Hey Mom and Dad! It’s Vlad, your Boston Terrier hero. Wrongfully nabbed and locked in the Big Kennel, I stage-managed a rather daring jailbreak! You missed my epic sprint through stormy Spencerville – dodging scooters, puddles and pedestrians alike. But guess what? I’m home now, drenched, but free and happy, waiting to share my adventure over some belly rubs and steak treats. Also, any chance of spaghetti tonight? Cheers, Vladdy!

Listen to the story here

I’m going to tell you a tale of serendipity and cunning. The story of Vlad, my beloved Boston Terrier. One fine day, in the little paradise known as Spencerville, he was wrongfully swept up in confusion and ended up in the rather infamous animal shelter known as the ‘Big Kennel’. Now, the Big Kennel was as pleasant as any other place in Spencerville, kitted out with gourmet treats from the Doggy Bagel Deli to chew toys from Fetch! Toys and Treats. Still, it did mean Vlad found himself away from the joyous romps in the Cream Maltese Meadow or the merry tug-of-war at White Westie Woods until this mess was cleared up.

Vlad had a fiercely independent streak. I mean, don’t get me wrong, he loved his family, particularly his brother Momo. Still, he shared our human disdain for being confined, especially when unjustly accused. You see, a playful kerfuffle with a bouncy ball and a snow-globe at Best in Show Photography was blown out of proportion. Before we knew it, Vlad was deemed guilty without trial, sounding much like something out of a Dickens novel, doesn’t it?

Now here’s where things started to get interesting. Vlad, being the athletic, plucky boy that he is, put his mind towards breaking free. He was the Boston Terrier version of Michael Scofield, only brindled, heavier, four-legged and infinitely more delightful, of course.

I had visited him regularly, slipping him some favorite treats from Pup-Tizers and vaguely hinting at possible escape plans. Now, I didn’t explicitly instigate rebellion, mind you! But there’s something about watching your pet pensively gazing out of the kennel bars and the sheer will in his eyes that stirs the soul to action.

One rainy afternoon, I visited Vlad with his favorite tennis ball, carefully hollowed out and filled with his favorite dish – spaghetti (not the easiest surprise to smuggle, let me assure you!). It had enraptured him on a level daily meatloaf just didn’t. That’s when I saw it, his spirit hadn’t flagged. Taking cue from our long conversations and guard patterns, Vlad, the falsely accused had hatched a plan.

At feeding time when everyone was busy with their Bark and Bites orders, he began his adventure. Quiet as a snoozing hamster, he sneaked out of his cubicle, moved towards the gate. It was tightly shut. But the mischievous boy had observed the gate mechanism during our daily visits. With the ball, he managed to jimmy the latch, and it audibly unlocked. Momentary pause. His fellow inmates froze mid-chew. It seemed that even the ongoing rain held its breath. He slowly pushed the gate open, and before anyone could blink, was out, charging like a runaway horse on the slick Spencerville streets.

Rumor has it, he sprinted down the streets, dodging pedestrians, scooters, puddles, and even the thunder, before he arrived at our familiar front door, completely drenched, but free and beaming nonetheless.

He was welcomed back as a hero, with steak rewards and long belly rubs. The saga of Vlad’s grand escape was narrated amongst all of Spencerville dwellers over Pup-Tizers. Although it ruffled a few feathers at the Big Kennel, Vlad’s quenching thirst for freedom reminded us all of the unwavering spirit that this Boston Terrier possessed – the spirit in every pet leading their life in the beautiful town of Spencerville.

The End.