Missing Dogs in Mayemphis

Not long after leaving our swimming hole, we started seeing posters tacked to trees and lightposts.

It appeared two terriers were reported missing in or around Mayemphis, Tennessee.

They looked amazingly familiar to us, despite the undercover garb they were wearing.

We kept a close eye for them as we approached a big long river, thinking they may have joined some young dude we'd heard of: Huckleberry Finn.  

We could just picture these two floating the river like the one we'd just swam,

yearning for freedom and growth.  Spontaneity and adventure.

They didn't appear to be on any barges that we saw, so we kept on wheeling.

Right into the next state on our journey.

We made our first stop at the Mayemphis Zoo ... thinking it would be a good starting spot.

No one knew anything about two missing dogs.

 However, we were efficiently directed to an institute of higher education, only blocks away.

And there we were given the scent that we'd be trying to locate and follow.

It was upon a Pendleton blanket that carries a long history.  

Their scent was also apparently strong in the vehicle referred to as the Gussiemobile.

I tried to jump right in, and demonstrated my momentary lack of agility.

I landed flat on my bum.  

(Actually, I was just trying to encourage my sissie Nina-Girl to recall our morning adventure.)

We were told this particular academic institution was a location

where the two missing terriers were often seen meandering.

It apparently is a favorite walkie spot of theirs.

With no sight of them about,

we set about searching for them, while our people chatted with the two-leggededs

who claimed to best know the missing duo.

And who obviously knew the academic institution quite well.

The campus was wooded, in an historic neighborhood near downtown Memphis.

A good spot for cultured dogs.

Surely we'd find them there.

It was a daunting task and we were sure to be somewhat distracted.

The campus was stunning, the grounds were immaculately groomed and the buildings were beautiful.

(We understood why these two terriers frequented this stomping ground.

Plus, we were told about and we witnessed lots of squirrels.

We began to assume that was what may have deterred the missing canines in the first place.

There were lots of places to run and explore.)

We looked inside the awesome Paul Barret, Jr. Library - where these technology savvy doggies

might have been found on one of the dozens of computers or in the cybercafé).

Nope.  Not there.

We looked all around the campus.

Walking. Exploring. Following scents. Noticing buildings that were pointed out and described.

We walked by the Student Life Center, a likely place for dogs looking for some socialization and comradery.

No missing dogs there.

We checked out the amphitheater and considered the geodesic dome 

(two locations apt to tempt the attention of dogs on the run.)

We snorted at the entrances to buildings, checking for their remnants of scent.

We looked around the lynx, none too happy to have him peering down at us.

And we consulted the Mr. Diehl, the founder of the institution.

The dude looked very educated, very bright, but he could offer no support.

No luck.

We tromped through seas of decorative grass

(which served to cool our paws and tempt our appetites.)

We noticed columns of live oaks that had suffered a recent storm,

curious as to whether or not our elusive terrier friends could be hunting for vermin in the fallen branches.

We started to feel our efforts were failing.

These dogs were not in sight.

And we'd given the search our best effort.

One last spot was under the bushes.  We found The Rat.

Not only might the two terriers have been tempted to hunt out this celebrated resident,

but also he lived by the entrance to the Burrous Refrectory.

FOOD!

Alas, we never found the missing terriers.

We had to accept and satisfy ourselves that they were well and waiting somewhere for the people's return.

We admitted we'd reached the end of our command.

We'd failed in finding the missing two, but we'd delighted in the tour while giving it our best effort.

We may not have earned extra "terrier credentials" 

 for we didn't chase any squirrels or get particularly excited about The Rat.

But we'd certainly had a good time.

and very much appreciated the time and company of the four-leggededs.

And we'd learned a lot.

Our afternoon came to an end.

After some exchange of hugs, hand shakes and goodies,

we parted in the Bubble of Love.

Tired, happy and hungry.

Though we'd not met our original objective, 

we had proven to be quite cute and well behaved.

We were treated with a fast-food burger (a rarity in our everyday lives.)

And when we got to our nighttime destination,

we enjoyed the joys of Southern Hospitality.

In anticipation and celebration of our imminent arrival at our destination at the beach,

Fergi met and snuggled with her new pink bungee flamingo

and I enjoyed an crazy tousle with my new blue bungee seahorse.

Both were compliments of Gussie and Teka, our Mayemphis friends.

Panama City Beach, here we come!

We hoped that once we arrived, we'd learn that the two missing terriers were safely found and home.

And, in fact, that was the case.

There was a whole different version to The Case of the Missing Dogs

waiting for us upon our arrival at the beach.

It was an explanation that we understood and appreciated.

While we missed meeting Gussie and Teka,

we appreciated the consideration their people had for us.

How did Gus and Teka feel about the situation?

That's their story to tell.

And it's a good one.