The Hot Zone was red hot this morning

The first really positive news in 6 weeks - black lab running around fields at the Barton end of the Green Lane (the same old place) this morning - reported by Jane who owns 7 border collies, has seen him more times than anyone else (from her house), and has a bitch on heat at the moment. He came sniffing up to the fence where the bitch is. Although Sky is neutered, the experts say that he will still be semi-interested in a bitch on heat.
Ffion scrambled from work yet again. No sign.
On arriving there (me, Geoff from down our road, Pete from along that bit of lane and Ann the dog warden) we discover Andy the farmer who'd seen him twice this morning - once when he was on horseback and described him as timid, running for cover by the hedge, and running off as soon as he saw him. Then a while later when Andy was putting fertiliser on the field with his tractor, saw the same dog in the same place running around. Nearby was a council worker doing something with the road who'd also seen him running around.
The description was medium build, and not close enough to see a scar on the back (or not). The council worker thought he had something blue around his neck but neither Jane nor Andy saw this. We know from experience how unreliable collars etc are, so that didn't get us down too much.
Ann stayed out all afternoon and called upon 2 dog wardens from neighbouring boroughs who have no responsibility to this area but have the bit between their teeth! They also stayed out all afternoon, for which we are very grateful.
Meanwhile Pete and Bren's bananas in the dog bowl have disappeared for 6 nights on the trot.
So putative plans are:
1. Get a motion sensored camera up on the bowl to see what's eating the food (we captured a badger there before, but it always left the banana). If it's a black lab, we can try night after night enticing him towards the house / their dog kennel / a trap.
2. Take Jane's bitch out for a walk to do some scenting in the area - Ffion will do this tomorrow afternoon
3. Patrol the area some more. Ann and the other 2 wardens can do this on Wednesday, aided and abetted by Pat our housekeeper who has Ben, who was a friend of Sky's. Ben can do some tacking and scenting
4. Consider "flushing out" the area with 10+ people lined up, walking the 2 miles almost in a line, including the various copses. High risk strategy - may frighten him off. Probably won't catch up. However may mean that with binoculars we can confirm if it really is him.
This is all very encouraging, yet exhasting. With Tim working till 10pm tonight I rang Jon & Shelley (with missing Bracco Jacob) for mutual therapy. Their saga is dragging on, for the possible "man with Jacob" in an area an hour from their home. I think we all felt better after a chat!
I also had a lovely email from someone who's friend's dog has just turned up in very similar circumstances, having gone missing 7th Jan. I have emailed her back to ask permission to publish it for you all to read and be cheered up by. I am awaiting a reply.
All for now!
Ffion