Radar and Jamaica Lost

New beginnings.  Settlement day for this property was September 1; the first day of spring, the night of the new moon.  This property is everything I wished for and more but my joy has been overshadowed by tragic circumstances.  Four days ago the dogs went missing.  We'd been leaving Jamaica off the lead during the day as he was happy to potter about the house and not go anywhere.  Radar, on the other hand, twice went walkabout.  The first time we gave him the benefit of the doubt (while Jamaica was tied up, just in case) and, true to his nature, he went bush.  The second time Richard let him off for a pee and forgot about tying him back up again.  But the third and final time, the rope which had held for over a week tied to a vise, came undone.  Jamaica was off and now, so was Radar, trailing 5 feet of rope.  They disappeared and haven't been seen since.  I fear the rope has become entangled in the thick underbrush and even if he wanted to come home, he can't and Jamaica, always the underdog, won't leave him.

Year ago, when they were much younger dogs, they went missing for 9 days.  We'd had rain so there was groundwater to drink but I doubt whether they ate anything other than pulling at something dead and stinking which they both reeked of when they were finally found, collapsed on the side of the road 2 kilometres from home.  They were skeletal.  Their paw pads where shredded and oozing blood and serum.  They were within days of dying. 

During that 9 days, in an area where everyone knew them, knew they were missing and they knew their way around no one saw them.  Here they don't know their way around, no one knows them and we've had rain or showers every day to wash away their scent trail so even if Radar isn't caught up in some tree root they couldn't retrace their steps. 

We've put notices up in Uki, on telegraph poles and have rung all local vets and the pound.  My new and lovely yoga teacher, Julia put a notice up on the Uki Community page while Karen, Wilma's daughter, who lives at Stokers Siding has added the information to two other Facebook groups. 

Every night Richard and I wake up, separately and together, hear the rain, feel the cold and think of them. This is their last photo.