A good "safety" exercise to practice is a command that tells your dog treats are in the offing, and use it at irregular intervals when you are walking. Combine the command with a total release of pressure on the leash, preferably when your dog has firm tension on said leash. Then if something unexpected happens you have a built in reaction of the dog to look to you for a reward. This won't work if your dog is pursuing a major distraction, but should give you an edge if you have an equipment failure in otherwise neutral conditions. (you can carry this one step further by "accidentally" dropping the leash in a controlled area, or with a light line attached for safety, and practice until the dog turns to you when it feels a total release)
Have you contacted vet offices and low cost neuter/spay clinics? Since he is intact and someone may be keeping him, the finder may go and have him neutered.
Jennifer
Don't give up hope; I thought one of my other dogs was dead earlier this year, (he's a deaf staffy); he was lost during the week of the blizzard… I said many prayers, and I live in a farming community, w/the help of a wonderful friend, and many prayers Jack made it home safely... a little thin, raw paw pads, but he came home alive (and yes the fence was fixed). I'll keep ya's in my prayers.