Some day I know I will have to give you up…Some day… but I want to thank the Good Lord it is not today!
As I look at your beautiful face sleeping peacefully at the moment…I think of the scars on that face. A torn ear, a black spot in one brown eyebrow from a tooth placed there by an unhappy Amarillo several years ago. Come to think of it she was never very pleased with you and I do not know why. I loved you both…but she never took to you or any male dog for that matter. I see another scar on your nose …can’t recall that one…then the white hairs over the ear…and a couple others over and around your other eye, and some on the top of your sweet head… all from my truly sweet Amarillo…sweet except when it came to you!
You are sleeping so quietly and at peace…As I watch you…I think of our amazing journey together.
Horse back riding in the mountains of Virginia…meeting up with cows, bear, deer, coyotes. Camping at Fox Creek all summer … memories of…campfires, packing in, swimming in Fox Creek, bringing me children that you thought needed correcting LOL! My that went well! Herding sheep on our farm…finding sheep on the mountain with a lantern at midnight! Herding clinics with Larry Painter…Puppies…herding trials…Turkey trialing…Finding lost ducks in the underwater cave… and in a ditch in Washington State for Elsie at a clinic (Elsie said “My what a sensible dog you are!”)…A trip clean across the the country to go to a herding clinic…staying in the lodge at Mt Rainer (slipping up the back steps) tethering you to the bed post because Marianne’s dog Neil was in heat. LOL! What a time….So many, many memories…to many to recall here…
So many left to make together!
You are the most biddable dog I have ever known… and you pass it to your puppies. Thankfully I have Two…KAT out of you and Abilene and Journey out of You and BOO…What good dogs they are!
I smile when I think of the trip Les and Richard took out to Wyoming to pick you up in Ten Sleep. They had quite a time just driving there! All the snow and cold weather. I was so excited I did not sleep for days waiting for your arrival and wondering what you would be like!
Well that was answered when Les brought you into the house and put you in my lap. You claimed me and my heart at that very moment! You are the best! I knew it ! And you my “Little Buddy” you have proved that you are my best!
My what an difficult time we had this past weekend.
Friday I was working at my computer and thinking how nice and warm it was in the house, how I might just take a nice winter’s nap on the bed and listen to the sleet… it was snowing, sleeting and freezing rain , cold and windy! Miserable weather, and then the sheep decided on a “walkabout”! My brother Kenneth called and alerted me…. Les took you and I over to the neighbors to herd the sheep back home…when the sheep saw you they headed home! You did have to work to put them back in the fence gate .
I had entered an AHBA herding trial on Saturday and Sunday with KAT (her first) … Les thought I should stay home. I agreed, then I talked to the judge and we decided the roads were not a problem so Saturday Morning KAT and I were off! KAT did well, a solid score of 83 on Turkeys Level III HTAD!!! But little did we know when we arrived home our trialing would be done for the weekend.
On Wednesday night the coyotes killed a deer (actually two) on the mountain. I knew by the sounds they made they were eating. (My sheep were safe) and I did not go check out the mountain the next day. But you checked it all out my Little Buddy! You ate your fill of bones (likely all the coyotes had left to consume) …I had no idea my dogs could ever be in this sort of danger!
Saturday evening when I arrived home…You could not go potty and was blocked. We ended up in the Emergency Vet at Winston Salem. They took good care of you and we picked you up at 2:30 PM (15 and 1/2 hours) after your admittance! We took you to North Davidson Veterinary Hospital and they took real good care of you and were able to come home Tuesday!
What happened ? My best guess:
Drover smelled the coyote kill and the only thing left was the bones. Since they were very fresh the smell awakened his wild natural instinct. He ate all he wanted! Unfortunately his colon did not wake up! His body could not process the deer bones and he was unable to go potty. It became life threatening he was full of bone fragments and the poop set up like cement ! It was not leaving ! So he had to have enemas under anesthesia. This helped him become able to evacuate on his own…Saturday to Saturday was a very hard time for all !
Turns out Les loves “My Little Buddy” as much as I do!
This was a close call. One I have no intention of repeating! We will be careful. Who knew THIS was something to be looking out for!?!
Yes Drover is just a dog. (this was pointed out to me during this difficult time) But he is more than that to me and to Les! We will get thru this , all is well…and I have learned so much…
Drover has been an awesome good boy for the Vets and their assistants. ALL have commented on how good he has been for them. And for me too! Never questioned anything I did , or the medicine I have had to give him. What a fine dog he is!
He seems much better… I am praying for a full recovery!
