Everything sublime is as difficult as it is rare. Baruch Spinoza

Sunday, March 15, 2009

The Hunt For Tri-Colored Howard


Did you ever walk into a room and forget why you walked in?  I think that is how dogs spend their lives.  ~Sue Murphy
I had a nice afternoon planned. I was having lunch with a friend and then was on my way to meet another friend to watch a dressage demonstration. We did have a nice lunch and I was about to leave for the barn I was to meet my friend at, when Mark called to tell me my Basset had broken his rope and had been gone for over an hour. Mark had been looking for him during that time and he was worried and needed me home. I was a half hour away and it was a very long half hour.

Basset Hounds are scent hounds. They have a highly developed sense of smell, they put their nose to the ground and go. They don't listen, they just smell. He could have been anywhere.

I found him almost as soon as I got home. Mark had just come up the road I found him on, but he had been in the field of tall grass and wasn't visible. I turned the corned as he emerged from the field. Of course, when I called him, he just looked at me. So relief mixed very quickly with irritation. You know how it is, I'm so glad to see you I could kill you! Then he wouldn't get into the Jeep and he is like moving a bag of wet cement. We had quite the tango going on for a few minutes, but he finally decided to see it my way.

He's home, he's OK and he is very tired from his stressful ordeal. I feel like I have been rung through the ringer. My pleasant day turned into a mess. I don't seem to be able to leave home.

My first job tomorrow will be to call the Invisible Fence company out to fix the break in the wire. The other dogs stay on the property, so when the fence stopped working I sort of ignored it. When it's up and running again Howard won't be able to leave the property, so his breakouts can only result in getting stomped by a horse, but not run over by a car. Or, eaten by a coyote.

Basset Hounds are not for the faint of heart. 

8 comments:

Just Jules said...

I love the comparison - him and a wet bag of cement - so true! Glad he is back. Our pom took off without me knowing and the neighbor lady brought him back. He was 1 mile down the county road heading toward the Highway!!!!!!! Urrrrrrr so frustrating and scary.

EveryoneThinksThey'reGoodDrivers said...

I'm so glad that turned out well and you were able to find him so soon!

Naughty Howard!!!

Cat Trapping: Part One is up.

Sandra said...

It is an awful feeling. I really thought he was gone for good, since he'd been missing for so long.

He is like a bag of wet cement. If he isn't willing, you aren't moving him!

Sandra said...

Oops, good luck with the cat traps. Wear your safari clothes. : )

Britwife said...

Oh, isn't that scary?
Our puppy ran off last summer. He was waaaaay back on the fenceline by the woods...you couldn't even see him. We walked the roads and scoured the fields. I was so mad when we got him back! But happy too.
Glad to see Howard (I love that name!) is back home on the rug!

Sandra said...

It's one of the worst feelings in the world.

Jean L. said...

I would be a basket case if Malcolm turned up missing. Of course, he is generally tied to my apron strings!

You have had WAY to much dog drama in these past months, Sandra. I can only imagine the anxiety.

Sandra said...

Howard is a trial. Gracie isn't so well, so it's not over. I don't think Malcolm could get far enough away from you for him to get lost.