Anchor Struck

I very much appreciate the condolences readers have extended Jude and I for the loss of our beloved Slinkee.  Her obituary dwelled only on her good points, as obits are wont to do.  But Anonymous brought up a valid point: “You forgot about the chickens.”

Point taken, Anonymous.  I didn’t forget so much as selectively remember.  So here’s the full disclosure.  I don’t think Slinkee would mind.  She didn’t much care what others thought of her.

About five years ago, Jude and I started keeping chickens.  Slinkee took an immediate and unhealthy interest in them.  We did our best to keep them protected, but they are adept at finding breaches in our netting fences.  Sometimes we found the escapees first, sometimes Slinkee did.  Over the years she killed at least eight of them.

I blogged about two incidents here and here.  Her worst infraction was the day she whacked three hens who got too close to the fencing.  As angry as I was at her at those times, I had to remember that she was merely following her canine instincts.

Jude worked with her to tame that streak, but she couldn’t train it out.  Just a few months ago, Slinkee went after a grouse caught in some netting.

Her faults lie gently on her.  When Jude and I would come home at night, she would go in the house first and let Slinkee out to pee.  I would call out to her in the dark and she would come full-throttle to me like she hadn’t seen me in ages.  I miss that most.

Our cat Ollie still misses her, too.  A friend came by two days ago with his really small dog.  Ollie, an imposing 18 pounds, tried to play with her, but merely scared her back to her master.

But help is on the way, Ollie.  We have found a puppy we think will be perfect for the farm.  She should be here in a few weeks.  Stay tuned.