Honey, We Lost the Dog

They were not the words I wanted to hear.

I left Monday morning for a quick trip to Vegas, leaving Luca in the capable hands of my parents. He had his morning walk, was penned up in the bathroom, and I set on my merry way. I landed in Vegas and was greeted by the beautiful, warm sunshine. I headed over to the hotel, the Wynn, and was in awe of it and the view from my room.

Soon after, I called my mom to check in on my pooch, and to tell her about the hotel. She hung up on me several times before finally answering. Innocently I asked what was up, and was told, "well, we have some bad news." Upon asking what, thinking it was perhaps my grandpa, she said, "honey, we lost the dog."

I didn't really understand what she was saying. How could they lose my dog? It didn't make any sense to me. Apparently, somehow Luca got away from my dad at the end of the walk. When he realized he was free, he made like Forrest Gump and just started running.

There I sat, on the warm Vegas Strip, freaking out and totally helpless. My poor Luca was tearing around town, still wearing his harness and leash, in the cold rain. What if I never saw him again? I was convinced he was going to get himself caught in a fence, never to be found, or hit by a car. Or, maybe, taken by someone who thought he was just too cute.

These thoughts were running through my mind as I walked down the Strip, crying, trying to get my errand done. They were on my mind as I willed my phone to ring with someone on the other end telling me they had my little monster in their hands. They were on my mind as I waited and shook and cried.

Finally, at around 6pm, almost 6 hours after he took off, I got the call. A gentleman on the other end asked me if I was looking for a dog. My heart jumped; he was safe.

As it turns out, he was only two blocks from my parents' house. He had been spotted all over town, which means he made almost a complete circle. This amazed me. Several people tried to stop him, and he just ran. He ran into the street, people slammed on their brakes and swerved not to hit him, and he ran. The only thing that stopped him was his leash getting caught on a shopping cart, and the cart overturning. Only then could someone grab him, wrap him up, and keep him warm.

I am very thankful to the good Samaritan who grabbed my Luca and called me. And to my parents, brother, aunt and uncle who were all out in the freezing rain looking for him. He is home safe with me, now, thankfully.