2 Saturdays ago, while I was volunteering my time at the Taste of Niagara, my dog ran away. We have a fenced in yard, but apparently quite a springy dog. But anyway, my brother in law came over to let him out for us and he jumped the fence.

So we combed the area looking for him for 5 days, and put an ad in the paper. Since we got him from the SPCA, his inner leg is tattooed with a serial number that traces him to me. So I figured that if a dog catcher person had him they would call me. WRONG!

The story is that one of our neighbors took him in at night (thanks to whoever), then went around the hood the next day asking who's dog it was (I was home until noon, but whatever), then they called the dog catcher to come and get him.

Okay, so still no biggie. Run the tattoo number or the license number ON HIS COLLAR, and call me. Guess that was too much work. She called me on Weds. finally. When I asked about the tattoo serial number, she said the state's computers were down. When I asked about the license number, she blamed to town clerk. Every extra day cost me another $10! All told $55 with the fine.

So here's the lesson....do not assume these people know how to do their job that they are appointed to do. My bad. I should have figured out who the dog catcher was and called. Now I know.