Before you get concerned, let me state right away that this post is not about Olga. Olga is fine; she's right where she belongs at this hour of the day, under the bedcovers and snoring.
No, this post is about Leo.
I was walking to work on Finchley Road yesterday morning, through St. John's Wood, and I'd almost arrived when I suddenly heard a woman screaming "HELP! HELP!" I looked across the road and I saw a brownish spaniel sprinting down the sidewalk, trailing an untethered leash behind it. The woman was trying to catch the dog, but I could already see the gap between them growing and I knew that wasn't going to happen.
I was on the other side of Finchley, which is six lanes of traffic and fairly busy in the morning, but I took off running parallel to the dog, as did another guy. The dog ran out into the road, circled around in front of the cars (which all slowed, thank goodness) and I saw a guy on a motorbike take up the chase. Meanwhile, the woman was shrieking "HELP!" and "LEO! LEO!" at the top of her lungs. The motorbike guy called to her to stop screaming, thinking (I suppose) that it was spooking the dog.
Leo, who by this time was way ahead of all of us, eventually took off down a side street.
After a couple of blocks the other running guy broke off his pursuit, and I was slowing down myself. Leo was moving so quickly I'd lost sight of him, but I ran onto the side street and looked up and down both sides. Then I turned a corner and there was the guy on the motorbike along with another guy on a bicycle, holding onto Leo's leash. I guess having wheels helps when you're trying to catch a running dog.
As I chatted with the two rescuers the woman turned the corner behind me and, seeing that Leo was safe, took a few minutes to catch her breath. I didn't stick around to watch the reunion, since I was now late for work, but as they say, all's well that ends well.
Certainly an unusual way to start the day!
(Photo: A leaf on Finchley Road, taken minutes before Leo's escape.)
The dog probably enjoyed all the attention.
ReplyDeleteI think it was happy to be caught!
DeleteLeo? I thought that was a lion's name. If I had a dog I would call it Fido or Rover.
ReplyDeleteThe story shows how community spirited and caring people can be - even in a big city.
You're such a traditionalist, YP!
DeletePleased that the story ended happily! The dog was probably terrified.
ReplyDeleteI think he was.
DeleteI can barely walk early in the morning, let alone run. Well done you and all involved.
ReplyDeleteIt made me realize how out-of-shape I am, though. Not too many years ago I could have run farther and faster!
DeleteFunny old world. People put themselves out for a dog yet will walk past someone being shouted at, another crying, yet another beaten to a pulp. Not yours truly. Obviously. I always stop. Even in the most unlikely circumstances. What's the worst that can happen?
ReplyDeleteNot that long ago I woke to the most horrible scene (two in the morning). Three guys laying into a fourth. There were loose bricks flying (we had some roadwork going on). I woke the Angel to the fact that I was going to go downstairs, just in case I didn't return. I don't think he heard me. And, yes, I also called the police on my way out. Such are my powers, or maybe women aren't perceived as a threat to men, they stopped, looked at me as if I were an apparition. Well, we ended up with one hospital case, not dead, and three very contrite guys none of whom laid a finger on me. That they didn't ask me to adopt them is a miracle.
The rest of that stretch of the street? Fast asleep. Or at least pretending to be.
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Well, the woman was calling for help, and a loose dog in the city cannot care for itself. Kind of different from humans, who can manage their own affairs.
DeleteThe worst that could happen? You could get stabbed to death.
In all seriousness, I would stop to help a person who needed assistance. But I would not intervene in a street fight where guys are throwing bricks at each other. (Except to call police from behind my closed door.)
Thank goddesses. Oh, Leo! I thought maybe you stopped mid-chase for that photo opportunity.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I'd like to say I am fast enough to stop for a photo while chasing a dog, but sadly no!
DeleteLOL at Mitchell!
ReplyDeleteReminds me of the song by Jethro Tull, from his Heavy Horses album: Rover. I imagine the dog was having the time of his life.
ReplyDeleteHe may have initially wanted to run, but I think whatever excitement he felt quickly turned to fear. It's hard to tell with dogs, though.
DeleteNaughty Leo! Good thing Olga wasn't there to get any ideas!
ReplyDeleteYeah, she does NOT need to emulate that behavior!
DeleteSo much excitement early in the morning! I'm glad Leo was caught.
ReplyDeleteWay too much excitement!
Deletea little excitement and exercise to start the day.
ReplyDeleteI suppose the exercise was a good thing, at least.
DeleteGlad that Leo was caught! Nice how several of you tried to help!
ReplyDeleteI was impressed how many people dove in to assist!
DeleteOh that Leo - such a mess! I love that the motorbike guy went in pursuit too :)
ReplyDeleteYou'd think the bike would have scared the dog even more, but I guess the speed outweighed the noise in terms of effectiveness.
DeleteWhat a way to start the day. I love how many people tried to help and really glad to know it was a success.
ReplyDeletePeople really did jump right in there!
DeleteWell, that will get the blood pumping early in the morning!
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteLeo really cut and run. Glad he was secured!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe how fast that dog was moving. He must have REALLY needed a walk!
DeleteDogs LOVE to be chased. I'm sure he found it extremely entertaining and everyone got a bunch of exercise. A win-win!
ReplyDeleteHa! I wonder if he enjoyed it. I think he was scared but maybe not.
DeleteFree dog! We witnessed a much less dramatic dog escape yesterday although the little critter did not get very far at all. Also, the closest six-lane highway was probably about a hundred miles away. Still, the woman freaked out and started yelling at the dog to STOP! STOP! The dog was obviously terrified of what he had inadvertently done (I'm not sure he even knew his leash had come unhooked) and squashed himself down on the pavement, the woman still shouting.
ReplyDeleteGood Lord.
Ha! Poor confused dog!
DeleteSince it all ended well, it also made a highly entertaining post :) It's nice to hear that so many bystanders pitched in to catch Leo.
ReplyDeleteIt definitely made for a lively story to tell everyone at work. (To justify me being 15 minutes late.)
DeleteWhew! I'm glad Leo was caught! I've had a dog hit by a car before and it's a traumatic experience. (I've also hit one, unavoidably, which was even more traumatic) Good for you for joining in the rescue effort!
ReplyDeleteYour title made me think of a children's book called "Stop that Ball!".
Ha! I don't know that book -- unless I saw it somewhere in the library and then subconsciously alluded to it in my title? I've never hit a dog but I've been in a car that hit one (as a passenger) and that was pretty awful.
DeleteP. S. When I looked again at the springbok pin in yesterday's post, I was still puzzled by the reference to the wings - until I checked the link to the airlines. NOW I see it. I had been looking at it as if it was rotated counter-clockwise, which made the wing look like the hindquarters of the springbok. Huh. That's the problem with some stylized representations, they look different to different eyes!
ReplyDeleteYeah, it's not a great design for a pin, because there aren't enough distinguishing features. It's a bit too abstract!
DeleteGood on you for giving chase! Dogs do not have much in the way critical thinking skills when they run like that.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah, the brain was turned off entirely. It was all instinct!
DeleteToo bad we couldn't hear Leo's version of the event!
ReplyDeleteHa! Yeah, what would he say, I wonder? "I went for a harmless run and everyone FREAKED OUT!"
DeleteMy hero
ReplyDeleteAre you batting your eyelashes? :)
DeleteSome of these dogs just want some freedom to explore for while. Some of them aren't trained that well. Good for you to try and catch the dog.
ReplyDeleteMy guess is that dog had been holed up in an apartment for a while and needed to let off some steam.
DeleteGorgeous leaf and I would have picked it up and saved it for a journal page (though I don't journal anymore, it might make me pick it up again). Good that all turned out well. I think Leo needs an obedience class (or two!).
ReplyDeleteTaking a photo of something is my way of journaling it. (And then I don't need to save the object!) Yeah, Leo definitely needs some instruction in obeying orders. LOL
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