I for sure can relate. I live in a rural area as well. I have a black and a chocalate. The neighbor down the road had a yellow. Everyday my chocalate would pay her a visit. They played great together. She made frequant trips to our house as well. We found out they were both crosssing the river and going into the nearest town from us. If you want to call it a town. Pop 300 Anyway they both show up missing and withing 48 hours we get a call from an elderly lady in town. She got our phone number off the collar.She said she had a chocalate and a yellow dog at her house. Come to find out. These 2 dogs were crossing the river everyday for weaks and showing up at this lady's house everyday like clockwork. Everyday they went to her house she would give them dog treats they would hang out for 20-30 minutes and them come back home. So when they came up missing again. We went straight to the ladys house. She was concerned as well because they had not made their daly visit the last couple days. I spent the next weak driving in circles looking for them. I did not sleep well because of it. Then the other neighbor further down
the road pulls in my driveway one evening. He ask me if I own a yellow or a chocalate lab. I say yes, I own the chocalate and my neighbor owns the yellow. He informed me the next time he catch's them chasing his cows. It will be the last time. I asked him when was the lst time he had seen our dogs chasing his cows. He said about 3 days ago. Why would he wait 3 days to come tell me those dogs were chasing his cows? Hmmm, I told him we have been looking for these does for days now. He just got in his truck and said. Well I hope you find them but, you better hope they don't show up st my house either. I will never be able to prove it. I'm convinved he shot our dogs and so is my neighbor. These dogs when they were together. Were inseperble and were Very Smart dogs. Sorry to ramble on but,we never saw those dogs again. I have since replaced him with another chocalate. Things are somewhat back to normal but, I still think about those dogs almost everyday. I also have developed a true dislike for a certain neighbor. Even though I can't prove it. My gut instinct tells me otherwise. I truley hope you find your dog BRM. I know what your going through believe me. Prayers sent.