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When Jane Ens adopted her adorable wire fox terrier during the pandemic last January, the playful pooch became more than just a four-legged housemate.
Sonny also proved to be an instant life-saver, a beacon of hope during a period of time when Jane, 24, was struggling with profound anxieties and a few mental-health hardships.
I’ve known Jane ever since she and my middle daughter, Issy, became fast friends in high school. I saw for myself the positive impact Sonny has had, not only on her mental and emotional well-being but also on her spirit.
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In no uncertain terms, he rescued her, and in return, Jane became one of the most outstanding dog mommas I’ve ever met.
Jane and Sonny (Jane Ens photo)
So, it’s not surprising that when her one-year-old, very energetic pooch broke free from his leash (a clever trick Jane says he’s pulled once or twice before) on a scorching afternoon last week, Jane was beside herself with worry.
“My mom turned her head away for a minute, and he was gone,” said Jane. “It’s happened before but we always find him in the neighbour’s yard or with some dogs down the street and he never goes far.”
This time, however, he was nowhere to be found.
Jane and her mom, Doreen, jumped into their cars, treats in hand, and drove around their East St. Paul neighbourhood; when they came up empty-handed, Jane took to social media, posting on Instagram and Facebook that her beloved canine companion was missing.
Neighbours from near and far pitched in to help, scouring the area for the wayward pooch.
At some point, neighbour Ed Burzynski joined the search and heard whimpering coming from behind a wooden fence. He called Sonny’s name, broke open the gate, and found the pooch tangled up in the solar cover of an above-ground swimming pool, which contained neither ladder nor steps.
The homeowners’ surveillance camera footage shows Sonny had been treading water there for more than two hours, frantically trying to keep his furry head from going under.
Sonny in the pool (Submitted photo)
“When Ed grabbed him, he just clung to him,” said Jane. “Then he let him down in the yard and he immediately started running home.”
Days later, Jane is still reeling from the horrifying ordeal. At the same time, she and her mom are overwhelmed by the support and love they received from their neighbours, many of them pet owners themselves.
“We’re so heart-warmed by the community combining together to help us find him and all the love they’ve shown us,” said Jane.
She’s also more than relieved to have her sweet boy by her side.
(Jane Ens photo)
“We’re really so lucky that Ed found him when he did,” she says. “Otherwise I don’t know how much longer he would’ve been able to keep himself afloat.”
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