It shouldn't happen to a dog...

If you read my last pup-blog you'll know I was going to spill the beans on the last few turbulent weeks...

I was inoculated on the farm where I lived as a pup but 'cos Si wanted me checked by a local vet from stem to stern, I was introduced to the vets surgery at Meltham and the fine and friendly folk there. Well, I thought they were friendly until a needly thing got rammed into my neck and I nearly hit the ceiling!

Turns out that because the farm can't issue vaccination certificates and as Si was trying to get me a pet passport, I needed to be inoculated again. Ho hum, wasn't impressed but I need to go with the flow on these things as I trust Si to look after me...

But a couple of days later I wasn't feeling good, in fact I didn't want to eat or go for a walk which Si could see was well out of order... So Lizzie was despatched with me back to the vets again but they thought I just had a dodgy tum and would be OK in day or two. If only...

The next day I felt really ill and Si stayed up all night with me and looked incredibly worried. He kept stroking me and saying he'd look after me but I needed to pull through for him and keep fighting.

Next thing I knew I was bleeding out of both ends and being whisked to Halifax where another nice lady did unspeakable things in the name of keeping me alive. I don't remember much else except missing Si like crazy in the odd times I could think straight. I had tubes and pills and injections and thermometers shoved in all over me and felt very low and very sad. Had Si abandoned me? I couldn't take it if he had 'cos I love my new life in the Pennines...

But then after a desperate night without Si and Liz, I heard voices in another room and they came in! Even though I was really low and weak I managed to crank my tail into some sort of a wag and Si ran over to me. He was so upset and I wanted to say it'd be OK. The vet was telling him my organs might be permanently damaged and it was 'touch and go' whatever that meant and he seemed to get more upset but said I was in the right place to get better. Then they went and I was so gloomy and wondering whether I'd ever see them again...

It was another two days of misery before I felt a bit different. The nice lady who kept checking me over offered me a titbit of food and I nibbled a little bit. She seemed pleased and I could hear her talking on the telephone thing and saying I should go home as I was pining for Si and so stressed it was preventing recovery. Could it be true? Could I be going back to Si and the little farmhouse with the tiny field I'd grown to love?

Then Si walked into the room and I didn't have to try hard to make my tail wag – it went mad! He picked me up and gave me a massive hug before bundling me up in a blanket and taking me to the car. I still felt very rough but so amazingly happy to be going home...

The next couple of days were hard for me and Si as I was up and down. A lot of my fur fell out and I could hardly walk, eat or drink. Si stayed up with me at night which was just as well as I fell asleep with my head in the water bowl and might have choked. Finally, after 48 hours, Si said to Lizzie that he thought I was going to make it and we should try to take me out onto the hill.

The fresh air and the beauty of the hills was a tonic in itself and I wobbled around on the grass for a hundred yards or so in ecstasy. This was where I belonged – even the sheep taunting me for being slow was a joy as I was back in action! Since then, I've had a holiday in Wales, climbed Snowdon, learnt two more commands and two whistles, met loads of people and done tons of high speed mountain bike chasing. Plus, I've been out into Bala Lake in a canoe which after an initial header over the side I absolutely loved!

Apparently, I lost a bucket load of weight when I was ill and so I get fed way more than before which is cool! Still missing some fur and I get anxious if people bend down to stroke me as they might have a needle behind their back but apart from that I'm firing on all cylinders so Si says...

Jemma, Heidi, Steve and Helen at Ashfield Vets in Meltham and Halifax definitely saved my life and Si never stops praising them. It looks as if I had a reaction to the inoculation or my immunity was affected by it which allowed a vicious haemorrhagic virus to get a grip on me. Full recovery took some time and I'm still skinny compared to other collies but I've now completed all treatment and had the jabs necessary for a passport to make me an international dog of mystery...

The sheep herding training is going well, I have a couple of friends with flocks I can work with and most early mornings, me and Si take a few sheep off the road above Marsden and put them back on the hillside. Good practise for me and safer for the motorists on their way to work later in the day. Now I'm learning about directional control which I'm finding a bit difficult. It's a confusing business and Si's rubbish anyway at knowing right from left and his come byes from his aways!

Last thing is I've discovered how to make NOISE! For me this is cool but Si doesn't seem too sure. It's called barking and I'm to save it for when someone's giving Si a bad time and then to combine it with sinking my teeth into the afore said persons backside...


I'll speak again soon...