My Adventurous Mr. Wallaby

I was working at a zoo when a rusted out burgundy sedan pulled up to the back gate just as we were opening. The car door swung open and out of the back-seat leaped an all black lighting bolt of a puppy. The puppy ran through the gate into the zoo. The beat-up sedan took off, screeching its tires as it peeled away.

American Zoos have an escaped animal code they use over the public announcement system (PA). The intention of this code is to alert the staff of the situation while not panicking the visitors. Our code phrase was "Mr. Wallaby." For example the call would go out over the loud-speakers in a calm and soothing voice, "Mr. Wallaby, meet Mr. Elephant at the Anthony Wayne Trail." Interpretation-the elephant got out and was headed to the highway! [Story for another time].

On this beautiful morning just as the gates opened for business we heard the crackle of the PA system as the microphone was being turned on. The calm voice announced over the loudspeakers, "Mr. Wallaby meet Mr. Canine…uhmm…everywhere?"

The lighting bolt pup managed to elude everyone for two hours. One of the keepers finally capture the puppy by enticing him with some venison jerky he happened to have in his lunch bag.

This wasn't the first time an unwanted pet was dumped at the zoo. We had a protocol in place to ensure the health and safety of the zoo's resident animal population. The "intruder" was to be taken to the parking lot behind the administration building. The veterinarian would examine the intruder to ensure it didn't carry any diseases into the zoo on its visit. Then the dog/cat/bird would be taken to the local animal shelter.

Dr. Tim, the vet, gave the little lighting bolt a sedative and examined the pup thoroughly. The puppy was in good health, and was about six months old. Dr. Tim was sure the pup was part Chow-Chow, he had the characteristic big boxy head and a mostly blue tongue. He speculated the other parent was most likely a Labrador. The puppy had the shiny black fur typical of a black Labrador rather than the thick coarse fur of a Chow-Chow.

I found it funny that a place with amazing animals from all over the world found the run-away puppy so exciting. Of course, we all had to leave our work spaces and go see the puppy. There we were by the dozens watching the hypnotic breathing of a sleeping puppy in the bed of Dr. Tim's pick up truck.

One of my staff said, "We should call him Muffin Man." 

"Muffin Man?" I asked.

"Yeah look at the delicious little round belly - he's clearly had a few muffins!"

The chorus of keepers all moaned-"Noooo. Not Muffin Man!"

Protocol demanded that the pup be taken to the animal shelter. Sadly, the shelter was a kill shelter-if no one claimed or adopted this puppy he would be euthanized. I couldn't let that happen. I volunteered to take this pup.

"Dr. Tim, I have a one year old puppy at home, I'll take him. After all what's one more?"

The vet gave me an oversized plastic crate used for air transport of animals. I took the puppy home to meet Clyde. The introductions went well. The puppy and Clyde, my one year old hell-if-I-know breed, were instant friends. Clyde loved this new dog and was happy to have a playmate.

My neighbor suggested a name for the puppy - Mr. Wallaby - in honor of having a wallaby call and the entire zoo staff chasing him for 2 hours. Mr. Wallaby it is! Mr. Wallaby even made the news! My neighbor was photographer for the local paper and she called in the story of the canine Wallaby call to her paper.

That was day one of the adventures with Mr. Wallaby and Clyde. Day two. Mr. Wallaby busted out of his crate, somehow liberated his new best friend and together, they ate an entire couch!

Did I really say to Dr. Tim, "After all what's one more?"

Mr. Wallaby never quit his wonder-lust ways. He was a dog who would not be confined. Right up to his last days, he remained a lighting bolt pup. I was fortunate to have 17 years of adventures chasing after this beautiful big-headed black dog with a polka-dot tongue.

Coming soon, the story of how Mr Wallaby got his "too many days in a smoke filled bar" voice.

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Thanks for reading my Mr. Wallaby story-more to come! If you enjoyed it click the heart here. You can find more of my stories here on Vocal.media and at Medium.com.