The Great Escape: Manic Longs for Freedom

Hi, I’m Allison! Read my introduction to learn more about me and my three mixed-breed dogs from Thailand, Jelly, Lorraina, and Manic.

Uh-oh. It is quiet. Too quiet. That can only mean one thing: my dog is up to something.

Those moments of silence always made me panic slightly. Manic loves looking for adventure, trouble, wild animals, anything! Even though we had a fenced-in yard, the fencing was old, so Manic would find a weak spot and squeeze himself underneath.

Despite having 2.5 acres of wooded land to explore, Manic always longs for freedom.

The First Time Manic Escaped

Manic was only in the USA for about three days before he escaped the first time. When I searched the entire property and could not locate him, my mind was in a whirlwind. Is he stuck underneath some old logs? Did he jump in the pond and drown? Where could he have possibly gone?

Then, I looked out over the fence and saw him running across a cornfield. That was not good. The people who owned that property had put up plenty of signs saying “No Trespassing” and “Private Property”. What would they do if they saw him? I know that they sometimes go hunting; what if they think he is a wild dog and shoot at him?

There was also the issue of road traffic. The field is about 12 acres large, with direct access to the road. Manic is not smart enough to check for cars before crossing a street. And if he sees something interesting on the other side of the road, trust me, he will try to get there without hesitation.

Too many situations could endanger him, so I went over the fence and tried to see if I could call him back without “formally” trespassing. After about 30 minutes of pushing my way through brambles and climbing over fallen trees, I could finally get close enough to grab him by the collar and lead him back home. He was filthy and panting heavily, and I was swearing under my breath as I led him back home through brambles, ditches, and rocks.

Little did I know this would not be the only time he would escape.

Manic’s Adventures on the Outside

Over the next few months, Manic would continue to find small gaps in the old fence. Sometimes, I would find the gaps and repair them as best I could (I am pretty handy, but not THAT handy!). But he was a tricky one, that Manic of mine. He would disappear for 30 minutes at a time and eventually show up at the back gate. Once, he was gone for almost three hours, and I imagined all the horrible things that might have happened.

But he would always come back, burrs in his fur, mud on his paws, and tongue hanging out. I would let him through the gate and he would walk straight into the house and have a drink of water. Once his thirst was quenched, he headed back to the door, expecting me to let him out again.

“Fat chance,” I would mumble.

Manic looked at me pleadingly for another taste of freedom. However, all the exploration had exhausted him. So, he settled down on his dog bed, facing the sliding doors to watch the world as he drifted off to sleep.

This would give me time to find where he could have escaped. I put on my boots and headed out to examine the fence that encircled the property. Sometimes, I found a bit of soft earth where he dug and slipped under. Other times, he would scale an old rock wall to escape. But the other places remained a mystery to this day.

My Little Escapee

Manic now has a GPS collar with a built-in fence. Whenever he tries to leave the property, the collar beeps just loud enough to keep him where he is meant to be.

I am sure Manic had amazing times out in the wilderness. Part of me wishes he could go off into the woods, chasing deer, digging holes, and running along fallen trees. I would love to have him run across fields and up and down hills without a care in the world.

Sadly, there are too many dangers out there for a carefree and slightly reckless dog like Manic. But when he dreams, I hope he relives his adventures on the outside.