He's Baaaaaack!!!!!!

I have to admit when I cleaned up his uneaten food last night and when I placed another plate of smelly delicacies this morning, I was not hopeful. He never stayed away this long and it was becoming obvious to me that he may not be returning. I decided I would continue to place food for at least another week.

As I trudged up the back yard, I did so with a heavy heart, filled with disbelief as I figured he wasn't coming back. Once back in the house, I even went so far as to take one of my dogs up stairs with me as I was sure Teddy wouldn't be seen.

As I went to pull the curtain back on the balcony door for my pup to look out....I saw a black and white flash. My heart actually fluttered as I had to look twice. He was definitely looking for food, but the only food I placed was in the trap (as advised by dog experts). Then suddenly I realized my dog would spy him at any moment and begin barking which would in turn encourage the others to bark which surely would send him running. So I quickly scooped up poor Rori (much to her surprise) and placed her in another room and quickly went downstairs to close the french doors so the others wouldn't come up. Whew! I grabbed the camera but he was too far out of range. He so wanted the delicacies in the trap, and he paced and looked and paced and looked-my heart was breaking and weakening for his hunger, but I kept hearing the words of the experts "stay strong." So I did, half heartedly...

Suddenly the gobblers began their chatter and Teddy froze-he must be afraid of them as well. He looked like he wanted to bolt but decided to pace around the trap once more. He doesn't persist for long, it is amazing he has survived, as a few more paces and I'm sure a lot of salivation-he left. There sits the trap filled with good food and he chose not to enter once again. There has got to be a better way-I just don't see him entering the trap, ever. This is exactly what happened on previous occasions-he just won't go in.

Again if we could discover his other food sources, perhaps we could curtail them to focus more here, but so far I haven't heard from any one as to sightings or feeding.

I know you all cheered this morning when I announced that he was back, and I thank you for all your support. We WILL get him, some how!

I'd like to thank the husband and wife (from Frackville-I didn't want to mention names without permission) who offered to help search in the future if needed, and the very kind lady from Kutztown who has been following our blog-this lady made all kinds of media contacts on behalf of our Teddy. These people really helped boost me up as I was feeling so down and disappointed, but somehow they both reached out to offer help to a creature they don't even know-bless them all! Thank-you friends of Teddy!

My spirit is renewed...so onward! Please pray for his continued safety, his continued return, and his soon to be experience of a warm bed, love, and good food.

An after thought...my concern with his fearing the trap is that if he doesn't get food when he arrives on several occassions, I am afraid he eventually won't return at all. It's kind of a double edge sword, and a puzzle I don't know how to solve.