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Since then there have been numerous sightings of Hickory in the Thetford area, and a team of volunteers has formed a loosely organized network on the Vital Communities listservs for Thetford and Norwich, both to coordinate sightings and to suggest ways in which anyone who has seen the dog can help to bring him to safety.
Luikart has been heartened by the response from Thetford residents.
“I have been so blown away by the community and how people are trying to problem-solve,” he said.
Hickory has been seen along Route 5, crossing I-91, at Cedar Circle Farm, where workers put up a feeding station for him, and perhaps even as far north as the ballooning airport in Post Mills. He appears to have car sense.
There are concerns that, as a malnourished dog accustomed to a Southern climate, he may not have survived the recent cold and snow, but volunteers are still hoping that he can be found.
Hickory is mostly black, but with some Rottweiler patches of brown around the eyes and muzzle, and he has a Rottweiler’s large head. He was wearing a white, partially reflective collar, and has been microchipped, said Luikart. He was rescued from a high-kill shelter in San Antonio, and Luikart picked him up from a rescue organization in Connecticut that brings dogs from the South to the Northeast.
Hickory showed signs of malnourishment, probably because of a life on the streets, and when Luikart took him to his first veterinary appointment he weighed about 60 pounds. Although somewhat skittish, Hickory showed no signs of aggressiveness, Luikart said.
Within a few days Hickory seemed to be adjusting to life inside, sleeping on a blanket in front of the stove. When Luikart let him out one morning, he walked with Hickory to the edge of the woods so the dog could urinate. But after a minute, Hickory disappeared, perhaps after picking up the scent of deer or another animal.
Clare Creek-Kelsey, a retired lawyer and former trainer of companion dogs who lives in Thetford, has coordinated the listserv responses.
She also proposed that people in the Thetford area create kennels for the dog where he could find food, water and blankets if he seeks shelter. There are signs, she said, that Hickory has taken advantage of some of these temporary shelters put up by Thetford residents.
West Lebanon Feed and Supply donated dog food and discounted a heated water dish. Lyme veterinarian Tom Heiztman also contributed food. Thetford Police Chief Michael Evans has responded to calls reporting sightings and made a poster.
If you see Hickory, said Creek-Kelsey, the key is to act calmly and unobtrusively. The human instinct is to call or whistle, or to try to lure a dog by putting out your hand or throwing food directly at him, but that approach isn’t likely to work, she said. Hickory is scared and on unfamiliar terrain, and is unlikely to get near humans long enough to allow himself to be captured if he is skittish.
“We have to build its trust enough for it to come to one place consistently,” said Creek-Kelsey.
Granite State Dog Recovery, a volunteer organization that tries to reunite lost dogs with their owners, recommends having with you such strong-smelling foods as hot dogs or sausages to attract a runaway dog.
If a dog does seem interested in food, throw or place it to the side of the dog, not directly in front of it. The organization, according to its website, also recommends never chasing a dog, as that dog will run away from you. The organization also says persistence and patience are key.
If you do see a dog that looks like Hickory, contact Thetford Police Chief Mike Evans, said Creek-Kelsey.
The Thetford Police Department phone number is 802-785-2200. The email address for Evans is Michael.Evans@Vermont.gov.
Nicola Smith can be reached at nsmith@vnews.com.