Thanks everyone!!!! Happily, he made it 6 doors down and a sweet neighbor found him and took him to her vets to board for a couple of days until she could make arrangements for foster care in case she couldn't find the owner. She saw my Craigslist ad and called me yesterday. The wonderful vet office even opened their doors for me so that I could get my boy home. I had not met this neighbor yet, but I thought it was so sweet and wonderful. I am going to make a donation in her name to a rescue since she refused any type of reward. I think I will bake her some cookies this weekend and leave them on her doorstep. She has 2 dogs of her own, and one is very aggressive towards stranger dogs, but I think I will get some dog treats and leave them all a big old thank you basket. THIS neighbor will definately be getting free eggs when the hens start laying. I am just so relieved and happy to have my sweet Smudge home. Thanks for all the prayers and kind thoughts. Oh.. and DH is out of the accidental doghouse.
I think that about sums up my reaction! I'm so glad Smudge is home and safe. Yes, that neighbor deserves a HUGE basket of goodies and free eggs for life!!!
Two weeks ago our golden retriever decided to breech the 'Invisible Fence' and go walk about. My wife was outside with her but never saw Dani leave. She is micro chipped, but had no identification on her 'fence' collar. I called neighbors, animal control and the police. We shut off the fence and after scouring the neighborhood just sat and waited. 5 hours later our non street savvy girl returned with a guilty look on her face. I know your feeling of panic and desperation and am so glad that Smudge returned.
Oh man, I can definitely relate. Back when I was in high school, my elder sister was dawdling so I left for school without her. Well, she forgot to close the door of the house behind her. Needless to say, both our dogs were GONE. It was also the very start of deer hunting season. And one of the two, a tan lab mix, had a bright white end to her tail. Plus it snowed while we were at school, so any tracks that might've helped us were gone. I was terrified for our pups, I borrowed the neighbor's 4 wheeler and tore through every inch of woods and neighborhoods nearby. Thankfully, it was a happy ending. Emma, the tan lab, came back on her own that evening. Though she had a leg wound that, despite vet care, resulted in chronic pain and a limp. The other dog, a doofy black lab mix named Noah, was found a few neighborhoods over playing with someone's dogs, unharmed.