She might be deaf ... but

by Erin Fogarty

Tutsi's slowing down.
I was concerned about this due to her back giving her a bit more grief than usual. I discussed things with her vets and between us we decided we'd stay away from the big drugs for as long as possible. She is doing well on green-lipped mussel, deer velvet and a homeopathic combination. I have anti-inflams if she has anything major happen so we're right again. The vets are getting someone in to do acupuncture so we'll give that a go, too.

 

Last night she showed her spirit beautifully. We have had a nasty turn in the weather and it has become very cold after the spring warm up so after our evening walk Tutsi asked for the fire to be lit (she sits there and whacks it with her paw). The dogs had finished dinner and were sharing the best spot in front of the fire when Tutsi suddenly jumped up, went to the window and with eyes totally bugging out was staring at the neighbours house. We were laughing at her, as she was so serious about what was going on, so when she started whimpering we thought there must be a cat on the roof. On checking we saw two young lads clambering across the neighbour's roof and onto our roof!

 

The boys were just a bit full of themselves and Bruce sorted them out by making them wait on the roof whilst he pretended to phone the police. But that Tutsi wasn't at all pleased. She was scratching at the door and whining and carrying on. I think she was miffed at not having the opportunity to "finish" what she'd begun.

 

What a splendid little guard dog she still is at 15+ years.
She might be deaf, half blind and a bit creaky but she is still taking great care of us.

 

Ed was hopeless! For the dog who can't normally keep his mouth shut he had no idea what was going on and sat safely in the lounge making small growly noises. Admittedly, he was tired out having been at the Animal Blessing Service that afternoon (and getting his picture in today's national paper). He goes every year and mostly loves the goats and the donkeys. He doesn't get blessed any more as one year he had a bit of an incident with the buddhist monk ... then the following year all was going well until he spotted the Anglican Vicar's cat just as he was about to be blessed. So now when it comes to the blessing bit we slip out of the line and exit the church through the atheist door at the side. It's the waving arms that scare him the most.

 

Well this went on a bit longer than I intended. Just had to let you all know that Tutsi is right back on form and keeping an eye on us.