Ive seldom retired a lurcher due to old age,the majority of mine have still hunted into at least their 5th season and much more,the recent mis-fortunes ive encountered have been the type which we seldom encounter,sods law,a Duracel battery would have been less durable in these isolated instances.Im thinking of putting the dog over an Eiderdown and the ones i keep will never get out of their bed,the way my lucks running at the moment a bed bug will throttle them.Ope you get sorted..