It's a Bloody Miracle

The dogs have returned. On Saturday morning Rick was driving down DGR near David's and saw what he thought was a rumpled cardigan on the side of the road. That cardigan was Radar. Jamaica was hiding in the bushes nearby. Rick loaded them into the passenger seat of his truck and drove straight here. Not only did he want to reunite us but I suspect he wanted to get them out of his airspace as they both had been into carrion and stunk. When I opened the door Radar wagged his tail just once. I kissed his head finding too late that he had a putrid reek. Had to help them both to the ground. Once I saw them outside I realised why. They were walking skeletons. Very emaciated, tucked up, every rib and bone protruding. I don't think they'd eaten for ten days. Perhaps gnawed on dead things but that's not a meal.

Both of them are very footsore, especially Radar who has meat instead of paw pads in some places. He was still bleeding from one foot when he arrived. Now they just seep. At least they aren't infected. I put their coats on and gave them dry food, was wary of giving them anything rich as I didn't want to upset their stomachs. They ate and crashed. Slept solidly all afternoon. They'd get up and eat a little and then sleep some more which has been the pattern even to today, two days after they returned. The first night I didn't even disturb them for potty walks before we went to bed. They were too exhausted. Figured when they had to go they'd get up and do so which they did. Pooping has been a signficant part of their recovery. Because food is on offer ad lib they've been dumping four and five big loads daily. At least we know everything works.

Was worried about both of them but especially Radar. Thought Jamaica would be most at risk as he's the more sensitive and weaker of the two and although I think he was thinner, Radar looked the worse. He had pus in his eyes, especially the right one. But there was something else about his eyes, the light had gone out. David said it reminded him of a cow that was going to die, even after being successfully pulled from a bog. I don't think they would've lasted much longer in the wild.

We will never know where they went and what happened to them. We suspect that they did leave the valley, judging by the state of their paw pads, and that they realised they had to get home if they were going to live. Have pulled a few small grass ticks from Radar plus found a few fleas. Gave them each a Capstar tablet yesterday which should do the trick. The only thing we can do now is feed them, keep them warm and wait for them to recover their strength. It's a bloody miracle.

False Lead

It's 6am. R has just left for a day of doorkeeping at his cousin's massive garage sale. So am a bit late and can't spend too much time here as the birds need to be fed and the horses let through to the 'new' paddock.

Dogs not home yet. Had a phone call from Karen who said Elaine, who put us in touch with Radar's previous owners, had seen two whippets for sale at the Fernvale Markets. Rang Elaine but it wasn't her but someone called Val. Rang Val, yes it was a black dog and a brindle one. Heart racing. Sold for $100 each. Did the brindle dog have white on it? She couldn't remember. With more questioning it turns out they were puppies.

Elaine suggested I try some internet sites which I will this morning. We've also called people over in West Haldon in case the dogs went over Paradise, following the tracks to the other side. Am also going to try a country radio station out of Toowoomba to see if I can get something put over the airwaves.

R and I talk endlessly of how, why, where and if. There are no answers but I suppose it helps to discuss it. Their dog beds, blankets, coats and stuffed toys are all waiting on the deck for them. Finally emptied and put away Radar's water bucket as it was looking rather icky but Jamaica's is still full in case when they return they want a drink.

Radar has a bit of hybrid vigour and extra weight. Jamaica has no fat reserves and has always been the more delicate of the two. How is he coping with life on the road? He doesn't cope well with cold or rain. We've had both. We can't stop and grieve because we don't know if they're just having a big adventure and will eventually return or if they are dead. But both of them wouldn't be dead at the same time. Is one injured and the other staying with him? Were they shot for chasing cattle? Did they pick up paralysis ticks? Take baits meant for dingoes and wild dogs? The answer is we don't know and may never know. What if they never return?

Dog Gone

Rather dogs gone.  Radar and Jamaica have been missing over 24 hours now.  I suspect they bolted because of thunder.  We had a brief shower yesterday and during it I thought I heard thunder but thought it was the stereo. Should have investigated.  We've been up and down the road on foot and in the truck many times but no sign.  Yesterday afternoon, one of the neighbours, who lives high on a ridge, said she'd just seen them so we drove up there, were probably there in less than 15 minutes but they were already gone. 

Last night was cold, 2 degrees Celcius.   Jamaica feelsl the cold more than Radar.  He has a fine thin coat.  There is a dead wallaby up the road, the same one I rescued the joey from on Tuesday and took to P for raising (joey doing very well).  It hasn't been touched.  While walking around the property this morning I found another dead wallaby on the dam bank.  It is untouched but looks as though it may have been in the water as its fur is matted.  There are dog prints all around it which are of a size that could be a whippets but there is no way of knowing.   There's alot of water about so that's not a problem.  Food is.  They are city dogs at heart, used to having dinner served up morning and night.  Not sure they'd eat a wallaby or anything else for that matter unless it was in their dog bowl with gravy and kibbles.

I've rung the local council and the surgery to put in missing dog reports.  The neighbours the entire length of the road know they're missing and will ring us if they see anything.  I can't think what's happened to them.  Can't think of what else to do either.

I do know one thing.  The radio collar business is a curse.  It hasn't worked.  Radar bolted just a few days ago after a wallaby and bruised his front leg severely.  He's bolted a few times.  He's okay if he sees a wallaby that's far away but if its close he can't resist and as he's so fast the shock he gets from the fence is a fleeting one and a small price to pay for the joy of the chase.  If we didn't have the fence I suspect they'd be home by now but with it's inbuilt discouragement they aren't game to chance it.  There's a difference between ambling and dashing through.  Humans would think it through and decide the pain was worth the payoff of food and a warm bed.  But not the whippets.

The Great Escape, Jack and Dimitri

Three whistling ducks are padding across the paddock. I can often hear them in the middle of the night as they fly over. Flying ducks are quite extraordinary. They are heavy creatures with comparatively short wings which they flap hard yet they are fast, strong and fly long distances in the dark. Aeronautical design seems somewhat deficient yet they overcome this with ease.

I was driving home after dark a few weeks ago and saw a large flock of ducks flying swiftly across the night sky. What did they see from up there? How did it feel with the cold wind of their speed fresh in their nostrils? There was moonlight and I imagine the paddocks and fields and trees and black square blocks with amber lights shining was a thrilling sight in that swift silver silence.

Our whippets, Jamaica and Radar, had a view of the night last night. Sometime around three they sighted a wallaby (we suspect as wallabies have been coming down to feed on the verges now that winter frosts have killed the grass elsewhere). They must have bolted after it and being so fast hardly felt the jolt from the radio collars they wear. We got in the truck and drove the roads but they were no where in sight. They didn't come home at dark. R went to a party we'd committed to while I stayed home and listened for the sound of the sleigh bells they wear on their collars. We'd turned the fence off so if they did come home they wouldn't be zapped on the way in. R got home at 9:30 and they still hadn't returned By eleven, with frost on the ground, they were back, curled tightly in their beds as both had lost their coats. I was so relieved to see them. When I went out Radar did the oddest thing. He got out of his bed, came over with his tail scrunched between his legs and pressed his forehead against my legs. I wasn't mad at him. I wasn't mad at either of them. Disappointed yes, as now we have to chain them at 3 when the wallabies start to wander in, but not angry. Was it contrition on Radar's part, or relief at being home. It wasn't gladness at seeing me as his tail was tucked so hard. I gave him a cuddle. Smelled him. He smelled like wallaby so I can only hope the gamey smell was only because he'd gone bush and not for some more sinister reason. No blood on either of them. Radar has a sore dew claw pad and a ding on his hock. Other than that they both seem fine. Exhausted but fine.

Jack the cockatoo has improved physically. We put him on antibiotics for a week because despite there not appearing to be infection in his foot it was still sore. He's also still on coccivet. Once a poo sample has been examined this week a decision will be made whether to continue with it or not. Psychologically he's a different bird too; far more territorial and aggressive. He was on the ground last week and I went in to give him his breakfast. He wasted no time and went for me, head lowered and running fast. I caught him with my ugh boot and lifted/tossed him backwards, very gently of course but enough to thwart his advances. I had to do it five times, never violently but then again I couldn't let his challenge go unmet either. This morning when I took his breakfast in, wearing my tall ugh boots, he was on the ground. He watched but he did not challenge.

I read in the bird click files about how one woman who had a very aggressive parrot clicked every movement (lifting of the head and neck, etc) that was not aggressive. I am working on that with Jack. There is a small but significant problem; he isn't very enthusiastic about the treats. I'm using almond which seems, by a small margin, to be the most popular, sunflower seeds (which I've just started leaving out of his food bowl altogether) and pumpkin seeds. I break the almonds up into pieces and serve them on a long wooden spoon to keep fingers safe.

Just went outside and he was on the front perch. It's lovely to see him using the entire aviary. When he was unwell he pretty much stayed in one or two spots. Now he's on the ground excavating holes and using all the perches as well as climbing the cage. Losing his second toenail hasn't seemed to make a difference. Anyway, I offered almond treats and he took them but without enthusiasm. Am going to check the bird click files to see what others have used.

As for Dimitri, he's going well. He's been taking millet from my fingers as I sit on the floor. There are incremental improvements in his confidence. Each time I go onto the verandah I toss him some millet so even though he always hops down from his perch and takes off he is quicker to turn around and approach me. He has also let me come closer when cleaning the floor (on hands and knees) before he moves away. These are small things but still encouraging.

A month or so ago R built him a penthouse. Because Dimitri was falling off perches alot we grounded him. None of his perches are more than a foot off the ground. It keeps him safe but is quite sad to keep this bird of the air anchored to earth. I was trying to think of some way we could allow him some height yet keep him safe. The result was The Penthouse. We took an old compost bin, tall, black and narrow, but a wide hole in the base and smaller holes around the sides to let in light. Inside we put in a wooden ladder, cut off the top of the bin and placed a cocky cage on top. Unfortunately Dimitri disdained to use it. Yesterday we updated it; made another large hole opposite the entrance and replaced the ladder, which had a solid light blocking first 2 rungs, with another lighter one. This morning Dimitri had an explore. Was wonderful to see him up high where he could see out, yet safe. With the bottom of the cocky cage intact, save for the entrance hole, even if he jumps in fear from a perch he is not going to fall.