The Gallivantings of Daniel Franklin Gomez

It was just another typical morning. I got up at 7:30am, ready by 8:15am, had breakfast and departed home at 8:45am to be at work before 9:30am. And like every other mornings, I have always bid my pet dog goodbye. I’ve been working for 6 years now. And Shaggy turns 10 in September. 

The call came in earlier today, the most inconceivable call – the call that was surreal. My pet dog, Shaggy, has gone missing. She disappeared approximately after 9-ish when I left for work. Apparently my neglectful step-dad, who always take it for granted, especially with the dog, left the gate open before he warmed up his car.

Everyone looked for her. My step-bro, my maid, my step-dad, my mom and they searched again and again in the afternoon. None of them found her.

It’s 11pm now, she’s been gone for almost 14 hours. I combed around the neighbourhood, scouring through drains. The heavy downpour didn’t help the cause. She could’ve been long gone now. I searched anyway, bounding into drains to find her. After an hour of leaving no stone unturned, I heard noises emanating from a drain culvert. It sounded like a dog whimpering, but it was too faint to tell. I flashed my torchlight but couldn’t see. The light was too feeble.

I sprang into my car and manoeuvered to 7-eleven, and armed with a new set of batteries on my maglite, I headed back to the drain in haste, clasping to whatever’s left of my diminishing hopes. I jumped into the drain to get a glimpse into the its hole. Nothing. Nothing.

As time ticks away, our hopes of finding her is starting to delapidate. I don’t think I could soundly sleep tonight. The love of our lives has vanished – she’s been with us since September 1996. I’m hoping for the best but fearing the worst. The positive side of me doesn’t want to swallow the fact that she’s disappeared. “When I get up the next morning, she’ll be there to greet me” was my stubborn heart’s retort.

I just hope that a good samaritan is keeping her safe. *SIGH* I’ve published some photos to be stickoned to any walls and any lamppost nearby. Shaggy, wherever you are, I hope you’re safe and sound. *SIGH*