No food gone overnight and the trap is still undisturbed (it is the camera that is at an angle not the trap). We set the alarm to get up and look at the computer through the night, so are rather tired today. However as it was two weeks between recent sightings we will just have to be patient.
We have been trying to put a pattern to the sightings of Green Lane Black Labrador. They have mainly been early afternoon, weekdays. We have also realised that NONE of the sightings has come from a person on foot - they have all been on a horse, in a tractor, driving a car or looking out of a house window. It may be that people on foot cannot see over the hedges, but it also may be that he is so frightened that he hides away whenever he hears anyone coming.
It is still well worth looking out for him while you are walking, but it is probably best to look at the bottom of hedges in the middle distance. From the footprints in the snow we saw that he was either in the woods or sticking very close to the hedge bottoms, hardly ever going out into an open field.
From Sue at the excellent doglost.co.uk we understand that dogs often move in a triangle. I wish we knew the other places that Green Lane Black Labrador is moving to. We are now asking people to walk more in the surrounding areas than in the Green Lane itself, as it might be better for the Green Lane 'hot zone' to be quiet.
Pete has had the brilliant idea of asking friends or relatives in different time zones to look at the webcam through our night (and phone us if the trap has been activated). This is a wonderful alternative to us setting the 3am alarm again. So tonight our trap in Leicestershire is being observed from Australia, America and New Zealand! The hunt for Sky has gone international!!
I have driven round the area from the A447 to Odstone then to Newton Burgoland, Shackerstone, Congerstone, Barton in the Beans, Carlton, Bufton Lane and Barton lane and finally Osbaton Lane and back through Bosworth. Nothing. I walked the field and footpath area between Carlton and Barton in the Beans for over an hour and saw nothing. I was looking into the distance but also in the hedges down low as many do offer a degree of shelter from the elements and there are many 'run through tracks' made by foxes, rabbits and such like which provide grass tunnels.
ReplyDeleteIts interesting that you have noted that all the sightings have been from higher vantage points. It would seem plausible that a frightened dog would keep to perimeter hedges and stay away from open areas.
Have you other pet dogs whose smell Sky might recognise? Would he be able to smell your horse if you rode in the area? I'm sure you have thought of all these things though. Would it be worth (if you haven't tried this already) having a get together with all your friends and neighbours to do a bit a 'blue sky', 'out of the box' thinking. Just every so often, something obvious gets overlooked because everyone is thinking along the same lines or with the same perceptual filters.
Whatever you do, keep hoping, Rachel
Brilliant idea & v impressed to see the blog and the next phase of your campaign with the cam and trap. We are all rooting for you and Sky
ReplyDeleteWow Really impressed with the 'military operations' going on here. Re the trap-we recently trapped Bubbles also on doglost with a leg of roast lamb tied to the wire-previously she had managed to eat the food without setting the trap but she had to tug at this....just a thought if he starts taking the bait. Another one to add to my prayers tonight!! Marilyn
ReplyDeleteOur thoughts are with you and we wish Sky a safe return. As the 'mother' of five labradors myself, aged between 1 year and 12 years, I appreciate they are like your children and can imagine what you are going through. We run a small k9 rescue here in South Yorkshire, and will contact all the local pounds and rescues, and local vets, just in case Sky is in this area Hope for some good news soon.
ReplyDelete