Well...

He arrived a bit later this a.m. and unfortunately I wasn't expecting him. One of my dogs spied him first and barked from inside the house and spooked him. Hard to imagine in all the time he's been running that a barking dog inside a building still sends him off. I'll have to be more aware tomorrow.

After yesterday's breakfast remains were removed, I closed up the trap with full intentions of setting it again this morning. But I didn't set it. I decided to start all over again and put his plate of food on the edge of the trap, eventually hoping to open it and move his food further and further inside-back to a slow process. He's just so fearful and probably smart enough not to go in a place where there doesn't seem to be an exit. I wish I could borrow a bigger trap, something like a humane bear trap-I think I'd have a better chance of trying to get him to enter a less "tight" area. I've searched and searched and haven't come up with any larger humane traps.

While I am thankful that he is returning once again, I just wonder how long he can go on. It's a difficult life especially for a domesticated animal, and one who is so fearful. At least wolves/foxes in the wild are not in constant fear, only when they sense danger or are being attacked. This guy is fearful ALL the time. He doesn't even look twice before he runs away. I think I've spent enough time observing him to know he runs mostly on adrenaline supported by fear. I never saw a dog, even one with issues, startle so reactively and constantly and run without provocation or seemingly instinct or thought. I hope if any one sees him that they will not chase him, as I am sure this is part of the reason he has become even more fearful that before he was lost.

This is truly a sad story...and I will continue to pray it will have a happy ending.