Page 63 - Chow Life - 2025 01 Spring
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from the hurricane that struck here; so, while my the Sheriff’s department. They said there was no
helpers posted on the road side, I did the off-road way to trace where the call came from and also
searches on their labyrinth of logging trails. A advised me that $1,000 was way too much money
well-meaning neighbor also was traversing them to mention and that it would bring out callers like
but was, unfortunately, running his dog alongside the one I had.
his truck which meant there were now dog prints
everywhere. Night fell. I still drove around but no Before dawn I was out looking and calling.
Danger. I realized he was more likely to come to Something had eaten the food from the van, but
the puppy songs I call to announce dinner, so now probably not him. I re-did my poster, removing the
I felt really foolish yelling those out the window $1,000, replacing the photo with one of a random
(“Babies and Gentlemen: Start Your Engines!” Saluki of his same silver-grizzle color where the
and the “Baby, Baby Crockett!” song. Note to self: Greyhound-like outline was clear against a white
Stop doing that). I parked my van at my front background. Unfortunately, it was a smooth Saluki,
gate, leaving the door open with hot dogs inside. I and Danger a feathered, but it was better than
regretted that I had never walked him around my what I had. I sent the file to Robert to have printed
property so that even if he were close he would in color in town.
have no idea how to find his way home. I slept in It started to rain…and rain. Robert had wisely
the van but nobody came and, eventually, I put the bought plastic sheaths to place the posters in,
food inside, left the door open and returned home and we replaced everyone (which had now all
in hope he somehow had found his way there. dissolved) we had posted the previous day. Hint:
One thing I recalled from my article was that lost Place flyers in the sheaths with the sheath opening
dog authorities advise you should mention the facing down to they don’t fill with water.
amount of the reward if it was large, so my posters The rain was non-relenting. It ended up raining
stated $1,000 reward. Around midnight I received 4 inches that day. The logging trails became
a call. The caller asked if I would increase the impassable. Any hope of hiring a tracking fog or
reward to $2000. Then $5,000. Suspecting a scam a drone was shot. I searched my property and the
as well as a shakedown, I demanded he describe adjoining part of the Boy’s Ranch toward the river
the dog. Instead, he began to hurt some dog to on foot, just in case he’d gotten stuck in a sinkhole
make it scream into the phone. It was clearly not or vines, even tough it was a longshot. In this
my dog’s voice and I hung up to discourage him area, the Suwannee River is bordered by towering
from continuing. Besides, if he did have Danger, he limestone cliffs in places. I have it fenced off on
would trade him for any amount of reward. I called my property, but it’s not on the Boy’s Ranch side
Evolution of a Poster from “Just Okay” to a Better Version
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