Frank, you are absolutely right to monitor that hole. Our North Carolina red clay holds water like a bowl.

If that hole fills up during a sudden afternoon thunderstorm, that water is going to seep straight through the brickwork and raise the relative humidity in your crawlspace. High humidity leads to sagging subfloors and wood rot. You need to temporarily fill that hole with compacted soil and slope it away from the house immediately.

Frank, when dealing with older brick piers in Wake County, one must be exceedingly cautious about shifting soil. Traditional masonry from the early twentieth century often relies on lime mortar, which is softer and more breathable than modern Portland cement.

If a large animal excavates soil from the base of a pier, it removes the lateral pressure that keeps those historic bricks in compression. I recommend placing a heavy piece of salvaged timber or a thick slate slab over the area temporarily to discourage further digging while you locate the owner.

Whenever I have digging issues around my chicken coop in Rolesville, I use nineteen-gauge hardware cloth. I bury it about twelve inches deep and flare it outward from the base of the coop structure.

No stray dog or clever raccoon can dig past that metal mesh. It is a very simple weekend project that would keep your foundation safe and still let you leave some food out for the poor pup.

Put up a temporary chain link panel. It will cost you fifty to eighty dollars at the local home improvement store.

No permits required for temporary barriers. Do not start digging trenches or pouring concrete until you know where the property line is and whether animal control is going to pick him up.

From an insurance perspective, Frank, you must document the condition of that foundation wall now. Take photos with a tape measure showing the depth of the excavation.

If that dog or any water intrusion causes structural movement, your homeowner policy may have specific exclusions for earth movement or domestic animal damage. Having a clear timeline of when the digging occurred and what mitigation steps you took is vital for any potential future discussions.

Thank you all for the swift responses. I have taken detailed photographs of the brick pier as Andy suggested, and I placed some heavy stone slabs over the hole to prevent further digging.

I also called the local shelter to report a found dog. I am hoping we can track down his home before the next big rain forecast.