Oh my goodness Lisa!!! My heart sank like a stone when I saw the title to this thread!!! I am so happy for you that your precious Bella is safely home!!!!! What a scare...no wonder you felt like puking. It's so scary to think of what could have happened if that amazing lady had not found her!
I am also very protective of my girls when I leave the house, and I have a suggestion for you. They have a pet-door that opens into a dog run on the side of my house that they use to go potty. After losing my little Tigger last year (long story), I actually had a pet-door put in between my house and garage. When I leave the house, my girls both go potty there on their paper. It just makes me feel better that nobody can get to them from outside, they cannot run off through an accidentally left open gate, they are not prey to coyotes/hawks, etc. etc. If your garage is attached to your home, perhaps you should consider this for your own peace of mind? It's also a great way to keep them dry when it rains.
Hugs to the both of you after your ordeal,
Lauren
