The Sonnenschein “A” litter was born June 28, 1998. It was the year of the “boys.” Every litter born that year was comprised of mostly, if not all, boys! The “A” litter was no exception.

I did not need a boy. I had no intention what so ever of keeping a boy, but one male in that “A” litter just seemed to stay on. I sold him when he was about 8 weeks old, but the family ran into some personal difficulty and could not take him. I sold him once again when he was about 9 months old. Another odd turn of events brought him back to me within a few weeks. Evidently this dog was going to stay here!

Greg Reyna was living nearby at that time, and decided he would take this puppy to a few dog shows. This entire time, the poor fellow was still without a name. Since a registered name was necessary to enter the dog show, I decided to name him after my great Irish Setter of years past, “Anticipation.” Now he had a serious name, “Sonnenschein Anticipation”, but still no call name.

He went off to shows and immediately did very well. At one show, Greg asked a young junior handler to show him while Greg was in the ring with another dog. She insisted that it was high time that he had a call name; so then and there she dubbed him “Petey.” “Petey” went on to quite a few nice class wins, and ended up needing only three single points toward his championship at the end of that year.

Greg then decided to move back to Dallas. I was grooming and showing another dog, so Petey returned to the kennel to wait until I had time to get him ready for the ring and those last three points. That was at the end of the year 2000.

In early 2003, Greg was visiting the kennel and we decided it was time to do something definitive about Petey’s championship. Prior to this, Pete had just been hanging out in the country, and splashing around in the pools with the girls. Greg took him home to prepare him for the show ring. We decided that the goal would be the National Specialty weekend in April 2003.

Much to our dismay, on March 12, 2003 Petey escaped from Greg’s yard! We suspect that an interesting “lady” passed the premises and instigated Petey’s desire for freedom, or perhaps even set him free. Regardless of how he got out, a liberated Petey set off on his incredible adventure.

Greg, of course, began searching high and low for Petey. In fact, there were people all over the place looking for Petey in the highly populated, suburban area of Dallas where he lives. Petey, the unsuspecting country dog, was now in peril. The numerous highways, freeways, busy commercial and residential streets posed dangers for him. In addition there are still many pockets of land, overgrown with trees and brush, that shelter an astounding abundance of stray dogs.

Petey had spent his entire life in the country to this point, apart from dog show adventures. He had no experience with traffic, strangers, or stray dogs. Petey somehow needed to find a place to eat and sleep!

Obviously we were all frantic. We were trying to stay upbeat and keep positive thoughts. It was very difficult to imagine that this dog with no “street smarts” whatsoever could survive such an experience. Still, we were hoping for a miracle to find him and bring him home.

Our hopes were encouraged by the reported “Petey sightings” from various places. At the beginning of the adventure, it was clear that he was escorting a large, hairy lady about town. Somewhere along the way though, it seemed that one of them lost interest in the other. Then he was being spotted most often alone.

Greg, Debbie Stover and Gay Glazbrook were combing the area day and night. Naturally, they have their own adventurous tales to relate. Although none of them ever got even a glimpse of Petey, the calls of his sightings kept coming in.

My birthday rolled around in the middle of this tragedy, and there was a birthday call from Greg that Petey had been found. The truck driver who called Greg told the story of driving through the area and finding this dog in the parking lot of a grocery store. The dog had an injury, but he loaded him into the truck since it was obviously a valuable dog. Supposedly then, Petey was with him at the airport in Houston.

This story seemed plausible to us, and we desperately wanted it to be true. However, in the end it turned out to be a scam. Poor Debbie Stover had to break the news to us. She works with rescue, and she had already known about this scam. Fortunately we had not wired the required amount of money, but we had gone so far as involving Dick and Marylee Thompson from Houston in the search for Petey!

The following day, Pete was already eight days into his adventure. A call came in that he had been spotted in the parking lot of a savings and loan, but when Debbie arrived he was not in sight. The desperation was now becoming unbearable.

Ironically, it was eight hours later that Petey was found tied to the front door of the Oak Cliff Animal Shelter! He was taken in and placed in one of their runs, and after that he refused to allow anyone to deal with him at all. The shelter was pretty sure that it was Petey, as they had been informed of the search and had his picture. So they contacted Debbie Stover who works diligently with Giant Schnauzer Rescue and knows most of the people in the local shelters.

Debbie then called Greg and he hightailed it to the shelter in record time. Then she called me in tears; she was sure it was Petey! Greg positively identified Pete too, which was not difficult since Petey was so glad to see Greg that he made sure that he stood out! Petey was signed out of the shelter and taken to Greg’s grooming shop.

Greg said he was sure no living thing could possibility smell as bad as Pete did, but Greg was so relieved to have him back he did not even care. Pete was given a bath, and had some food to eat while I raced to Dallas to bring him right back to the country!

After eight days and eight hours on his own, it was truly a miracle that Petey was found. We will never know what kind soul got hold of him long enough to tie him to that shelter gate, but I wish every good thing touch whoever they are and wherever they live.

At the time of Petey’s return, we were about three weeks away from leaving for that National Specialty, which was as you remember, supposed to be Petey’s big show career comeback! His check-up with the veterinarian showed him to be no worse for the wear. He did have a small injury on one leg, and he was quite thin, but he did not seem to have suffered any real damage.

I set about trying to get some weight back on him, and getting the little injury healed. We decided that after all, Petey would make the trip to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for the Giant Schnauzer Club of America National Specialty weekend. He needed only three single points to complete his championship, but it is always a long shot to hope that you might actually capture those points during a National weekend. Still, we decided that Pete would give it a try.

The long trip to Harrisburg was pleasant. Petey loved to get out of the van long enough to do whatever needed to be done, but he was quick to let us know that he wanted to be “on the bus” when it hit the road again. Pete was not looking to repeat his freedom experience!

Once in Harrisburg, the first show was on Thursday. The former long-time breeder of Von Gestern Giant Schnauzers, Joan Anselm, was officiating. There was an entry of 66 Giant Schnauzers, 25 of them males who were there to win those points just like Petey. It would be stiff competition.

As it turned out, Petey was so glad to be back doing something he understood, that he won his class and even went on to be the Winners dog! This means that Petey ended up winning five points—two more than he actually needed! Then good friend and long time Giant Schnauzer owner and handler, Ginny Maese agreed to take Petey into the Best of Breed ring while Greg handled Petey’s best friend, Ch. Sonnenschein Chasn’ A Promise also known as “Jordan”, in the Best of Breed Class. Ginny handled Petey right into the Best of Winners Award!

Petey was now Champion Sonnenschein Anticipation! However, Pete was not thrilled about having his photograph taken to record this momentous event. We told Petey’s escape story to the judge, and Mrs. Anselm suspected his reaction to the flashes might be after affects that remind him of dodging headlights.

As for other after affects, I have the nagging feeling that he is wanted all over Dallas County! Debbie and I feel sure that it will not be long before we are being called to rescue Giant Schnauzer mix puppies from the local shelters.

While I hope that this is not the case, we will never know all that Petey experienced while on the run. One thing is for certain though, we are sure glad to have him back home! He seems to enjoy being in the country again. He still sprawls across the top of his doghouse and surveys the wilderness, but there does not seem to be an ounce of longing in his gaze. Petey’s appetite for adventure has been satiated, and another incredible journey is the farthest thing on his mind.

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