I did the unthinkable tonight

[Brennydoogles]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

I took the 3 dogs to the store tonight in a nice toasty truck. I removed the keys and used the remote starter to restart the truck as I went in, thinking the car would die if anyone tried to steal it. I wanted the heater going because it was 29 degrees out.

All went well, and I drove home around 10 p.m. The car was so warm, I hadn't even bothered to put their coats on. As usual, Jack was yapping nonstop to be the first one out. Lately, I've been trying to teach him that won't work, so I lifted Eddie out of the truck and put him on the ground first.

Jack was still yapping, so I closed the driver's side door and walked around to the passenger side and let Rusty out. Jack was still yapping. My plan was to go back around to the driver's side and let Jack out last. But, uncharacteristically, both Eddie and Rusty made a beeline for the neighbor's yard. I yelled to no avail.

So I chased them down. Rusty followed me to the front door and I let him in the house and closed the door. Eddie was still over by the neighbor's yard, out of sight, so I chased him down, picked him up and carried him into the house.

And forgot all about Jack.

My wife called as I was walking in the door and further distracted me. Then I hopped on the computer for a few minutes. Shortly after that, my wife came home and we sat down to watch a show on TV. Rusty by my side on the floor. Eddie on my wife's lap.

AND NO JACK, I finally noticed.

He had been out in the cold truck for almost an hour when I raced out there barefoot and swung open the door. I don't know how, but the truck still felt semi-warm.

Jack seemed plenty warm too. But he chewed me out big time for leaving him in the cold truck.

Even though he wanted to be loose, I tucked him under a blanket most of the rest of the night, and he got all the treats he wanted. I think he knew I screwed up because every time I stopped with the treats, he yapped for more. The yapping didn't bother me so much this time.

This is a horribly embarrassing story, but I figured it couldn't hurt to let people know it can happen. Well, at least to me.

Anyone who would run outside barefoot in Alaska can't be a bad Daddy. Everyone makes mistakes, and i think your sons know they are loved. Cheer up emo kid!!

[laurenr]

Sorry Mike, buy I also had a little giggle when I read your story of Jack's abuse. hhhhhmmmm.....Tell me, when you dashed into the house to get on the computer.... was it because you just HAD to feed your YT addiction?? You know that old familiar feeling..... when you're feeding the habit.... all other thoughts and priorities just fly out the window, or in this particular case, stay in the truck???

29 degrees??!!! Sheesh! Ya need to get all your butts out to California. It was only 85 here today.
Lauren

[RoxyJosMom]

Glad to know I'm not the only one. Our 2 cats have a way of sneaking out without us knowing and we have gone to bed before without taking a headcount. I have gotten up in the middle of the nite (cold, rainy) because something didn't feel right and lo and behold, one of them will be sitting outside the door shivering. Now I do a nightly headcount. Thank goodness dogs are such forgiving creatures. Take it from me - cats are NOT. Give Jack some extra hugs from us.

[Tiggerwit]

Oh poor Jack, big hugs. I'm glad you realized before it got to be too much later.

[Connie]

Ahhhh Mike...don't be so hard on yourself! We've all made mistakes and afterwards think, my gosh...what if???!!! Jack faired well through this experience and he knows you love him to pieces, although he's probably still wondering why you left him in the truck. Just kidding...had to tease you a bit! I'm so glad it turned out well and Jack is safe, warm and has a belly full of treats!

[Dan & Corinne]

Oh Mike! I'm so relieved to hear Jack was ok. How scary!

At first I thought you were going to say Rusty put the car in drive and the truck took off! - Glad THAT didn't happen!

Goes to show even the Bestest Yorkie/Lab Daddy in the world makes mistakes too!

[Dan & Corinne]

Originally Posted by AngieDoogles

Marty always locks himself in the bathroom upstairs. We have a water bowl on two levels of our home for their convenience, and the one on the top level is in the bathroom. Well, Marty goes in and somehow ALWAYS manages to shut the door. Sometimes it'll be a few minutes before I notice and he'll start whining to get out. It makes me feel horrible, but I'd rather them have water available upstairs and have to open the door for him occasionally than to think that they're thirsty.

My Jolie does that too! I now put one of their beds in the door way so she can't shut herself in while I'm at work. You should see the scrach marks on my door...

[chattiesmom]

Well it sounds like Jack made out like a bandit. I'd spend an hour in a cold truck to get wrapped in a toasty warm blanky and get fed my fav treats all night.

I am so very sorry you have this experience. It is so very scary. I thought it was just women who had those kinds of brain farts.

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by chattiesmom

Well it sounds like Jack made out like a bandit. I'd spend an hour in a cold truck to get wrapped in a toasty warm blanky and get fed my fav treats all night.

I am so very sorry you have this experience. It is so very scary. I thought it was just women who had those kinds of brain farts.

Thanks again everybody for cutting me some slack that I DON'T DESERVE! The only good things about it is Jack is OK and I learned my lesson. I was half afraid he'd be sick today, but he's healthy as a horse.

[teri88]

Jack says: Calm down Dad. An hour in a "semi-warm" truck beats having to trapse through that #@$%! snow that is up to my belly.

[vainchick5]

Originally Posted by teri88

Jack says: Calm down Dad. An hour in a "semi-warm" truck beats having to trapse through that #@$%! snow that is up to my belly.

[laurenr]

Originally Posted by alaskayorkie

Thanks again everybody for cutting me some slack that I DON'T DESERVE! The only good things about it is Jack is OK and I learned my lesson. I was half afraid he'd be sick today, but he's healthy as a horse.

I was just checking in here this morning to see if Jack was suffering any ill side effects from his ordeal. Glad to see he is doing OK!
Lauren

[Bonnie's Mom]

Originally Posted by teri88

Jack says: Calm down Dad. An hour in a "semi-warm" truck beats having to trapse through that #@$%! snow that is up to my belly.

Yeah...so basically what Teri is saying is that you treat him worse than that on a daily basis! He was thankful to be warm and dry!

[RONLYNN]

We all have done something....mine fell down a staircase one time (I posted about it) and I felt SO BAD but she was fine, it just scared me so much. I'm sure it scared you more than anything that really happened to him. He was a little cold but just fine. We all know you are a great dad!!

[alaskayorkie]

Originally Posted by Bonnie's Mom

Yeah...so basically what Teri is saying is that you treat him worse than that on a daily basis! He was thankful to be warm and dry!

He didn't have a COAT on and he wasn't MOVING. Oh, and I just took him to the groomer and shaved his back as short as Eddie's!

No, I'm still in the doghouse.