Fido

There’s something wrong with Fido. He hasn’t really been the same since he came back.

We’ve had a few pets over the years, but Fido is my all-time favorite. He’s very docile and sociable, though I suspect he suffers from separation anxiety to some degree. It’s probably Mom’s fault. She doesn’t allow for indoor animals, so we have to keep him in the barn. He used to whine and howl through the night, but eventually got used to it.

He’s really intelligent too, as evidenced by how quickly he can learn new tricks. So far, we’ve taught him to roll over, sit pretty and play dead! Dad says he’s a bit too smart, though, because he can be a little manipulative. For example, he knows I can hardly resist his large puppy eyes, so he begs for treats at every opportunity. The doctor said we much watch his weight, but I sneak him an extra bone every once in a while!

Fido can also be a bit mischievous. I’ve caught him digging under the door once, trying to escape. We had to keep him in a crate for a little while after that. He’s my best friend, so it was really difficult for me to see him locked up like that. When we finally let him out, he immediately snuggled up to us, as if to show that he was sorry. Didn’t I say he was smart?

Anyway, we were walking him one day when his collar broke. Before we could do anything about it, he took off and ran into the woods. I was really heartbroken, all the time wondering if we’d ever see him again. The whole neighborhood offered to help, which was honestly very nice. Ms. Agatha even let me keep her own pet for a while. “Just until your little darling returns”, she said with a wink. He was no Fido, so much more aggressive and defiant, but it was a nice gesture anyway.

We found him just over a week ago, all muddy, with matted hair, and so hungry he struggled to walk. We’ve been extra nice to him since, but I can tell he’s still a bit shaken. I’m sure he’ll bounce back soon, though!

He’s such a good little boy!