WISE WORDS
Anya’s Big Adventure and 48 Hours of Hell By Diana Wise
Saturday, October 16, 2010 – My husband Brian took our dogs Anya and Argo up to the deer woods to hunt grouse, pheasants and check on deer sign. Deer season opens in early November. The woods are thick with lots of swamp land. Brian’s stand is about one mile into the property along a narrow path across two swamps and through dense underbrush and trees. Turns out Brian would traverse that narrow path at least eight times the next day. The property has a minimum-maintenance road that cuts through the center of the property, and is not heavily traveled. The deer woods are pretty much surrounded by cattle pastures – very few houses. On both sides of the road is where our “family” has been hunting for years, so Brian knows those woods, I’m mean really knows the woods. Brian and the dogs hunted and walked all day – tracking, pointing, coming when called, doing what dogs do. Anya was exceptional for a five-month old pup. It was a button-popping day for Brian, as he was pleased as punch with her abilities. Brian was getting ready to call it a day, but wanted to go out one last time just with Argo before they headed home. Anya was put in the jeep, but was bound and determined SHE WAS NOT going to stay in the jeep. THEY WERE NOT GOING HUNTING WITHOUT HER. After much complaining from Anya and her strong willingness to go, Brian let her out of the jeep, and off into the woods they went. Brian and the dogs got to the deer stand in the deepest part of the island surrounded by all that nasty swamp. The dogs took off sniffing. Argo went one way, Anya the other. Brian was trying to keep a close eye on the young pup, Anya, as she was searching the woods and underbrush. He couldn’t see her, but he knew she was close by the movement of the undergrowth. Then all got silent. He called her and whistled, and called again. The next thing he heard was a loud crashing through the trees – way too much noise for a young dog to make. She must have found a deer. There was more calling. And then it was me that got the call at 6:30 p.m. “Honey, I lost Anya.” “Argo and I have been searching all over for her. Now it’s getting too dark to do any good. I’ve left some clothes at the tree sight where we lost her and where the jeep was parked on the dirt road. 72
WIRE NEWS
©2010 GWPCA
I’m going to my folks’ house tonight and will be back here at first light to begin the search again. Honey? Hello? Are you there?” “Yep, I’m just taking in the news. Okay, not much either of us can do tonight but pray. Call me first thing in the morning and let me know what’s happening. I know that beyond a shadow of a doubt, you will go over that land with a fine-tooth comb, inch by inch to find Anya.” I did not sleep at all Saturday night. I called two friends who I knew would add their prayers to mine to help us locate Anya. Sunday, October 17, 2010 – Brian calls about 10 a.m. to report no sightings of Anya, but it appears the clothes he left have been moved and slept on. Okay, it is time for me to start doing what I can at my end. First, I take a shower and have a BIG cry. Then I get out of the shower, pull myself together and call Sherry. Unfortunately, I am still crying, which isn’t very helpful in trying to convey my message. A few deep breaths later, I get more under control, and soon I’ve contacted the Sheriff’s Department, made flyers, and notified some dogtracking people and vets in the area. I pack up food for Anya and Argo, throw in some of Anya’s favorite toys, and hop in my car for the trip up north. 112 miles later I was standing on that same minimum-maintenance road, feeding Argo, hugging Brian and discussing search and rescue tactics. One of Brian’s hunting buddies was there and looking for Anya, too. Brian and I decided to go to all the surrounding farmhouses and leave posters with everyone. So with Argo in tow, away we went, driving, stopping, talking and thanking everyone for any information. Everyone was really nice. Got the usual “We’ll keep an eye out for her”, plus the occasional “You know there are bears in the woods, and wolves. Well, good luck finding her, and if I see your dog I will call you.” Back we went to the minimum-maintenance road and the starting point to enter the big swampy, all most impenetrable wilderness. I made it half way through the first swamp when Sherry called with some advice on possible locations. I was grateful for the opportunity to get out of this mess, so I went back to the car to scout out places Sherry was telling me to go to. Brian, bless his