Thinking of " Lady "

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

I've had one of the fullest, most varied days today. I went off on safari with the rifle for most of the afternoon and evening, popping back home to feed my own Dogs. And I saw great things and have stories to tell. Only, ye'll have to forgive me but, I'm just not in the mood to regail ye with any of my stories tonight. I just want to get this one off my chest, if I may?

 

My mate, Pat, lives up on the road. His place is as the local farmers prefer their places to be these days; On the highest ground. Brand new and purpose built. Great, sweeping expanse of lawn running down to the country road below. The road which demarc's the new houses above and the fields to bog below.

 

He's probably the lovliest guy I know. Have Ever known? Dark. Softly spoken. Modest. Yet with a sense of physical power about him. Females adore him and I just think he's a f*ckin lovely bloke. Good, honest, hardworking family man. True backbone of rural Eire. A real pleasure to know as a friend.

 

Typical sort - I find - to own one of the sweetest, dinkiest, adorable little pet JR's. " Lady ". She's a typical 'Jack Russell' of these parts - I can't speak for elsewhere. Barely six inches to the shoulder, if that. Not much more than a foot long - if That! And the soul mate of his tiny, youngest daughter. Were she not, I'd have long since instigated plans to convince Pat the tiny terrier would be better off down here with me, and I'd have carried her round in my pocket for company. I Love this sweet little Dog and she always likes to come and meet me, when I'm out down the road with the rifle, knowing I'll stop and spend some quality time with her. Many's the time I've lost myself, just sitting on the grass, rubbing her belly and both of us having fun as she's jumped all over me in return.

 

Of course, I'd always pick her up if a motor approached. And it always worried me if she'd try to follow me any way along the road as I moved on. But it's generally not too busy a road, leading from no where in particular to not much else, as it does. But we still get the odd screaming idiot. Boy racers don't only appear in british inner cities.

 

Well, pretty obvious where all this is heading, isn't it? So I'll get on with it: As I was approaching Pat's place this afternoon I was concentrating completely on the basin of land to my left. That meant my Tinnatus wracked ear was facing straight down the road, towards Pats. My eyes never left the land as I walked 'with the traffic' and only when I heard a motor approaching from behind me did I step onto the verge and openly present my broken rifle, barrel backwards, hung loose in hand at my side. As non threatening as a man with a slingless gun can appear. A smile and a nod to the passing motorist and back to scanning the land as I trod slowly along.

 

I wasn't even concious that I'd drawn level with Pat's gateway. I wasn't concious of anything much. Nice, late afternoon. Could be Grays down there. I was perfectly focused. Hunting, in the truest sense of the word.

 

More sixth sense that ravaged hearing made me look sharply to my foreward right. There was the gray motor, just about level with Pats gateway. Lady, already down the drive, out the gate and on the grass. I drew breath. In that time Lady was in front of the very bumper of that motor, coming in fast and the drivers side wheel so close. " Lady! For f*ck sake! Watch out for that ....." Motor? Wheel? I don't know quite what I was trying to yell at her. I only got as far as " Lady! For f ..... ". And, in the split second that I thought she'd actually made it. As the driver - with Absolutely Collossal speed of reaction - slammed both pedals to the floor, so Lady went down beneath the leading edge of that tyre.

 

She writhed and turned once on the road and I was with her. I ran my hands quickly and gently over her and lifted her to cradle in my arm even as I waved away the driver with the other. But she only moved on a length or two before stopping again so I went to assure her; I'd seen every split second of it. There was Absolutely Nothing more she could have done. She was entirely blameless. It happens that I know this lady. She lives down in town and has given me a lift in a couple of times. Thankfully, as I'd noted then, she's one of our slowest and most careful drivers on that country road.

 

I carried Lady up the drive, she lay still in my arms but was alive and her big, brown eyes never left my face. Mary bid me take her to the big shed where I found her a large, low, soft cushion and gently laid her on it. I then made a more thorough examination. Thankfully, she had movement in and could apply pressure with all four limbs, so I knew her spine wasn't broken, nor were her legs. In fact, superficially, all she had was a couple of road grit digs. But she was plainly going fast into shock.

 

As soon as I was satisfied there was no more I could do I took off my jacket and covered all but her eyes and muzzle. Mary slipped out for a moment to do something and I siezed that chance to kiss my little friend gently on the head and have a quick word with her in private. Then Mary was back, insisting I keep my jacket and instead producing a quilted work shirt - even better anyway - to keep the little mite warm, as I was instructing she needed.

 

Mary said Pat would decide what was to be, when he got back, and there was really nothing more I could do but leave my friends family to themselves and get on my way.

 

My mood actually led me off on probably the biggest safari I've ever taken on this land. I wandered miles and saw wonderous things. Then I drifted home. Fed my own Dogs and sat at this thing. For five whole empty, distracted seconds, before throwing my jacket back on, grabbing my rifle and going back out to 'patrol' my usual route towards Pat's.

 

Stopping by for our now customary chat, Pat told me Lady was with the local vet. Do I even need to tell ye that the first words out of that b*stards mouth had been: " We'll have to put her on a drip. " ?!

 

They suspect an internal rupture. Apparrently her lower stomach area had quite ballooned by then. So they've doped her. Caged her and - if she's alive in the morning - they'll open her up and see what's what in there.

 

So many mixed emotions tonight then. Whilst Pat probably views that little Dog much as he would a kiddies pet rabbit, he's still completely accepting that he'll simply pay what ever it costs to put her right. Perhaps that's the one piece of good in all this? Too many here would have viewed an injured Dog and a friend with a rifle to hand as a fortuitious turn out of events.

 

Ten in the morning, they told him, they intend to look - If she's still alive. I'll not know anything till much later. For tonight? There's one desperately unhappy little girl up that hill. And, down here, thinking of her and our mutual little friend, is one not much better old man.

 

That little Dog just wanted to be scratched, tickled and told how lovely she was. Where in gods name will it all end?

[rabitin girl 16]

I really hope Lady pulls through Ditch .

[Bosun11 537]

Ditch, what a wonderful write-up to an unfortunate incident, its quite obvious how much it would mean if that little dog pulls through.

Keepin my (usually un-supersticious) fingers crossed for all three of ye today.

[ade33uk 86]

Ditch this is exactly why i never want to see you leave this forum . if i or any body else had written that piece it would have been ...

 

mates dog got knocked down today by some idiot driving her car to fast took it to the vets were the vet screwed him over . will let you know how it gets on ....

 

and that would have been it , but you have drawn me in and i feel i know what the countryside is like ,i saw the little dog getting hit ,and i know what the owners are feeling . when you get round to writing a book it will be a best seller .

all the best to little dog hope she makes a full recovery .

[Kay 3,709]

Fingers crossed for Lady

[stone-cold 0]

your an intelligent man ditch and its a pleasure to read your posts,and i sincerely hope the poor little soul pulls through

[Guest Ditch_Shitter]

Just got back from Pat's place. His van was pulling in next to the house as I came up the road. I didn't want to intrude so walked on down to his farm yard, where we habitually meet and talk.

 

At first, on hearing voices, normal voices, I was hoping that Pat had come across the paddock in line with me and was now discussing some mundane matter with a visitor. It was a radio. He often seems to leave one on down there. So I stood around. Feeling awkward. Determined not to intrude. Desperate for news.

 

Then my good ear did pick up voices. This time coming from the house. I moved through the gap and saw Pat up by the fence. He was with his older daughter and had some low, white box. Grocerys, I figured. I think he passed it to her as I approached. I think she'd gone away, into the house by the time I reached him. He was standing facing toward me. But his arms were braced wide on the fence. His head down.

 

I called out, " How is she? ". And, with that, I must have been within eight foot of him. That's when he looked up. I've never before seen Pat's eyes appear so pale and watery blue. It was the accentuation of the two red circles they now resided in as he simply said to me: " She's dead. "

 

With a cry of anguish I just turned on my heel and walked away, back the way I'd come. As luck would have it, Pat's two younger chavies were coming up through the farm yard as I staggered down through it. I guess they'll have asked their Dad why the man with the gun was crying.

 

I'm crying now. Drinking whiskey. Crying. Thinking of that sweet little Dog who just wanted her bit of fuss and love.

 

I think there'll be a lot of tears shed on this townland today.

[Guest oneredtrim]

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Edited April 24, 2008 by oneredtrim

[Ossie 11]

poor little Lady. my thoughts are with all concerned. lost our tiny russell cross bitch on thursday, didn't come out of the kennel in the morning when me & dad let the dogs out... at least she went the right way, at 14 years old, quietly & with no vets involved.

poor little lady, she'll leave a huge hole in everyones hearts. x

[rabitin girl 16]

Real shame she didnt pull through RIP Lady

[Coney 3]

All I can say is what a tragic accident and a real sad ending, feelings go out to all concerned.

 

Regards

Coney.

[Guest BLUEBUNNIE]

rip lady

[littlefish 588]

Ditch - that is such a sad, sad story, a real heartfelt tribute to somesones little scrap of a dog, i'm sure she will be missed.

 

I hit a dog one day in my car, a farm collie, it just ran out of a hedge and under the front of the wheels. It got up and ran on home, but I tell you, I was in a state of shock. It can happen so quickly with such tragic consequences.

[dogs-n-natives 1,182]

Ditch this is exactly why i never want to see you leave this forum . but you have drawn me in and i feel i know what the countryside is like ,i saw the little dog getting hit ,and i know what the owners are feeling . when you get round to writing a book it will be a best seller .

Totally agree with you there ade.

I know from sad experience how hard it is losing a good dog.

Chin-up mate.

[scottishlass 57]

what a sad story hope she pulls through