When I got home late on Thursday from work there was a message on my phone from Kerry Sister. I thought she sounded a little bit upset but it was really too late to ring (they keep early hours back West).
I made something to eat and then wasted some time before checking my email and when I did I discovered the sad news that Scruffy had died earlier in the day.
I have very few photos of Scruff as he was much too dignified to allow himself to be photographed by amateurs. Here though are one or two photos taken by better photograhers than me. These two are my favourites.
I am not naturally a dog lover and became even less enamoured with them after being attacked by two dogs in Peckham one night. The several hours I spent in an A&E department waiting to have my wounds treated gave me plenty of time to think about it. Really it's dog owners that I dislike - people who encourage their dogs to be vicious or don't clean up after them or don't make allowances for the fact that some people are scared of dogs.
There are exceptions to my indiffernce to dogs though and Scruffy was one of them. He was 13 so probably would not have lived for a great deal longer but he still had plenty of life in him. He wasn't overly affectionate and was hierarchial in his affections - I was always bottom - but there was something very sweet about him.
He adored my b-in-l and, as soon as he came home, Scruff abandoned everyone else and stuck to B like glue.
On Thursday they went into the valley and started climbing. B was higher up the slope than Scruff and dislodged a stone which went tumbling down and, in a one-in-a-million chance, it hit Scruff. By the time B had carried him out of the valley and driven into town it was too late.
They are all very upset and, to add to their misery, there was further carnage in the hen house the following day.
Heartbreak all round. I think they should get a new pup immediatetly.
Oh, how miserable for poor B.
Posted by: nancyblackett | January 23, 2012 at 02:28 AM
Animals are infallible judges of character. B must be a prince among men!
Posted by: molly | January 23, 2012 at 05:09 AM
Terribly sad for all concerned but perhaps an honourable way for a terrier like Scruff to go - in action.
I was only thinking to myself yesterday what I'd do when Edwyn goes, and came to the conclusion that the only way to cope would be to have a young scamp of a pup to keep my mind and hands occupied........but I do know lots of people feel so heartbroken it takes a while to persuade......
Posted by: Edwynuk.wordpress.com | January 24, 2012 at 03:32 PM
How true that comment is. It was an honourable way for Scruff. I don't think Scruff ever had his integrity compromised. He was a dude and a mensch.
Posted by: Nelly | January 24, 2012 at 07:56 PM
What a gorgeous dog - how sad. I fell in love with a JRT in the rescue this very day, but somebody had already reserved her. Excellent dogs.
Posted by: Flora Fauna Dinner | January 25, 2012 at 06:19 PM
Macy the Jack Russell is alive and well. It was Scruff who died. I do agree about JRT even though when I was a child I found them yappy and the kind of dogs who would nip your ankle as soon as look at you.
Posted by: ganching | January 25, 2012 at 11:01 PM
Oh sorry, I thought Scruff was a rough-haired JRT. What was he?
Posted by: Flora Fauna Dinner | January 27, 2012 at 06:15 PM
Flora for some reason your last comment is not appearing on this blog but to answer your question Scruff's father was a wiry haired terrier and his mother was a mix of collie and terrier. He was a lovely dog and very cool.
Posted by: ganching | January 27, 2012 at 10:45 PM
Update: comment now appearing - weird.
Posted by: ganching | January 27, 2012 at 10:47 PM
Aw, what a nice mix - a one of a kind!
Posted by: Flora Fauna Dinner | January 29, 2012 at 10:50 AM