A week ago, at 08:16, my wife called me very nervous. She was on a morning walk with our three dogs in the Balkan forest where we currently live, and one of the dogs with a 10 meter leash on his three-point harness had run away. He is a white scaredy dog with black spots, came from the shelter, and he is very shy.
Larry is about three and a half years old, very gentle and a great family member. The four days before he was in the woods every day as usual, however he stayed a little longer each day, almost 1 hour on Sunday. That’s why he had a fluorescent yellow drag line.
I also immediately went to look for him, and one of our sons who was vacationing here. Our fantastic neighbors and friends (which is not a big difference here), some of them also with dogs, joined us within the next few hours. We searched in a very rough and partly jungle-like impassable environment until we were completely exhausted in the late afternoon. As many as eight people in the woods, whistling, calling Larry’s name, searching the brush as far as possible under the narrow forest trails, hoping not to encounter any of the snakes, wild pigs, jackals or other animals that live there. And hoping Larry wouldn’t encounter them either.
By Monday evening, we had no sign of life from him. We were in deep concern. He might be tangled or injured, and we knew he wouldn’t bark or howl out of fear.
The next morning, after a sleepless night, we continued the search in a larger area. The day ended with almost 30°C, and so did the next day. No sign of life, no leash, no harness, no fur, no voice – nothing. I was in the woods until about 7:30pm when I heard a band of jackals howling as they approached me. I went back to our house unsuccessfully – as all other friends and neighbors had done before.
On Wednesday and Thursday, I visited a group of stray dogs that live a few hundred yards away and sometimes get food and water from me. It may sound a little crazy, but I talked to them both times and asked them to help us get Larry back.
That evening, my wife was alone on her way to the place where we had lost Larry when a horde of wild boars broke out of the thicket and forced her to leave the woods. Thank the gods they did not follow her and left her alone as she cautiously moved away.
Investigations on Thursday and Friday were still inconclusive. We became more and more depressed, losing hope with each new hour. Wild boars, jackals, and a real wilderness against a timid, medium-sized dog that had never learned to find food or water on its own.
After half an hour of sleep on Friday, around 10:30 p.m., I heard our neighbor’s dog getting restless. I heard Andy and Clare talking, got up, grabbed my flashlight and went out on the balcony. My wife joined us while our other two dogs started barking.
Standing outside the fence of our house was Bronco – the leader of the stray dogs – with Larry! He was covering him and waiting for us to pick him up. It was unbelievable. We ran to the gate, met our neighbors who also got there, and I ran to Larry. Bronco was slowly walking away when I arrived, and I swear he winked at me and grinned before he left.
Everyone was in tears and overjoyed that Larry had made it back after four and a half days alone in the wilderness. Our prayers were answered. He was a little emaciated, very thirsty and hungry, but he had no scratches, no wounds, no blood, not even missing fur! That to me is one of the miracles, if not THE miracle of 2022. And there have been quite a few of those for me this year.
Larry’s story has taught me: never give up. Even when you think all is lost.
