The Fanfaron Saga

Val says I asked Sarah a neighbour to drop Sue and Martin a line of encouragement. Quite awhile ago Sarah and partner adopted a hunting dog  called Athos. He is now the much adored family pooch. When they first had him he went walkabout for nearly a week leaving the new owners distraught. They did get him back and he is now a model of good behaviour but it takes time and patience. Here is a letter Sue sent to Sarah in reply today.

Hello there and thank you very much for your email.

It arrived last night when we were in despair! 

We collected Fanfaron on Sunday - we live 3 hours away in the Dordogne. He slept all the way, so no problem. We knew he was a good walker on the lead so had a couple of little strolls, then yesterday we took him about 8k away to a river. As we gently lifted the hatchback, he charged - and that was it!! We watched as he ran like the wind until he was out of sight. We drove around and around and kept going back to the carpark but to no avail. Our son rang to see how things were going and when we told him he said to take the bed he had slept on on Sunday night and put it with a bowl of food in the last place we had all been; where we had parked the car. He said that if he went back to the place he would know we had been looking for him. And so that's what we did at dusk last night.

This morning we drove there at 7.30 knowing full well there was no way he would be there. We COULD NOT believe our eyes.  There he was, sitting so beautifully by the side of his bed.  Naturally as we approached he ran off. Martin got his bed and put it in the back of the car. It took us about 45 minutes of calling, praising, whistling but he kept coming closer to the car and actually jumped in twice but jumped out again. On the third time he eventually lay down and I was able to wriggle between the seats and get his collar, but he didn't pull away, so Martin was able to close the hatch. And there we were - altogether. We just couldn't believe it.
Since we got home 5 hours ago he has eaten - and slept, and still is doing so!

I think we too have a way to go, but we have learned from this to be extra extra vigilant! We feel there must be the beginnings of a bond as he came back. (Our only other doggie experience was a little American Cocker who we had from a puppy - entirely different kettle of fish).
So as I say, your email last night gave us the hope he would be found. What happened today was near to a miracle!

All the best with you and Athos.

Val says Don't you just love ''doggy tales'' with a happy ending, and if it does happen again Fanfaron is chipped so a vet will be able to identify him.

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