My apologies, I tend to try to read the post quickly, and often miss various points, but...
This is hard to explain, but there are "territorial" Pack issues which I think are involved in this situation. I don't think that the little guy was is as much jeopardy/risk as one might think.
When you get out in the country, and there are no "confined" areas, the importance and clarity of territorial boundaries (which may be rather small) are better defined to animals. I doubt if it would have crossed the road by itself, and I doubt if it was very far away from an area which/where it could protect itself. It's almost common place for a rural individual animal or Pack, to have found a location which is quite defensible against intrusion. Even the smallest within the Terrier Groups are formidable, when they can put their teeth between themselves and an aggressor and only concentrate on one avenue of attack.
Also, ha, I think someone would have been hard pressed to catch that little guy if they had gotten out of their vehicle. Country raised Dogs just think a bit farther head than those raised in a safer (city/closed yard) environment.
I just don't believe that the Dog is/was in any jeopardy or discomfort, which numerous other country animals are quite used to.
One final comment on the "situation"...
So many of us don't realize just how tough our guys really are. We feel so protective of them, just because they are small. As many of you know, I take my guys hunting (they were bread to do that) and when push comes to shove, they can (regardless of size) can hold their own extremely well. My Adult Male Sneakers frequently encounters a Male Possum twice his size, and kicks his butt on a regular basis. I know it's hard to visualize it, you just would have to see our guys in action to understand now formidable they can be.
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Magnus,
HA, it's ok to stereotype Texans, we don't mind that at all
