On May 23, 19 couple of Live Oak hounds made their way to Morven Park in Leesburg, Va., to show at the Virginia Foxhound Show. Live Oak MFH Daphne Wood never expected that one of her hounds—the champion crossbred hound of the Southern Hound Show in their hometown of Monticello, Fla., the month before—would end up missing in action for the next four months in Virginia hunt country.

But after he broke loose that day, Charter was on the lam until Sept. 17.

At Morven, a new show layout meant that the parking lot was farther away from the show area than it had been in past years. Two young Live Oak hounds, a female named Perfect and a male named Charter, were so frightened while waiting for their turn to be sorted into the kennels upon arrival that they bolted from the group.

Live Oak Charter (foreground) and Live Oak’s Cardiff showing together.  

“The older hounds know the drill and walked past the hundreds of other hounds barking their heads off without turning a hair,” said Wood, who, in her decades in the foxhunting world, had never experienced an episode quite like this one.

“Our hounds hunt in tracking collars, and they’re very obedient and love their huntsmen and want to be with you,” she said. “We’ve never had anything like this.”

Live Oak huntsman Dale Barnett walked the hounds out for nearly two hours after Perfect and Charter ran off, blowing his horn and calling for the escapees in vain.

“Dale arrived every morning before daylight the next four mornings and stayed around the kennel late each evening trying to find the missing puppies, to no avail,” said Wood. “Monday morning arrived, and it was time for the 14-hour drive home.

“Reward flyers, banners and posters were posted all around the neighborhood, and the Morven Park staff could not have been more helpful and supportive,” she continued. “Piedmont huntsman Spencer Allen made endless trips back to Morven Park trying to blow them in.”

A $500 reward was advertised for each hound.

A dog trap borrowed from Loudon County Animal Control (Va.) lured in Perfect just a few days after she broke loose, and it turned out she’d never left Morven Park. But Charter had fled much farther off the map.

Nancy Kleck, a local artist known for her equine portraits, had been keeping track of reported sightings of Charter. She was joined in her efforts to capture Charter by Allen, local resident Wayne Van Sant and others in the Middleburg, Va., community. Allen set out the same trap that caught Perfect near the Middleburg Tennis Club Association on Zulla Road—21 miles and several highways away from where he originally took off at Morven Park.

“What must have happened is that he crawled into the low trap, got the food and triggered the door which fell on his back but did not catch him,” said Wood. “Now we had a big problem because hounds are very smart, and we knew that now he would be trap-shy.

“By now Charter had become quite the subject on Facebook, and I was contacted by Nancy Kleck who said she was determined not to give up! I bought a trail camera for her, and we confirmed that he was staying in the area around Zulla Road,” Wood continued. “We couldn’t believe that he could have gone that far across all those busy roads, being a country bumpkin hound from Monticello.” 

Sightings revealed that the 1½-year-old dog was emaciated, frightened and had a jaw injury, most likely from a car accident or horse kick, but had indeed traveled—and survived—the long distance.

Wood bought a hog trap—4’ wide and 3’ tall—that Wayne van Sant, who was helping with the search, modified and set. Kleck gradually set Charter’s rations further and further back inside it.

“She fed him near it, then just inside the door with the doors tied up,” explained Wood. “Cooked organ meats, hot dogs, suet, burger, softened kibble and a fresh bucket of water were on offer. The trail camera told all, and we began to think we might get him.”

Charter finally came into the trap far enough to be captured on Sept. 17 and was calm while Allen handled him and brought him to Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates in Purcellvile, Va.

Charter trapped.

“[Veterinarian] Dr. Walker said he could smell him before he even saw him, and when he examined him, he found that his jaw was broken in four places, half his tongue had been cut off and the wound was old and horribly infected,” said Wood.

Charter had to stay at the vet’s office for five days to grow stronger before they felt he could withstand surgery. He was anemic due to tick disease, and when the surgery was performed on Sept. 22, portions of Charter’s jawbone and some dead teeth had to be removed. Walker rebuilt his lower jaw, and the hound will be at Blue Ridge Veterinary Associates for two weeks recovering from his surgery. He’ll then travel home to Florida. 

“Our hounds are our children,” Wood said. “We did not hesitate to make the decision to give him a chance to live even if his condition meant that he could only be a pet. We cannot thank the many people that helped with this enough and followed him on Facebook, praying for his recovery and safe return to Live Oak.”