My best male got out at 2 yesterday. It was my fault, I have a pup that I let out and he usually goes in this males kennel when I go to feed and plays with him. I wasn't in the mood to mess with the pup yesterday and was trying to crowd him out at the door but he got in. I was pushing him out and my male went out with him. I wasn't real concerned so I kept feeding. I hollered at my male and he came back but just circled the pen. I hollered again and he came back again and again he circled. I should have stopped what I was doing and caught him because the next time her circled he jumped right behind my kennel. I knew I was screwed then.
I took off trying to cut him off but failed so I spent several hours cruising listening. About 9 a friend called about 5 miles as the crow flies said he heard him and I took off that way picking up help along the way. We hear him but he had turned toward the river in a real big block of land that a friend owns. He had already given me permission to go after him but this time of year it is almost impossible to get to him and we lost hearing. I kept riding the perimeter to about 2 but never got close enough to hear him again. He has a very strong homing instinct so I fully expected him to be home shortly after daylight.
Come daylight no Elvis, wasn't really concerned, figured he had laid up in the cool and would show up soon but I was riding the roads looking. Noon came and I was getting concerned. About 30 mins after noon he showed. I walked out to get him and he looked rough. Nose bloody, tail raw the last 6 inches. I had to coax him up and he took 3 steps and collapsed and I knew the game was up, he wasn't going to follow me to the kennel. Then I saw those feet. Pads completely shot, gone, but he had the determination/willpower to get home but wasn't going one inch farther. People that call a hound dumb hasn't owned many. And people that will harm them doesn't understand the bond between an owner and one.
I know this dog probably got somewhere he probably wasn't welcome. But I talked to no less than a dozen people in the past 24 hours. It isn't like it was here 20 years ago but most people still are still courteous. Everyone I talked to and showed them his picture and left my number said they would either catch him and call me or call me if they saw him. I also had a post on FB about him and it was shared by many folks that I didn't know and there were comments saying they would contact me if he was seen.
I took off trying to cut him off but failed so I spent several hours cruising listening. About 9 a friend called about 5 miles as the crow flies said he heard him and I took off that way picking up help along the way. We hear him but he had turned toward the river in a real big block of land that a friend owns. He had already given me permission to go after him but this time of year it is almost impossible to get to him and we lost hearing. I kept riding the perimeter to about 2 but never got close enough to hear him again. He has a very strong homing instinct so I fully expected him to be home shortly after daylight.
Come daylight no Elvis, wasn't really concerned, figured he had laid up in the cool and would show up soon but I was riding the roads looking. Noon came and I was getting concerned. About 30 mins after noon he showed. I walked out to get him and he looked rough. Nose bloody, tail raw the last 6 inches. I had to coax him up and he took 3 steps and collapsed and I knew the game was up, he wasn't going to follow me to the kennel. Then I saw those feet. Pads completely shot, gone, but he had the determination/willpower to get home but wasn't going one inch farther. People that call a hound dumb hasn't owned many. And people that will harm them doesn't understand the bond between an owner and one.
I know this dog probably got somewhere he probably wasn't welcome. But I talked to no less than a dozen people in the past 24 hours. It isn't like it was here 20 years ago but most people still are still courteous. Everyone I talked to and showed them his picture and left my number said they would either catch him and call me or call me if they saw him. I also had a post on FB about him and it was shared by many folks that I didn't know and there were comments saying they would contact me if he was seen.