Sunday while I was enjoying a fresh cup of morning coffee I heard Jake and the other dogs barking in the front yard. Normally I wouldn’t have even gotten up but Jake is the new kid on the block and doesn’t bark at much of anything. I expected to see my mother in the driveway but no, both of the boars were in the front yard. The electric fence that was keeping them from going under a low spot in the fence was off and they had gotten into an area they normally can’t get to. This area has access to the yard and trash cans full of chicken feed through a small gate. This gate wasn’t modified for pigs because they can’t get to it. They flipped it off the hinges and turned over both cans full of feed. Thankfully only one was full. They ate the little that was left in one can and several pounds from the other before wandering over by the front door.
After getting them back where they were supposed to be and cleaning up the feed I went around and modified all the gates so the pigs couldn’t lift them off.
Tuesday when I got home from work Lisa informed me that she had not seen Jake. Everyone else was there but not him. Usually he is all over you before anyone else. Still too much puppy in him. I have been working on stopping the jumping and mouthing you but it is still an issue. Anyway, I went out to look around and noticed that Sadie wasn’t around either but Lisa assured me she was earlier. By now it’s starting to get dark so I went to get a light and start my search. By the time I got back to the barn Sadie was back but still no Jake. I started walking the fence and calling for him.
I found a place in the fence where the goats had walked it down and it looks like them and the dogs had been coming and going for a while. There was a trail leading right to the spot that you could see in the dark by flashlight. I don’t know why the cows weren’t getting out. I could have stepped over without brushing my pants on the wire. Since everyone was at the barn and not going anywhere until daylight I left it so Jake could come back through it if he would. I then went for a drive hoping not to see him on the road. Luckily I didn’t but I didn’t find him anywhere else either. I spoke to one lady who asked if I was lost when I turned around in her neighbors drive way. I told her about Jake and gave her a description so she could keep an eye out for him. I went home hoping, expecting to see him when I got up this morning.
Still no Jake. After milking the cow and feeding everyone I fixed the fence. After that I walked the rest of the fence and found a couple of other places that needed attention. They were not as bad as the place I had just taken care of but I tightened them up to keep the goats from finding them next.
It figures that he would run away after I started getting attached to him. I got him his shots last weekend and he has an appointment this Friday to get fixed. Maybe he new and will show back up Saturday morning. Lol I didn’t really need another dog so if he takes up with someone else that is ok as long as he stays off the road and doesn’t get into trouble. I’d hate for someone to shoot him because he gets into their trash or plays too rough. Both are always a possibility around here.
Maybe I will find him today when I get home and it’s still daylight.
