I know from personal experience. A couple of years ago, I took my dogs with me, as usual, to lock up the hen house after dark. I didn't realize that one of my dogs followed me out the back gate. After locking up, I came back in the gate and closed it behind me, with him still back there, not realizing. About an hour later it occurred to me that I hadn't seen or heard from him in a while, and went out to call him in. Nothing. That's when I realized what happened. I went out back and called him. Nothing. He was gone.
Went driving the neighborhood at night for a while. Nothing. It's a horrible feeling, for sure.
Then I got a text from an all night vet telling me they have my dog. A cop found him roaming the neighborhood and brought him there. They detected the chip and texted me on my phone. Happy ending. Hoping and praying for one in your case, too.
