Thank you to all who know more about this stuff than I do. As many have stated, then she must have been on her way back. Hopefully Todd is/was too and is nearby.

Great question Susan. While any breed can track, training is essential. Most dogs really love tracking and the training that goes with it. Perhaps we should start a separate thread on tracking with our dogs. You've hit the nail on the head that they need a command and to know what is expected of the command. I do competition tracking with my two dogs and when I say search their noses hit the ground looking for the scent.

DAY #22 UPDATE

"I'm still hopeful. As my friend says, until there's other evidence, we have to remain hopeful," Hofflander said. She said her husband's friends and brother plan to take the dog back to the place Todd Hofflander was last seen, hoping she might be able to lead them in the right direction.

PONDERS COMMENT -

Now they are on a possibly good plan. When Todd left McGaffey Cow Camp, he was on his way down to Sheep Creek. His path should be from A-B-C-D. Keep giving Ruby scent and encouragement at every fork in the trail. She is probably the best shot Todd has.


WAYPOINTS: Input these points into http://mapper.acme.com/

A. McGaffey Cow Camp - N45.40571 W116.55649
B. Intersection of TRL 58 & TRL 140 - N45.40398 W116.55151
C. Intersection of TRL 58 & TRL 53 - N45.41177 W116.52357
D. Intersection of TRL 53 and Sheep Creek - N45.40508 W116.52366
E. GOAL – Sheep Creek Cabin - N45.46877 W116.55383
F. RUBY FOUND - On 10/15/10 - N45.34699 W116.49237
G. WINDY SADDLE - THE START OF THE HIKE - N45.349509 W116.512113

Ponder -- I dropped those points into the mapping software that came with my Garmin and from there viewed it in GoogleEarth -- wow, pretty steep & rugged between McGaffey Cow Camp and where they found Ruby, yet Ruby was less than a mile from Windy Saddle.

Being they found her near where the hike started, predicting where Todd Hofflander could be based on finding Ruby will still be challenging.

According to this news report, the search that was resumed after the dog was found has once again been suspended.

I was reading somewhere that there are tracking dogs that are trained to find lost pets. I wonder if there would be some value in hiring one of them?

This is one based in Seattle: http://www.missingpetpartnership.org/
Don't know a thing about them.

Sue

DAY 55 AND STORY GETTING COLD AS THE WEATHER

The search has long ended for a number of reasons.

1. Todd didn't help by carrying a PLB or any other method of signaling.

2. The search area is too rugged and remote without air support and it related costs.

3. Search & Rescue, law enforcement and the media did little to keep the search in the publics face.

The lesson for the backcountry traveler is clear. Eliminate the need for SEARCH and be prepared to survive until the RESCUE occurs.

And perhaps, #4 - At this point, there is only a very small probability that he will be alive.

A lot of searches get terminated at this point, even when fully publicized. Informal efforts can continue for years.....

why were tax $ even CONSIDERED for spending to find a lost dog?

It is law enforcement and SAR's responsibility and focus to find people...not act as a publicist for the lost person and the search when there is nothing new to publicize.

This person disappeared in a fairly remote and rugged area that unfortunately like too many searches came up empty handed despite all the time and SAR resources devoted to the search.

You cannot blame the media either. It is their responsibility to report on the information provided and if that information is no longer forthcoming, then there is nothing to keep in the "publics face."

Had the family and friends of the missing person wanted to keep the search going and attempt to keep it in the public eye, there are other alternatives including hiring private searchers, pilots and a publicist...which has been done more then once when people go missing whether it be like in this case or similar.