Like a huge gust of wind...

Well I got up at the crack of dawn today determined to beat him to the back yard. Pockets filled with treats, his breakfast piled high, and some nice smelly liverwurst ready to entice, I headed up the back yard as the sun barely rose over the trees. And I waited....

After laying the trail of treats and placing his breakfast right on the inside edge of the trap, I proceeded down to our fenced in yard. This time I brought the trail of treats closer to the fence, and as I got closer made the piles bigger and laced them with chunks of good smelling liverwurst. Then I sat right inside the fence with a hand full of liverwurst and waited...and waited...and waited. My arm was starting to go to sleep from holding my tantalizing treats on the fence post fearful of moving too much, when suddenly I saw the black and white fur. He made his way down the trail and actually stopped to look at me several times (at least I think he did). He didn't run, so I felt good about that for surely he could catch my scent nearby. I sat ever so still and he came closer and closer to the fence. I found myself holding my breath as this was the closest I had ever seen him. Oh is he beautiful-it's amazing that he looks as good as he does considering what we think his life has been! He face is full and pure black and he has some gray/black spotting on some of his white fur. His eyes are quick and fearful as they darted back and forth scanning his environment. He IS on the thin side, contrary to what people think. It also looked like he has something on both lower eye lids,not sure as I didn't have my glasses. I wondered if they might have been ticks. I could hear his breaths as he munched on treats, that's how close he was. I just wanted to reach out and touch him, but I knew that wouldn't work. I could smell his dampened fur. As he got close to my statuesque position I tensed, should I hold out my hand with the liverwurst or should I drop it? I decided on the latter as I was sure he wouldn't take it from hand. When I dropped it I actually heard a whoosh and in a split second the black and white flash was gone. I actually heard that sound-it startled me! He is so quick to react and startle, one can only imagine what has happened to him. Disheartened I tossed the liverwurst onto the last pile outside the fence hoping for his return. He did return but as I watched from afar, he was so nervous; when he ate he startled big time twice and went to run at something he heard/saw in the neighbor's yard. I didn't see or hear anything, but then I'm not him. He didn't finish the last pile as he was too nervous, maybe later. He went up licked his plate clean and left for his daily travels. I need to be positive...one day he will know. Keep him in your prayers.