Shep’s Christmas Eve Adventure

Well the big day is over and I sure hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We were very blessed and enjoyed a memorable few days with our family. However, Christmas Eve brought an unexpected event this year. I was settling in at my sister’s where we spend Christmas Eve night. My husband decided not to spend the night because of the snow, cold and our animals. I was settling in for the evening with my step daughter, nephews, sister, brother-in-law and mother. We were playing games, wrapping presents and laughing.

Shep our Great Pyrenees

I decided to call Richie to see how things were and to tell him what time to be at my sister’s the next morning. He sounded short of breath and worried. He quickly told me our dog, Shep, had disappeared right after I left and he’d been looking for him for two hours. Words can’t describe what Shep means to us, he’s more than a pet--he’s a fixture, a part of everything being in its place. His guardian instincts and deep bark, while on night patrol, far from keeps us awake, it allows us to sleep. He’s also my husband’s best friend. Richie jokes that he spends more time with Shep than he does me, and he’s not far from the truth.

My brother-in-law Jason and I quickly got up to drive over to the farm and help look for our lost guardian. With Presley, my step-daughter and my oldest nephew Perry in tow, off we went in a heavy snow.

Shep protecting his flock

When we arrived, Richie was searching around the pond area with a flashlight. We all divided up and the cold and the wind not only made our search bone chilling, but also exacerbated our worries about Shep. We had no idea where he was, we didn’t know if he was hurt, cold or something far worse. It was difficult enough knowing he was gone.

The area near the pond

I decided to get the four-wheel drive utility vehicle out and head into the woods. The snow began to fall even harder. Magnified by the headlight beams, it looked like giant cotton balls floating in two tubes of light.  Even though Presley, Perry and I drove every road and path available in the woods behind our house, there was still no sign of Shep.

Back at the house, we shut off the engine to gather our thoughts. We heard a dog barking in the distance. It’s Shep! Is it Shep? We started the four-wheeler and barreled down the snow covered and desolate main road toward where we thought the barking was coming from. It was midnight, Christmas Eve. We pulled into a closed convenience store and listened for the barking. Now, the bark seemed to be coming from the hill behind our house. It was difficult to locate the barking. Every time we moved to a different location, so did the sound of the barking. Our four-wheeler doesn’t have a windshield and our faces were exposed to the elements. I was afraid of frostbite so I decided to take myself and the kids back home and let the men continue to look.

We came in to warm by the fire

Finally, at 12:45 a.m., I headed back outside to see where Richie and Jason were. I hadn’t seen their flashlights in a bit. I yelled for them, but no answer. I yelled again. Ok, I admit, at this time I was getting a bit panicky. Here we were, it was almost 1a.m. on Christmas Eve, the snow was falling even harder, there was no Shep, and no response from Richie or Jason. I suppose I’ve watched too many scary flicks, but I began to think perhaps we had a serial killer who killed our dog, killed the men and was now going to come get me and the kids. While running this doomsday scenario in my head,  I heard a whimper and then my beautiful dog came running to me from  the woods. Shep was home.  I called my husband’s cell and thankfully they were coming up the front of the property and couldn’t hear me yelling for them. What a relief.

We all piled into the Jeep to go back to my sisters. There was still so much to do. Richie went inside to warm up and go to bed. I didn’t get in bed until close to 3 a.m.,  but I can honestly say it was a Christmas Eve we will remember forever.

Best Friends: Shep and Richie

Shep has never run off. He’s as consistent as day and night. But somewhere in his dog head he decided Christmas Eve was the night. Perhaps he was trying to do some last minute shopping or was worried he hadn’t been a good boy this year and Santa was going to pass Verde without stopping to see him.  Whatever reason he decided to run, we were so happy he was home. He got a mighty good meal on Christmas just to let him know how much.

Hope your Christmas was a bit calmer and filled with more sleep than ours. As we wrap up 2010 we wish you and your families a happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed new year.

Our boy...Shep