It was one of those mornings when you just know that something extraordinary is about to happen and I had no idea what, but that’s what made it exciting. It seems just like yesterday when I was a puppy, at that time then, every day was like that, but the feeling has gradually waned as I’ve got older, thankfully I still get that feeling once in a while and I vigorously pursue it to the best of my ability.
I eagerly jumped into Keith’s pride and joy: The series one Land Rover.
We had company today, my masters’ daughter Kate and her three. I didn’t know exactly where we were going but I always hoped it would be “The Broomies," I loved that place.
The drive was short and my dog GPS told me we were headed in the right direction, and as soon as we had parked I jumped out and I could smell that smell that ruled my life; Fox.
Bo and Rodney were my dog friends that day, which I loved dearly and would protect with my life. Hendrix on the other hand was not in my circle of friends and he knew from recent experience to keep a healthy distance from me, as we didn’t exactly gel together. I knew I was the top dog here, and I think I’d impressed my Alpha status on him when we had a bitter personality dispute some time ago on Romney Marsh, but we respected each other for the sake of our owners and kept our mutual distances.
My Master’s leash kept me firmly in check while we walked up the hill toward the wood; the ever pervading scent of a Vixen up ahead was driving me absolutely crazy. My Master seemed quite oblivious to the aroma and he wasn’t in any hurry to get there; we slowly climbed until we reached the top, we stopped, and I was unsnapped from my lead.
I shook myself vigorously; took off and ran as fast as I ever could in my youth, but my ageing muscles burned and screamed as I raced with unblinking concentration as fast as I could toward the overbearing scent of a female fox.
I adored this feeling of a chase; every sense in my body was pinpointed on an instinct that had long since been lost by my human friends. Running toward my quarry was a feeling all of its own; in human terms it can only be described as a ‘Matrix’ moment.
I crashed through brambles and undergrowth as if they weren’t there and the pain from the thorns and sticks were stored in my memory for later that day. That smell made my nostrils prickle as if I had sniffed that pepper stuff humans use to flavour their food. I weaved in and out of the Chestnut coppice and I caught site of a tail disappearing down a Badgers Set. The blood pumped through my veins and gave me unrivalled strength, I felt like I could run forever.
I was just a second behind and if it wasn’t for catching my head on a sharp branch I would have caught her, however I rammed myself down that hole as far as I could ignoring the pain in my left eye, but I must have been a bit bigger than I used to be and I was well and truly stuck. It was dark, damp and musty; the smells of all creatures not dog were overpowering and they alerted my primordial senses, I struggled to back up but I couldn’t move; I was wedged fast like a cork in a bottle, not being able to move at all.
_
That first few hours seemed to go quite quickly, I heard my Master and Kate calling me and I barked and barked but they never came…….why couldn’t they smell me, surely if they can’t smell my scent they can smell the fox? They know my reputation for foxes, surely they must know where I am.
That was six days ago and I’m in a situation that is truly dire, I’ve never been so cold, weak, hungry and my desire for a drink was unbearable, this time I really thought I had pulled the short straw. I’d been in this situation before but this time I sensed mortal danger and I couldn’t help myself. My fate was in the hands of the Dog Gods.
I lay there for what seemed a lifetime and eventually all went silent, the wood pigeons settled into roost and I knew then that I was on my own; pigeons don’t roost if there are any humans within a half of a mile, so rescue won’t be tonight.
It was along night, and the ground seemed to hug me tighter and tighter and my eye was causing me a lot of discomfort. I wondered about my master and home; I wish I were there in my warm bed.
I could hear the creatures of the night outside and they knew I was here; the smaller ones smelled dog, sniffed and took a wide berth to keep a cautious distance. I hoped the bigger ones followed the same rule because if they knew how vulnerable I was at this moment, I would have made easy pickings.
I had a funny feeling that the Vixen was mocking me now; the ground surrounding me wreaked of Fox and my hackles rose up to mock me too…………..
I fell into a fitful sleep and dreamt.
_
I was a young dog again and I was in great demand all over Kent
I was The Dog, number one Alpha male for miles around and when ever a fox went to ground, ‘Lucky’ was the dog for the job and I was called to perform my duty. I can’t remember how many Foxes I dispatched over the years, it didn’t matter, and all I wanted was the next one.
I loved my free time as a working dog, I could do as I pleased when I was hunting but the downside to it all was my owners.
My owners weren’t pet lovers and I was there for their benefit not mine.
I learnt my first a lesson as a young dog very early. I was left outside in a pen all night in the pouring rain without food or shelter and the next morning a Burly looking man came over and beckoned me with a kindly call and an offer of meat; as he drew closer I could smell the meat he carried in his hand, I reached out to take the tasty morsel and I caught his scent, it was a mixture of wet chicken and stale tobacco; a scent I would never ever forget as long as I lived. As I was about to take the food in my mouth I buckled in agony as he smashed me with a big wooden stake, I ran whimpering to the other side of the pen and lay there for an age until the pain subsided.
I learned never to trust a man again, ever. It was all part of the process of being a working dog, and the man with a big stick was always to be obeyed, whoever he was. A man with a stick is no match for a dog, no matter how strong. I tasted that stick numerous times over the years and learnt to be submissive when it was showed; not in my nature at all as a Lakeland cross
_
Another day dawned, and throughout it I could here people calling my name, but they were too far away to hear me barking. I’d been stuck in holes before but this was somehow different, I sensed a feeling of desperation as the temperature dropped, and although I couldn’t see, I knew the snow was on its way and if it did snow, I would never be found.
I’m not sure if I was dreaming or it was my imagination, but I keep seeing things coming to get me. Some of my human friends get spooked by snakes or spiders; my real pet hate in life is fluttering birds, I just get the willies when they are near and they feel near all the time down here. I really must get a grip because I’m sure my human friends will find me; I just hope it’s very soon.
I’ve really loved my life in the last few years with my new owners; they seem to be a different breed to my previous ones who didn’t have a lot of kindness in their nature and seemed to take all of their frustrations out on their animals. It was a whole new world I lived in now. They actually let me sleep in their kennel and I have my own food and water bowl, and on occasions I get a sausage; I’ve never ever tasted anything like it and was so overcome with joy the first time I was given one, I almost felt like dancing. All this kindness I found very strange at first and it took me a long time to get used to it.
If I’m to die in this hole in the ground I’m forever grateful to my latest human friends, they are the best thing that ever to happen to me. Thank you.
Minutes ticked by and hours rolled into days, I had no idea how long I’d been down here now. I was beginning to give up all hope of being found, I was desperately cold and thirsty and was beginning to hallucinate…………..I could swear I felt people walking above me and now it sounded like a chain saw cutting trees close by, why would they be cutting trees down, am I still dreaming? I fell asleep and drifted off again…………………… in my dream I felt someone grab my tail and was pulling me out of this dreadful predicament I had gotten into. This person who was dragging me by the tail was very strong and his hands were so warm when he grabbed hold of my body, I felt myself whimper. I couldn’t hold my tongue in, it was so dry and I felt so lifeless; then someone gave me some water and I’m sure I could smell my owners nearby but I couldn’t be sure I was so tired………so tired. My memories of the next few days are lost but apparently I spent Christmas in intensive care where they had to operate and remove my left eye. I will be forever grateful for those wonderful people who rescued me from certain death and I promise never ever to go to ground after another fox.............well not until I get another chance: I'm a dog remember and I follow my instincts. Some of you humans should take note and live a little on the edge, I can thoroughly recommend. it. K.M.
Below here is the actual event printed in the local paper.
Below here is the actual event printed in the local paper.
During the rescue a local fireman stepped foward and told the story of 'Lucky's' escape some years before this event. Apparently the old dog had been here before......Lucky was euthanised after a short illness in 2011.
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