[Bionic]

We had been out all day yesterday and arrived home to find a strange 'hound' wandering about the place. He seemed friendly enough but was in a terrible condition. No hair on his buttocks or his elbows, small wounds on his face and head and looked as if he needed a good bath. He wasn't wearing a collar.
 
He stood quietly while I put a lead round his neck and then I walked him down to our nearest neighbours, a few mins away, to see if they recognised him. They gave several suggestions so I walked him back home while OH took the car to see one of the 'suggestions'.
 
I put him in the stable a fed him, he seemed ravenous, nearly knocking the food out of my hands.
 
The upshot was that he belongs to the local hunt master. The daughter, a teenager, had taken him with her earlier that afternoon when she went out with the horses and 'doesn't remember' if she brought him home or not  .
 
Anyway, mum and daughter turned up in a van to get Buster back.
 
I told them that I had fed him, they said thanks and went.
 
Now I am feeling quilty that I didn't say anything about the condition he was in. 
 
Sally

[Old Shep]

I get the impression that hounds are treated fairly much as "stock" in comparison to pet dogs.  We once came across a stray hound in the Lake District running down a road, which then ran off over some fields.  2 or 3 miles later we came across the hunt - told someone (who looked like they were involved) that there was one miles down the road and they weren't at all bothered, and were a bit cross with us for telling them  .  Got the impression that if they can't keep up they don't really want them back 

[HappyHippy]

Some folk don't want to know Sally 
 
I spent most of yesterday rounding up a pygmy goat and micro pig at a local farm and then trying to track down the owner. Found the owner (who had lost both animals a week ago      ) and returned them. I tried to explain that an uncastrated boar would wander if/when he smelt female pigs in season, but they were confident this was the first time he'd broken out ('til I reminded them of the last time  )
 
So, although 'we' (you, me, anybody who cares about helping folk  ) think we're just trying to help - some folk either think they know it all, or just don't want the hassle of doing it right.
Karen 

[SallyintNorth]

The huntsman doesn't rest or sleep until all of his hounds are home. 

While the hounds are casting, some will quietly follow trails on their own.  If they come across a live scent they will call the pack. 

The hounds will all regroup at the end of the day - or before - when the huntsman calls them home.

Hounds which hunt will get nicks and scrapes on faces, legs, etc.

Hounds are working dogs, live in kennels in their pack, and work tirelessly for many many miles when out.  They'll be clean when - and probably only when - they are at a show! 

Bare patches on elbows probably means it's been lying on a hard surface.  A lot of pet dogs get this, just from lying on the carpet in front of the fire!    (So it doesn't necessarily mean it has to lie on concrete.)

I can't think of an explanation for bare buttocks - maybe the hound got nettled or something while it was out and rubbed itself raw?

[Bionic]

As Shep has said it seems these dogs are regarded more as stock than pets, something that I am not used to yet.
The couple my OH were sent to see (it turned out this was the hunt masters parents) said 'oh, you should have just left him. They will call him when they realise he is missing'. I am assuming this I was just worrying for nothing.
Whatever ailments I thought he had he seemed happy enough.
 
Thanks for all your comments.
 
Sally 

[robert waddell]

so you like micro pigs after all then karen

[SallyintNorth]

As Shep has said it seems these dogs are regarded more as stock than pets, something that I am not used to yet.

They're not pets, no, they're working dogs.  But that doesn't mean they aren't cared about and for.

They're bred and trained to be independent and capable of handling themselves running miles cross country - therefore no-one that knows them will be concerned for their welfare or well-being if they are unhurt, just loose in the countryside.  Of course one would be concerned about a pet in these circumstances - it could cause a problem with stock, get shot, cause an accident, get run over, etc, etc.  A hound is wise in the ways of the countryside and will get itself to safety as long as it has breath in its body to do so!

I would, however, say that you should have been thanked for your concern and the information - when hounds do get out of their known territory (and/or out of petrol to get home!), the huntsman will always be very glad to hear a report if its whereabouts.  So, on their behalf, I say thank you 

[jaykay]

The huntsmen round here search incessantly for a missing dog.


The facial wounds were maybe scrapping between the dogs?

[HappyHippy]

so you like micro pigs after all then karen

I like all pigs    but I just wouldn't choose to keep or breed micro's and want people to know that they're not gonna stay micro much past 6 months old 
 
Can I just be clear that the main reason I've been so outspoken in the past isn't because of the pigs (they can't help that they're in that situation after all) it's because of the way they are portrayed - no pig likes living in a house without other pigs for company    and because of the lack of basic knowledge many breeders have (hence passed on to the folk who are buying them) and the less than proffessional way they conduct themselves when it comes to animal welfare and recording of movements, deaths etc etc etc.
 
I didn't like the look of that one though - had the face of a wild boar/Tamworth cross and a kinda scraggy body, not as pretty as any of the pedigree breeds    But he's someone's pet and they love him, so that's the main thing.
 
So long as he stays away from mine there won't be any trouble