It is six weeks later and I finally receive a message on my answering machine telling me to call the city pound that they had a dog with a tag that was traced back to me being the owner. As soon as I listen to the message I immediately called boy was I excited but excitement turn to horror the instant I heard that Milo was picked up DOA. I broke down as the lady on the phone was telling me how it had happened and where he was found. Milo was struck by a car and left at the side of the road. I can't begin to tell you how I feel right now. My poor baby boy out there all alone wondering and searching for home. Milo ran away while we were in Toronto visiting family members.
The day he ran away (March 25th) we went out and left our 2 dogs Milo and his sister Patches at my aunts house. On our way back we called my cousin in law asking him to put the dogs into one room because we were heading back to the house. He put all the other dogs in the room except my Milo. As soon as the front door was opened Milo ran out of the house and down the street. My aunt had just bought that home and this was Milo's first visit. Milo is very attached to me and I know he thought that I was leaving him there forever. He didn't know that I was coming back for him.
I still remember my husband and I searching for 8 hours straight in the freezing rain calling his name. We went back every weekend staying over night for three days sometimes I stayed a bit longer. We had posted hundred of flyers every weekend. Milo was found 15 miles away from where he ran away. He followed the river just like I had thought and I feel like it's all my fault because I had search everywhere and all the surrounding neighbourhoods except the end of that river. I feel as if I failed him.
On May 3rd both my husband and I went to the pound to ID his body. We were both in tears when the man took a black garbage bag out of a big freezer. I was in tears when he opened it and inside was my baby boy. He was dirty and his hair had grown much longer. He had blood stains around his mouth and his nose. His body was whole and there wasn't any damage done to the outside of his body only internal damage/ haemorrhaging.
The man told us to take our time at which point my husband and I cried our hearts out. We patted his head and rubbed his back. My new friend Deborah who works there brought in a pair of scissors. She told me that I could take a piece of his hair. I took the piece that I usually tie with a bow.
This has been the longest 6 weeks of our lives and we have some closure but healing is far from near.
Miles will be cremated and his ashes will remain with us forever.
Milo March11, 2004 - May 2, 2006
24 months is not long enough to spend with your best friend