Jings - what a nightmare

Steve · Master

Jings - what a nightmare

Valerie · Guru

Wow, I'm panicking just reading this one! Heart in mouth stuff, but saving grace was that Harry had the sense to make his way back to where he thought you guys might be (to take care of him!!!)

Hope he gets sorted soon - think it's enough to put him off tho' ? Suppose it's something they just have no control over.

Jennifer · Big Cheese

Poor you and poor Harry. What a panic! Lucky he had his flashing light on so you could see him in the distance. Hope his feet heal up quickly and doesnt have too many trips to the vet.

FAJ · Enlightened One

Hi, Valerie - believe me, my heart was so far in my mouth that I was practically sick! I'd gone to our next-door neighbour's house to ask if she'd help us look for him. When we came out the door, he'd already been found. The relief upon seeing Steve at the front door with Harry all safe and sound was indescribable. I spent the next couple of hours sobbing and hugging him (Harry, that is, not Steve!!). Needless to say, the big boy has totally forgotten all about it now. As far as he's concerned, he ran off, he got a bit lost, now he's back again, so what's the big deal. Whereas I want to sellotape him to my person and never take my eyes off him for the rest of his life!!

Fiona

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

What a nightmare for you, that must have been. But at least you have him back safe. Lets hope you don't have to experience that again.

Siouxsie

emma · Guru

Steve and Fiona,

so glad that it all ended fairly swiftly and with as little damage to Harry as poss. I can really identify with Fiona, I was so emotional when my previous grey Charlie was found at a vetinary hospital (after a fence panel blew down and he escaped resulting in an argument with a vehicle!) that I sobbed so much that they couldn't understand a word I was saying! When we went to pick him up he wagged and acted as if nothing had happened!He was so badly hurt that we had to carry him to the car and up the stairs to bed for a week.

Did Pearly chase the deer too (but come back)? She must have wondered where Harry had gone too!

Glad all ended ok Em, Tig and Chad XX

Teresa · Enlightened One

good grief!! what an awful experience for you. now i know why i never ever let dave and daisy off the lead......i would be as distraught as you if i lost them for even a moment.

so glad it all ended well

Nicki · Big Cheese

So glad for a happy ending,could of been so different. I am so very pleased for you all.

Hugs to Harry (and to Fiona, I can imagine what sort of a state you were in)

love to the whole gang, nicki and the wee janie.x

max · Enlightened One

OH poor you, you both must have been shaking like leafs , so glad you got him back safely. it is one of the worst experiences a person can go through. When Cas did it one time I was in pieces all my husband could see was me coming across a field with a very tired greyhound and tears of relief running down my face. Take care and big hugs to you all. NORA

Suzanne · Guru

oh Fiona hon - poor you & Steve - its so scary isnt it as they can literally disappear from sight in seconds...

I can fully sympathise as you know - when Murphy ran away for 10 hrs I went through every emotion going & it still makes me well up just to think about it. I just about hugged the life out of him when I got him back (thanks to the police & lovely woman who heard Murf scratching at her door to get in...)....big hugs to Harry.

doggymental · Old Hand

How awful, I felt sick just reading it. I'm so pleased you found him so quickly but those minutes feel like hours.

Give him a big hug from me, Louise

greyluvver · GAL Membership Co-Ordinator

After such a scary experience, so glad it was a happy ending for you all. Hope Harry's foot is not too sore and gets better soon.

I think when they're in prey drive mode, unfortunately it takes over

Max has a high prey drive, especially in the darker hours. He's normally an obedient dog but the change in behaviour is evident when near the local wild life, and that's even on his lead!

Chas · Old Hand

There's a lot to be said for never letting greys off a lead. These are dogs that are bred to chase, and many of them have for the early years of their lives. Even the best trained, obedient dog who has fantastic recall will ignore everything if in pursuit.

Our three never get off lead and don't think they suffer for it.

Chas

FAJ · Enlightened One

Thanks so much for all your nice thoughts about Harry. Just a wee update on the big boy for you. The vet checked him out and he's absolutely fine, just completely knackered. He's still a bit sore on his gammy leg (an old racing injury) but it looks like his cuts are healing well already. The vet gave him an anti-inflam injection and we're shoving arnica down his throat at every opportunity. We're restricting him to tiny little potty walks till he stops limping. I think that suits him just fine - he's usually rampant to go out but when Steve took Pearly this morning, Harry didn't even raise his head from his duvet!

As for me, I've calmed down too!!

Fiona

ps: Suzanne - would you believe, I was thinking about you when Harry ran off. We only (!!!) lost him for 20 mins and that was bad enough. Heaven knows what it must have been like for all those hours that Murphy was gone.

Christine Young · GAL Newsletter Editor

Hi Fiona and Steve

Just caught up with Harry's adventure! Thank goodness he's back safe and sound and just a wee bit sore from all the exertions. Hope both of you and Harry are fine now - although I can imagine how panicky you must have felt at the time!

Christine

Fiona · Master

That must have been so scary for you, thank goodness Harry was ok. Bet he won't do that again in a hurry!

-- Edited by Fiona at 23:26, 2006-01-28

Amber · Master

Oh God that sounds awful. Isn't there anywhere you can let them off that is fully enclosed (and high enough, if your dogs are jumpers)? I'm afraid letting them run in a partially enclosed field where there are deer it's inevitable that this will happen.

I used to let mine off in area that was enclosed with a wall at the back (no access to any roads), but otherwise open - I had no idea at all there were ever any deer in these fields, which are not near any woodland so one didn't really expect them, until one day after many uneventful walks up there, Petra spotted one and a very long chase happened (OH was walking her I wasnt there). Eventually Petra was so exhausted she had to stop but OH thought she would literally collapse and die on the spot, as she isn't built for stamina. But at least she couldn't get out of the area and was OK. We never let her off in that area again once we knew there was the odd deer around.

FAJ · Enlightened One

Amber wrote:
Oh God that sounds awful. Isn't there anywhere you can let them off that is fully enclosed (and high enough, if your dogs are jumpers)? I'm afraid letting them run in a partially enclosed field where there are deer it's inevitable that this will happen.

The deer jumped over a wall into a garden but Harry didn't follow it (not sure he can be @rsed jumping!!). He actually managed to negotiate the kissing-gate at the top of the field, which is the only way in/out of the field as it is very secure. If the gate had been pulled-to then he wouldn't have been able to get out at all and so this drama wouldn't have happened.

He's absolutely fine and dandy now, I'm pleased to say, but he'll be on lead for at least a couple of weeks to rest his leggy.