FENWAY THE PUP · Chapter 2

It was the squirrel’s fault. Everyone agreed on that later.

Fenway had been perfect on his walks for two weeks. Then a squirrel stopped on the sidewalk outside the corner store and looked right at him. Fenway backed out of his collar as if he’d practiced it, and he was gone, past the bus stop, across the lot and over the hill toward the park.

Maya ran until her lungs burned. Sal stayed by the house in case Fenway came back. Mrs. Okafor from the second floor posted his picture in the neighborhood group.

An hour later the phone rang. A woman at a laundromat six blocks away had a scruffy, wet-paper-bag-colored dog asleep under her folding table. She’d read the number off his tag. Fenway had slipped the collar but not the tag, because Maya had clipped a spare onto his harness that morning.

The real tips: getting lost dogs home

• Two layers of ID. A tag with your current phone number, plus a microchip. A chip only helps if it’s registered and up to date, so check yours today.
• Fit matters. Nervous dogs back out of loose collars. Many owners use a well-fitted harness, or a martingale collar, for walks.
• Practice recall every day with high-value treats, in a safe enclosed area before you try it in the open.
• Have a plan. Keep a recent photo ready, know your local shelter and animal-control numbers, and use neighborhood groups quickly.

Coming soon: Boston Made dog trackers, GPS tags from the Boston Made Pets family built for exactly this hour. Watch the Reader for launch news.

FENWAY THE PUP is a serialized story from the Boston Made Pets family. Fenway is fictional. The care tips are real, and general: your veterinarian knows your dog best. Previous: Ch. 1. Next: Ch. 3, Fenway Goes to the Grand Strand.

🐾 Read every chapter on the Boston Made Reader → Storylines · Shop and learn at Boston Made Pets.