The millenium celebrations were being planned by all. We chose to do our usual celebrating by having a nice dinner and a bottle of champagne. His owner planned a party with a keg of beer and the usual trimmings. The plan was for Bandit to end his winter getaway and be home for the party. On a balmy Thursday afternoon (for December) as Bandit was chasing one more phantom deer he diverted from his usual crisscross pattern of howling and reversing. Upon not hearing him I began to call him and promise him treats which has worked before. He did not come. I walked and drove through the neighborhood knowing surely he would be around the next turn. After 2 hours I was heartsick and had to let my son know. He came to find him to no avail. Being such a people dog he was sure somebody had taken him in for the evening. His tags bore my son’s phone number so he was not overly concerned. I however being a grandmother was devastated. All night I would look out windows hoping he had come back and that just maybe I didn’t hear his bark. The next morning I called every neighbor, shelter and dog control officer that I could think of. I created flyers with his picture and place last seen. I distributed them all the while looking, hoping and praying that we would find him. That afternoon we took a long walk in the woods hoping to hear him howl. Nothing!! It was about 5PM New Year’s Eve 1999 when the phone rang. My son had received a phone call from some local snomobilers who had caught Bandit, saw his phone number but could not convince him to ride on the snowmobile. He was somewhere in the woods planning his own New Year’s celebration and it was getting dark. Now what?
The keg party was put on hold. The quiet dinner would not be enjoyed. I immediately went back to the woods and began to call over and over. Dusk turned into darkness. His owner and 3 friends arrived in two 4-wheel drive vehicles. They drove deep into the woods with spotlights. They called and walked and drove some more all to no avail. There were no beagle signs or sounds anywhere. The search was called off at 8PM and the partygoers left to salvage their plans. I tried in vain not to worry but could not focus on the biggest New Year’s of my life. It is a very large woods and in spite of his wonderful nose I could not figure out how this little buddy would ever get out. We went to bed but I mostly lay there plotting how I would just walk the woods all day until I heard him. I imagined dragging a shirt or pillowcase with my son’s scent on it in order to assist him in his search for home. After sleeping fitfully I woke on New Year’s Day saying yet another prayer to everyone, especially St. Francis. I decided to sit up and begin the day’s search. As I sat up in bed I caught sight of the beagle walking very determinedly down the driveway. I jumped up and shouted his arrival. We both met him at the door so enthusiastically that he crouched a little and was unsure of our joy. He seemed to be in good shape but eagerly accepted food and water after which he proceeded to take a long nap on the couch. This news could not wait. I called the party house, woke up the revelers and announced the good news. A groggy voice answered but all were relieved to hear about the homecoming
Grandmother’s puppy resort is closed for awhile. I’m not sure if there would have been any more walks in the woods had he not come home. I would always be wondering and searching. The woods could never have given me the peace that I depend on. Now as I hike among the trees I can imagine a deer, coyote, porcupine or some other wild animal drinking in the creek or curled up among the pines knowing that they are pretty much able to fend for themselves. I will always be grateful that someone answered my prayers and led Bandit back to the Daisy Hill Puppy Farm
Nancy Denecke