Bobby and I were unloading some things from the car the other night and tested the extra key. Monte, always up for going to my Mom’s house for her human food treats, like pasta, jumped into the car numerous times. He had just gotten a great bath from Alexandra that day and was smelling wonderful. When Alex gives him baths, that’s usually when she’s most apt to have him spend the night in her room, so I didn’t think much of it when Monte didn’t come to the master bedroom where Bobby and I were, but it was rather odd that he was so quiet and didn’t come up in the morning for his usually nagging, since he knows I give him a special treat, making him sit and shake his paw, before I go to work. My daughter’s door was open when I went downstairs, and she said she did not have Monte. With a lump in my throat, I started searching the backyard and calling for him. Knowing he was not the kind of dog to run away, even if there was a breach in the fence, I started looking in all corners. Then, it struck me. Sure enough, I pop my head into the dark (well-ventilated) garage to see him comfortably stretching and yawning from a long nap and peeking through the open window of my driver’s seat. He was actually better off and more comfortable in the car than he would have been on the garage floor even if he had been big enough (he’s only seven pounds) to jump out of the window. Excited, I freed him and he quietly and happily came to me and followed me inside the house without even any thirst or hunger, as I deliberately led him to his dishes. I honestly don’t think he realized if he was stuck there ten minutes or the actual ten hours, but I felt very bad. No matter what, I will make sure to acknowledge him before I go to bed every night from now on.