As Namer, a previously stray dog, ran through the wooded river bottom near Centerville, a youthful Steve Dzerigian ran behind holding onto the leash. At some point during his daily chore of walking the dog, he decided the human-dog roles should be reversed and he let the dog run free. While the leash was still attached, he never let it tighten — running as Namer ran and observing her tracking techniques.