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Saturday before day break we dumped seven eager hounds on the road, took about an hour before Maggie started whipping her tail indicating a cat had been here. The dogs all worked weak cat scent on & off the road for the next mile or so with very little barking. There had been no indication the track was getting better, when the dogs entered the brush & and very quickly the hills erupted with hound music, shortly after they were jumped, the next 45 minutes or so there were jumps and loses with different hounds getting picks & we were able to hear most of the action as we followed in our rigs. There was about a 5 minute lose just above us, then a young hound indicated she had found the cat, buddy was quick to join her & Tom saw Buddy & two youngsters drive the cat across the road behind us. The next 10 minutes a good race took place with all helping out, then another short lose, Bo got the pick and was putting the heat on and heading in my direction. A cat crossed the road , mouth wide open, Bo then Maggie and penny were close behind. 140 yds. later Bo then Maggie started locating. I was thinking perfect morning.
All hounds had crossed the road & joined Bo & Maggie, shortly afterward Tom communicated to me we were in real trouble. Maggie, TJ & Buddy had gone into a very dangerous rock pile & he could hear them baying but no way to get to them. That had taken place at 10 am Saturday morning, late Saturday evening I cell phone Warner 5 to see if he would be willing to assist us. He knew the location, had ran a cat in the same rock pile years before & also feared he would never see his hound again, but she had got out on her own.
Sunday morning 7 am, we arrived at the rock, Warner and son were waiting there for us & Maggie had found a way out. Big relief, but had to figure why buddy & tj were still trapped. We heard digging & some whines, indicating they were desperate. We spent a couple hours trying to think of a way to help but it seemed we were helpless.
11 am feeling desperate, I went to town looking for more help, by luck ran into Josh Thompson & Chris Byrd returning from a hunt. Both quickly offered to see if they could help. We arrived at the rock Chris & Josh looked the situation over for a bit, Chris enter the small opening worked his way out of sight, relayed back he was very close to them and no way were they going to get out on their there own, but, he could not get to them. Chris came out of the hole sat very quite for the next 5 minutes, saying I need to get some balls, he entered the hole and a few minutes later hollered for josh to crawl in and drop a rope to him he had a dog in hand. Josh pulled as Chris pushed as TJ then Buddy were saved from a sure death hole. Chris assured us Maggie had not gone in as far as TJ & Buddy or she would have never got out on her own. Said those two were trying to climb up a ten foot rock, he was able to find foot holts to scale down and recuse them. He suspected they had dropped into that hole by accident, as it was a strait drop off. Josh is one good, tough young hunter, & a mentor to Chris, but, he praised Chris saying he could have never got twisted around as Chris had to rescue those hounds. After the hounds were safe Tom did as he had said and with help, filled that small opening with large rocks to prevent another hound from entering, but, also being very careful to make sure the cat had a space to enter & exit the dwelling. Chris & Josh have balls! Words cannot express how grateful Tom & I are to Chris Byrd, Josh Thompson, John Warner & son.. Al

Al, you are very lucky to know friends like these. My congratulations to all for getting the hounds out safe.

My hat is off to all that helped also. Sound like some pretty good guys to have around. Andy

Al,Chris sounds like he would be the type of hunting partner we would all like to have.When he crawled in that hole he put his life on the line.A helluva man! Sounds like a great bunch of guys

u should have called Al. anytime day or night I will be there. my dad and I were hunting sunday morning and jon sent me a text. never mentioned anything about the trouble. I even told my dad , what the hell is jon doing up so early. lol. good job powers crew. not much I could have done in that situation im to fat to fit in holes and scared of hights to boot.

jc

Well JC, even a rescue job needs a good cheer leader so i aint buying your excuses.
Good job guys i am sure Al would of done anything he could do to help you out if the predicament was reversed.

Blue & Andy you are sure correct very lucky to have those hunters as friends. Robin, Chris sure made a lasting impression on me, one heck of a man, anyone blessed that has him as a hunting partner. Jc sure appreciate your offer. Truth is I did not think anyone could get in to rescue those dogs. Tom had placed a call to a search & rescue unit, explained the situation & they were not sure it was a situation they would be willing to attempt. Mark I was mostly a cheerleader, talking trying to keep mind off the grim situation, I have an injured knee and had to use a walking stick to make it to the rock, after tom brushed a trail, so you can guess how much help I was. I don/t mean to sound too soft, but have to believe, a higher power was in those dogs corner. Buddy has spent time at my place and is a favorite of the wife, she informed me she had prayed for him. Al

Be nice if we all took this to heart and helped any houndsmen/women and sportsmen in general. Al, you have a great group of guys in your company and my hats off to them.

So glad that you got your dogs back Albert! Those boys would do nearly anything that you asked as they both have so much respect for you. You have always been there for advice and good conversation. Feel free to borrow Josh & Chris anytime lol!

1bludawg wrote:Al,Chris sounds like he would be the type of hunting partner we would all like to have.When he crawled in that hole he put his life on the line.A helluva man! Sounds like a great bunch of guys

I can only say "amen!" to this and all the high compliments for these young men. I am assuming Amy is Josh's mom, and men like these are always a reflection of the way they were raised. You must be very proud.

Robin is right about Chris putting his life on the line, and I think it all has some deeply spiritual significance. I cant help it but that 5 minutes of Chris sitting silently reflecting is like Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane when he sweat great drops of blood knowing that he was born for this moment of sacrifice. He was wishing there was some way out of doing this thing, but knowing there was no way out because of who he was. Interesting there is only one letter of difference between Christ and Chris: the cross. One of them said the following, but both of them demonstrated it: "Greater love has no one than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends".

This is a story that needs to be told and re-told to children, grand children and great grand children.

Thank you for sharing it Al. It is a source of inspiration and encouragement.

I wanted to say also, it is awfully good to hear something of Jon Warner. Sure have missed him around here. It is just nice to be able to picture him out there still a goin' and still helping folks out.

David, Amy is Josh/s wife, & sure the type wife Josh/s needs the way he loves to hunt. Chris & Amy are cousins. It certainly took a lot of courage from Chris to rescue those dogs. Just so others know that hunt that area, John was not certain if that was the same hole as his dog entered, or another one very close after arriving. Don/t believe a hound can get in that one, but could be another very near. I have never had enough respect for the rock areas until now. Been lucky, always been able to get the dogs out safe. When weather breaks plan to spend some time with Josh on a project that hopeful will be a help to he & Chris. Thanks to all again. Al

al baldwin wrote:David, Amy is Josh/s wife, Al

Sorry Amy, It's not that you look like his mother, because I cant see you. But your response just seemed more mature than I would expect from a young "hunter's widow". You are to be commended as well. Thank you for your generosity with what means most to you.

Ahaha! We all got a great laugh out of this! Although sometimes I feel like his mother, I am the "widow" lol! His mother is pretty amazing though. She raised 5 boys!