"My eight- and nine-year-old niece and nephews ran ahead of me in the hunt, happy to give advice on how they had been successful in catching Boss the day before. We spied Boss in the distance, but he ignored my calls and disappeared from my sight onto the highway.
"As I neared the highway, there on the median strip was Boss and his furry Lolita, fully engaged in their humpty-doo love embrace, oblivious to the cars whizzing by.
"I waited until there were no cars and dashed onto the highway. Sensing my anger, Boss cowered before me but was being dragged backward by the female trying to run. I grappled with the leash, trying to get the clip to his collar while chasing them in circles. It felt like an eternity. Boss yelped in pain and the female continued to try to run. Finally, success.
"I dashed back across the highway, dragging Boss and the attached stray into the seclusion of the pathway hedges. The kids yelled in triumph and ran toward us. Their voices grew with excitement as they saw there were two dogs on my leash. The two younger ones' expressions soon grew concerned as they inspected the 'Siamese dogs.' What was wrong with their dog? they asked. What were they doing? Now I was unwillingly faced with explaining the facts of life to them.
"Twenty-five minutes later, we were finally rescued by my father, who came looking for us in his pickup truck. I led the two dogs toward the truck to be loaded up and driven home. I was prepared to call the Humane Society for the female once they were separated. Luckily, they came apart naturally as I walked them in quasi-U-shaped formation to the truck. The female bolted and ran in shame. The kids cheered again and we all went home."