I'm sitting here with the central heating on and a jumper on, thinking that this break in the weather isn't going to tempt 7 tentfuls of holidaymakers into barbecuing outdoors, is it? Patience, Ffion, patience!
The CCTV footage of Copse No.3 is reviewed and there's no sign of Sky. :-(
The food hasn't been going so tonight I took the bowl away.
Yesterday at work I noticed that a blind patient had just arrived with a black labrador guide dog. I asked if I could make a fuss of the dog and was allowed to. The dog was soon putty in my hands, ears right down submissively, tail wagging, paw on my forearm. I was deliriously happy for a minute then thought it was a bit unprofessional to continue for much longer, with a heaving waiting room and people in the resus room needing me, so thanked the owner and started to walk away and BUMPHHHHH it hit me like a wall.
There was something about refocussing and walking away from that dog which made me fill up with tears and have to find an empty cubicle to hide in for 10 mins. Boy, that caught Mrs SuperEfficient SuperCool by surprise.
So what next? Tim thinks we should walk the public footpath from us to the farm with the tents, to lay scent, as many evenings as we can manage just in case Delinquent Dog notices, and has a vague memory of big bowlsful of food, lots of love and something called HOME.
Walking boots on............... forward march.
Tuesday, 28 April 2009
Saturday, 25 April 2009
Feels like a step forward
I had a lovely BBQ of sausages and bacon yesterday at 2pm chez John and Sharon Earp, looking at beautiful views, sitting in front of one of their lovely safari tents (they have a fantastic website www.osbastonhousefarm.co.uk where you'll be able to figure out exactly where I was), listening to the chickens clucking, and bordering on open fields which lead down to the Lount brook - site of a few sightings. Between there and where I was were a couple of copses, nice lake, plenty of hedges where my lovely bacony smell was wafting - you can see where I'm leading with this - and it all made sense. If it was Sky on Tuesday, there's a buffet on his doorstep, with plenty of places to skulk while he builds confidence.
OK let's look at this rationally and not get carried away.
Against the fact this is Sky:
The lady who rang would have had to look downhill at him - surely she'd have seen some evidence of a scar? Or maybe it really has covered over?
Digger, the black lab in the farm nextdoor, does wander. He doesn't have a collar (but the lady sounded less sure about collar status) and is larger than Sky, but his owner Monique would still describe him as small.
If mystery black lab is Sky and he's living wild, it does stretch the imagination that sightings are so infrequent.
On the other hand:
Digger is very friendly and Monique and Sharon both (independently) said he'd be more likely to run up and make himself at home in the tent than run away.
Monique's husband was shifting a lot of earth last Tuesday and she thinks the dogs were kept in a lot of the day.
People have only recently started staying in the tents and cooking and leaving things outside (foody things and dogs) so this is a new phase, and will last all summer.
From that POV it means loads more opportunities to come. Even if it's a lot noisier and busier there will be times (eg dusk) when Mr I Love Licking Barbecues Normally won't be able to resist, when the people quieten down. So we will have 7 sets of people doing what Tim and I couldn't have done full time.
So:
I did a poster for every tent, describing Sky physically, with 2 photos. I explained the behavioural aspects and gave enough of the story to make it interesting, and a talking point for children (I hope). John & Sharon are happy to include this in the visitors' room information.
Even if nothing comes of it, it probably helps us conclude that there isn't a Sky out there, which from the psychological POV right now, still helps us move on.
Not to put all eggs in one basket we are continuing the feeding station at Copse No.3 but have moved the bowl as the mice were getting fat and might die from a heart attack soon.
We also eagerly await the results of the CCTV footage (Monday I hope).
We are also thinking of sending an email for forwarding, to all friends, chain-style, just in case he's somewhere else and all this Green Lane business is a false lead. Apologies if you receive it and don't like that sort of thing, but with good will, it could reach many parts of the UK. We will of course include missing Jacob, whose owners Jon & Shelley are going through the same torments as us www.missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com
OK let's look at this rationally and not get carried away.
Against the fact this is Sky:
The lady who rang would have had to look downhill at him - surely she'd have seen some evidence of a scar? Or maybe it really has covered over?
Digger, the black lab in the farm nextdoor, does wander. He doesn't have a collar (but the lady sounded less sure about collar status) and is larger than Sky, but his owner Monique would still describe him as small.
If mystery black lab is Sky and he's living wild, it does stretch the imagination that sightings are so infrequent.
On the other hand:
Digger is very friendly and Monique and Sharon both (independently) said he'd be more likely to run up and make himself at home in the tent than run away.
Monique's husband was shifting a lot of earth last Tuesday and she thinks the dogs were kept in a lot of the day.
People have only recently started staying in the tents and cooking and leaving things outside (foody things and dogs) so this is a new phase, and will last all summer.
From that POV it means loads more opportunities to come. Even if it's a lot noisier and busier there will be times (eg dusk) when Mr I Love Licking Barbecues Normally won't be able to resist, when the people quieten down. So we will have 7 sets of people doing what Tim and I couldn't have done full time.
So:
I did a poster for every tent, describing Sky physically, with 2 photos. I explained the behavioural aspects and gave enough of the story to make it interesting, and a talking point for children (I hope). John & Sharon are happy to include this in the visitors' room information.
Even if nothing comes of it, it probably helps us conclude that there isn't a Sky out there, which from the psychological POV right now, still helps us move on.
Not to put all eggs in one basket we are continuing the feeding station at Copse No.3 but have moved the bowl as the mice were getting fat and might die from a heart attack soon.
We also eagerly await the results of the CCTV footage (Monday I hope).
We are also thinking of sending an email for forwarding, to all friends, chain-style, just in case he's somewhere else and all this Green Lane business is a false lead. Apologies if you receive it and don't like that sort of thing, but with good will, it could reach many parts of the UK. We will of course include missing Jacob, whose owners Jon & Shelley are going through the same torments as us www.missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Trying not to get over-excited...!
Dear Bloggers - an important phone call happened at lunchtime today. I'm waiting to hear from a neighbouring farm that it wasn't their black labrador, but I don't think so because I know theirs is a big dog, sooooooo:
Lady is here on holiday with family, staying at Osbaston House Farm, just up the slope from the Lount (site of a couple of previous sightings). Staying in a tent. Saw a black Labrador lunchtime (it always is that time of day isn't it?) on Tuesday.
She didn't know there was one missing but asked a couple of the farm hands if it belonged to the farm and was told no. Didn't think any more of it until she saw one of our posters in Market Bosworth today. As it happens John & Sharon Earp who are lovely people who own the farm have one of our posters on the side of their barn right on the road !!!! (the lady hadn't seen this).
The story went like this:
The lady was in the tent talking with her husband and they had been cooking some food. So nice smells would have been emanating, on this warm, sunny, still day.
Her Alsatian / Border collie X (Sky's favourite breed strikes again) was asleep in the sunshine outside.
She goes outside and sees a black Lab sniffing her dog. Thinks - oh dear if he wakes up and finds a nose in his face he may not be happy. She looks at the Lab, he looks at her, he trots off, her other dog (lurcher) goes after him, he then bolts into the distance. Asks a couple of people, who can't identify the dog, and thinks "oh well" - until she saw the poster today.
On direct questioning yes, there may have been a tag dangling from a collar (?)
He was small (:-)) and didn't look malnourished (:-)) and she wouldn't have thought he looked like a stray.
She was 15-20 feet away but didn't notice a scar (:-()
So if this isn't the farm dog from the nextdoor farm (have left a msg on their ansafone) then:
1. There's a recent sighting, after 2 and a half weeks' silence
2. It fits the pattern and geography
3. That's the closest he's ever got to home - if you're interested in the geography search Google maps for Lount Road CV13, and zoom out a level. You will see Osbaston (us) and you'll see the relationship to the Green Lane which is the single track road just to the right of Barton in the Beans, heading north. Osbaston House Farm is close to the A447 end of Lount Road.
4. Most importantly - he was attracted by either the food smells or the dog or both, and the lady looked at him and he didn't immediately bolt. This is how we're going to eventually get our little boy - he develops more confidence, and someone reacts calmly, and perhaps he'll come to them in due course???!!!
Yes, you can tell I'm getting over-excited. Tim's giving me that look of - "don't! You know you'll be right back down again soon"
Anyway in the meantime John and Sharon are happy for me to do bacon and sausages on one of those cheap foil / charcoal barbecue things tomorrow at 1pm in the same location.
In the interim the Copse No.3 food was eaten in part this evening - tripe sticks and banana remaining (nibbled) but meat and biscuit gone, so very much looking like Mr Mousey. However given that the last 2 times everything went, we've installed the camera to help us.
Phew! Time for a glass of wine to stop my mind racing and get me to sleep.
Lady is here on holiday with family, staying at Osbaston House Farm, just up the slope from the Lount (site of a couple of previous sightings). Staying in a tent. Saw a black Labrador lunchtime (it always is that time of day isn't it?) on Tuesday.
She didn't know there was one missing but asked a couple of the farm hands if it belonged to the farm and was told no. Didn't think any more of it until she saw one of our posters in Market Bosworth today. As it happens John & Sharon Earp who are lovely people who own the farm have one of our posters on the side of their barn right on the road !!!! (the lady hadn't seen this).
The story went like this:
The lady was in the tent talking with her husband and they had been cooking some food. So nice smells would have been emanating, on this warm, sunny, still day.
Her Alsatian / Border collie X (Sky's favourite breed strikes again) was asleep in the sunshine outside.
She goes outside and sees a black Lab sniffing her dog. Thinks - oh dear if he wakes up and finds a nose in his face he may not be happy. She looks at the Lab, he looks at her, he trots off, her other dog (lurcher) goes after him, he then bolts into the distance. Asks a couple of people, who can't identify the dog, and thinks "oh well" - until she saw the poster today.
On direct questioning yes, there may have been a tag dangling from a collar (?)
He was small (:-)) and didn't look malnourished (:-)) and she wouldn't have thought he looked like a stray.
She was 15-20 feet away but didn't notice a scar (:-()
So if this isn't the farm dog from the nextdoor farm (have left a msg on their ansafone) then:
1. There's a recent sighting, after 2 and a half weeks' silence
2. It fits the pattern and geography
3. That's the closest he's ever got to home - if you're interested in the geography search Google maps for Lount Road CV13, and zoom out a level. You will see Osbaston (us) and you'll see the relationship to the Green Lane which is the single track road just to the right of Barton in the Beans, heading north. Osbaston House Farm is close to the A447 end of Lount Road.
4. Most importantly - he was attracted by either the food smells or the dog or both, and the lady looked at him and he didn't immediately bolt. This is how we're going to eventually get our little boy - he develops more confidence, and someone reacts calmly, and perhaps he'll come to them in due course???!!!
Yes, you can tell I'm getting over-excited. Tim's giving me that look of - "don't! You know you'll be right back down again soon"
Anyway in the meantime John and Sharon are happy for me to do bacon and sausages on one of those cheap foil / charcoal barbecue things tomorrow at 1pm in the same location.
In the interim the Copse No.3 food was eaten in part this evening - tripe sticks and banana remaining (nibbled) but meat and biscuit gone, so very much looking like Mr Mousey. However given that the last 2 times everything went, we've installed the camera to help us.
Phew! Time for a glass of wine to stop my mind racing and get me to sleep.
Back for seconds
Another emptied bowl yesterday - tripe sticks as well. That had happened overnight, as I discovered by going out in the morning instead of the evening. I replaced the whole bowl and contents and added a banana. Last night nothing touched. Am grounded this morning as my cheeky Jeepy is in for fixing possible Sky-search related damage (it was a tough winter doing a lot of off roading). Will check status later.
Maybe it's time to reinstate the camera.
Forecast good through to Sat morning then unsettled for the weekend.
Neither Ffions or cameras do well out in the wet so we need a Coats Case Conference this evening.....
Maybe it's time to reinstate the camera.
Forecast good through to Sat morning then unsettled for the weekend.
Neither Ffions or cameras do well out in the wet so we need a Coats Case Conference this evening.....
Tuesday, 21 April 2009
A Dog and Mouse Game
Not much to report really.
Michelle is apparently on annual leave so we are unlikely to get a verdict from the CCTV footage until next Monday. SIGHHHHH...............
Tonight the food bowl had been emptied however, including the tripe stick. Well there was a little bit of Pedigree gubbins at the bottom. I'd put quite a lot of meat and biscuit in. There were mouse droppings around but they could never shift a tripe stick - these are quite big. My trainer was in the same position.
As I drew up in my Cheeky Jeepy Pete and Bren, as usual, were kindly keeping an eye out with binoculars, and thought they saw something black, fleetingly, in front of the hedge in Big Field no.1. However there are an awful lot of black crows around, which catch all the Sky Spotters out, incessantly, much to our annoyance.
I hung around a bit but there were 2 dog walkers and 3 horse riders around so I figured that if he was going to try to slip away along a hedge I'd have seen him. However he had been heading in the direction of the large copse off Green Lane, so could easily have laid low there.
Thanks to Rachel for offering to "sleep out". A very generous offer. I've thought about this and the weather is great at the moment. I think the scent is important so there's only really any point in me and Tim being there. Tim's in Brighton for the annual conference of our College of Emergency Medicine, back tomorrow night. Maybe we'll camp out Thurs or Fri evening, especially if the food keeps going.
Michelle is apparently on annual leave so we are unlikely to get a verdict from the CCTV footage until next Monday. SIGHHHHH...............
Tonight the food bowl had been emptied however, including the tripe stick. Well there was a little bit of Pedigree gubbins at the bottom. I'd put quite a lot of meat and biscuit in. There were mouse droppings around but they could never shift a tripe stick - these are quite big. My trainer was in the same position.
As I drew up in my Cheeky Jeepy Pete and Bren, as usual, were kindly keeping an eye out with binoculars, and thought they saw something black, fleetingly, in front of the hedge in Big Field no.1. However there are an awful lot of black crows around, which catch all the Sky Spotters out, incessantly, much to our annoyance.
I hung around a bit but there were 2 dog walkers and 3 horse riders around so I figured that if he was going to try to slip away along a hedge I'd have seen him. However he had been heading in the direction of the large copse off Green Lane, so could easily have laid low there.
Thanks to Rachel for offering to "sleep out". A very generous offer. I've thought about this and the weather is great at the moment. I think the scent is important so there's only really any point in me and Tim being there. Tim's in Brighton for the annual conference of our College of Emergency Medicine, back tomorrow night. Maybe we'll camp out Thurs or Fri evening, especially if the food keeps going.
Saturday, 18 April 2009
waiting for news
Sorry Sky followers - going through CCTV footage takes ages so we haven't heard back from Michelle, the dog warden, with a result of 5 days' filming. As she collected the camera from the house with a view to Copse No.3 on Wednesday apparently a neighbour had seen a black labrador Saturday lunchtime. We are desperate to know more information.
I wish people would realise that things like that are worth a phone call. I could have been out there in 10 minutes with the binoculars. Aaagghhh!
Last night most of the dog meat and biscuit had gone from the bowl there, but it wasn't licked clean, and I've never known our Sky leave a micro-particle of food behind. With the rain, our scent (trainer and rag) would have been diluted and Tim saw a fox make a fast exit as I approached so most likely Mr Foxy had a nice dinner. It's amazing how fresh human scent keeps them off.
The other day Casey my niece asked if we fed Sky rabbit. I said it was one of the 4 flavours of Pedigree pouches he used to have. She thought this was a good thing, as he'd have the taste for it and the copse is next to a big rabbit warren. Very astute, I thought!
This morning I'm wearing the left trainer to swap it for the right trainer. Not so sure I'll wear the right one again, hmmm. And there's a rag in our bed which I'll take with me. I think I'll add the infamous tripe sticks to the bowl, as no creatures seem to like those. We don't know that Sky would but the dog wardens swear by them!
I wish people would realise that things like that are worth a phone call. I could have been out there in 10 minutes with the binoculars. Aaagghhh!
Last night most of the dog meat and biscuit had gone from the bowl there, but it wasn't licked clean, and I've never known our Sky leave a micro-particle of food behind. With the rain, our scent (trainer and rag) would have been diluted and Tim saw a fox make a fast exit as I approached so most likely Mr Foxy had a nice dinner. It's amazing how fresh human scent keeps them off.
The other day Casey my niece asked if we fed Sky rabbit. I said it was one of the 4 flavours of Pedigree pouches he used to have. She thought this was a good thing, as he'd have the taste for it and the copse is next to a big rabbit warren. Very astute, I thought!
This morning I'm wearing the left trainer to swap it for the right trainer. Not so sure I'll wear the right one again, hmmm. And there's a rag in our bed which I'll take with me. I think I'll add the infamous tripe sticks to the bowl, as no creatures seem to like those. We don't know that Sky would but the dog wardens swear by them!
Tuesday, 14 April 2009
rats!
Sorry for the silence - been a busy bank holiday at work for both of us.
Outside of that we had Tim's brother, wife and our 2 nieces to stay for 5 days, and shared some tears for our missing Sky, who normally joins in the fun with such vigour.
I took Casey and Sophie with me to check on the bowl we've been leaving in Copse No.3. None of it has gone. I also left an old trainer of mine on the basis that if we ever left him on his own (rare because he hated it) he'd hoard any of my shoes that he could find into his basket with him, for comfort, therefore might find it and at least move it - ideally to show us where he's sleeping.
Did we scare him off last Wednesday? Even if we did he'll surely come back, as we know we have these periods of quiet then there he is again at the bottom of the Green Lane.
We so wish we knew for definite it isn't a local dog. Then we think - it's a small village, everyone knows about Sky, someone would say "that'll be so-and-so's dog".
Tomorrow we'll hopefully hear from Michelle, one of the dog wardens, who's had a camera in the back upstairs window of Beryl's house, overlooking Copse No.3.
I offered Shelley I'd buy a chaise longue, to double up as a psychiatrist's chair. You'll see we'd both welcome any recommendations for a good shrink.......
Outside of that we had Tim's brother, wife and our 2 nieces to stay for 5 days, and shared some tears for our missing Sky, who normally joins in the fun with such vigour.
I took Casey and Sophie with me to check on the bowl we've been leaving in Copse No.3. None of it has gone. I also left an old trainer of mine on the basis that if we ever left him on his own (rare because he hated it) he'd hoard any of my shoes that he could find into his basket with him, for comfort, therefore might find it and at least move it - ideally to show us where he's sleeping.
Did we scare him off last Wednesday? Even if we did he'll surely come back, as we know we have these periods of quiet then there he is again at the bottom of the Green Lane.
We so wish we knew for definite it isn't a local dog. Then we think - it's a small village, everyone knows about Sky, someone would say "that'll be so-and-so's dog".
Tomorrow we'll hopefully hear from Michelle, one of the dog wardens, who's had a camera in the back upstairs window of Beryl's house, overlooking Copse No.3.
On the bananas front - we caught Mr Rat red handed on camera. The mice were co-conspirators, but Mr Rat can shift a bowlful! We've taken the camera down from Pete & Bren's, but they now assist us in keeping watch with the binoculars when we go to do bowl duty each evening - just in case of another Houdini Hedge moment.
Talking of bananas, if you've read Jacob's blog today (see posts below for link) you will see how losing a dog takes its toll. I recognise the full gamut of their emotions. Like Jon & Shelley we go over old ground, in case there was a clue we overlooked at the time. Like them, we have strange dreams about our little boy, and feel Jekyll and Hyde when we crave a bit of quiet time and normality, then hate it when it happens because we feel we're not making any progress.I offered Shelley I'd buy a chaise longue, to double up as a psychiatrist's chair. You'll see we'd both welcome any recommendations for a good shrink.......
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
So near yet still so far...
Well, we think we made progress, but sadly we still don't have Sky safe and sound at home.
We all met as planned, had a strategy meeting, and planned to cover 3 copses, most of us on foot and a few "Meerkats" in cars and upstairs windows (Pete & Bren - by the way just biscuits gone last night at their place - I'm off to check the footage shortly).
Michelle, the Blaby dog warden, has set up a CCTV in a house overlooking the Lount (thanks to Jane who lives there with her 7 collies) and at 4pm Saturday a dark dog or larger than dog sized thing came out from the brook into the field and went back under cover. That was all she could find over a 4 day period. She showed us the photo. Could it be??
So off we set.
We were armed with mobile phones and a few walkie talkies, and Tim was "HQ on legs". Thank you so much to everyone who helped, especially Vivienne who had heard of our blog via postings on other sites, discovered she lives very hear, and asked if she could join us. So from 10.45 this is how it went:
Copse no.1 revealed a fox, who scarpered. Squiggly the trained retriever gun dog was having a great time running through mud and thick undergrowth. Ziggy the spaniel joined in.
Copse no.2 revealed another fox and a muntjac deer.
We regrouped at the bottom of the infamous Green Lane and went up to Copse no.3. This is thick, quite large, has a nice lake, plenty of cosy den areas and is only 50m from the Green Lane, in the area of all the sightings. Dog walkers don't usually go this route yet we saw lots of pawprints in the mud and 2 dog poos.
As we were 2/3 along Ffion looked back to the Green L to check that Rachel and Gail had eyes trained on us and saw the silhouette of a labrador sized dog with flappy labradory ears running on the brow of the hill where the GL sits in a dip between high hedges. Initially Bird Brain Ffion thought "oh look there's a dog going up the lane" then 2 seconds later went "duhhhh!!!!!" and to cut a long story short we missed it. Sam, aged 12, with Ffion, also saw it so it's not just her hallucinating. No-one was seen walking a dog till 20 mins later. Fresh prints in the on the lane looked like the right sized dog, clearly running, doing a rapid U-turn just below where Rachel and Gail were about to arrive and going backwards, in the dip of the lane. A random car drove up and had seen nothing, but from where Ffion and Sam saw him he'd have been on the other side of the hedge at that point. Bren saw a fox scarper through her binoculars.
We never accounted for this dog, and the lay of the land was such that it could have run from the copse, along a ditch where Tim and I couldn't see, arriving at exactly the point he was seen last Monday, and following the same route. There are a lot of ditches and hedges around!!
As no-one had seen him going off in another direction we went back and did the copse again in case he'd returned, but nothing there.
We covered another nearby copse just in case, but no luck.
We were tired and hungry by then and retreated Chez Coats for pizzas.
Part of us is going AAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHHHHHH!! Perhaps more of us would have had him surrounded and we should have had a bigger team?
Part of us thinks - this must be him and he must have this copse as his no.1 spot. It's as far away from people and traffic as you can get, with plenty of cover. Knowing this is MAJOR progress.
So many thoughts were postulated over pizza, too many to float here (but if there's anyone reading this who's been in this situation please do call us on the numbers at the top of the blog to give us your experience). The upshot of which are:
We will try tinkling the dog biscuit in his metal bowl, hoping this is hardwired in his head, then leaving the bowl under natural cover and walking away. Do this for a few days at the same time of day and see what happens.
Install the CCTV in a house overlooking this copse - there are 4 or 5 houses, all know about Sky, and I am just off to see if one of them doesn't mind. We think there's a section down in a dip that won't be visible but who's to say he always goes in a straight line.
Consider lying there in an evening one night next week in sleeping bags, just me and Tim, very quiet, to see if he'll pick up our scent and come to us.
We need patience at this stage and need to remind ourselves that the weather is better, he's surviving fine, and best not to rush it after 4 months of hoping to get to this point, and risk scaring him away.
Ffion is not known for her patience, but is 42 next week and agrees that she's old enough, that she should try harder!
We all met as planned, had a strategy meeting, and planned to cover 3 copses, most of us on foot and a few "Meerkats" in cars and upstairs windows (Pete & Bren - by the way just biscuits gone last night at their place - I'm off to check the footage shortly).
Michelle, the Blaby dog warden, has set up a CCTV in a house overlooking the Lount (thanks to Jane who lives there with her 7 collies) and at 4pm Saturday a dark dog or larger than dog sized thing came out from the brook into the field and went back under cover. That was all she could find over a 4 day period. She showed us the photo. Could it be??
So off we set.
We were armed with mobile phones and a few walkie talkies, and Tim was "HQ on legs". Thank you so much to everyone who helped, especially Vivienne who had heard of our blog via postings on other sites, discovered she lives very hear, and asked if she could join us. So from 10.45 this is how it went:
Copse no.1 revealed a fox, who scarpered. Squiggly the trained retriever gun dog was having a great time running through mud and thick undergrowth. Ziggy the spaniel joined in.
Copse no.2 revealed another fox and a muntjac deer.
We regrouped at the bottom of the infamous Green Lane and went up to Copse no.3. This is thick, quite large, has a nice lake, plenty of cosy den areas and is only 50m from the Green Lane, in the area of all the sightings. Dog walkers don't usually go this route yet we saw lots of pawprints in the mud and 2 dog poos.
As we were 2/3 along Ffion looked back to the Green L to check that Rachel and Gail had eyes trained on us and saw the silhouette of a labrador sized dog with flappy labradory ears running on the brow of the hill where the GL sits in a dip between high hedges. Initially Bird Brain Ffion thought "oh look there's a dog going up the lane" then 2 seconds later went "duhhhh!!!!!" and to cut a long story short we missed it. Sam, aged 12, with Ffion, also saw it so it's not just her hallucinating. No-one was seen walking a dog till 20 mins later. Fresh prints in the on the lane looked like the right sized dog, clearly running, doing a rapid U-turn just below where Rachel and Gail were about to arrive and going backwards, in the dip of the lane. A random car drove up and had seen nothing, but from where Ffion and Sam saw him he'd have been on the other side of the hedge at that point. Bren saw a fox scarper through her binoculars.
We never accounted for this dog, and the lay of the land was such that it could have run from the copse, along a ditch where Tim and I couldn't see, arriving at exactly the point he was seen last Monday, and following the same route. There are a lot of ditches and hedges around!!
As no-one had seen him going off in another direction we went back and did the copse again in case he'd returned, but nothing there.
We covered another nearby copse just in case, but no luck.
We were tired and hungry by then and retreated Chez Coats for pizzas.
Part of us is going AAAAAAAAAAAARRRGGHHHHHHH!! Perhaps more of us would have had him surrounded and we should have had a bigger team?
Part of us thinks - this must be him and he must have this copse as his no.1 spot. It's as far away from people and traffic as you can get, with plenty of cover. Knowing this is MAJOR progress.
So many thoughts were postulated over pizza, too many to float here (but if there's anyone reading this who's been in this situation please do call us on the numbers at the top of the blog to give us your experience). The upshot of which are:
We will try tinkling the dog biscuit in his metal bowl, hoping this is hardwired in his head, then leaving the bowl under natural cover and walking away. Do this for a few days at the same time of day and see what happens.
Install the CCTV in a house overlooking this copse - there are 4 or 5 houses, all know about Sky, and I am just off to see if one of them doesn't mind. We think there's a section down in a dip that won't be visible but who's to say he always goes in a straight line.
Consider lying there in an evening one night next week in sleeping bags, just me and Tim, very quiet, to see if he'll pick up our scent and come to us.
We need patience at this stage and need to remind ourselves that the weather is better, he's surviving fine, and best not to rush it after 4 months of hoping to get to this point, and risk scaring him away.
Ffion is not known for her patience, but is 42 next week and agrees that she's old enough, that she should try harder!
Monday, 6 April 2009
Good vibe telepathy
Thanks to those of you who have emailed (it seems the comments boxes on this Google thing is picky about what it lets us post - I have trouble too). You are all willing our boy to decide to be in the Hot Zone on Wednesday morning, and show himself!
I lurked up there this afternoon with my laptop, on a vantage point. We've refreshed the posters in that area to ensure people are aware that things are still happening (to try to avoid last week's situation where it took an hour and a half of him practically tap dancing across the fields before anyone called us!)
As I was driving out to HZ today, I found a scared Jack Russell on the road. Like Jon & Shelley who stopped to entice a lurcher x Saluki the other day, I will never ever drive past a seemingly alone dog again. It only took 5 minutes to hear young girls calling, and return him to them. Jon & Shelley describe people's "don't get involved" attitude excruciatingly on their blog http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/. Maybe people are just too wrapped up in themselves to notice, and just don't think they have a role to play in returning a dog to its owner. It's that sort of thing which meant that when Sky went from sociable to terrified, there was only a small window of opportunity to get hold of him, and we know people saw him and didn't bother. Full marks to J&S for perfectly executing the behaviour we've been taught, to entice a wary dog to safety. He looks very thin on the pictures. Well done you two.
Bananas and other food at Pete & Bren's remain untouched. Food in the kennel at the Lount remains untouched.
I'll check with the wardens tomorrow morning that we're still on for Wednesday and will contact everyone in the Search Party to confirm arrangements. I was getting depressed about the weather changing, but maybe a bit of rain will make him hole up in a copse rather than go wandering, so the dogs can root him out. Fingers and paws crossed...............
I lurked up there this afternoon with my laptop, on a vantage point. We've refreshed the posters in that area to ensure people are aware that things are still happening (to try to avoid last week's situation where it took an hour and a half of him practically tap dancing across the fields before anyone called us!)
As I was driving out to HZ today, I found a scared Jack Russell on the road. Like Jon & Shelley who stopped to entice a lurcher x Saluki the other day, I will never ever drive past a seemingly alone dog again. It only took 5 minutes to hear young girls calling, and return him to them. Jon & Shelley describe people's "don't get involved" attitude excruciatingly on their blog http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/. Maybe people are just too wrapped up in themselves to notice, and just don't think they have a role to play in returning a dog to its owner. It's that sort of thing which meant that when Sky went from sociable to terrified, there was only a small window of opportunity to get hold of him, and we know people saw him and didn't bother. Full marks to J&S for perfectly executing the behaviour we've been taught, to entice a wary dog to safety. He looks very thin on the pictures. Well done you two.
Bananas and other food at Pete & Bren's remain untouched. Food in the kennel at the Lount remains untouched.
I'll check with the wardens tomorrow morning that we're still on for Wednesday and will contact everyone in the Search Party to confirm arrangements. I was getting depressed about the weather changing, but maybe a bit of rain will make him hole up in a copse rather than go wandering, so the dogs can root him out. Fingers and paws crossed...............
Thursday, 2 April 2009
Poised
All quiet on the Western front.
Bananas untouched last night (typical).
Thanks to those who've volunteered for Wed morning next week.
In response to generous "Anonymous" with your comment/question below: at the moment the strategy could change at the last minute so it's probably only fair for us to conscript in local people. We need 12-20 people and have around 15 already. Any more than that would be quite a coordination issue. We (the 3 dog wardens and Tim and I) only have 3 hours available on Wed so with the briefing and the "flush out" plus grabbing lunch before our afternoon commitments we won't cope with a team of more than 20.
Therefore we'd prefer that cross posting to any other dog sites was reserved at the moment just for Sky publicity. After all we don't know that this black lab is a) living wild and not just a local dog (although we've done house to house enquiries and all sightings have been from reliable local sources) and b) that it's Sky. We could, of course, be barking up the wrong tree (no pun intended!) and therefore the wider the publicity the better.
Thanks to all who keep emailing and texting. I'm having a "down" day today (Ffion) but everyone's support is fantastic. I am cheered up by a new creature that won't leave my side at the moment. Mrs Duck has recognised me as a soft touch for food. Mr Duck is always 18 inches behind her. This is the 3rd year they've camped out in our pond by our house at this time of year. It's no substitute for my dog by my side but still brings a smile to my face. As did the sighting, yesterday evening, of a barn owl checking out our nesting box, to rear its young. And great soap opera of Mr and Mrs Kestrel challenging him - they've had their eye on it and used it last year. And yes - I always wanted to be a vet not a doctor, but wasn't bright enough to get 3 A's at A-level!
Bananas untouched last night (typical).
Thanks to those who've volunteered for Wed morning next week.
In response to generous "Anonymous" with your comment/question below: at the moment the strategy could change at the last minute so it's probably only fair for us to conscript in local people. We need 12-20 people and have around 15 already. Any more than that would be quite a coordination issue. We (the 3 dog wardens and Tim and I) only have 3 hours available on Wed so with the briefing and the "flush out" plus grabbing lunch before our afternoon commitments we won't cope with a team of more than 20.
Therefore we'd prefer that cross posting to any other dog sites was reserved at the moment just for Sky publicity. After all we don't know that this black lab is a) living wild and not just a local dog (although we've done house to house enquiries and all sightings have been from reliable local sources) and b) that it's Sky. We could, of course, be barking up the wrong tree (no pun intended!) and therefore the wider the publicity the better.
Thanks to all who keep emailing and texting. I'm having a "down" day today (Ffion) but everyone's support is fantastic. I am cheered up by a new creature that won't leave my side at the moment. Mrs Duck has recognised me as a soft touch for food. Mr Duck is always 18 inches behind her. This is the 3rd year they've camped out in our pond by our house at this time of year. It's no substitute for my dog by my side but still brings a smile to my face. As did the sighting, yesterday evening, of a barn owl checking out our nesting box, to rear its young. And great soap opera of Mr and Mrs Kestrel challenging him - they've had their eye on it and used it last year. And yes - I always wanted to be a vet not a doctor, but wasn't bright enough to get 3 A's at A-level!
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Strategy time
Forgive the long blog today: we are motivated by 2 stories. One of Rollo - I'll post it at the end - who has safely been recovered after a 2-month holiday out in the wild. The other of a dog our local dog wardens remember, who they eventually tracked to an area and after a game of patience, "flushed out" of his hiding. There was a breath taking moment when he was about to flee then his owner called his name. Something appeared to "switch" in his head and he came running, as if "mummy, mummy, where've you been?"
You can see where this is leading.
Yesterday no news. Today no news.
Well there's still the mystery of the disappearing bananas from Pete & Bren's so I'll digress for a moment if you will forgive me. After bananas going from a bowl by their gate several nights in a row (except one night when the dog biscuit and meat went and the banana stayed) we set up our motion sensored infra-red camera last night. Result: 4 out of 6 pieces of banana went between 22.05 and 22.20 and the camera picked up a moth and disregarded the banana eater. Aaarghh!
Tim has played with the sensitivity threshold and the field and we'll try again tonight.
Oh and yesterday, Ffion and Tori took Plod, Jane's border collie who is in season and who Black Labrador was sniffing up to on Monday, out for a walk in the area to scent a lot. Ffion is now known as the Collie pimp, and intends to put tinted glass in the Jeep and wear more Bling.
Meanwhile, going back to Monday, Ann our dog warden summonsed Michelle, a neighbouring council's dog warden, and Ollie the out of hours dog warden on Monday and all 3 patiently surveyed the hot zone all afternoon with no success. Thanks to both Ollie and Michelle, who have no contractual reason to help us!
With the bit between their teeth they returned this afternoon. Pat who owns Ben, a friend of Sky's, met Tim and Ben was brought to our house (which he knows), his nose forced into an unwashed blanket of Sky's, and frog-marched out to the hot zone to see if he reacted to any area.
Ollie's dog was given the same treatment, and showed an interest in an area under a fallen tree, which Tim has always thought would make a cosy den.
But basically after an afternoon of patrolling and mulling over the situation. No sign of Sky, but with heads put together there is a strategy planned for next Wed morning.
All volunteers are welcomed for the "flush out Sky from his hidey hole" morning. Lunch will be provided Chez Coats (pizza).
We aim to meet on Lount Lane then disperse, some keeping sentry with binoculars from their cars, and others on foot. We will walk through the area and see if we can disturb him, with the aim being 1) identification and 2) (ideally) getting a Mummy Mummy success.
Tim and Ffion have swapped morning shifts for the evening (which pleased a colleague whose wedding anniversary is that evening).
In the interim, the camera will keep rolling until Banana Eater is snapped.
I can't get excited, because excitement so far has resulted in the equal and opposite force of Disappointment.
And finally, as they say at the end of the news, here's a happy story to end with. Thanks to Dawn Hughes for emailing us.
She heard of Sky's story through doglost.co.uk - which is the best website, and we have made a donation to. Please consider doing so. They have been very supportive to us.
Here it goes:
Hi there, Just wanted to say that I have been following your search for your dog having come across it on dogslost. My dogs brother went missing on 7th Jan 08 having slipped his harness outside his house and he just bolted. To this day we have no idea why! He was super friendly with people and dogs so it remains a mystery. Anyway we put posters up everywhere. He was spotted the same day miles from home. From then on despite hundreds of posters and newspaper articles and searchs we heard nothing! I am sad to say we even began to give up hope. Resigned to the fact he was either involved in a RTA and gone off to die somewhere or even have been stolen out the area. Out the blue last week Helen his owner got an unexpected phonecall!! Rolo had been found and was with a local rescue. He was only traced to her by his microchip!! They had no idea he was a 'lost' dog. Rolo the previously happy go lucky dog had been straying unspotted for over 2 MONTHS. He was skin and bones. A local couple had spotted him roaming (only at night) in some fields behind their home. The dog wardon didnt want to know as he only showed his face out of hours (this is despite the fact they knew of Rolos disappearence and being a blue merle cross who looks like a hyena is highly unique) Perservence on their part, feeding him every night payed off and 2 weeks later they managed to trap him in their home where a local rescue were called!! Cue the phonecall we had all been waiting for!! ROLO was reunited!!! How he remained unseen for so long is a mystery. Why he shyed from humans is a mystery. What ever the reasons he is now home where he deserves!!! He survived the ice, snow and artic temperatures!!! I thought this story may give you hope!! IT ONLY TAKES ONE PHONE~CALL!!!!
You can see where this is leading.
Yesterday no news. Today no news.
Well there's still the mystery of the disappearing bananas from Pete & Bren's so I'll digress for a moment if you will forgive me. After bananas going from a bowl by their gate several nights in a row (except one night when the dog biscuit and meat went and the banana stayed) we set up our motion sensored infra-red camera last night. Result: 4 out of 6 pieces of banana went between 22.05 and 22.20 and the camera picked up a moth and disregarded the banana eater. Aaarghh!
Tim has played with the sensitivity threshold and the field and we'll try again tonight.
Oh and yesterday, Ffion and Tori took Plod, Jane's border collie who is in season and who Black Labrador was sniffing up to on Monday, out for a walk in the area to scent a lot. Ffion is now known as the Collie pimp, and intends to put tinted glass in the Jeep and wear more Bling.
Meanwhile, going back to Monday, Ann our dog warden summonsed Michelle, a neighbouring council's dog warden, and Ollie the out of hours dog warden on Monday and all 3 patiently surveyed the hot zone all afternoon with no success. Thanks to both Ollie and Michelle, who have no contractual reason to help us!
With the bit between their teeth they returned this afternoon. Pat who owns Ben, a friend of Sky's, met Tim and Ben was brought to our house (which he knows), his nose forced into an unwashed blanket of Sky's, and frog-marched out to the hot zone to see if he reacted to any area.
Ollie's dog was given the same treatment, and showed an interest in an area under a fallen tree, which Tim has always thought would make a cosy den.
But basically after an afternoon of patrolling and mulling over the situation. No sign of Sky, but with heads put together there is a strategy planned for next Wed morning.
All volunteers are welcomed for the "flush out Sky from his hidey hole" morning. Lunch will be provided Chez Coats (pizza).
We aim to meet on Lount Lane then disperse, some keeping sentry with binoculars from their cars, and others on foot. We will walk through the area and see if we can disturb him, with the aim being 1) identification and 2) (ideally) getting a Mummy Mummy success.
Tim and Ffion have swapped morning shifts for the evening (which pleased a colleague whose wedding anniversary is that evening).
In the interim, the camera will keep rolling until Banana Eater is snapped.
I can't get excited, because excitement so far has resulted in the equal and opposite force of Disappointment.
And finally, as they say at the end of the news, here's a happy story to end with. Thanks to Dawn Hughes for emailing us.
She heard of Sky's story through doglost.co.uk - which is the best website, and we have made a donation to. Please consider doing so. They have been very supportive to us.
Here it goes:
Hi there, Just wanted to say that I have been following your search for your dog having come across it on dogslost. My dogs brother went missing on 7th Jan 08 having slipped his harness outside his house and he just bolted. To this day we have no idea why! He was super friendly with people and dogs so it remains a mystery. Anyway we put posters up everywhere. He was spotted the same day miles from home. From then on despite hundreds of posters and newspaper articles and searchs we heard nothing! I am sad to say we even began to give up hope. Resigned to the fact he was either involved in a RTA and gone off to die somewhere or even have been stolen out the area. Out the blue last week Helen his owner got an unexpected phonecall!! Rolo had been found and was with a local rescue. He was only traced to her by his microchip!! They had no idea he was a 'lost' dog. Rolo the previously happy go lucky dog had been straying unspotted for over 2 MONTHS. He was skin and bones. A local couple had spotted him roaming (only at night) in some fields behind their home. The dog wardon didnt want to know as he only showed his face out of hours (this is despite the fact they knew of Rolos disappearence and being a blue merle cross who looks like a hyena is highly unique) Perservence on their part, feeding him every night payed off and 2 weeks later they managed to trap him in their home where a local rescue were called!! Cue the phonecall we had all been waiting for!! ROLO was reunited!!! How he remained unseen for so long is a mystery. Why he shyed from humans is a mystery. What ever the reasons he is now home where he deserves!!! He survived the ice, snow and artic temperatures!!! I thought this story may give you hope!! IT ONLY TAKES ONE PHONE~CALL!!!!
Monday, 30 March 2009
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
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
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Groundhog day
We arrived back home in Britain Sunday night after a lovely holiday. It was the total escapism we really needed and we had a lovely time.
We were sad not to be greeted by a big, licky, hairy, black thing jumping all over us though.
Geoff & Angela had done a sterling job manning the phones and logging all events, although calls were few and far between, and not very promising.
Still we felt refreshed, ready in some ways to "move on", spring in the air, resigning ourselves to the idea that we could get a call from a vet or rescue centre at any time to say they'd scanned a microchip and it was Sky.
Yesterday morning we were setting off to work 07.15 and the first call came in - Battram Woods where Sky went several times a week, near the car park. Reliable informant - dog walkers. Ffion said a hurried goodbye to G&A who looked on sympathetically, half wishing (I'm sure) that the call had come in the day before.
Into the Jeep, Satnav on to do handsfree mobile, flyers at the ready, work high heels switched for wellies. Then just as I was pulling into the car park, another call this time from Market Bosworth - a black lab on the loose near the primary school.
Tim set sail - quick goodbye to G&A (!) - but neither of us came up with anything apart from 1 other sighting in Battram, a mile away and too soon after the car park sighting, which Ffion thinks belonged to another dog walker (having accosted several on her rounds).
I felt guilty for my feelings of "oh no, here we go again" and felt like I was betraying my little boy, as we hurried (late) to work where 100s of emails, piles of post and lots of patients would be waiting.
Didn't get home till 8pm - having required 4 coffees and a Red Bull to get through the afternoon's jet lag!
Just now, another call from the same area of Market Bosworth, from yesterday evening. A black labrador cowering on a lady's drive, wouldn't be approached, and described as slight and timid. She didn't recall a scar when she noticed our poster this morning which reminded her about Sky. The dog had no collar - but Sky can wriggle loose of his (deliberately so he doesn't get tangled in things).
So I'm off out again, just before my late shift. The suitcases remain half empty on the floor and the pile of post mostly unopened.
Our thoughts also go out to Jon & Shelley, who are having a difficult time at the moment - more details on their blog
http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/
We were sad not to be greeted by a big, licky, hairy, black thing jumping all over us though.
Geoff & Angela had done a sterling job manning the phones and logging all events, although calls were few and far between, and not very promising.
Still we felt refreshed, ready in some ways to "move on", spring in the air, resigning ourselves to the idea that we could get a call from a vet or rescue centre at any time to say they'd scanned a microchip and it was Sky.
Yesterday morning we were setting off to work 07.15 and the first call came in - Battram Woods where Sky went several times a week, near the car park. Reliable informant - dog walkers. Ffion said a hurried goodbye to G&A who looked on sympathetically, half wishing (I'm sure) that the call had come in the day before.
Into the Jeep, Satnav on to do handsfree mobile, flyers at the ready, work high heels switched for wellies. Then just as I was pulling into the car park, another call this time from Market Bosworth - a black lab on the loose near the primary school.
Tim set sail - quick goodbye to G&A (!) - but neither of us came up with anything apart from 1 other sighting in Battram, a mile away and too soon after the car park sighting, which Ffion thinks belonged to another dog walker (having accosted several on her rounds).
I felt guilty for my feelings of "oh no, here we go again" and felt like I was betraying my little boy, as we hurried (late) to work where 100s of emails, piles of post and lots of patients would be waiting.
Didn't get home till 8pm - having required 4 coffees and a Red Bull to get through the afternoon's jet lag!
Just now, another call from the same area of Market Bosworth, from yesterday evening. A black labrador cowering on a lady's drive, wouldn't be approached, and described as slight and timid. She didn't recall a scar when she noticed our poster this morning which reminded her about Sky. The dog had no collar - but Sky can wriggle loose of his (deliberately so he doesn't get tangled in things).
So I'm off out again, just before my late shift. The suitcases remain half empty on the floor and the pile of post mostly unopened.
Our thoughts also go out to Jon & Shelley, who are having a difficult time at the moment - more details on their blog
http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
A quiet time
Little to report. Geoff and Angela are mannning the control centre, but no new events to report. Feeding stations still untouched and no new sightings to track down. Once home, we might have a another round of general publicity in the weekly newspapers, perhaps covering a wider area, in case Hot Zone dog is leading us up the wrong path.
Our friends who have emigrated here to new Zealand have a collie and a greyhound, so we are getting a good fix of playing on the beach with Fly (their collie, named after Sky, and who was his best friend) and Bella - trouble is I keep calling 'Sky' instead of 'Fly' and making Ffion sad.
Anyway, we were swimming with dolphins yesterday, so Ffion had a great big smile on her face all evening!
Back home on Sunday night.
Our friends who have emigrated here to new Zealand have a collie and a greyhound, so we are getting a good fix of playing on the beach with Fly (their collie, named after Sky, and who was his best friend) and Bella - trouble is I keep calling 'Sky' instead of 'Fly' and making Ffion sad.
Anyway, we were swimming with dolphins yesterday, so Ffion had a great big smile on her face all evening!
Back home on Sunday night.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
3 little factoids
Tim & Ffion here again, logging on for the first time in NZ.
Geoff & Angela, Pete & Bren are doing a sterling job in our absence. 3 things to report:
Black dog with scar on back sighted in/nr Kirkby Mallory. In the end G&A took the photo of Sky showing his scar to show the informant, who said it definitely wasn't Sky.
A caller from Houghton on the Hill, describing a blue collar. Said she'd keep an eye out and call again if another sighting. G&A rightly took the decision to just wait and see on that one (it was pretty vague and many miles away).
Then yesterday 4 black legs seen through a hedge on the edge of Pete & Bren's paddock, by their neighbour, coinciding with their own dogs barking a lot. However there's apparently a black fox in the area, so not sure on that one. P&B are leaving food out anyway but it's not gone so far.
NB to all the local Sky Army:
One thing we forgot to mention just before we left - a person called Roger kindly phoned to say his black lab has just had an operation on its back, and he often walks in the Sutton Wharf area. He had already been accosted several times, poor man, but at least had the common sense to let us know!
That's all for now.
Ffion and Tim
Geoff & Angela, Pete & Bren are doing a sterling job in our absence. 3 things to report:
Black dog with scar on back sighted in/nr Kirkby Mallory. In the end G&A took the photo of Sky showing his scar to show the informant, who said it definitely wasn't Sky.
A caller from Houghton on the Hill, describing a blue collar. Said she'd keep an eye out and call again if another sighting. G&A rightly took the decision to just wait and see on that one (it was pretty vague and many miles away).
Then yesterday 4 black legs seen through a hedge on the edge of Pete & Bren's paddock, by their neighbour, coinciding with their own dogs barking a lot. However there's apparently a black fox in the area, so not sure on that one. P&B are leaving food out anyway but it's not gone so far.
NB to all the local Sky Army:
One thing we forgot to mention just before we left - a person called Roger kindly phoned to say his black lab has just had an operation on its back, and he often walks in the Sutton Wharf area. He had already been accosted several times, poor man, but at least had the common sense to let us know!
That's all for now.
Ffion and Tim
Sunday, 8 March 2009
Hello from Japan
This is Tim and Ffion in Narita airport, Tokyo! We have had no mobile access for 2 days so had to log on to check the blog and say hello Geoff and Angela - we are still alive. We are about to leave for Auckland where the phones should work.
(Note from Tim - the operation to get Ffion onto the plane went well. Only two securuty guards and one stewardess got wounded in the process, so I think that we all got off pretty lightly.)
In Tokyo the only dogs are lap-pooches, so we thought we were safe. However there's a poster up everywhere with a black labrador on it. Tim pointed out that Rachel or Tori must have got here before us ...................
All for now.
Ffion and Tim
(Note from Tim - the operation to get Ffion onto the plane went well. Only two securuty guards and one stewardess got wounded in the process, so I think that we all got off pretty lightly.)
In Tokyo the only dogs are lap-pooches, so we thought we were safe. However there's a poster up everywhere with a black labrador on it. Tim pointed out that Rachel or Tori must have got here before us ...................
All for now.
Ffion and Tim
Wednesday, 4 March 2009
Handing over to Geoff and Angela
OK - time to get a holiday!
We are off in the morning. Geoff and Angela are staying at our house, in case we get any calls.
They have been drilled in the Sky Response! Maps at the ready, checklist of questions for callers, and contact numbers for the Sky Army. All we ask is to keep track of possible sightings, so we can rethink strategy on our return.
We will keep the food fresh in the kennel off the Lount, just to see if we can attract the mystery black labrador back, to stay for a while.
We did in fact have another sighting today - also in the Hot Zone. This time back up near Brook Cottage just north of Odstone. A horse rider (again) saw a black lab going from the disused railway into the maize field, scene of the very first Hot Zone sighting, and 2 others since. This is all about 2 miles from the Lount area (which was a week ago). As ever - running, and too far away to see whether or not it had a scar. Same old story! With sightings as infrequent as this, all we can do is hope the lure of the food will finally work, or some fluke like a farmer catches the dog in an outbuilding.
Fingers and paws crossed!
We will update the blog while we're away, every so often.
Thanks so much to everyone who supports us and reads the blog, and all those who have trundled the countryside by foot or by car. We really appreciate how brilliant everyone has been. Good luck Jon & Shelley - we'll be following your blog while away.
Ffion and Tim
We are off in the morning. Geoff and Angela are staying at our house, in case we get any calls.
They have been drilled in the Sky Response! Maps at the ready, checklist of questions for callers, and contact numbers for the Sky Army. All we ask is to keep track of possible sightings, so we can rethink strategy on our return.
We will keep the food fresh in the kennel off the Lount, just to see if we can attract the mystery black labrador back, to stay for a while.
We did in fact have another sighting today - also in the Hot Zone. This time back up near Brook Cottage just north of Odstone. A horse rider (again) saw a black lab going from the disused railway into the maize field, scene of the very first Hot Zone sighting, and 2 others since. This is all about 2 miles from the Lount area (which was a week ago). As ever - running, and too far away to see whether or not it had a scar. Same old story! With sightings as infrequent as this, all we can do is hope the lure of the food will finally work, or some fluke like a farmer catches the dog in an outbuilding.
Fingers and paws crossed!
We will update the blog while we're away, every so often.
Thanks so much to everyone who supports us and reads the blog, and all those who have trundled the countryside by foot or by car. We really appreciate how brilliant everyone has been. Good luck Jon & Shelley - we'll be following your blog while away.
Ffion and Tim
Monday, 2 March 2009
the countdown begins
Yikes - departing for Japan and New Zealand Thursday morning, not packed, not on top of urgent things at work, and need to set out Sky strategy for Angela and Geoff who are staying at our house, with the back-up Sky Army (as someone else described it, and sounds reassuring to us).
No calls today. No food gone from the kennel, still, but Tim is sure that this is the right strategy so if mystery Black Lab has a large territory and roams with infrequent sightings, then at least if he finds food at a crossing point one time, he may return, then frequent sightings can take us to laying a trap and finally solving this mystery. Therefore we will ask Angela & Geoff to keep refreshing the food while we're away.
A few people have mentioned national or at least regional press / TV. Probably not a good idea when we're just about to depart, but certainly worth considering once we're back. We still refuse to think he may be lying somewhere, unfound. At the end of the day all parts of Leicestershire countryside are fairly well patrolled really.
We still miss him so - every mealtime, morning, arriving home at night, working in the garden - all the time really.
No calls today. No food gone from the kennel, still, but Tim is sure that this is the right strategy so if mystery Black Lab has a large territory and roams with infrequent sightings, then at least if he finds food at a crossing point one time, he may return, then frequent sightings can take us to laying a trap and finally solving this mystery. Therefore we will ask Angela & Geoff to keep refreshing the food while we're away.
A few people have mentioned national or at least regional press / TV. Probably not a good idea when we're just about to depart, but certainly worth considering once we're back. We still refuse to think he may be lying somewhere, unfound. At the end of the day all parts of Leicestershire countryside are fairly well patrolled really.
We still miss him so - every mealtime, morning, arriving home at night, working in the garden - all the time really.
Sunday, 1 March 2009
3 months in
God, 1st March. 3 months since Sky disappeared. Anyway Happy St David's day / Gwyl Ddewi to all my fellow countrymen.
So on to today's events. Private Detective Tori crawled the Merrylees Lane early this morning looking for Man With 3 Dogs One Of Which Is New. Nil points. Rachel and Ffion therefore took Charlie for a walk in same territory mid-afternoon and didn't see MW3DOOWIN but chatted to a farmer Tim and Ffion met yesterday who said that said man was Mick from the 2nd house down who's looking after his daughter's black lab. Well at least that was sorted.
At 18.10 Ffion got a call from a lady in Sheepy Magna (great placename) who'd just found a black lab and thought of us straight away with all the publicity plus so-an-so who knows so-and-so who's married to Emma, a nurse who works with us. Described as timid and ribs sticking out, Ffion just had to go, although there was no scar or grey on muzzle. Tim is in work and still doesn't know all this BTW. So Ffion met Jet (as he turned out to be named) who looked just like Sky did 3 years ago. He devoured a bowl of food and the lady's husband through a series of phone calls tracked him down as missing, while we were preparing to ring the Council to get Ollie the out-of-hours dog warden (who's lovely by the way - 1-man band who covers night in night out for the whole of Leicestershire. Deserves a knighthood).
So Jet, working gun dog on his first proper outing today, was reunited with his owner. When I explained how I was involved the young lad said "oh you mean Sky?". Even out there, Sky is famous.
So Ffion returned, a bit sad, checking the kennel on the way back (in the dark). We saw a hare there this morning. This evening Venus is at its brightest for many years apparently. It certainly looked bright to me. The moon and the Plough guided me to the kennel, with its food untouched.
Bren & Pete's dog food has gone 2 nights in a row but the banana was left. This is probably Mr Badger, as caught on camera previously. Sky would never leave a banana.
So on to today's events. Private Detective Tori crawled the Merrylees Lane early this morning looking for Man With 3 Dogs One Of Which Is New. Nil points. Rachel and Ffion therefore took Charlie for a walk in same territory mid-afternoon and didn't see MW3DOOWIN but chatted to a farmer Tim and Ffion met yesterday who said that said man was Mick from the 2nd house down who's looking after his daughter's black lab. Well at least that was sorted.
At 18.10 Ffion got a call from a lady in Sheepy Magna (great placename) who'd just found a black lab and thought of us straight away with all the publicity plus so-an-so who knows so-and-so who's married to Emma, a nurse who works with us. Described as timid and ribs sticking out, Ffion just had to go, although there was no scar or grey on muzzle. Tim is in work and still doesn't know all this BTW. So Ffion met Jet (as he turned out to be named) who looked just like Sky did 3 years ago. He devoured a bowl of food and the lady's husband through a series of phone calls tracked him down as missing, while we were preparing to ring the Council to get Ollie the out-of-hours dog warden (who's lovely by the way - 1-man band who covers night in night out for the whole of Leicestershire. Deserves a knighthood).
So Jet, working gun dog on his first proper outing today, was reunited with his owner. When I explained how I was involved the young lad said "oh you mean Sky?". Even out there, Sky is famous.
So Ffion returned, a bit sad, checking the kennel on the way back (in the dark). We saw a hare there this morning. This evening Venus is at its brightest for many years apparently. It certainly looked bright to me. The moon and the Plough guided me to the kennel, with its food untouched.
Bren & Pete's dog food has gone 2 nights in a row but the banana was left. This is probably Mr Badger, as caught on camera previously. Sky would never leave a banana.
Saturday, 28 February 2009
Nowt stranger than folk
Today we decided to home in on farms in the area between the Hot Zone and Botcheston, where there are just a handful of unaccounted black lab sightings. Ffion remarked to Tim, after seeing one with American type fencing, that it's funny that this section of the Wild West of Leicestershire reminded her of South Carolina (where her parents live) where there are very impoverished looking homesteads, but she'd never really noticed before becoming Mrs Observant post-Sky disappearance. We chatted to nice farmers, got nowhere, and left a flyer on the gatepost of one such property with barbed wire and no access.
An hour later the phone rang and excerpts from the conversation include "they're attracted to my place, stray dogs" "I saw a black labrador yesterday but thought it belonged to the gipsies who've put stables next to my fields" "he'll be alive - the chicken farm throws out carcasses all the time, he'd love that, they don't like the sanitised meat us humans put out for them" and in and amongst this wandering conversation "sometimes I keep the strays for a bit - no point taking the to kennels, they charge you know" and (honestly) "they dump dead dogs on this lane all the time you know. I buried 3 dogs last week. In plastic bags often, they are". Ffion maintained a calm voice, ascertained none of the 3 dogs was a black labrador, but established that the man may have seen a black lab a couple of times in the last few months.
This inspired Tori and Ffion to head back out and do more research. The black lab from yesterday did indeed belong to the stables people. All other farms knew about Sky but hadn't seen anything - although they thought now was a good time, now they're getting back out on the land after quite a harsh winter.
Ho hum!
Oh yes - lovely footage from the kennel camera of a yellow lab scoffing Sky's food and being dragged off by 4 young walkers. Amazing how it's always the labs find the food. Well all except one....
An hour later the phone rang and excerpts from the conversation include "they're attracted to my place, stray dogs" "I saw a black labrador yesterday but thought it belonged to the gipsies who've put stables next to my fields" "he'll be alive - the chicken farm throws out carcasses all the time, he'd love that, they don't like the sanitised meat us humans put out for them" and in and amongst this wandering conversation "sometimes I keep the strays for a bit - no point taking the to kennels, they charge you know" and (honestly) "they dump dead dogs on this lane all the time you know. I buried 3 dogs last week. In plastic bags often, they are". Ffion maintained a calm voice, ascertained none of the 3 dogs was a black labrador, but established that the man may have seen a black lab a couple of times in the last few months.
This inspired Tori and Ffion to head back out and do more research. The black lab from yesterday did indeed belong to the stables people. All other farms knew about Sky but hadn't seen anything - although they thought now was a good time, now they're getting back out on the land after quite a harsh winter.
Ho hum!
Oh yes - lovely footage from the kennel camera of a yellow lab scoffing Sky's food and being dragged off by 4 young walkers. Amazing how it's always the labs find the food. Well all except one....
Friday, 27 February 2009
Time to take stock
No calls today. Food untouched on kennel.
Not heard from the bloodhound club secretary - Ian from Bournemouth has sent her a message but thinks she might be doing the bloodhound show in Bedfordshire.
Have spoken to a lovely lady called Kate from the Rugby area who has trials dogs (border collies) who are excellent at tracking humans. They've not tried tracking another dog before now though. The paw prints are still there at the Lount but there's been a steady wind since Wednesday and although Kate is prepared to give it a go tomorrow morning, we feel that with no food gone, the best case scenario is that Meg the dog picks up a scent but eventually it will lead nowhere, she could get stressed, and we will be using up Kate's time, when it may be better "saved up" for another sighting.
We feel there's no point in setting the trap at the moment either, until either the food has gone for a few days or there are more sightings.
With only 6 days until we depart to New Zealand we need a bit of a think through various scenarios.
For the first time in many weeks we have a clear weekend to prepare.
Not heard from the bloodhound club secretary - Ian from Bournemouth has sent her a message but thinks she might be doing the bloodhound show in Bedfordshire.
Have spoken to a lovely lady called Kate from the Rugby area who has trials dogs (border collies) who are excellent at tracking humans. They've not tried tracking another dog before now though. The paw prints are still there at the Lount but there's been a steady wind since Wednesday and although Kate is prepared to give it a go tomorrow morning, we feel that with no food gone, the best case scenario is that Meg the dog picks up a scent but eventually it will lead nowhere, she could get stressed, and we will be using up Kate's time, when it may be better "saved up" for another sighting.
We feel there's no point in setting the trap at the moment either, until either the food has gone for a few days or there are more sightings.
With only 6 days until we depart to New Zealand we need a bit of a think through various scenarios.
For the first time in many weeks we have a clear weekend to prepare.
Thursday, 26 February 2009
White noise
Am sitting here with a headache, enjoying my retreat to a quiet room! (Ffion)
I seem to have been on the phone all day and have just spent a couple of hours driving my cheeky Jeepy (I reckon its headlights and grill look like a face :-0 ) with a very noisy metal trap in the back, up from Toddington Services on the M1 after meeting the very lovely and helpful Martyn Soar, who has a good reputation for tracking and trapping dogs. Thanks for the contact, Jon & Shelley.
We exchanged information and apparently chicken covered in garlic butter, or KFC chicken (hmmm would have to abandon my battery chicken morals there) are favourite lures. Sue at doglost.co.uk recommends camouflaging the trap this time around. Will do.
The trap at a local rescue centre is out on loan, hence my 3 hour jaunt, leaving Tim, and Rod (blog follower) running the course I was meant to be doing all day. It's OK, I was only in the audience - not even a walk on part.
Phone calls today were just white noise I think, none from the Hot Zone:
Numerous calls back and fore sorting out logistics this morning, talking to dog trainers to find one that can follow scents (more calls to make this evening - had to put that on hold since it wasn't looking possible to get yesterday's fresh scent followed today - but useful to be prepared from now on, if it is possible). Thanks to Tori for helping with calls.
2 calls for Heskey the black lab who wanders up to Ibstock High St.
1 call for a heavy set lab with a blue collar in Enderby.
1 call for a black lab with a scar on its back in Hamilton, Eastern outskirts of Leicestershire, 2 weeks ago (seen our ad in the Mercury today). Scar described as 2 inches, parallel or along spine, with pink skin. So doesn't match up (see picture below). Slim lab, off lead but appeared to be with a man. For the moment we may have to park that but it may be worth a trip there at the weekend to see if any local dog walkers recognise the description.
In the meantime:
Tori tracked down a black lab from a farm in Newbold Verdon for us!
Pat my housekeeper took Ben (Sky's friend) to scent around the kennel which we've now relocated to the Lount. I've checked the food this evening but it's untouched. Pete and Bren put food in a bowl in their garden (remember they'd seen a black lab in their garden a couple of times in December so we did a feeding station and camera there in January, which yielded Mr Badger only). Their house is in the HZ.
Plan for tonight:
Call a lady back who may be able to help with the scenting, and discuss strategy for if we get another sighting / what to do with the trap.
Oh and take some paracetamols.......
I seem to have been on the phone all day and have just spent a couple of hours driving my cheeky Jeepy (I reckon its headlights and grill look like a face :-0 ) with a very noisy metal trap in the back, up from Toddington Services on the M1 after meeting the very lovely and helpful Martyn Soar, who has a good reputation for tracking and trapping dogs. Thanks for the contact, Jon & Shelley.
We exchanged information and apparently chicken covered in garlic butter, or KFC chicken (hmmm would have to abandon my battery chicken morals there) are favourite lures. Sue at doglost.co.uk recommends camouflaging the trap this time around. Will do.
The trap at a local rescue centre is out on loan, hence my 3 hour jaunt, leaving Tim, and Rod (blog follower) running the course I was meant to be doing all day. It's OK, I was only in the audience - not even a walk on part.
Phone calls today were just white noise I think, none from the Hot Zone:
Numerous calls back and fore sorting out logistics this morning, talking to dog trainers to find one that can follow scents (more calls to make this evening - had to put that on hold since it wasn't looking possible to get yesterday's fresh scent followed today - but useful to be prepared from now on, if it is possible). Thanks to Tori for helping with calls.
2 calls for Heskey the black lab who wanders up to Ibstock High St.
1 call for a heavy set lab with a blue collar in Enderby.
1 call for a black lab with a scar on its back in Hamilton, Eastern outskirts of Leicestershire, 2 weeks ago (seen our ad in the Mercury today). Scar described as 2 inches, parallel or along spine, with pink skin. So doesn't match up (see picture below). Slim lab, off lead but appeared to be with a man. For the moment we may have to park that but it may be worth a trip there at the weekend to see if any local dog walkers recognise the description.
In the meantime:
Tori tracked down a black lab from a farm in Newbold Verdon for us!
Pat my housekeeper took Ben (Sky's friend) to scent around the kennel which we've now relocated to the Lount. I've checked the food this evening but it's untouched. Pete and Bren put food in a bowl in their garden (remember they'd seen a black lab in their garden a couple of times in December so we did a feeding station and camera there in January, which yielded Mr Badger only). Their house is in the HZ.
Plan for tonight:
Call a lady back who may be able to help with the scenting, and discuss strategy for if we get another sighting / what to do with the trap.
Oh and take some paracetamols.......
Wednesday, 25 February 2009
Hot zone reinstated as truly hot
I don't want to get too excited but the hot zone which went quiet 6 weeks ago and therefore became the cold zone, is hot again after a sighting at 12.30 in the Lount area by the brook - the same as the infamous day when we all gave chase (not knowing this was the wrong thing to do), including some walkers who also saw the black lab.
The lady who called has seen him several times (most but not all of which we knew about! - they are on the sightings log in one of the comments we posted further down the Blog starting with the 2nd day he was missing when a black lab came and sniffed her collies then ran off). She thinks this is the 4th time, always running! She watched him for 5 mins in the distance out of her top windows and after calling me, set sail in her car but he ran off faster than she could catch up. Probably just as well as we don't want to make him feel hunted. Sadly though, she didn't get close enough to confirm or refute a scar. Aaaggghh!
No accounting for another black lab other than a loose one, after 2 hours of combing the area. Thanks to Geoff for piling into his car at a second's notice again! Sympathy to Tori and Tim, stuck in Birmingham / Manchester respectively at meetings.
However no other sightings this afternoon since that time (it's now 17.10). Ffion and Ann the dog warden followed the paw prints in the mud to exactly the same place as where the walkers were that day so Ffion has moved the kennel to this spot.
Ann doesn't have a trap. Ours was stolen as you all know. So we might ask the tracking and trapping expert from Lincs for help. I am also going to ring the man with the bloodhound from Bournemouth who Jon & Shelley recommended. Strike while the iron's (or scent's) hot!
Where does he go inbetween times?
Could he be Botcheston dog? It's 5 miles as the crow flies, from the eastern edge of the hot zone.
I did the houses around the road from Friday's Botcheston sighting (that was last night's phone call) and there are 2 black labs, neither of which wander, and both of which are of heavy build.
Thanks to Esmond and Ally who did the edge of Botcheston which borders that area and discovered that lots of people knew about Sky (good thing) but hadn't seen a black lab (bad thing) but equally couldn't account for it by a local dog (good thing).
Hmmm
Will we ever get out of this nightmare?
If anyone has help to offer tomorrow / Friday please text me on the number above or email ffion.davies@doctors.org.uk as Tim and I are meant to be on a 2-day course (local fortunately) and could do with a plan A, plan B and plan C for whatever phone calls arise. Thanks
The lady who called has seen him several times (most but not all of which we knew about! - they are on the sightings log in one of the comments we posted further down the Blog starting with the 2nd day he was missing when a black lab came and sniffed her collies then ran off). She thinks this is the 4th time, always running! She watched him for 5 mins in the distance out of her top windows and after calling me, set sail in her car but he ran off faster than she could catch up. Probably just as well as we don't want to make him feel hunted. Sadly though, she didn't get close enough to confirm or refute a scar. Aaaggghh!
No accounting for another black lab other than a loose one, after 2 hours of combing the area. Thanks to Geoff for piling into his car at a second's notice again! Sympathy to Tori and Tim, stuck in Birmingham / Manchester respectively at meetings.
However no other sightings this afternoon since that time (it's now 17.10). Ffion and Ann the dog warden followed the paw prints in the mud to exactly the same place as where the walkers were that day so Ffion has moved the kennel to this spot.
Ann doesn't have a trap. Ours was stolen as you all know. So we might ask the tracking and trapping expert from Lincs for help. I am also going to ring the man with the bloodhound from Bournemouth who Jon & Shelley recommended. Strike while the iron's (or scent's) hot!
Where does he go inbetween times?
Could he be Botcheston dog? It's 5 miles as the crow flies, from the eastern edge of the hot zone.
I did the houses around the road from Friday's Botcheston sighting (that was last night's phone call) and there are 2 black labs, neither of which wander, and both of which are of heavy build.
Thanks to Esmond and Ally who did the edge of Botcheston which borders that area and discovered that lots of people knew about Sky (good thing) but hadn't seen a black lab (bad thing) but equally couldn't account for it by a local dog (good thing).
Hmmm
Will we ever get out of this nightmare?
If anyone has help to offer tomorrow / Friday please text me on the number above or email ffion.davies@doctors.org.uk as Tim and I are meant to be on a 2-day course (local fortunately) and could do with a plan A, plan B and plan C for whatever phone calls arise. Thanks
Tuesday, 24 February 2009
2 leads are better than none
2 calls today.
A phone call from Rugby about a Black Lab found. It took Ffion quite a while to untangle the phone calls (the initial phone call came from a lady who was told about the dog by a friend). Eventually detective Ffion spoke to the lady who found the dog, established that it was probably not Sky and that the Dog Warden had been called so if it were, we would know as soon as the dog was scanned.
Second call 10pm. Black lab sniffing around verge by side of road last Friday morning on the Markfield Lane going from Botcheston to Markfield, just by the first row of (4 or 5) houses - Meadow View Rd, not far from Kirby Grange nursing home. This corresponds with a call 3-4 weeks ago from the same place that Tim didn't get to the bottom of. Ffion will go there on her way to work in the morning and see if there's anyone to ask.
We are putting this ad in the papers in Leicester, Nottingham and Birmingham this week, hoping that people in these areas will check out all Black Labradors even if they are with someone.
Camera on Green Lane is still in action, but nothing interesting recorded and nobody is eating the food. It is very much easier to service the camera and feeding station now as it is staying light so much later - but this is also very depressing as it emphasises just how long he has been gone.
We have been following the trials that Shelley and Jon have been going through looking for their lost dog Jacob. Such a co-incidence that they are getting reports from very close to where we used to live near Bishop's Stortford. We so hope that they get some firm leads. Their support and understanding has really kept us going.http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/
Monday, 23 February 2009
Rocky road
Today saw 3 phone calls in quick succession, all about Rocky, it turned out - but reassuring that as soon as a black lab pops out on his own, people are switched on.
The Parcelforce man (caller no.2) had pinched one of our posters so he could keep driving but ring us at the same time!
Not sure if we should say something to Rocky's owner. It seems a bit unfair that people are going out of their way to react, when he really needs to keep the dog from wandering. Of course they're genuinely disappointed when I say "you mean near the scout camp? "yes" - Oh sorry that will be a dog belonging to a nearby house who's taken it into his head to wander lately. Other people are desperate to find our dog for us.
Tim went back to A42/A511 hotel and McDonald's the other day. Seems like a black labrador cross with a name tag saying "Mill Lane" has been hanging around, which may explain the sightings. We tried "mill lane" on various searches and the nearest we could find was around 10 miles away in 2 directions (Loughborough and Stoke Golding area). There was no match on any of the lost dog websites we could find, so we gave up. Bit frustrating - we sincerely hope there isn't a desperate owner out there who hasn't "blitzed" the internet and media like we have.
We have decided to relaunch adverts in the local press - Messengers, Leicester Mercury, Coalville / Hinckley / Coventry Times with the suggestion of "possibly stolen" in case he's sitting on someone's sofa being fed caviar (thanks Paula for putting more posters along the canal and telling us about Holly who went missing for a week and was found scoffing smoked salmon at someone's house!)
Ffion managed an hour in the garden yesterday and then Paul the farmer in his mid-20's who had turned up to cut our hedges, had to shift from foot to foot and look uncomfortable as he mentioned Sky, prompting yet another avalanche of tears. Poor Paul!
Meanwhile we cross fingers for Jon & Shelley with another possible sighting.
The Parcelforce man (caller no.2) had pinched one of our posters so he could keep driving but ring us at the same time!
Not sure if we should say something to Rocky's owner. It seems a bit unfair that people are going out of their way to react, when he really needs to keep the dog from wandering. Of course they're genuinely disappointed when I say "you mean near the scout camp? "yes" - Oh sorry that will be a dog belonging to a nearby house who's taken it into his head to wander lately. Other people are desperate to find our dog for us.
Tim went back to A42/A511 hotel and McDonald's the other day. Seems like a black labrador cross with a name tag saying "Mill Lane" has been hanging around, which may explain the sightings. We tried "mill lane" on various searches and the nearest we could find was around 10 miles away in 2 directions (Loughborough and Stoke Golding area). There was no match on any of the lost dog websites we could find, so we gave up. Bit frustrating - we sincerely hope there isn't a desperate owner out there who hasn't "blitzed" the internet and media like we have.
We have decided to relaunch adverts in the local press - Messengers, Leicester Mercury, Coalville / Hinckley / Coventry Times with the suggestion of "possibly stolen" in case he's sitting on someone's sofa being fed caviar (thanks Paula for putting more posters along the canal and telling us about Holly who went missing for a week and was found scoffing smoked salmon at someone's house!)
Ffion managed an hour in the garden yesterday and then Paul the farmer in his mid-20's who had turned up to cut our hedges, had to shift from foot to foot and look uncomfortable as he mentioned Sky, prompting yet another avalanche of tears. Poor Paul!
Meanwhile we cross fingers for Jon & Shelley with another possible sighting.
Saturday, 21 February 2009
Nice day to be outside
C'mon Sky. Today was a beautiful day and you should be out enjoying the sunshine, prompting some phone calls.
No such luck.
Tripe sticks by the kennel untouched. Technical problems with the camera.
The hunt was in the "hot zone" today. didn't seem to make any difference. Although the "hot zone" now seems to be the "cold zone".
No information back from the police.
Life in the Coats household seems to take on a different phase. Ffion worked on project work by the computer all day. Tim caught up with chores outside. Paul the farmer came to cut our hedges. Tomorrow need to buy seeds, do some sowing, cut back the raspberries - for Ffion this is venturing into our lovely 6 acres for the first time since Sky went missing. It has felt impossible to be outside without him up to now. Tomorrow will be quiet a psychological step for Ffion.
Thanks to Val today for replacing some of the Barlestone posters, to help dispel the myth that he is found.
I really wish better luck for Jon and Shelley. It's hard to stop actively doing something and just lie in wait, hoping the network will work, and the phone will ring.
No such luck.
Tripe sticks by the kennel untouched. Technical problems with the camera.
The hunt was in the "hot zone" today. didn't seem to make any difference. Although the "hot zone" now seems to be the "cold zone".
No information back from the police.
Life in the Coats household seems to take on a different phase. Ffion worked on project work by the computer all day. Tim caught up with chores outside. Paul the farmer came to cut our hedges. Tomorrow need to buy seeds, do some sowing, cut back the raspberries - for Ffion this is venturing into our lovely 6 acres for the first time since Sky went missing. It has felt impossible to be outside without him up to now. Tomorrow will be quiet a psychological step for Ffion.
Thanks to Val today for replacing some of the Barlestone posters, to help dispel the myth that he is found.
I really wish better luck for Jon and Shelley. It's hard to stop actively doing something and just lie in wait, hoping the network will work, and the phone will ring.
Thursday, 19 February 2009
white van man
Sharp-eyed Bren spotted a white van similar (possibly identical?) to the one parked in the lay-by on Monday when the trap was stolen, in exactly the same spot this afternoon, with a scruffy looking man there. This time we got the licence number. Thanks Bren!
Pete called me and I called the police but haven't heard back. The van left before the police could have got there but I'd hope they'd run the licence plate through their system and if they found lots of previous criminal records would find some excuse to "pop by" in the next day or two.
I have a little dream that in this person's address they find our Sky, and this person is sabotaging us just to get us off his trail.
Pete called me and I called the police but haven't heard back. The van left before the police could have got there but I'd hope they'd run the licence plate through their system and if they found lots of previous criminal records would find some excuse to "pop by" in the next day or two.
I have a little dream that in this person's address they find our Sky, and this person is sabotaging us just to get us off his trail.
No phone calls from the hotel or McDonald's. Sounds like this was yet another red herring.
One of receptionists today cut out a bit from a newspaper where a family in Montana USA lost their retriever who darted after some deer, and 6 months later after a Montana winter (which would make ours look like a little cold snap) he popped up and was reunited with them. No-one could account for where he'd been or how he'd survived. Now I know Leicestershire isn't rural in a Montana kind of a way, but still there's hope. Very nice of our receptionist to think of us and try to cheer us up.
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
ticking over
Not much to report - Tim called back into work last night so from morningtime yesterday only saw home 23.00 - 01.00 and 05.30 - 08.30. It's so hard doing Sky stuff as well as a more-than-full-time job, but every time I pine for him it spurs me on.
Hedges were cut yesterday and kennel now sticking out like a sore thumb.
Hedges were cut yesterday and kennel now sticking out like a sore thumb.
Tim moved it and forgot to reset the camera.
Ffion teaching all day long.
8pm trek to right the camera but forgot to snaffle the memory card to have a look.
Can't seem to string thoughts together enough to complete a simple task, we're so tired.
Had to call poor Darren to tell him his trap is stolen. He just said how sorry he was for us, which made us feel even worse that he was so understanding....!
Thanks to Rachel who chatted up builders outside the hotel, and McDonald's staff today, and left a trail of publicity but sadly found no firm leads.
We are wary that Barlestone folk are potentially getting a bit complacent and attributing every black lab sighting to George so if Tim has time in the morning he'll drop some posters off for Val. Can't ask him his schedule - he's snoring on the sofa! Better go and rescue him before he wakes up with a bad neck.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Sex and fast food
2 phone calls today.
First Barlestone, just off Manor Rd. A black lab has been hanging around all day, and there's a bitch in heat nearby. We suspect George, since he has a well known healthy sexual appetite, and Sky hasn't a clue. Also it's very suburban and if the dog had a scar on its back I think we'd have had more calls plus something more definite. Anyway Pat and Carmen are on the lookout and asking people.
Second was the A511 / A42 junction. A man stopped in a layby on the A444 nr Twycross today, saw our poster, has labs of his own, and remembered 2-3 weeks ago seeing a black lab on 2 occasions hanging around the car park of the Premier Inn on the roundabout nr Ashby Tesco's. There is also a McDonald's there and when Tim went to check it out there is rubbish everywhere, so quite a magnet for a scavenging labrador.
The hotel is closed for refurbishment. The builders and landscapers at the hotel had disappeared for lunch. McD was beserk with screaming children because of half term holidays and the queue was so long Tim gave up as he had to be in work. We will try again in the morning and if there is anything positive will put some posters up. The sighting corresponds with a call from the same area on January 11th and a call from 2 miles away from there Dec 18th, so we want to follow it up.
The police rang Pete today to get more information on the white transit van so it's nice that they're taking the whole thing seriously.
First Barlestone, just off Manor Rd. A black lab has been hanging around all day, and there's a bitch in heat nearby. We suspect George, since he has a well known healthy sexual appetite, and Sky hasn't a clue. Also it's very suburban and if the dog had a scar on its back I think we'd have had more calls plus something more definite. Anyway Pat and Carmen are on the lookout and asking people.
Second was the A511 / A42 junction. A man stopped in a layby on the A444 nr Twycross today, saw our poster, has labs of his own, and remembered 2-3 weeks ago seeing a black lab on 2 occasions hanging around the car park of the Premier Inn on the roundabout nr Ashby Tesco's. There is also a McDonald's there and when Tim went to check it out there is rubbish everywhere, so quite a magnet for a scavenging labrador.
The hotel is closed for refurbishment. The builders and landscapers at the hotel had disappeared for lunch. McD was beserk with screaming children because of half term holidays and the queue was so long Tim gave up as he had to be in work. We will try again in the morning and if there is anything positive will put some posters up. The sighting corresponds with a call from the same area on January 11th and a call from 2 miles away from there Dec 18th, so we want to follow it up.
The police rang Pete today to get more information on the white transit van so it's nice that they're taking the whole thing seriously.
Monday, 16 February 2009
Double blow
Back down again today.
Tori, bless her, has trawled round all farms in the area of the Twycross setting, and found out that there were other sightings at the weekend. Unfortunately in the next farm she went to she discovered a black labrador with a black collar and metal dangling tag who has taken it into his head to search for foxes or just go for a jolly since Xmas, and would go that distance from the farm. He was AWOL sufficiently often last week to match the sightings.
Then between 15.15 and 16.30 this afternoon our trap was stolen.
Tim and Pete had seen it around the 2 o' clock mark. When Tim returned at 16.30 it was gone. Pete had returned home from a trip out around 3ish and saw a white transit van parked in the pull-in. After he unloaded his trailer he decided to drive up to it but the white van had gone and the trap was undisturbed. However an hour later Tim found it gone.
We think that on finding Tim's anchorage which consists of a metal bar with a bolt and padlock they realised they needed bolt cutters or something, nipped off, got the kit, and then stole the cage. They must be quite local to have done all that in that time frame. We have our suspicions (knowing where white vans go in and out the whole time, locally) and have reported it to the police, who were lovely again.
Don't know where to go from here.
Time for lots of Tim and Ffion hugs and a rethink in the morning.
Tori, bless her, has trawled round all farms in the area of the Twycross setting, and found out that there were other sightings at the weekend. Unfortunately in the next farm she went to she discovered a black labrador with a black collar and metal dangling tag who has taken it into his head to search for foxes or just go for a jolly since Xmas, and would go that distance from the farm. He was AWOL sufficiently often last week to match the sightings.
Then between 15.15 and 16.30 this afternoon our trap was stolen.
Tim and Pete had seen it around the 2 o' clock mark. When Tim returned at 16.30 it was gone. Pete had returned home from a trip out around 3ish and saw a white transit van parked in the pull-in. After he unloaded his trailer he decided to drive up to it but the white van had gone and the trap was undisturbed. However an hour later Tim found it gone.
We think that on finding Tim's anchorage which consists of a metal bar with a bolt and padlock they realised they needed bolt cutters or something, nipped off, got the kit, and then stole the cage. They must be quite local to have done all that in that time frame. We have our suspicions (knowing where white vans go in and out the whole time, locally) and have reported it to the police, who were lovely again.
Don't know where to go from here.
Time for lots of Tim and Ffion hugs and a rethink in the morning.
Sunday, 15 February 2009
A quiet day
Typical - when you're not rushed off your feet in work and have a day at home, the phone stops ringing.
Thanks to Val and Fay who went brainwashing anyone they could find today.
Thanks to Jo who first rang us on Thursday evening, for ringing back to enquire how we're getting on.
Tomorrow's plan:
Ring Oak FM and get an update out to local listeners.
Ring Ann the dog warden to give her an update and check there's not another black lab reported missing or loose.
Wait for phone calls - the hunt yesterday could have moved him to quite a different area. As people go to work etc they may see posters and we just have to be patient.
The behaviour of Twycross dog is bolder than Green Lane dog. Either it's another dog, or Sky / Green Lane dog is getting more confident or more hungry. Since the description isn't a skinny dog you might (??) hope more confident which would be fantastic, as someone might eventually entice him to them.
Plan to keep the trap going off Barton Lane at the bottom of Green Lane.
Tim put a new kennel up yesterday with an internal camera this time, alongside Green Lane but in a different location from previously. We are aiming for low maintenance - once daily car battery switchover, and tripe stick instead of a dog's dinner. Today 2 out of 4 tripe sticks had gone but the camera had swivelled backwards! Hope to catch footage tonight / tomorrow. Mr Foxy is under suspicion right now.
Thanks to Val and Fay who went brainwashing anyone they could find today.
Thanks to Jo who first rang us on Thursday evening, for ringing back to enquire how we're getting on.
Tomorrow's plan:
Ring Oak FM and get an update out to local listeners.
Ring Ann the dog warden to give her an update and check there's not another black lab reported missing or loose.
Wait for phone calls - the hunt yesterday could have moved him to quite a different area. As people go to work etc they may see posters and we just have to be patient.
The behaviour of Twycross dog is bolder than Green Lane dog. Either it's another dog, or Sky / Green Lane dog is getting more confident or more hungry. Since the description isn't a skinny dog you might (??) hope more confident which would be fantastic, as someone might eventually entice him to them.
Plan to keep the trap going off Barton Lane at the bottom of Green Lane.
Tim put a new kennel up yesterday with an internal camera this time, alongside Green Lane but in a different location from previously. We are aiming for low maintenance - once daily car battery switchover, and tripe stick instead of a dog's dinner. Today 2 out of 4 tripe sticks had gone but the camera had swivelled backwards! Hope to catch footage tonight / tomorrow. Mr Foxy is under suspicion right now.
Saturday, 14 February 2009
Dog calls, like buses, all come at once
Why do you have 2 and a half weeks of silence then get 6 black lab phone calls in a 30 hour period in 1) south of Newbold (Rocky again) Fri morning 2) Arnold's Cres Newbold Fri morning (2 miles north of (1), definitely different dog but unaccounted for - thanks to Geoff for scrambling) 3) Barlestone outside the Co-op Fri evening (sniffed the lady's shopping, she thinks too dark to see scar, we think she would have, described as very thin with loose collar). Wearing a collar so not George our well known wandering Sky impersonator in Barlestone!
Meanwhile back on the Twycross trail, the massive effort today by Tim, Tori and Rachel is paying off. There is definitely a black lab on the loose. Tuesday afternoon he was seen halfway to Sheepy Magna. A man working outside his house heard a car door shut and a car drive off on a very quiet road, which is unusual, so looked up and saw a black lab barking at the car and then ran off. Described as average build; healthy. Not close enough to see scar and not sure about collar. He rang as soon as Rachel put the leaflet through the door.
On same lane Thurs evening, just before the lady who called us on Thurs saw him, another young woman driving home from work saw him in almost the same spot, slowed down, he looked at her, she had 2 cars pull up behind and there was nowhere to pull in, so had to drive on. She told her dad as she wanted to go back, and he called us today as soon as Tori put a leaflet through the door!
Definitely the same dog but she said he certainly wasn't thin. However she's adamant that it's Sky from looking at the leaflet. Describes a dark collar and metal tag dangling.
Does he look bigger because he has a thick coat and has a good food source?
Was the dog dumped out of the car on Tuesday or did the car stop to try and catch him?
Is it Henry the mild mannered janitor............? (sorry getting carried away now)
Meanwhile back on the Twycross trail, the massive effort today by Tim, Tori and Rachel is paying off. There is definitely a black lab on the loose. Tuesday afternoon he was seen halfway to Sheepy Magna. A man working outside his house heard a car door shut and a car drive off on a very quiet road, which is unusual, so looked up and saw a black lab barking at the car and then ran off. Described as average build; healthy. Not close enough to see scar and not sure about collar. He rang as soon as Rachel put the leaflet through the door.
On same lane Thurs evening, just before the lady who called us on Thurs saw him, another young woman driving home from work saw him in almost the same spot, slowed down, he looked at her, she had 2 cars pull up behind and there was nowhere to pull in, so had to drive on. She told her dad as she wanted to go back, and he called us today as soon as Tori put a leaflet through the door!
Definitely the same dog but she said he certainly wasn't thin. However she's adamant that it's Sky from looking at the leaflet. Describes a dark collar and metal tag dangling.
Does he look bigger because he has a thick coat and has a good food source?
Was the dog dumped out of the car on Tuesday or did the car stop to try and catch him?
Is it Henry the mild mannered janitor............? (sorry getting carried away now)
Friday, 13 February 2009
Spreading the word
So today was a binge on the poor residents of Twycross.
Quite good awareness which on the one hand is reassuring, but on the other is depressing if it doesn't generate phone calls. Also I called back the lady who saw the dog last night and got depressed when I enquired about its build which was "wasn't exactly underfed" and we know Sky is normally slim and should be I suppose even more so right now.
However the dog walkers and farmers which Tori and I accosted today couldn't account for a loose black lab in any other way, so maybe??
Thanks to Rachel who also helped blast the residents of Sheepy Magna today.
We got lots of schoolchildren interested, which is bound to be a good thing with half term next week.
The countryside is very open and rural with lots of copses and outbuildings, so ideal for a Sky. Most of the farmland is Crown Estate, so at least our dog has good taste and high standards.
The lady at the zoo lost her dog for 4 years then got it back because of its microchip. Please Sky, don't do that to us.... to be fair it was stolen, and turned up in a rescue centre in London. Not quite the same.
Tomorrow Val, Pete, Fay and husband, and Rachel are off walking and accosting with flyers. Tori and Tim are postering and chatting. I'll be in work wishing I wasn't.
Can I just mention 2 things? Jon & Shelley's new blog about missing Jacob
http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/
Please support them with words of encouragement - it helps, honest.
Also locally there is a rescue Rottweiler called Ben, aged 6-8, who is blind and needs a good home. All he wants is cuddles. He looks gorgeous in the photos and needs lots of love. Let me know if you think anyone can help. I want him. Tim says no right now, because I'd have to give up work. If you all do a petition, Tim might change his mind ;-)
Quite good awareness which on the one hand is reassuring, but on the other is depressing if it doesn't generate phone calls. Also I called back the lady who saw the dog last night and got depressed when I enquired about its build which was "wasn't exactly underfed" and we know Sky is normally slim and should be I suppose even more so right now.
However the dog walkers and farmers which Tori and I accosted today couldn't account for a loose black lab in any other way, so maybe??
Thanks to Rachel who also helped blast the residents of Sheepy Magna today.
We got lots of schoolchildren interested, which is bound to be a good thing with half term next week.
The countryside is very open and rural with lots of copses and outbuildings, so ideal for a Sky. Most of the farmland is Crown Estate, so at least our dog has good taste and high standards.
The lady at the zoo lost her dog for 4 years then got it back because of its microchip. Please Sky, don't do that to us.... to be fair it was stolen, and turned up in a rescue centre in London. Not quite the same.
Tomorrow Val, Pete, Fay and husband, and Rachel are off walking and accosting with flyers. Tori and Tim are postering and chatting. I'll be in work wishing I wasn't.
Can I just mention 2 things? Jon & Shelley's new blog about missing Jacob
http://missingbraccojacob.blogspot.com/
Please support them with words of encouragement - it helps, honest.
Also locally there is a rescue Rottweiler called Ben, aged 6-8, who is blind and needs a good home. All he wants is cuddles. He looks gorgeous in the photos and needs lots of love. Let me know if you think anyone can help. I want him. Tim says no right now, because I'd have to give up work. If you all do a petition, Tim might change his mind ;-)
Thursday, 12 February 2009
At last - another sighting!
The silence is broken and yes, he's moved slightly to another area where we have less publicity.
Around 5.30pm this evening a lady driving home travelling north from Sheepy Magna coming into Twycross saw a black lab running down the road. She stopped the car and got out and he went into the field on the right. She got within 6 feet of him to try to catch him, he barked and ran away. She describes a metal collar (not right - Sky's is black leather with a metal buckle) and a tag. However we know from tracking down other dogs that precise collar descriptions are not always accurate.
She told a friend who walks to Congerstone with her dog who'd seen our publicity and drove to where she knew there was a poster and called me with her friend's mobile number. So the system works!
For those who aren't from around these parts, this represents a move westwards of around 3 miles so no surprise. It's very rural.
So volunteers are needed for tomorrow if anyone's free?
Shops, pubs, footpaths, village noticeboards need posters (we have one in the middle of Twycross and one in the middle of Sheepy and that's it).
Need to put flyers in doors of anyone with any sizeable property or on the edge of the village.
Need to chat to people to see if anyone's noticed a black labrador.
Need to walk the couple of footpaths leading east out of Twycross.
Obviously it's important we don't swamp the area and scare him off so if people could call me on my mobile 07951-722747 I can co-ordinate. Please avoid 10-11am as I'm supposed to be on a teleconference to London, but at the rate I'm going I'm too excited and may ditch it!
Ann our dog warden fortunately covers that area too, and will go out there tomorrow. If we get any more sightings she has a 2nd trap we can deploy.
I'm also going to pop in to the vet to see if they know of dogs who've just given birth. Ann says the smell of new pups and milk is highly interesting and could entice him into a trap.
Lastly Ann says she's had a few dogs turn up at Twycross Zoo, as if it's the animal smells or the food which attacts them!! I'm going to the Zoo tomorrow (my favourite local place anyway) and if I see young Sky snuggled in with the monkeys he'll be told off.
Ffion
Around 5.30pm this evening a lady driving home travelling north from Sheepy Magna coming into Twycross saw a black lab running down the road. She stopped the car and got out and he went into the field on the right. She got within 6 feet of him to try to catch him, he barked and ran away. She describes a metal collar (not right - Sky's is black leather with a metal buckle) and a tag. However we know from tracking down other dogs that precise collar descriptions are not always accurate.
She told a friend who walks to Congerstone with her dog who'd seen our publicity and drove to where she knew there was a poster and called me with her friend's mobile number. So the system works!
For those who aren't from around these parts, this represents a move westwards of around 3 miles so no surprise. It's very rural.
So volunteers are needed for tomorrow if anyone's free?
Shops, pubs, footpaths, village noticeboards need posters (we have one in the middle of Twycross and one in the middle of Sheepy and that's it).
Need to put flyers in doors of anyone with any sizeable property or on the edge of the village.
Need to chat to people to see if anyone's noticed a black labrador.
Need to walk the couple of footpaths leading east out of Twycross.
Obviously it's important we don't swamp the area and scare him off so if people could call me on my mobile 07951-722747 I can co-ordinate. Please avoid 10-11am as I'm supposed to be on a teleconference to London, but at the rate I'm going I'm too excited and may ditch it!
Ann our dog warden fortunately covers that area too, and will go out there tomorrow. If we get any more sightings she has a 2nd trap we can deploy.
I'm also going to pop in to the vet to see if they know of dogs who've just given birth. Ann says the smell of new pups and milk is highly interesting and could entice him into a trap.
Lastly Ann says she's had a few dogs turn up at Twycross Zoo, as if it's the animal smells or the food which attacts them!! I'm going to the Zoo tomorrow (my favourite local place anyway) and if I see young Sky snuggled in with the monkeys he'll be told off.
Ffion
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
Dogs are survivors
So today we've put a juicy shoulder of lamb in the trap, the sun is out for the next few days, and not much snow forecast. Come on Sky - time to come out of your hidey hole!
Had a really useful chat with Martin Soar, a dog tracking and trapping expert this evening. Really heartening for him to say that it just goes like this, and there's a good chance he'll pop up again. He said what we thought - in this weather he won't be out and about much. Also that they really do survive on what little food is around the countryside even at this time of year.
We seem to be doing all the right things otherwise. We just need to keep the publicity up so that people report things and don't get "lazy".
We perhaps need to widen the publicity field as the dog's territory can be 15 miles wide.
In case any bloggers think we're completely nuts, I'll post a comment below with the log of the most likely sightings (one offs and unlikelys weeded out). They total 22! The log of the first week was only put together as a jigsaw 3 weeks or more later, as people started to know about Sky and say something. Such a shame - those were the crucial days when we stood the best chance.
Jon & Shelley in Saffron Walden are going through the same turmoils as us. Tried to go for a pub lunch but just felt guilty they weren't driving around looking for Jacob. They're doing a blog too, as it's a great way for everyone to stay up to date. We cross fingers and hope for them.
Had a really useful chat with Martin Soar, a dog tracking and trapping expert this evening. Really heartening for him to say that it just goes like this, and there's a good chance he'll pop up again. He said what we thought - in this weather he won't be out and about much. Also that they really do survive on what little food is around the countryside even at this time of year.
We seem to be doing all the right things otherwise. We just need to keep the publicity up so that people report things and don't get "lazy".
We perhaps need to widen the publicity field as the dog's territory can be 15 miles wide.
In case any bloggers think we're completely nuts, I'll post a comment below with the log of the most likely sightings (one offs and unlikelys weeded out). They total 22! The log of the first week was only put together as a jigsaw 3 weeks or more later, as people started to know about Sky and say something. Such a shame - those were the crucial days when we stood the best chance.
Jon & Shelley in Saffron Walden are going through the same turmoils as us. Tried to go for a pub lunch but just felt guilty they weren't driving around looking for Jacob. They're doing a blog too, as it's a great way for everyone to stay up to date. We cross fingers and hope for them.
Monday, 9 February 2009
Rocky taken back home
We had a call about a lost Black Lab at lunch time today. It didn't sound like Sky (described as heavyset with a blunt face), but we went to have a look. Ffion spotted him behind a copse - it was amazing how he completely disappeared by the time we had stopped and turned round. Ffion went on foot and I drove to cover both sides of the wood. She spotted him and went into the "how to attract a lost dog" routine (thanks to Sue from dogslost.co.uk). Ffion didn't look straight at him, talked softly and showed a biscuit. Then she started to walk away and the dog ran up to her.
Rocky had his phone number on a tag on his collar so was soon taken home (the offer of a biscuit made him jump straight into our car!).
So although the dog was not Sky it was a great opportunity to practice our techniques for approaching a wary dog. The radios worked well to co-ordinate activity, the method of approach seemed very good and we also learned the importance of pausing to calm the dog once he was on a lead.
So we are happy Rocky is home, re-assured that we are still getting calls about Black Labs, but sad that we have had no sightings of Sky for two and a half weeks.
Sunday, 8 February 2009
Kennel stolen
More bad news. Ffion refreshed the food at both kennels around 11.30. Picture of yellow lab scoffing the lot at one of them 17.30 yesterday. Drove off to perch on a vantage point and do some work on her laptop for 2 hours. Returned 14.45 to find kennel half way up Green Lane stolen.
The bowl and food, the ball, the laminated poster explaining what we're doing, and the 2 large pieces of plywood to weather proof it were all lying in the snow. Large footprints (similar to the ones by the trap?) in a circle near it (fresh since Ffion was there earlier).
The Green Lane gets a lot of fly tipping (amongst other activities) so the 2 events may be unconnected and this time it's simple theft.
They got 2 pairs of yesterday's smelly socks for free too...........
Time for a strategy think this evening when Tim gets in from work.
The bowl and food, the ball, the laminated poster explaining what we're doing, and the 2 large pieces of plywood to weather proof it were all lying in the snow. Large footprints (similar to the ones by the trap?) in a circle near it (fresh since Ffion was there earlier).
The Green Lane gets a lot of fly tipping (amongst other activities) so the 2 events may be unconnected and this time it's simple theft.
They got 2 pairs of yesterday's smelly socks for free too...........
Time for a strategy think this evening when Tim gets in from work.
Forward march!
Hello bloggers
There's a couple in Cambridgeshire, Jon & Shelley Haggerwood, who are in the same boat as us after losing their Bracco Italian hound, who had their story in national press yesterday (thanks Pete & Bren for spotting it). They are "7 weeks behind us" but are at the point we were at the 3 week mark (Jacob went missing 21 Jan). It was good to share notes and sympathies, and I suppose for them to know that they are not the only ones, although that doesn't help much does it.
Jon gave me 2 excellent contacts for 1) a man whose bloodhound has a track record (excuse the pun) for finding other dogs and 2) Canine Search & Rescue who have an experienced person to help us at the stage we are at.
In return I offered them some strategies for a sighting (the walkie talkies, map with vantage points, call-out list for help, etc that we've developed) and suggested a Blog, as it's so useful as a way of everyone being in touch.
Good luck Jon and Shelley! Jacob - get out there and be seen!
There's a couple in Cambridgeshire, Jon & Shelley Haggerwood, who are in the same boat as us after losing their Bracco Italian hound, who had their story in national press yesterday (thanks Pete & Bren for spotting it). They are "7 weeks behind us" but are at the point we were at the 3 week mark (Jacob went missing 21 Jan). It was good to share notes and sympathies, and I suppose for them to know that they are not the only ones, although that doesn't help much does it.
Jon gave me 2 excellent contacts for 1) a man whose bloodhound has a track record (excuse the pun) for finding other dogs and 2) Canine Search & Rescue who have an experienced person to help us at the stage we are at.
In return I offered them some strategies for a sighting (the walkie talkies, map with vantage points, call-out list for help, etc that we've developed) and suggested a Blog, as it's so useful as a way of everyone being in touch.
Good luck Jon and Shelley! Jacob - get out there and be seen!
Saturday, 7 February 2009
Men in boots
Thanks to everyone for you kind comments of sympathy and to pick us up.
This morning we reported the damage to Leics police and have a crime reference number etc. They were very helpful and supportive. We called Mr Dobson whose land we have the trap on, who was very sympathetic and hasn't asked us to move it. We may do, but at least we haven't upset him.
Current theories:
1. Is there hare coursing planned for this weekend? A week ago the camera caught someone aiming a gun away from the trap. At 16.37 yesterday 2 men in wellies were standing looking at the trap. We only have pictures from the thighs down.
2. Someone still thinks we are trapping badgers (remember we had the RSPCA call us a week ago because someone reported us thinking that we were)? We called the RSPCA to ensure that they clarify that we are not (if they had the caller ID which they don't in fact insist upon).
3. Is there someone who is an animal rights sympathiser or activist who doesn't realise that the whole point of the trap is to get Sky safe, away from dangerous roads and freezing nights, and the whole point of the camera is so we spot a captured wild animal straight away and can release it?
Anyway we will keep the camera away for a few days - Pete and Bren are being brilliant about checking the trap in between our visits.
The top photo is the last image caught last night - shows the lights of a vehicle which has just drawn up. Footprints of three men are in the snow circling around out of range of the camera and then across to do the damage.
The next photo of two men was at 16:37, no idea who they are.
The top image was caught last week - maybe we are getting in the way of some poaching.
Friday, 6 February 2009
-7 in temperature and mood
Just got in at 11pm and -7C outside and I think we're at our lowest point in this whole story.
The camera failed this evening so I drove out to check it and the trap just now, only to find the whole set-up smashed up by someone. Nothing appears to have been stolen (eg camera / laptop) so I am suspicious that maybe the person who reported us to the RSPCA still doesn't understand what we are doing and is trying to stop us. I had last checked it at dusk (5.45pm). The last picture was at 19.23. Nobody in sight in that one.
Tim is still in work so I called him to tell him.
Combined with 2 days of no food going from the kennels and no fresh leads on sightings, it's a sad moment.
Tomorrow we'll have a rethink of strategy when we're less upset and tired, and are able to check the equipment over in daylight. Doug your laptop looks to be undamaged. Hopefully on its hard drive are the 19.22 and 19.21 shots.
Thanks to Elaine, Peter and family who've offered to do a walk in the "hot zone" on Sunday. Thanks to Ken, South Carolina, USA, who called tonight just to support us. Ken knows what it feels like to have a dog vanish.
The camera failed this evening so I drove out to check it and the trap just now, only to find the whole set-up smashed up by someone. Nothing appears to have been stolen (eg camera / laptop) so I am suspicious that maybe the person who reported us to the RSPCA still doesn't understand what we are doing and is trying to stop us. I had last checked it at dusk (5.45pm). The last picture was at 19.23. Nobody in sight in that one.
Tim is still in work so I called him to tell him.
Combined with 2 days of no food going from the kennels and no fresh leads on sightings, it's a sad moment.
Tomorrow we'll have a rethink of strategy when we're less upset and tired, and are able to check the equipment over in daylight. Doug your laptop looks to be undamaged. Hopefully on its hard drive are the 19.22 and 19.21 shots.
Thanks to Elaine, Peter and family who've offered to do a walk in the "hot zone" on Sunday. Thanks to Ken, South Carolina, USA, who called tonight just to support us. Ken knows what it feels like to have a dog vanish.
Wednesday, 4 February 2009
A quiet Wednesday
Technology working great at last. However nothing to report despite nice crispy, dry, sunny Sky-type-of-a-day!
No food gone from either kennel. Nothing on either camera.
No new paw prints in the vicinity of the kennels or trap.
No sightings.
Tori managed to cover an hour or so for us of the south end of Green Lane at "prime time" (1-2pm) but no walkers, no dogs............
Just a barn owl hunting across our field at home at 7 a.m. which was beautiful to watch.
No food gone from either kennel. Nothing on either camera.
No new paw prints in the vicinity of the kennels or trap.
No sightings.
Tori managed to cover an hour or so for us of the south end of Green Lane at "prime time" (1-2pm) but no walkers, no dogs............
Just a barn owl hunting across our field at home at 7 a.m. which was beautiful to watch.
Initial Excitement
Yesterday was the first day with a motion sensitive camera at one of the feeding stations and you can imagine how excited we were when we first saw this video recorded at 13:20. However just in the last few frames we can see a person (probably female) coming into view and the black lab runs towards her. She is too far away to see our notice asking any dog owner to text us if their dog eats the food. There were another 5 clips in addition to this one, and we had convinced ourselves that there was a scar on this dog's back, although the definition on the video is not really good enough to be 100% sure.
So to put our minds at rest we will now be hanging around the Green Lane in the early afternoons to see if the lady walks her dog here again!
Anyway the good thing is that we are able to see who is eating the food so we will know if the food disappearing is something or nothing.
Tuesday, 3 February 2009
Tuesday's greedy labs caught red-handed
We've set up a camera on one of the 2 kennels with great success(ish): 3 labradors (no other breed, surprise, surprise!) all came and helped devour the bowl full of food. Well at least the system's working. So we've topped up the bowl, emptied the memory card and reset it to see how many other guzzlers come by.
The Barton Lane near the trap had fresh dog paw prints without human prints this morning at 0800 (there were also badger prints) but they veered back onto the road at the gap where the kennel is, missing it out!! We're pretty sure they aren't fox prints. I even added some goat's cheese to the roast joint in there last night for extra whiffiness. Hmmm...
You'll see the time and date in the top left of the webcam picture now, since it seems to not want to load the bottom part of the picture at times. It's probably objecting to the minus 5C temperatures, which is fair enough.
Should we move the trap closer to the kennels? The advice seems to be to sit tight at the moment. It can take this long for a dog to feel comfortable around it.
One call to Botcheston today, not tracked down, but the black Lab had a green collar. One to just keep in mind.
The Barton Lane near the trap had fresh dog paw prints without human prints this morning at 0800 (there were also badger prints) but they veered back onto the road at the gap where the kennel is, missing it out!! We're pretty sure they aren't fox prints. I even added some goat's cheese to the roast joint in there last night for extra whiffiness. Hmmm...
You'll see the time and date in the top left of the webcam picture now, since it seems to not want to load the bottom part of the picture at times. It's probably objecting to the minus 5C temperatures, which is fair enough.
Should we move the trap closer to the kennels? The advice seems to be to sit tight at the moment. It can take this long for a dog to feel comfortable around it.
One call to Botcheston today, not tracked down, but the black Lab had a green collar. One to just keep in mind.
Monday, 2 February 2009
Can we spot a black dog in a snowstorm?
Heroic efforts in the snowstorm by Tori today. She checked the feeding stations at 12:30, and the food was untouched. However at 4:30 both bowls had been licked clean (banana gone as well as the meat and tripe sticks). Some vague animal footprints, but was snowing so much that they were not clear. no human prints. I will set up a camera on one of the feeding stations tomorrow to see what we can record (this will not be on the web as it is more basic technology).
The trap has had no activity - the trap camera has been a bit temperamental, but is working most of the time. Even if you cannot see the images on the web we can usually get to see a picture, but if the images are uploading you will see them at http://dougellison.com/cam/refresh_norm.html
We are becoming more interested in a disused railway line that is about a mile north of the Green Lane - this dog must be going somewhere when it disappears from sight for days on end. It is rarely visited and has lots of good dens (old signal boxes etc). I plan to go there tomorrow and see if there are any tracks in the snow.
Saturday, 31 January 2009
Who is eating the food?
We are starting to see a pattern in the disappearance of the food:
A fox eats the meat, but little else. He darts at the bowl and doesn't lick it.
A cat eats the meat and fish, but not the biscuit or fruit.
A badger eats everything except banana, but does not lick the bowl clean.
We've caught mice red-handed in the camera too. Very Tom and Jerry. They eat meat and biscuits but not pilchards!
So the times that we think a dog has taken the food are when all the food has gone (including the banana) and the bowl has been licked clean. This has now happened three times in the last 10 days (compared with no food disappearing in the way in the previous 3 weeks). So does this mean that we are starting to get Green Lane Black Labrador to come to the feeding stations? Or does it mean that other dogs on walks in the area are eating it? We have put up notices for dog owners saying that we understand if their dog goes up to the feeding station and scoffs the lot, but asking them to let us know so we don't get false hopes and can replace the food.
Last time a bowl was cleaned out there was an Evian bottle 3 feet away, squashed in the middle with teeth marks - just like Sky would do... (but so would many dogs :-( )
A fox eats the meat, but little else. He darts at the bowl and doesn't lick it.
A cat eats the meat and fish, but not the biscuit or fruit.
A badger eats everything except banana, but does not lick the bowl clean.
We've caught mice red-handed in the camera too. Very Tom and Jerry. They eat meat and biscuits but not pilchards!
So the times that we think a dog has taken the food are when all the food has gone (including the banana) and the bowl has been licked clean. This has now happened three times in the last 10 days (compared with no food disappearing in the way in the previous 3 weeks). So does this mean that we are starting to get Green Lane Black Labrador to come to the feeding stations? Or does it mean that other dogs on walks in the area are eating it? We have put up notices for dog owners saying that we understand if their dog goes up to the feeding station and scoffs the lot, but asking them to let us know so we don't get false hopes and can replace the food.
Last time a bowl was cleaned out there was an Evian bottle 3 feet away, squashed in the middle with teeth marks - just like Sky would do... (but so would many dogs :-( )
Roast dinner and dogs with scars
Technical issues undergoing an upgrade. Back on line later we hope (thanks as ever to Doug and Helen). Link http://dougellison.com/cam/refresh_norm.html
Menu du jour in the trap has been upgraded to roast lamb shanks (following Marilyn's and Ann the dog wardens advice)!
Kirby Muxloe dog with scar lady has been eliminated from the enquiry. It's a surgical scar and lots of people have given the poor owner funny looks or interrogated her (I got this 2nd hand from prowling the area today and pouncing on an innocent chocolate lab owner who had the whole story).
There's motorbike racing today at Mallory Park and you can hear the familiar noise from our house. The wind is carrying in Sky's direction and we wish he'd hear it, remember you hear that at home, and follow it - he'd have to come through Osbaston if he took a direct line.......
Menu du jour in the trap has been upgraded to roast lamb shanks (following Marilyn's and Ann the dog wardens advice)!
Kirby Muxloe dog with scar lady has been eliminated from the enquiry. It's a surgical scar and lots of people have given the poor owner funny looks or interrogated her (I got this 2nd hand from prowling the area today and pouncing on an innocent chocolate lab owner who had the whole story).
There's motorbike racing today at Mallory Park and you can hear the familiar noise from our house. The wind is carrying in Sky's direction and we wish he'd hear it, remember you hear that at home, and follow it - he'd have to come through Osbaston if he took a direct line.......
Friday, 30 January 2009
Fri afternoon webcam
Possible sighting alongside trap at 5pm on webcam. Thanks very much Marilyn! Trap visited by Tori (to change battery for camera) similar time and pawprint seen in mud. Update midnight: I've taken the images off the laptop and unfortunately it was a bit of Tori! Never mind, keep those eyes peeled everyone.
Food gone from 1 of the 2 kennels this afternoon. Unlikely fox or badger during daylight. Took pilchards, gravy bones, Pedigree meat and tripe stick. Left banana!
Got call from RSPCA this afternoon as someone had reported us thinking we were laying a badger trap. We can assure everyone that the trap is for Sky. If a wild animal is caught then we have enough people around the globe keeping an eye on it that we would be called and it would be released within a short period of time. We are working with the dog warden and are assured that we are doing everything correctly and humanely.
I just hope that we don't get more complaints and have to move/remove the trap now that we think Sky is habituating to it and the area.
Got to talk to man who walks his dog in Kirby Muxloe who meets 10 other dog walkers for a natter every evening on their walks so breakthrough in spreading the word there about the 2 calls. Phew!
Midnight update - battery ran out again this evening on camera so we've just checked the trap. We'll get it back online in the morning after an overnight charge.
Food gone from 1 of the 2 kennels this afternoon. Unlikely fox or badger during daylight. Took pilchards, gravy bones, Pedigree meat and tripe stick. Left banana!
Got call from RSPCA this afternoon as someone had reported us thinking we were laying a badger trap. We can assure everyone that the trap is for Sky. If a wild animal is caught then we have enough people around the globe keeping an eye on it that we would be called and it would be released within a short period of time. We are working with the dog warden and are assured that we are doing everything correctly and humanely.
I just hope that we don't get more complaints and have to move/remove the trap now that we think Sky is habituating to it and the area.
Got to talk to man who walks his dog in Kirby Muxloe who meets 10 other dog walkers for a natter every evening on their walks so breakthrough in spreading the word there about the 2 calls. Phew!
Midnight update - battery ran out again this evening on camera so we've just checked the trap. We'll get it back online in the morning after an overnight charge.
Thursday, 29 January 2009
Food conundrums
Apart from more techical problems (now resolved) the rest of the day consisted of:
Feeding station Pete and Bren's garden - badger caught red handed on video! Left the banana alone. So badgers and foxes leave bananas. Useful to know. Some dogs do, some don't.
Kennel lower end Green lane - food untouched
Kennel middle Green lane - all gone except banana. Evian bottle dropped nearby. Is this Sky or is there a careless dog walker enjoying the free food and dropping litter? Can't put camera on this as too visible and likely would get stolen.
So only twice has the food all gone, licked clean, banana included. Both daytimes. Therefore either Sky or another omnivorous dog.
Phone call while at work from Newbold Verdon. Got close enough to see no scar. Description matched George the wandering labrador of Barlestone. Not known him stray that far so advised caller to call his owners and if in doubt, the dog warden. Ladies on our switchboard had to call back to see if it was Sky as they were desperate to know!
Feeding station Pete and Bren's garden - badger caught red handed on video! Left the banana alone. So badgers and foxes leave bananas. Useful to know. Some dogs do, some don't.
Kennel lower end Green lane - food untouched
Kennel middle Green lane - all gone except banana. Evian bottle dropped nearby. Is this Sky or is there a careless dog walker enjoying the free food and dropping litter? Can't put camera on this as too visible and likely would get stolen.
So only twice has the food all gone, licked clean, banana included. Both daytimes. Therefore either Sky or another omnivorous dog.
Phone call while at work from Newbold Verdon. Got close enough to see no scar. Description matched George the wandering labrador of Barlestone. Not known him stray that far so advised caller to call his owners and if in doubt, the dog warden. Ladies on our switchboard had to call back to see if it was Sky as they were desperate to know!
Wednesday, 28 January 2009
Strange woofs in Odstone
Got called this afternoon with 2nd hand report of sighting in Odstone 2 weeks ago then got call at 10.15pm from Odstone.:
strange barking opposite her (which matches the location of a previous sighting) upsetting the lady's own dogs, activating the floodlight, 6pm and 10pm. Pheasants and pheasant food are kept there. Barking sounded "funny" more terrier than labrador (she has black labs herself) but very persistent and when ran south towards village, set other dogs off. Didn't see it in the dark but could localise this funny barking.
I raced there from my late shift and got there 1 minute after floodlight activation, left the Jeep engine running (he recognises that), and tinkled biscuits in his metal bowl. Under normal circumstances that would have him at your feet from a 20 mile radius, drooling.
Nothing. Well, just one fox in the headlights.
Hope to despair again. Stuck around for an hour and now need to go to bed at half past midnight having just got home.
Food went from Green Lane kennel again (a mile from the above).
Bedtime prayer: PLEASE just go in the trap Sky, on your wanders tonight!!
strange barking opposite her (which matches the location of a previous sighting) upsetting the lady's own dogs, activating the floodlight, 6pm and 10pm. Pheasants and pheasant food are kept there. Barking sounded "funny" more terrier than labrador (she has black labs herself) but very persistent and when ran south towards village, set other dogs off. Didn't see it in the dark but could localise this funny barking.
I raced there from my late shift and got there 1 minute after floodlight activation, left the Jeep engine running (he recognises that), and tinkled biscuits in his metal bowl. Under normal circumstances that would have him at your feet from a 20 mile radius, drooling.
Nothing. Well, just one fox in the headlights.
Hope to despair again. Stuck around for an hour and now need to go to bed at half past midnight having just got home.
Food went from Green Lane kennel again (a mile from the above).
Bedtime prayer: PLEASE just go in the trap Sky, on your wanders tonight!!
Technical battles Wed 28 Jan
I knew our techno wizardry was going too well. The food went from Pete and Bren's garden last night, on the 2nd night of the camera reinstallation, and for some reason the camera recorded most of the 24 hours except the crucial few hours in the evening. Pete reckons Sky knows how to deactivate it.
Meanwhile the camera on the trap stopped at midnight. Not sure if it was rain, or just needed rebooting. With Tim in London and Doug on the other end of the phone Ffion's done her best at pressing random buttons but Doug needs to come out to fiddle. Hopefully back up and running mid afternoon, with Pete kindly keeping an eye on the trap in the meantime.
No food gone from the kennels in the last 24 hours.
It's probably time to tell you about the 2 strange Kirby Muxloe calls in case any of you have friends there, who can ask around and keep their eyes open.
First was last Thurs evening, frightened black lab in the walking area near the library. Very helpful dog walker says she's not seen it before and he was definitely on his own. Too dark to see if there was a scar. Then Saturday lunchtime a lady in her late 40s or early 50s was seen with a black lab on a lead with a scar on the Main St nr the Post Office. Passer by called us.
Ffion's rung the 3 nearest vet surgeries to see if they know of a black lab with a scar. Other than that, it seems unlikely the 2 sightings were the same dog but you never know. For those who don't know Leicestershire Kirby Muxloe is too far from Barton in the Beans for it to be likely it's the same dog as we're tracking.
Can't do a lot more except if anyone has any Kirby Muxloe contacts, especially "doggy" people, could they ask around to see if we can eliminate the one on the lead from the enquiry. I'm surprised the poor lady hasn't already been wrestled to the ground by a pack of strangers if she really has got a black lab with a scar on its back!
Meanwhile the camera on the trap stopped at midnight. Not sure if it was rain, or just needed rebooting. With Tim in London and Doug on the other end of the phone Ffion's done her best at pressing random buttons but Doug needs to come out to fiddle. Hopefully back up and running mid afternoon, with Pete kindly keeping an eye on the trap in the meantime.
No food gone from the kennels in the last 24 hours.
It's probably time to tell you about the 2 strange Kirby Muxloe calls in case any of you have friends there, who can ask around and keep their eyes open.
First was last Thurs evening, frightened black lab in the walking area near the library. Very helpful dog walker says she's not seen it before and he was definitely on his own. Too dark to see if there was a scar. Then Saturday lunchtime a lady in her late 40s or early 50s was seen with a black lab on a lead with a scar on the Main St nr the Post Office. Passer by called us.
Ffion's rung the 3 nearest vet surgeries to see if they know of a black lab with a scar. Other than that, it seems unlikely the 2 sightings were the same dog but you never know. For those who don't know Leicestershire Kirby Muxloe is too far from Barton in the Beans for it to be likely it's the same dog as we're tracking.
Can't do a lot more except if anyone has any Kirby Muxloe contacts, especially "doggy" people, could they ask around to see if we can eliminate the one on the lead from the enquiry. I'm surprised the poor lady hasn't already been wrestled to the ground by a pack of strangers if she really has got a black lab with a scar on its back!
Tuesday, 27 January 2009
Camera Improvement from Doug and Helen
For those of you who are looking at the trap camera our technical wizards have developed a link which automatically refreshes so that you do not have to click the 'refresh' button to see a new image. It can be left running on the desktop and will always have the latest image shown. Click HERE to link to this.
No food had gone overnight last night. It is a bit odd that it was taken three nights running from the garden near the Green Lane, but last night when there was a camera in place - nothing. We are wondering if the red glow of the camera is scaring the animal. It did not seem to affect the fox and cat that we filmed previously, so we are not sure. I wanted to do a Randomised Controlled Trial (sorry medical joke), but Ffion said that we should leave the camera out tonight and then turn it off if the food still doesn't disappear.
Monday, 26 January 2009
Just in case Green Lane Black Labrador is not Sky we are also trying to cover the possibility that someone has Sky. At this stage we think that a vet or vet nurse is probably our only chance of locating him if he is out of this area. We have found that vets don't necessarily scan all new dogs so have put this advert in the Veterinary Times. This is delivered to every vet in the UK tomorrow and we hope that a vet or vet nurse will remember Sky's very distinctive scar and scan any dog they see with a scar like this.
Who is eating the food?
No further sightings and the only animal that we have seen in the trap is a robin. Not quite the animal that we were hoping for!
However, for the last three nights the food has been disappearing from a garden near Green Lane. Brenda very artfully put a layer of sand around the food and it has what look like dog footprints. So tonight I have set an infra-red camera up to see who is eating the food. (It isn't a sophisticated web camera so we can't look at it online, just have to download the images in the morning).
Also for the first time last night the food bowl at another seeding station was licked clean and there was a clear muddy dog footprint on the blanket inside the kennel. Are we at last starting to attract Green Lane Black Labrador or is one of the local dogs getting fat?
Sunday, 25 January 2009
Patterns of Sightings in Green Lane
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!!
Saturday, 24 January 2009
Sat 24th Jan Update
Unfortunately another quiet day after the excitement of last Thursday. None of the food has been touched and no sightings.
We have decided that the only way that we are going to get close enough to identify the Green Lane Black Labrador is to trap it. This doesn't sound nice, but we think is our only option. A local farmer, Darren, has lent us a dog trap, which we have placed at a point where the Green Lane Black Labrador has been seen several times. Our technical expert friends Doug and Helen have set up a webcam which sends us a photo of the trap every 2 minutes. So as soon as there is something there we will know. This is such a great facility to have - as it means that we do not have to go an check the trap every couple of hours (as we would not really want any animal to be in the trap for long). Just for the moment click here to see a picture taken in the last 2 minutes.
So we will be setting the alarm to check the picture every few hours during the night, and no wine tonight in case we have to drive!
We have decided that the only way that we are going to get close enough to identify the Green Lane Black Labrador is to trap it. This doesn't sound nice, but we think is our only option. A local farmer, Darren, has lent us a dog trap, which we have placed at a point where the Green Lane Black Labrador has been seen several times. Our technical expert friends Doug and Helen have set up a webcam which sends us a photo of the trap every 2 minutes. So as soon as there is something there we will know. This is such a great facility to have - as it means that we do not have to go an check the trap every couple of hours (as we would not really want any animal to be in the trap for long). Just for the moment click here to see a picture taken in the last 2 minutes.
So we will be setting the alarm to check the picture every few hours during the night, and no wine tonight in case we have to drive!
Friday, 23 January 2009
An Overview of Strategy
From Ann the Dog Warden and doglost.co.uk we have some excellent behavioural tips on how to approach a feral dog. Apparently calling 'Sky', whistling or moving towards the dog is seen as very threatening and he will run away. It is much better to stand still, keep low and just watch what he is doing. If you have binoculars and can look for the scar on his back that would be excellent. If he is near enough to see putting your hand in your pocket and dropping a biscuit on the ground then backing away might entice him nearer. Don't move towards him.
We are not sure if he will still respond to Ffion or me. Apparently feral dogs often need to smell the owners before they respond to them, but will not let anyone get that close. All very frustrating. If you see a black lab please just watch him and call us.
The strategy at present is to find his regular haunts. We know about the Green Lane area, but where does he go when he is not there? We are trying to get him to come regularly back to the same place with the feeding stations, so that we can then set up a trap. The fact that a dog took the food on Thursday was exciting as this was the first time that food had gone (although of course it could have been a dog on a walk down Green Lane whose owner did not spot him guzzling).
If you are looking for a walk this weekend the Green Lane is pretty well patrolled, but it would be good to see if his other haunts can be spotted - so a walk would be good anywhere in the area bounded by Nailstone, Carlton, Congerstone, Twycross, Snarestone, Heather and Ibstock.
Update 23rd Jan
Finally, another call. Well two in fact. One to Kirby Muxloe last night, where a frightened black lab was seen at dark near the car park. We went over but no sign.
But the real excitement was earlier with a call at 2pm - guess where? Barton end of Green Lane again. A black lab crossed the road as a lady was driving along. She called us straight away which was great. This time our "search party" mobilised with precision and fantastic communication. We've been rehearsing! Walkie talkies, cars and maps at the ready, our "trained staff" (fantastic neighbours, friends and Ann the dog warden) covered all points.
While we were disappointed not to see the dog ourselves, we were delighted to find Sky's bowl at the kennel feeding station licked clean, and the tennis ball we'd left outside was deep in the kennel. This is the first time that the food has disappeared in 3 weeks of laying fresh food daily.
Of course any dog could have done that but apparently not that many dogs like pilchards as much as Sky!
Our plan at the moment is to try to make this dog's behaviour more regular, hoping that feeding at this place can become a habit. Today Ann has issued us with tripe sticks. Yum.
At least today we feel we have something to hope for and something to keep busy doing again.
But the real excitement was earlier with a call at 2pm - guess where? Barton end of Green Lane again. A black lab crossed the road as a lady was driving along. She called us straight away which was great. This time our "search party" mobilised with precision and fantastic communication. We've been rehearsing! Walkie talkies, cars and maps at the ready, our "trained staff" (fantastic neighbours, friends and Ann the dog warden) covered all points.
While we were disappointed not to see the dog ourselves, we were delighted to find Sky's bowl at the kennel feeding station licked clean, and the tennis ball we'd left outside was deep in the kennel. This is the first time that the food has disappeared in 3 weeks of laying fresh food daily.
Of course any dog could have done that but apparently not that many dogs like pilchards as much as Sky!
Our plan at the moment is to try to make this dog's behaviour more regular, hoping that feeding at this place can become a habit. Today Ann has issued us with tripe sticks. Yum.
At least today we feel we have something to hope for and something to keep busy doing again.
Monday, 19 January 2009
Update 19th Jan
Had a call this morning from a man who had noticed a hand written note in the CoOp in Autrey about a found Black Lab. Took a trip out there, but found that the dog had already been re-united with its owners. Very happy for them, but still sad for us.
At least this was a happier trip than last nights following a call about a dead Black Labrador in a pub car park about 15 miles away from home. Fortunately it was not Sky, but sadly it did not have an identification tag so I couldn't contact the owner - it will be scanned by the Dog Warden today, so I hope that it has an identification chip.
All of these calls add to the roller coaster of life at the moment. We have cancelled our holiday to New Zealand, so at least we have time to follow up the calls at the moment. We are also maintaining a feeding station in the Green Lane area, with the scent of home being provided by spraying water each day mixed with the dust from our vacuum cleaner (advised by the experts at doglost.co.uk and our dog warden). Various pieces of laundry complete the 'olfactory trap' and seem to keep the foxes off the food. However none of the food is disappearing so if there was a feral dog, it seems to have moved away.
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