Hi all,
Michelle and I just got home from a long trip. We went down to Union County and got a second trap from the cooperative AC people there. It's a sturdier one than the first. We took it to the house where Smooth was this morning. This is the third time they have seen her, once before the Friday paper came out, and she could have been through there other times that they weren't looking outside.
These people are simply great. She has had a Rottie before and is especially interested on that account, plus she is not afraid of the big dog. Her husband helped us set up the trap down in their side yard. We tarped the back end, the top and one side and left most of the second side open for light and for checking to see if she is in there. Don't want them to have to walk way down there a lot, and perhaps at the wrong time. We put the crate pad in the trap along with Diane's coat. Baited with chow and chicken that was heated and the smell was very strong and very good. We put the chicken on the ground outside the trap, all along the floor and in the bowl past the trigger.
I learned more of the morning sighting and it's good. Julie stepped out the door when she saw Smooth, who turned to run but turned back when her name was called. She stood and watched Julie and listened to her, but then moved down the road. Julie got in her car and followed her calling to her. Smooth stopped and Julie got out of the car and called, "Down." Smooth sat. Just then a neighbor dog ran out barking, and Smooth broke and ran.
This is so encouraging!!! How each one of us would like to have been Julie this morning. Perhaps tomorrow will bring more response from Smooth if the trap doesn't do the job tonight. We left with promises of a phone call, even if it's 3 a.m.
After that visit we went down to Caraway and spoke to Christy. She's just as enthusiastic as ever, and reminded us that if we find Smooth somewhere else we must be sure to let her know. We tarped the first crate the same as the new one and added fish to the chow. She said she hasn't seen Smooth the last few nights and believes she was more comfortable there with her dogs loose so she is going to leave them out tonight. We didn't see any reason to argue with her over this, but we did put the fish just on the outside as otherwise she would have her own dogs back in there yet again with the door down.
The weather here is better than last night. The snow has stopped and melted. The winds have died down. It's still pretty cold but not as bad as last night, for sure.
Jim asked earlier: Do you think it would be possible to corral her in that yard some how? I think she might be on to the trap. I am grateful that she has chosen an area with such nice people. Now we just need her to cooperate a little.
Jim, the yard is at the top of a rise and not much level ground beyond what the house is on. I can't imagine how we could corral her because it would take a crowd, which she would know was there, plus there's nowhere to herd her that she couldn't dart off somewhere else. No natural barrier anywhere around. Does this make sense?
Martha
