Would Be Commuter

It's Tuesday 15th January 2008 and it's 0611.

I am boarding the train, following a lady and her dog with other commuters boarding after me. I thought it unusual for this lady to have her dog unleashed and boarding a train.

She sat facing in the direction the train was traveling, sat on the opposite side one seat back and facing with my back to her. Her dog began crying and whimpering as it moved up and down the carriage and sniffed everyone. I asked if that was her dog, she said he wasn't, just followed her in.

I sat watching the dog and everyone who just pretended the dog was not even there, for a short time. I couldn't stand it any more. The dog seemed so distressed and worried, I called and the dog came over to me. I talked gently and reassuringly as I took off my hand bag strap and put it on the chain collar.

The dog seemed young, had no street smarts and gave me the impression that the train ride was a mistake as a result of perhaps an accidental escape from the home clearly loved and missed. The dog was a male, I managed to see that much but thought it best not to examine if he was entire or not with an audience of commuters but wait until I got him home. He had no ID tags only the chain collar around his neck and he was a German Shepherd cross with a Kelpie. I am reasonably certain of that. He had the Shepherd marking and heavier bone structure but only the height of a Kelpie and a pretty face of a Kelpie.

That particular train, the 0611, is only a shuttle train to the next station where I would disenbark and board another train that we take me to my destination station to then get on a bus to take me to work. However I did not disembark nor did my new temporary canine friend. We returned back to where we came from.

On the way back I called my boss to tell him I would be late and briefly explained why as I left a message . . . well two messages on him mobile phone and one on his land line phone. I also called the ABC Radio Station and told them about the 'would-be-commuter' and asked if they could put announcements over the airways. I left my mobile number, home number and work number with ABC Radio if his owner did hear the announcements they could call me.

He was very well behaved on the way back but he did insist sitting on the seat next to me. We arrived back at the station that we originally boarded and walked to my car. He was a good dog and did not object to being picked up and put in the back on my Mazda Bravo Dual Cab. My car is all decked out for dogs with a mesh divider and a mesh back with a door to each divided section.

The pound is just a short 4 minute drive from the station and only a 6 minute drive from my home but I knew the pound would not be open at that early hour of the morning, I drove past anyway too see what hours it was open.

The pound operating hour are 1000 to 1300.

I then called mum to tell her nothing was wrong I was coming home with a dog I rescued on the train.

There was silence on the other end.

I said I am just around the corner and would be home shortly.

There was silence at the other end.

When I got home I put him yard and went inside to make another call to my boss. This time I called the work number. Scott answered and I explained in a little more detail what had happened and told him the pound hours. He said all is good and just to call Vania and let her know also.

Mother spoke at last.

"Why do you always get yourself involved in these things! You should be at work now! Why did you not let someone else do this!," she said in a some what higher then normal decibel level.

I told mum no one else was even taking any notice of him, like he was not even there. I couldn't just pretend like the others.

Mum has a few good reason to speak in that higher decibel range. I can not be trusted around homeless animals.

When mum lost her cat Micky, I was at the vets a few days later and they had a kitten handed in that would be put to sleep if they could not find a home her her. Mimmi came home with me and I gave her to mum.

Last year I brought home a dumped cat from a factory estate that had be there for at least the past 12 months. Apparently she was dumped the Christmas before with a newly born litter of kittens. I tried to get her before she got pregnant again but it was not to be. Smokey had a litter of 4 girls and 1 boy April 2007. Mum and I now have 3 cats and 1 Weimaraner. The white kitten was the boy and when he chooses he answers to the name Fonzi.

OK back to the 'would-be-commuter'.

I called back at 0800 and spoke to Vania.

When she came on the phone I asked if she was mad at me.

"Yes Sally," she replied.

I began to try and explain why I couldn't just leave him on the train, allowing him . . .

"It's OK Sally I am just kidding. You take care of the dog and come in when it's all done. We can talk about how you want to deal with the lost work time when you come in," Vania said.

Both Scott and Vania are the most wonderful people and great bosses. Very understanding and supportive when ever and where ever they can be.

I decided to have a little snooze until 0930. I had a late night the night before, didn't sleep real well so the snooze was nice.

At 1000 the 'would-be-commuter' and I were at the South Eastern pound. I had about a 30 minute wait because there were 2 rangers there already.

My turn.

The guy behind the counter tells me they can not take him.

"What!" I asked.

He replied they can not take him and added the South Eastern pound does not have the Casey contract.

Oh my God, I thought.

I am late for work, I can not get this dog into the pound, what am I going to tell Scott and Vania . . .

The guy gave me a list of shelters and the pound which had the Casey contract.

Off we go to Peninsula Animal Aid which was a further distance that took 20 minutes.

I arrived and went to the office.

I explained to the lady over the counter what happened. She asked me to bring him inside and then I answered a few questions. She kept asking where I found him. I don't think she could believe he boarded a train. As I answered her questions two assistants came ouot with a microchip scanner and run it over him.

YES!

He was microchipped!

I asked about the process once a dog is handed into the pound.

The lady explained he would be kenneled for 8 days while they try and locate his owners. If this was unsuccessful, he would be impounded, examined by the vet and if he passed the vet check he would be put up for adoption for a period of 31 days. Should he not be adopted he would be killed by lethal injection.

My heart skipped a beat as I heard those last few words and lloked up at the adoption price table behind the counter.

Adoption of $210 for a dog.

OK, I thought, I will call at the end of 8 days to see if the owners have been located.

I would wait for a few weeks to see if he is adopted, if not I would adopt him. He was such a well behaved boy and a gentle nature and so sweet I could not allow for him to die.


Yippy! There is a much higher chance of locating his owner.

I drove back to the station. As I approached the platform I thought it was odd not to see another single commuter. An older gentleman said the train was not running between here and the next station because of rail track upgrading.

Great! Just what I need! I thought to myself.

He said all those people at the bus stop are waiting for the shuttle bus to take us to the next station where we can get the train needed for our destination.

Shit! Shit! Shit! I thought.

The bus trip will take forever but no real choice left now.

I finally arrived to work at 1230.

Vania was terrific.

I asked how she wanted me to make up the time.

"Sally what ever suits you will be fine", she replied.

Tell me who else has such a great boss?

I think these types of bosses are very few and far between.

That same week on Thursday I called the pound (I could not wait for the 8 days to be up) to check on my 'would-be-commuter' to be told Charlie was picked up by his owner yesterday (Wednesday, the day after I handed him in). She asked me where I found him and I explained it all again to which she replied, "Yes I read that on his form but I couldn't believe it". I assured her that was where he was, LOL.

What a happy ending for Charlie.

Although I am not a huge supported of microchipping your pets for so many reasons, I do support it for the reuniting of animal with owner.