a house all to herself and lots of $$$. Danica learned too late there's not a nice enough house nor enough money to make this job worthwhile.

Tango and Annabelle waited patiently at our front gate for the first week of our planned two week holiday. Then they began to patrol the boundaries of their territory, exploring possible escape routes. Whether they thought we were in trouble and needed them or they were just plain bored is still unknown. Being reasonably intelligent Kerry Blues, this exploration process took very little time and they found not just one, but many wonderful possibilities. One by one they started testing each exit-nightly forays became the norm. But they always came back, looking frazzled and full of twigs and weeds from chasing deer and other local fauna - delighted to see Danica whose patience was beginning to be put to the test. She, in turn, was relieved to see them, especially since, by some miracle, the adventure had not included skunks - perhaps after dispatching twelve (at this writing thirteen) the thrill was gone. This could have gone on nightly without consequences, if a new and fascinating creature had not been discovered.

For those readers not familiar with our neighborhood, let me paint a picture of this little corner of suburbia-the neighborhood wraps around a hill, narrow, meandering streets are lined with large lots, plenty of trees, some fences (many like ours with handy exits/entrances), and lots of wild fauna and if the-city-doesn't-know -it-won't-hurt-them creatures. Tango had an ongoing love/hate relationship with a goat tied to a tree down the street for several years. When we heard the goat had left this world we were mighty afraid that Tango may have hurried his exit, but we assume and pray that old age was the culprit.

A neighbor down the road a piece raises chickens, not just any chickens, but "show chickens". Can you imagine anyone allowing such a precious prize-winners to wander freely? Well they're so dear to our neighbor that they "haven't the heart to coop them up"-this is a direct quote from people who live in an area where wild beasts like raccoons roam freely.

Yes, Tango and Annabelle shouldn't have been loose, but they were wandering without our knowledge or permission. But chickens would pique the interest of any self-respecting Kerry -and Tango and Annabelle are the most self respecting of Kerry Blues. They were too much to resist, but the big mistake was to get caught red-handed with feathers adorning their Kerry beards (or would that be considered red mouthed?).

One chicken might have been forgiven. However, when Tango was brought home by an angry chicken owner, the only person at home was the housekeeper. Accustomed to watching Tango and Annabelle patrol their manor, and unaware of the current state of the fence, she did not understand the need to keep them inside the house and promptly let them out for their usual romp in the sun.

Let your imagination run wild at the thought of "Henrietta the show chicken". On his second visit of the day to the chicken house, Tango tangled with Henrietta, and was not to be forgiven. This time the angry chicken owner hauled Tango off to jail. Unfortunately there is no jury trail for errant canines and Tango was found guilty as charged.

It is unknown what part Annabelle played in this drama but at least she was smart enough to evade capture.

That night a desperate Danica had no idea why Tango had not reappeared as usual and, with fear in her heart called Kate and son-in-law Simon for help. Our friendly neighborhood has a rather advanced jungle telegraph and it was quickly discovered that Tango was spending the night in San Mateo County Animal Shelter and could be bailed out the next morning. Kate was at the shelter promptly at 8:00 AM assuring the attendant that Tango was a wonderful, kind, gentle dog who had never before caused trouble. However, the gentle dog theory tarnished when Tango encountered a goat on the way down the corridor to freedom. By this point bail was paid and Kate hotfooted it out the door with a very unrepentant dog in tow.

Denny and I were surprised when we arrived home the next day to find both Tango and Annabelle outdoors on long leashes. They were however, very happy to see us, no less than Danica, Kate and Simon who were even happier to relinquish responsibility for these wandering beasts.

Once I was home, Annabelle no longer had any interest in traveling the neighborhood. Tango, however, still took every opportunity to make a bee line back to the chicken buffet down the street. Fortunately no more chickens were lost and very soon all escape routes were found and plugged.

The whole affair is not without serious repercussions. Our wallets also took a beating; $135 for bail and $200 for show chicken replacement. Also, Tango is on shaky ground with one of the most vigilant animal shelter organizations not only in the Bay Area but the entire country. If caught roaming again he faces the prospect of mandatory neutering, in accordance with the Pet Overpopulation Ordinance.

It will be a long, long time before we can feel confident that Tango and Annabelle will wait patiently at home for our return.

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