Where is Belle?
My neighbours in France had a major alarm Monday last week. Belle, their Cairns Terrier, had disappeared. They discovered her absence late in the afternoon and it was dark. The younger son went straight up to the forest thinking that Belle had maybe decided to go hunting. I went round the village with a torch and later to another part of the forest to look but no luck. There at the edge of the forest it was completely silent, no little dogs barking or crying. Just a deadly silence.
Tuesday the other son arrived and the two of them went up to the forest and spent several hours searching for Belle. I went up to another section but again the silence ruled, “Belle! Belle!”. No response.
Wednesday my neighbour came home from a business trip. His little dog was gone! He cried. A large man who makes Pavarotti look small, he mourned his little dog. The conviction was that Belle had been stolen. It had happened before in the village, strangers passing who decided that another’s dog was theirs!
Thursday evening a knock on my door, it was the younger son. “Bon Noël”, he said. I thought he meant because it had started to snow but no, “Belle is back!”. Happiness reigned. It appeared that somehow or other Bell had got herself locked in an uninhabited house. Luckily she was found by one of the ladies from the village. Three days without water and food but Belle was so happy to be home again.
So remember, make sure all gates and doors are secure. make sure you know where your dog is and get the vet to give him a chip.
Kleine Belle
