My terrier killed in badger sett

[JohnnyJones]

This happened yesterday. I am so upset. I don't know why I want to share this with a car forum but I don't really use any more suitable ones.

This may upset you so please go and read something cheerful if you would rather.

I have (had) 3 terriers. One is easy, a little border, she is a happy little dog and no real trouble.

The other 2 are hard work. Lakeland terriers from working lines. I've lost track of the amount of times they've disappeared for the night. The male is 5, the female 4. I live in rural Cheshire and live on a couple of acres. I work from home and the dogs have a lot of freedom, they need it being so lively. But this spring they started coming back wounded. They had discovered badgers. I took more care not to lose them, even buying GPS tracker collars for them. They went missing a few weeks ago, I walked for hours in the fields and woods around the house and finally came across the dog standing over a badger sett a couple of fields away from the house. The bh came out after a while badly wounded. It took a couple of weeks to heal, all around her lower jaw.

I was out with them yesterday morning just behind the house and they gave me the slip. I tried the tracker which was on the dog but no response. I started to walk, checking all the usual haunts. I tried the badger sett mentioned above. No sign. The handyman / gardner for an aged landowner neighbour is a friend so I called him, he started to do the rounds of his land. No sign.

I went back to the first place I had checked, the sett. Fresh pawprints and signs of digging. I stuck my head in and shouted. The dog came out, full of fight, teeth bared, rigid with anger and adrenaline. Then the bh a couple of minutes later. Fine, but without a throat. No arterial damage, windpipe fine but exposed jawbone from front to back, flesh all torn away.

So to the vet. They rang me after a couple of hours to say that the best they could do would be a cost of 4 - 6 grand and the dog hospitalised for 18 months to 2 years. So with a heavy heart I went back to the vets. Meg was pleased to see me, she licked my ear and her little tail wagged away as the needle went in. And then she fell asleep in my arms. I went down to the woods near the river where we go for walks and buried her.

RIP little one. I heard heaven is full of rats so you'll be busy up there.

Edited by JohnnyJones on Friday 29th April 11:29

[JohnnyJones]

nobodyknows said:

Oh you poor bugger, so sorry to hear that.

How is the other one coping?

They were soul mates if there's such a thing for dogs, she'd had 2 litters with him and they were inseperable. I brought her body back, laid it out on the lawn and opened the house door so he could go and find her. He sniffed a bit and came and jumped at me. I was crying and told him there was nothing I could do. He went back for another sniff and I wrapped her in a blanket. Then my partner Helen and I took him with us to bury her. He looked very solemn.

Last night he stayed on her spot on the sofa with his nose in her blanket. I couldn't sleep so got up early and took him for a walk. He chased a rabbit and displayed a bit of interest in stuff. Back at home now and he's morose and keeps standing looking at me. I think he'll be ok. I'm glad I brought the body back to show him.

[JohnnyJones]

Mal79 said:

I'm sorry for the loss of your terrier, it must be awful. I'm also sorry for the badger/s as unlike your dog they won't get medical attention and if badly injured will die a slow and agonising death.

Please try control your dogs more in future, for your and their sake as well as our wildlife.

I'm well aware of that. The one who died yesterday was the ringleader in these exploits so I don't think there'll be a problem anymore.

[JohnnyJones]

Post deleted.

Edited by JohnnyJones on Friday 29th April 12:19

[JohnnyJones]

Thanks for all the kind thoughts, it has helped.

I've lost human friends and relatives and not been this upset. I walked her mate for a good 3 hours yesterday and cried for most of it. I know time will ease it but I wish it would hurry up.

[JohnnyJones]

Iphone double post

Edited by JohnnyJones on Saturday 30th April 08:28

[JohnnyJones]

bexVN said:

We often have a much closer bond with our four legged friends than our two legged ones.

So sorry again, it will take time, try and remember the fun times, don't dwell on the last couple of days. Hope her mate is doing ok

He's doing ok, he keeps looking at me and jumping at me like he wants something but he'll be ok.

I'm the worst, I keep crying and blaming myself. But you can never let the "What if's" get you or you've had it.

Thanks Bex.

[JohnnyJones]

Badgers don't attack dogs except under extreme provocation. My dog is dead because she invaded a badgers home at a time when the badgers have young to protect. You're in no danger at all just out for a walk in the woods.

[JohnnyJones]

They're not just pets, I have a few acres with outbuildings etc so they have a job to do as well. Once they discovered badgers it became an obsession. I doubt she even knew what one looked like, it must have just been a monster in the dark to her. Frightening.