June 21, 2007

June 21, 2007

Found

I guess the theme of this is: NEVER GIVE UP.

We found our Dixie. Today. 11 days after she went missing. She looked like absolute CRAP, but we have her back. According to the vet, she has conjunctivitis; swollen lymph nodes, and lots of cockle burrs, but she hasn't lost weight, she isn't dehydrated and somehow, she managed to stay alive amongst coyotes and other wild animals.
She is on antibiotics and eye antibiotics now, she's been bathed, had a drastic haircut and has been sleeping like a baby.

She was in an area about 30 miles away from our house stuck underneath a rock and some bird netting. We got two calls this morning from people who had seen our signs and ads and they said they had seen a Yorkie but she ran from them and they told us the approximate area.

We hauled ass over there, and my Mom did the same since she is closer to that area, and we all met up in the area and began a foot search screaming her name.

My nephew (who is 6) was with me and my daughter, and it was beginning to thunder and rain and we reached a corner and he stopped and I looked down at him and he had his hands pressed together in prayer and his lips were moving and his eyes were closed. I said, "What are you doing, Sweetie?" and he silently continued his prayer. Then he finished, opened his eyes and looked at me and said, "I was prayin' to get Dixie back, Auntie..."

We had already walked past this particular area, and right then, my daughter said, "Why....look at that little face..." and there was Dixie peeking at us from under a rock. It was a miracle that she saw her. It really was. Dixie never made a sound. Not a peep. We were calling her, whistling...she never made a sound.


We all began slowly walking up toward the flower bed, and a man walked out on the porch of the house next door. He said, "Hello there...we've been afraid she'd run off...." It was like they were expecting us. We got up to the flower bed and I picked up the rock and realized it was tangled up in the bird netting, too. I picked up Dixie, and we couldn't get the netting untangled from her tags on her harness. She was so covered in cockle burrs and she had mucus in her eyes...but it was Dixie...I asked the man next door if he could please get some scissors so we could cut through the netting. He quickly got a box cutter. He said he had been keeping his eyes open for her because he knew that there was a Yorkie missing.


All behind the houses was wild country with no fences and just mesquite bushes and cactus. I don't know how the 5 pound baby did it, but she travelled probably more than 10 miles. We've had horrible weather during the time she's been out, and the rain is probably why she wasn't dehydrated. I hate to think what she's eaten, but she is a brave, tough little dog. I can't believe she didn't get swarmed by fire ants or any other horrible thing.

We've spent the day taking care of her, and thanking people who helped find her and spread the word about her. We've called all the animal shelters, animal rescues and kind people who have helped us, and I can't even begin to describe how many kind people out there who have helped us locate Dixie. Her Microchip number is now registered*duh*.
It's amazing how our collective mood changed in a split second. Thanks to all of you who spared thoughts and prayers for Dixie's safe return.
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By Dixie Chicks