The Charlie Crises

It was Sunday Afternoon and another peaceful family weekend in Gordon’s Bay was coming to a close. It was Mother’s Day weekend and my aunt and uncle had travelled down from Plettenberg Bay to come visit. It had been a great weekend and I was sad that it was coming to an end but busy planning the following week in my mind.

It was then that my brother walked in. Now usually towards the end of the weekend my brother will come in for a last minute snuggle before I have to say goodbye, but this time was different. He looked devastated and when I asked him what was wrong he just burst into tears.

Now, I am officially the most over-protective older sister that a 12 year old boy could ever have and when my little brother is sad it literally breaks my heart. I went into panic mode immediately, and was busy deciding how I was going to kill the girl who had broken my little boy’s heart when he turned to me and said, “Charlie’s gone. She’s missing.”

Charlie is our dog. She’s a 6 year old boerboel and probably the most beautiful dog in the world (except when she slobbers like a boerboel). She is also very stupid and I could see immediately why he was so worried about her.

Well after half an hour of running around Gordon’s Bay like madman in Minnie Mouse tights and flirting with the paramedics in the hopes of getting some information about Charlie (no ulterior motives, promise) I eventually found a garage attendant who knew where she was. Well, actually he knew where a “big beige scary dog” was but I assumed he meant Charlie seeing as she kind of matches the description.

According to the parking attendant, Charlie was at an animal hospital called Animals. Now there are two animal hospitals in Gordon’s Bay, neither of which is open on a Sunday and neither of which is called Animals. So after looking for Animals for another good 10 minutes we eventually drove passed a sign that said Gordon’s Bay Animal Welfare Shelter.

And she was there.

And she was safe.

And she wasn't hurt.

My heart literally soared and I thought I was going to pass out I was so relieved.

Anyway, Charlie is now home safe and I could swear that she actually enjoyed her little adventure and all the attention she got because of it and it wouldn’t entirely surprise me if she made a habit out of it. The other good news is that my heart eventually started beating at its normal rhythm again and I didn’t have to kill the little girl who my brother has fallen in love with. Just as well because she studies karate and could probably kick my ass.