Last Saturday night about 9:30 p.m., Alayne and I were putting the dogs up in the various cottages. This is quite the process, since there are 44 dogs, multiple buildings, and each dog needs to "do their business" before bedtime. Typically we empty out our house first, then the smaller cottages next to the house, making sure that everyone has adequate potty time outside. (This is strictly a notional exercise for the incontinent ones!) While Alayne is riding herd on the gang over here, I head over to Widget's House to start putting those guys up.
I was finished at Widget's House and moving on to the horse barns when I heard Alayne calling for blind Austin the Beagle. Austin loves his doggy buddies and is always at their side, so he follows along at night when Alayne calls everyone to the cottage for bedtime. Not this night. He was nowhere to be seen. I hurried over and started searching with Alayne. By now it was getting dark and we were getting nervous. This was totally unlike Austin to not be with the other dogs. He also isn't an explorer, and with sheep fencing layered with chicken fencing and topped with electric fencing, it was most improbable he could have -- or would have -- gotten out of the yards and wandered off.
We searched and searched the dog yards, our house, and the other buildings. There was no sign of this small blind Beagle. By now we were increasingly frantic, and the light was fading fast. I jumped on our utility vehicle and raced out into the pastures to start looking there while Alayne kept looking for him around the cottages. Up and down the pastures I drove, flashlight in hand, calling for Austin. Finally I gave up. It just didn't make sense that he would take off.
Moments after I returned, Alayne glanced over and saw Austin slinking around the corner of our house, headed towards Kelly's Cottage and her. He looked sheepish. Alayne raced over and scooped him up in her arms. She was so relieved to be holding him I thought she was going to squeeze him to death!
We walked around the front of the house to see where he could have come from but found nothing to indicate where he might have been. Perplexed but happy to have found him, we tucked him in for the night.
On Sunday night, this time about 9 p.m., we started the bedtime process again, and just like the night before, Austin did not show up. Alayne was walking around the house again and lo and behold, she found him. She called me over to see where he'd been.
Deep in this hole by a small pine tree, right in the front yard, was Austin ... and he was sound asleep. I went back into the house to get the camera. In the photo at the top of this post, you can see why he'd be almost impossible to notice unless you walked right on top of him ... especially in the late evening light!
He didn't even wake up until I got close enough to get this photo:
At that point we explained to Austin that rabbits are supposed to be in holes, not Beagles!
That is so funny but cute. I love the Rolling Dog Ranch.
Posted by: Becca | September 18, 2008 at 05:27 PM
What a wonderful story! It just goes to show that disability is in the eye of the beholder.
Posted by: Kerry | September 17, 2008 at 11:37 PM
My dog dug herself a full doggie-sized underground den when we were on duty at a look out tower one year. She would nap in it during the heat of the day. Austin is sleeping still in the grass like a baby deer. He must be part rabbit and part deer! Glad the scary mystery is solved!
Posted by: Sheryl B | September 13, 2008 at 03:25 AM
What a cutie pie. I to have a beagle who has three legs that we adopted from the pound. She, along with my other two dogs, are the loves of my life. Thanks for the amazing stories.
Posted by: The Jenkins' | September 11, 2008 at 09:53 PM
Way to go Austin! He is so cute. I to have a beagle named Kasey with three legs that we adopted from the pound and I am so glad we did. She is the love of my life along with the other two dogs we have. Thanks for your story.
Posted by: The Jenkins' | September 11, 2008 at 09:51 PM
It is so cool what you two do, I am truly heartfelt in my appreciation for your care of these special friends. Enjoy the approaching Fall-jim
Posted by: Jim Manweiler | September 10, 2008 at 08:26 PM
One of my 2 beagles is blind & he can find the tiniest places to snooze. The funniest hidey hole was after a bath. He flew thru the house & jumped on the couch. I went about bathing the other 2 boys & realized an hour later that he wasn't on the couch. Then I saw the pillow moving---he had burrowed into the end of the pillowcase, his snout was poking thru the corner he'd previously chewed off, and he was snoozing away! Such a silly boy. Thanks for the entertainment you share..
as well as the TLC to so many sweethearts.
Posted by: Tammy | July 10, 2008 at 04:46 PM
Hmmm, Out-foxed by a blind beagle??I think you should make sure Austin isn't telling his buddies, next thing you'll need is a helicopter!
Way to go Austin!!!
Posted by: Paul in Colorado | July 10, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Austin found himself the perfect Beagle size sleeping hole! Keeping in mind that he is blind, he must have been ecstatic to find such a great place! I'm glad you found his favorite place. Now he can have his hole and sleep in it too!
Posted by: Shelli Smith | July 09, 2008 at 10:33 PM
You have THE best stories! I read them before bedtime and have sweet dreams of all these beautiful animals.
I hope you are keeping a diary, these stories would make a best selling book of comedy, courage, companionship and unconditional love.
What joy! Hugs to Austin!
Posted by: Yvette Irene | July 09, 2008 at 10:12 PM
OMG! That would have made me frantic! That little guy certainly found a hidey hole almost under your noses! I'm so glad there was a happy ending to this! Whew!
Hugs to all,
ginger, Tobias & Tlingit
Posted by: ginger & Tobias (the greythound) | July 09, 2008 at 02:06 PM
What a good story, and I loved the ending! That's a terrific expression on Austin's face as he lies in his hidey-hole (s we call our animals' spots). Thanks!
Posted by: Moon Rani | July 09, 2008 at 10:37 AM
That little scoundrel really did find a great hiding place, but the jig is up now!
I'm sure he was only interested in finding a cozy sleeping spot otherwise he wouldn't have slinked home the way he did.
I can see why it was a scare for you guys.
I laughed out loud at the end of the post; the picture and your bunny comment were just too much for my funny bone to take!
Posted by: Boundforglory | July 09, 2008 at 09:25 AM
I have had that "pit of the stomach" moments before...not so great, actually! Glad you found the little monkey!
Posted by: Debbie | July 09, 2008 at 07:35 AM
Austin Powers international beagle of mystery.
Posted by: Andrew, NZ | July 09, 2008 at 04:50 AM
Austin must have been a rabbit in a previous life!:-)
I'm so glad it all ended well. Whenever I can't find one of my pets, I get frantic quite easily, I must admit... I'm just your typical "anxious Italian Mom"!:-))
Posted by: Carla Polastro-Nigro | July 09, 2008 at 02:15 AM
Awww - what a cutie. He probably didn't realize you all were out of your minds wondering where he got off too. He's a doll - and smart too! He knows where to go to next time he's in trouble!
Posted by: Lisa | July 09, 2008 at 01:44 AM
I'm so glad you found the hiding spot. That would have panicked me too if I couldn't have found him. Must have been cool & very quiet in the long grass.
Posted by: Colleen | July 08, 2008 at 11:01 PM