Tragedy

Thursday 8 March

There was no warning of the tragedy awaiting us when we woke to a perfect autumn Monday.    The sky was that beautiful crystal clear blue with not a cloud in site.  We spent the morning working peacefully in the garden and after lunch I collected Bo’s kids from their various schools and delivered them home.  It was foodies’ night in the restaurant, when a local wine maker gives a talk and a tasting and then we all sit down around a long table in the back room for a meal.   Edd and I were half way through the meal and relaxing with friends when Bo asked for help because there had been a dog savaging.

Ollie had been walking his dog, Gracie, on the lead past the shops when an Akita dog, tied up to the fire hydrant, attacked her.   This dog seized Gracie on the back and ripped open her abdomen.   Some men in the shop rushed out and helped Ollie by beating the dog off, but Gracie was badly wounded.   A vet nurse in the restaurant helped bandage her up and Bo’ and Ollie rushed her down to the vets but she could not be saved.  Gracie was a dear little dog with a coat as soft as silk and she was Ollie’s best friend so everyone was devastated.

Next day I helped Bo and Ollie bury Gracie and plant a rose by her head.  The ground was rock hard which made the job hard, but we took the work in turns and then took a little time to say goodbye.  Bo and I were both aware that this was a big lesson in Ollie’s’ life and we took pains to show him how life’s end is dealt with.  Silkie was also very upset.  It was the first time the kids had to face a death in the family, and this was such a terrible way for it to happen.

Luckily the whole episode was filmed on the security cameras and the other dog’s owner has told the council he will pay Bo’s vet bills and have put the dog down because it is too old to accept the conditions imposed for being declared a dangerous dog.  I hope he pays the bills and no one wants another event like this.  There have been several dog attacks in Australia this week and in one instance a chid was killed so it is a sensitive subject.