03/16/2020
MANNY WAS FOUND!! Got a phone call today at 1:30 from Kenny the owner of the shop he was last seen. “I found Manny! He’s running in the street I’m following him!“ I was 4 miles away passing out flyers. I flew over there, driving like a maniac. I saw him running on Mission Blvd, which is like a freeway if you don’t know. I had to park my truck in the middle of the street facing oncoming traffic, and waited 50 feet ahead of him. He approached and just ran right by me. He was in survival mode. Tunnel vision. Driving into traffic I turned left into a McDonalds, honked at a guy that wasn’t leaving the exit, made a right, ran a red light thru Mission and parked about 50 ft ahead of Manny a second time as he ran in the street again, full traffic behind him. As he approached me, I went to grab him, but he made a 180 and started climbing under my truck. I dove onto his hind legs and pulled him as hard as I could. I bear hugged him against the street until Kenny helped me pick him up. Tears of joy!! This boy was taken by a stranger, escaped, lived in a junkyard, lost in the rain for 7 days, ran thru oncoming traffic, and who knows what else he went thru. If this ever happens to you, don’t think your missing dog will recognize you after being lost for 7 days. They are terrified and hungry. They don’t trust anyone. They won’t respond to their name, they won’t recognize you, they won’t run up to you with their tail wagging. You have to try and let them come to you. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone. Special thanks to the rescue master Mike Noon for sharing tips so I was prepared. Thank you Laura Leland .catalina