Well, as I begin this Saturday post, I must tell you that I was not sure this would actually make it - because I was not sure it would end happily so was very hesitant to even "plan" this entry. However, my husband was certain this was going to work. So, without further delay, let me tell you about a Dog named Lady.
Last week, while I was in San Antonio, one of Steve's friends called him to go coon hunting on Thursday night. So, Steve, his buddy, Dick and Dick's son, Troy all headed out on a windy night with snow in the air to coon hunt. They had three dogs to hunt with and one was a very determined Mountain Cur named Lady. Evidently she is quite a tracker and never likes to lose her coon when she goes hunting. While they were out - they heard her up ahead of them barking and then nothing. Troy and Steve called and called and looked all over but could not hear her anywhere, while Dick managed the other dogs. They two other dogs kept wanting to return to the area where the fellows had last heard Lady - but the guys could not see or hear her so they had to head back home.
The next Day, Friday, Steve and Dick returned, scouring the area and going house to house in the neighborhood trying to locate her again. Nothing. On Saturday morning, when Steve was to get up and head to Charleston, he thinks about where he heard the dog last and remembers that there was an old fox hole near there - so he heads out at daybreak to go look there. Sure enough - he stands over this small hole and calls for Lady and he hears her - He comes back to the house, calls Dick and they begin an "excavation" which will astound you in order to locate this dog. Here is Dick standing by the hole in which this crazy dog entered, trying to catch a coon.
Now pay close attention to how SMALL this area is because when the final pictures are put up here you are simply not going to believe it - I stood there watching and I'm still amazed. You will either think we are crazy or devoted dog lovers (which probably a little of each will describe us!)
The fellows began digging in earnest because the dog had already been underground since Thursday night. Unfortunately, Steve had to head to Charleston to pick me up - he had tried to squirm down into the opening that they had made but he could not fit around some of the rocks and there was concern that something would cave in, trapping him. So he leaves, to meet me, unknowingly leaving his cell phone behind, so that I could not call him to tell him of all the delays my flight was taking - leaving him sitting at the thriving Charleston airport (note extreme sarcasm there!) for 7 1/2 hours, awaiting my flight, bless his heart.
We return home that night only to find that Animal rescue was contacted by Dick, which evidently means a Deputy comes also to make sure there is no abuse of an animal and so the three animal rescue people and two deputies also try to get down in the hole, but like Steve are concerned of the location - so no luck there either. Plans were made to meet immediately following church on SUNDAY to dig again. Bringing in some equipment to pull out some of the rocks (can't think of the word that describes this but basically rope and leverage to pull the large rocks out). My husband has since informed me this was a hoist.
We needed someone slightly, hmmm, "adventurous", possibly crazy to go down into this hole to look for the dog - so my friend and downline's husband, Jayson immediately came to mind, so we called him and he was free and up for the adventure. So let me share a few of the pictures now - sorry for so much wording but you really needed the story
The "hole" after hand digging on Saturday that the guys tried to get down into looking for the dog. Remember - no equipment but shovels and picks were used here to dig - no ditch diggers or easy stuff due to the location. Now look after extensive digging on Sunday afternoon
and yes, you are not seeing things - that is Jayson (pretty much the hero of our story) standing down in the hole - this area actually opened up into a cave like area. Jay is down there looking for good ole Lady - he could hear her but the crazy dog would not come to her -we found out later that she was actually down 30 feet from the surface - we think there is a possibility that she had chased a coon into this hole and that it was further back in this cavern and she simply could not get to it and would not leave.
and there she is!!! Jay had to use a snare to catch her and bring her to him.
Just love this shot - is this crazy or what?
Steve and Jay - now remember they are STANDING in the same hole that I showed you in the first picture. What a load of work to get to this dog. The Animal rescue lady called Sunday evening because she couldn't sleep thinking about the dog - so she was elated to hear that yep, we had gotten the dog out of the hole.
and there she is! probably scanning the area to see if there are any more coons hanging out. Look at all the rocks that they drug out of that hole. Well, at least it has a happy ending. I wasn't so sure it would when Steve told me about this at the airport. Dick was happy to get his dog and we were happy not to have to worry about some poor dog starving to death in a big hole under the ground. Thanks Jay for your spirit of adventure and to guys that are determined to finish the job! Hope you enjoyed our story about Lady! One more picture of what it looked like for Steve and Jayson looking out of the hole up to the surface.
