| Sadie's Big Adventure |
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Story and Photos by Janet Walker
The tiny ball of white fluff whizzed at me as I was taking my walk in the neighborhood. "Whoa," I thought, "step aside for a dynamite dog!" But then I realized that the pooch was heading straight for a busy intersection with nary an owner in sight — time to take evasive action. I distracted it (we later found it was a her) and managed to get hold of the collar. Still no owner in sight, so I finally picked up this tiny bundle of friendly energy and walked up and down the street, sure that the doggy had escaped from somewhere. When I failed to find anyone who looked like a panicked pet owner, I took the dog home. Did I say that finding this lost dog coincided with my oldest daughter’s wedding week? Well, it did, and that’s where the fun started. When I brought the just-rescued-from-traffic canine into the house, my three daughters, plus bridesmaids, plus a mother and aunts of the bride and groom, were all there intensely reviewing the flawlessly planned nuptials to be held at week’s end. Since we don’t have a pet, when I walked in with snow-white Sadie (we found out her name later) she was lavished with affection from all corners. This delighted Sadie and after absorbing much love and some fresh water, she curled up on a rug and took a snooze. Later in the afternoon, my daughter and I posted “Lost Dog” signs on the light posts in our neighborhood. Someone would call right away, we were certain. In the meantime, there were caterers to be called and music, lighting, table settings and place cards to be arranged. Sadie helped out by looking cute. Sadie Goes to the Bridal Shop  The next morning, the bridesmaids, the bride and I all piled into the car for the trip to the final fittings on the bridesmaids' dresses. Not wanting to leave Sadie home alone, my middle daughter decided Sadie could help out at the bridal shop by looking cute there as well. Which she did — no small task when you are staring at lavender tulle for an hour-and-a-half when what you really want is a chew toy. A bridal shower was now on the agenda, and Sadie was excited to meet the resident dog, Bailey, when she arrived at the shower location in Laguna Hills. Bailey instantly regretted being neutered. Sadie managed to charm everyone, almost stealing the limelight from the demure bride.Sadie at the Beach The following night found Sadie and the bridesmaids at the St. Regis Hotel in Laguna Niguel. A girl’s night out was in the works with a surprise stop at Chippendale’s male revue, which is a polite term for watching extremely gorgeous guys go wild. This outing was deemed inappropriate for Sadie, since she was unable to giver her consent. Plus, she’d probably vote to watch "Dog Whisperer" instead. So Sadie and I went to the beach. Sadie Settles In  We were becoming concerned that no one was calling to claim Sadie. Somebody was tearing down our signs-probably a well-meaning neighbor with the antilitter Gestapo, but that was not helping Sadie get home. We kept replacing the signs, and someone kept tearing them down! Every time my phone rang, I was hoping it was Sadie’s owner because my daughters were beginning to really like having a pet. What to do! It had been five days and Sadie had a favorite spot under the youngest daughter’s bed. She read the paper with her in the morning. They lounged by the pool together.We took her for walks with a donated pink leash from the shower host’s owner. Surely, we thought, someone who knew her would see her and know where she lived. The wedding was imminent by this time, the minister confirmed, cake in the fridge at the bakery, nervous older daughter reading over her vows, wedding dress from Paris on a hangar and the groom installed at the Shadow Ridge Resort. All was ready. And then, the phone rang. A lady said the “lost dog” she spotted on our posters might be hers, could she come by and take a look? We decided that we would need proof, just in case it wasn’t legitimate — like a photo of her with the dog. But when she showed up, there was no proof needed, Sadie bounded into her arms and licked her face like crazy. The lady told us that Sadie had a sister who had been inconsolable for the last week, pining and refusing food, languishing under the kitchen table. So now they would be joyously reunited. Bidding Sadie farewell, we knew she would go home with a million memories of bouffant dresses, fancy hotels, tiny sandwiches on a silver platter, a hunky dog named Bailey and the lingering fragrance of salt sea air. |
