It's a busy road, but rural with only one other house nearby and nobody ever passing by except the traffic on the very busy road, which is very narrow with a wall on either side. I rarely hear a horn blaring, so I went out to investigate - thank the Lord I did! I got there just in time to stop a big van that had picked up poor Paddy in it's headlights - he was in the middle of the road and obviously in a panic, couldn't get over the wall and was just runnng in circles, scared and confused. Unfortunately, seeing us seemed to confuse him even more, and by the time OH had managed to shepherd him back down the road to the gate there were several vehicles, all beeping and shouting at the hold-up. They got a few choice words before I thanked them and let them go!
Frit the life out of me and OH, and out of poor Paddy, who spent the rest of the evening on his dad's lap. Hopefully he won't do that again! I can't understand it - he rarely even goes that far down the garden, let alone through the gate, but we're redoubling the mesh on the lower areas of the fence and gate, just to make sure.
Glad it worked out well in the end. It may be for the best. 
