A valuable lesson, from my Pet!

Canada
November 18, 2008 7:29am CST
Yesterday, whilst planting my garlic, my senior (15 yr. old) who was laying in the sunshine in the garden patch wandered away! He cannot hear, and is substantially blind! Can't call him, as he can't hear! I immediately started a grid pattern of my property....alerted all my neighbours, and friends went out driving looking for him! To no avail! Whilst searching my property (3 acres) I kept saying to my other little friend (Brew, a 3 yr. old Jack Russell)....where's "Tosh?" I was so distresssed I did not notice (at first) that Brew kept running away & coming back to me. 4th time, I paid attention & followed "Brew." He led me straight to "Tosh" whom had fallen into a neighbour's shallow "septic tank" that was totally overgrown with lamiastrum! Brew just stood still staring straight down into the plants! When I parted the plants, there was little "Tosh" staring up at me! He would have never gotten out on his own.....and would have died of hypothermia...as he was up to his neck in ice cold sewage! A nice warm bath...a lot of cuddles..and he is fine! WHAT A HAPPY ENDING...TO A HORRIBLE DAY...ALL BECAUSE OF MY LITTLE FRIEND 'BREW'. As I never would have found "Tosh" on my own! P.S. Today I am taking a piece up plywood up to nail over this Septic Hole before her grandchildren fall into it!
3 people like this
5 responses
@pinklilly (3443)
• Australia
8 Dec 08
oh poor little Tosh and what a great pal you have in Brew.. The modern day lassie... Glad to hear a Happy ending which is very pleasing to see... Good Idea to cover up the hole to prevent any future accidents....
1 person likes this
• Canada
8 Dec 08
Thank you....the residual effect of all of this is that "Brew" is like a little "Mommy", now! When all three of us (really 4--cuz no matter when I am outside, or go for a walk with my dogs..."curlew" my cat is there, too) So, Brew will circle around Tosh...and NOT let him out of our sight! It is really heart-warming to see! Tosh has days of slight senility, so Brew will cut him off & herd him home! What an incredible bond...yet the silly two will growl over a treat! Have a spectacular day...!
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
19 Nov 08
I am so happy that your little dog is okay that was great for your little friend brew to be able to help like that.
1 person likes this
• Canada
20 Nov 08
Nice to hear from you winterose....The other side to this story is that "Tosh" due to his age, has really good days, & really bad days! He had just had two bad days & seemed to be feeling better, that's why I took him outside to lay in the sun whilst I was planting my garlic! Never in my wildest dreams did I think that he was capable of wandering away! The emotional crunch was that everyone that I had helping to look for him (driving the roads, etc.,) made the comment, "quite often they wander away to die." I hated myself, thinking that he was laying somewhere on my property passing away...in the cold shade! With those thoughts echoing in my head, crying so hard I could barely see, I was NOT paying attention to Brew! I will never be able to relate my euphoria when Brew found him, nor the hilarity of Brew running 90 mph around him! That's too much excitement for my old heart, my friend. Now I take Tosh outside on a leash (which he hates) as he has grown up & old on this property....never being confined before! Thanks for caring, and a sparkling day to you, m'dear!
1 person likes this
@kaka135 (14916)
• Malaysia
18 Nov 08
It's glad to hear that Tosh is finally alright now. Some dogs are really clever, Brew really saved Tosh's life.
1 person likes this
• Canada
18 Nov 08
kaka135...thanks for the response! I got up this morning looking at "Brew" in a whole different light....(big Angel over his head) as the light went on for me, realizing these guys are way smarter than me! I will never, ever ignore their attempts to get me to do something in the future! I feel so lucky & blessed this morning! Even the sun is shining!
@applefreak (3130)
• Singapore
18 Nov 08
wow it's great to hear that tosh is alright. it's amazing that brew managed to find him too. i guess we always underestimate the bond between animals. i'm sure brew is thinking why did it take you so long to listen to him? and tosh must be praying real hard for you to find him. great thing you are doing to nail over the septic hole. whoever falls in next may not be so lucky to have a soul mate in a dog.
• Canada
18 Nov 08
Thanks, applefreak....and what is interesting is that I have had "Tosh" since birth (I owned his Mother).....and Brew is a recent arrival (a yr. last Sept.) and he is a real "alpha" dog...who can be quite "onery" with Tosh! When I pulled "Tosh" out of that hole....It was like "Brew" got the biggest smile on his face.....and he started running in big circles, so fast and hard, he was slipping and falling down on the leaves. I was laughing at him, and crying for Tosh! I just never, ever (in my wildest dreams) expected to find this bond, that has formed between them, and that I wasn't aware of....and I thot I was more sensitive than that to my pets! Has taught me a valuable lesson! Have a great day! Cheers!
1 person likes this
• Singapore
20 Nov 08
i guess brew felt that it's his role as the alpha to take care of his pack. with tosh being the only one in his pack, brew will have to ensure that tosh is safe and sound. i'm sure brew is very happy to have tosh back with him. i can't imagine the delight brew felt when he saw tosh pulled out. it must be really a sight and i wish i was there. give brew a big hug for me please, for watching out for tosh. and a big hug for tosh too, for all the fear he must have felt when he was alone in the hole.
@daceyp (327)
18 Nov 08
im glad hes ok and what a good dog your little one is.i bet he enjoyed his bath like he never has before.the people who place it was in are very lucky that no one else has fallen into it and injured themsleves.i hope both the dogs had loads of cuddles and treats for there adventureous day
1 person likes this
• Canada
18 Nov 08
daceyp...thank you! Yes, I think that Tosh will be fine! I hope! But with a chill like he got in that awful septic hole, I will keep a very close eye on him! And yes, they shared a nice big steak last nite! I still get "goose bumps" and teary eyed thinking about what could have been "without Brew to the rescue." I have learned to give my pets a lot more creedence for their intelligence! You would have had the biggest grin on your face....if you could have seen the major smile on Brew's face, when I pulled Tosh out! He raced around like he was dancing for joy. Have a great day!
@daceyp (327)
19 Nov 08
just goes to show that dogs do have the same feelings as humans and brew was just as happy as you that tosh is ok.