Tag Archives: Ridgebacks

Zara

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Zara at the beginning, look sad and sore.

Dear Zak,

We went to pick up Zara today.

In January we got a message that a Ridgeback female had been found by the SPCA in Waterfalls in southern Harare. She was not in good shape but we decided that as she was young she might make a good friend for Themba as Tia is finding him a bit rough to play with (she’s not a young dog any longer). So we booked and appointment and went to meet her at the SPCA hospital on the airport road where she was being treated.

Poor girl, she was not in good shape; thin and covered in mange but we could see she was beautiful under the neglect. Timid at first, she gradually warmed to us. We were captivated and decided that she would make a good friend for Themba if he accepted her.

It was quickly discovered that her stomach was not in good shape – no surprises there as who knows what she’d been eating on the streets. Jenny Fynn and others on the local Rhodesian Ridgeback group quickly rallied round and with Marianne worked out a supply of chicken and rice. She put on weight but was slow to respond to the mange treatment which was bothering the team at the SPCA. Then last week it was decided that we’d turned the corner as she was growing a new coat of hair and had put on weight. We went out to the SPCA to see her.

Zara wanting to meet new friends.

She was delightful, friendly and loving – covering us with kisses.

An affectionate girl

We started making plans to get Themba and Tia to meet her. Then yesterday we got a call from one of the staff at the SPCA to say that her face had swollen up. We thought it time to get her out of the kennel environment and into our home.

This morning Marianne received a terrible call; Zara’s legs had swollen up overnight and the vet had made a decision to put her to sleep. It was likely that her kidneys had failed. Poor girl, who knows what she’d had to eat and drink whilst abandoned on the street.

We went to get her as by now we thought of her as part of the family. She’s home now my boy, lying close to you, Roxy and Kharma.

Love you as always.

Winter’s closing gasp

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Themba traps the warmth

Dear Zak,

I think summer might just have broken winter’s grasp. Last Friday there was ice and frost everywhere at the Wag Zone. Like any good Ridgeback Themba likes his sunny spot by the back of the garage which you also frequented.

I have been busy collecting and tidying up photos for the Rhodesian Ridgeback Centennial which is next Saturday at the Wag Zone. I didn’t have the final say in the photos chosen and the collage below is not the final by a long way but you certainly feature my handsome boy (and Jenni, Kharma, Tina, Roxy and Themba). So far we haven’t had a great response as rather a lot of people are choosing to go away in the school holidays rather than attend an important occasion like this. Odd priorities.

They are all there, the special RRs of mine!

Despite all his training Themba is not great with other Ridgeback males. Two weekends ago I took him along to the Wag Zone whilst I took photos of other dogs and got rather provocative with another male. It was all a dominance thing and no real aggression but I’m not at all sure I’ll take him along on the day, especially as all the dogs need to be on leashes. I’ll decide on the day depending on how many other dogs are there. I know you would have been beautifully behaved!

Love you as always.

That’s not fair!

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I’d rather be running

That’s not fair!

I’m sorry my boy, cancer is brutally unfair.

Why can’t you take me along for the ride then, it’s better than lying here.

Because it’s so difficult to get you into the pickup. I can’t help and Marianne is not strong enough. That’s how you hurt your leg last weekend and look how far it’s put you back. I know how much you like getting out but I needed to take Roxy and Tia for a run to get rid of some energy.

I wanted to come with you to work on Thursday too.

I know, I know. I remember how much you liked coming to the office with me even if you didn’t do much when we got there.

Us Ridgebacks have good eyesight so it was always great to see what was going on from the front seat. And I dig get to chase the odd chicken when you weren’t looking.

Jenni also liked coming along for the ride, she’d often see francolin before I did when we were out on the farm.

I’m not going to run again am I?

No, I don’t think so. I am building a wheelchair to support your back leg. That will allow you to run.

So that’s what that thing is. Not sure I’ll like it.

Please try, you will be able to move much quicker.

Oh, I do miss running! I can still run in my dreams.

So can I.

You haven’t always used walking sticks then?

No, when I was young I could run. I wasn’t as fast as you of course  but I did enjoy it.

Wow, I’d have loved to go running with you!

We can run together in our dreams.

Yes, we can. That will be fun.  I will slow down for you.

 

 

 

The bad news

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A regal fellow

It’s not good news my boy, the cancer is back.

Oh. That’s disappointing. Is that why I find it so difficult to run?

Yes, it’s weakening the bone in your back leg. I’m so sorry, I was hoping you’d get another year at least.

Oh, so it’s going to be quick then?

Yes, a few weeks at the most if we don’t redo the chemotherapy.

What will that give me?

A few more months at the most.

What about the side effects?

The vet couldn’t really say. They might be bad or not and there is still the risk that the leg could break.

Like happened to Kharma? I don’t want that!

No, that would be terrible.

Please don’t cry, you’ve given me a good life. I’m sure you’ll make the best decision for me.

But we were supposed to grow old together!

Ah, well some things are not meant to be. I’ll always remember the running, it was so much fun – what I was born to do. I was fast wasn’t I?

Yes, 50km per hour at a burst. I wasn’t so impressed with you running and barking at the truck.

Ah, well, us Ridgebacks need a little danger for excitement.

What do you think of the photo?

I like it. It’s me – quite regal! Print it out to remind yourself of me.
You will be there at the end for me?

Of course.

Rub my ears won’t you?

Yes, I’ll do that.

 

 

 

Running free

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Come on, there's running to be done!

Come on, there’s running to be done!

Do you know how lucky you are to get out and about and be able to run?

What do you mean, lucky?

There are other dogs out there who never get to see outside their garden.

No! You can’t be serious!

Afraid so. Last week I was driving around the area by the race course and I saw the silhouette of a dog under a tree. A Ridgeback.

You went to investigate?

Of course I did. She was young, about 6 months old and very sweet.

What! You didn’t bring me a girlfriend?

I did try. She came over to me and licked my face but wouldn’t get in the pickup. She didn’t even have a collar on so I’m pretty sure she’d never been out of her garden. She didn’t like it when I tried to put a lead on her either.

But you took a photo?

No, she wouldn’t keep still. I think she was just so excited to see there’s a whole world outside her garden. Eventually someone came along who knew where she came from and phoned the house and the gardener came to collect her. She didn’t like him very much but went running back down the road when the cook called.

So what else did you do?

I called VAWZ who said they’d pay the house a visit and I did offer to foster her if they decided she was too much energy to handle.

Oh yes, I’d like to run with someone who has more energy than Kharma.

Thanks Zak, I do pretty well for someone of my age!

That’s so sad. We ridgebacks need to run!

And explore and be socialized.

Did you find out her name?

Yes, it’s Rosie.