March Sorrow

[The Breeder 156]

Called out on Saturday by Head-keeper, had trouble with foxes - could I help? Because it was new permission ground, I accepted right away, so at 9am Saturday morning I met a very young under-keeper, who showed me where the earths were. He had never done any terrier work before and seemed very interested. First earth we came to, my 2 Lakies were pulling hard on the lead -- a 2 holer, on the side of the bank, but lots of trees around. Put locater on my bitch - Lucy (7year old) and let her go, she found within minutes, worked the same as usual, lots of bumping, at 1.1 depth. Told the keeper it might bolt, so keep your eyes on the holes, (but I didn't think it would, due to how the bitch usually worked). Started to dig and right away came across roots and big rocks, eventually I reached the bitch. To my surprise she was laying on her side and her eyes glazed over, I quickly pulled her out, and replaced her with her daughter - Tan, the fox was in tight amoungest tree roots. While she had the fox busy, my attention was on Lucy. She had been bitten, but no more than she was used to, gave her water, left her to recover, as I thought it might have been lack of air. - Back to the fox, after another hour of cutting away roots, eventually reached Tan and finally disposed of the fox humanely. Tan, had worked well. Decided, at this time to go back to the van for coffee and sarnies. Lucy by now had bucked up, and seemed her usual self. As I was walking back to the van, I looked for Lucy, and she was again, laid on her side, eyes glazed and lifeless. So I carried her back to the van and told the keeper, I would call it a day. Arriving back home, called the Vet and he said, sounds like sugar levels could be low, give her some sugar/water, and put her under a heat lamp for the night, and see how she is in the morning. After a while, she seemed to buck up so I thought she would be OK. Unfortunately, the next morning was too late, she had died that night. I ask myself, if I had took her to the Vet straight away, would she have died? Unfortuneatly, that I will never know. It is ironic that in March last year, I lost a 4 year bitch called - Bonny, who suffocated to ground whilst working. May-be now you will all understand the reason for the topic title. It don't get any easier, losing a worker, as you get older. In fact, I find myself getting more sentimental, especially when you have bred them, brought them on and they have worked their hearts out for you, over the years. So, look after your workers and respect them, they do your bidding for you.

[dev 226]

sorry to hear about your bitch there breeder, real shame

[boothy 0]

devostated for you mate

[TRANSIT690 0]

it,s sickening bro, we lost a fantastic russell this year, never let us down

[mbrydenuk 14]

very sad mate

[liamdelaney 2,587]

Tis game is never straightworward.We lost 4 veteran dogs to ground last year 2 dogs 2 bitches got one back dead never got the others.Up to that we had not lost one for years.you just never know what is around the corner.

[felldog 5]

Sorry for your loss. Gutted for you mate.

[top terrierman 90]

its not to nice when that happens we lost a good dog to ground this season as well its a hard game

[go2ground 152]

I am sorry for your loss. Also I was wondering if heartworms are an issue over there?

[THE POACHER 13]

sorry to hear of your loss mate gutted for you

[mickb 1]

really sorry about your loss i lost 2 about three weeks since you dont no what you have got untill they have gone

[alex24muk 0]

gutted for you mate

[Forager 14]

Sorry to hear about your dog mate

lost dogs to ground myself its not nice

[No1ShottySid 0]

sorry for your loss mate

[terrier s 123]

sorry to hear about your loss mate