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This story is different from our usual adventures. I (Julian) am going
to tell you about what has happened to us over the past week. I know that
these pages are usually devoted to the exploits of our Old English Sheepdogs,
but those of you who have been following our lives on these pages may
have seen Tara in her role as sentinel and guardian of Llewelyn's Kingdom.
Tara is my special friend, my travelling companion, my alter ego. This
is about our journey through the valley of the shadow of death together...
...and how we came out the other side!
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This is Tara as she appeared in the story about alien invaders in
the Dragon's Egg. Recently she hasn't been feeling very well, and
I was horrified to discover a large lump in her mammary glands...
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| So, with a heavy heart I called the vet (seen here looking at a
puppy). He examined her and said, "I'll operate on her tomorrow morning.
Bring her in 8 o'clock sharp!" I was so worried. I had refused to
have her hips x-rayed because I was afraid of the dangers of anaesthetic.
Now at 11 years old this would be even riskier. Also because I didn't
know how to explain to her that I wasn't abandoning her when I had
to leave her at the vet's. She cries even if I only go into another
room without her! |
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Come the next day she did scream when I left her at the surgery.
I returned home to wait. Llewelyn sensed something was wrong with
Tara and insisted on lying outside in the pouring rain on the wall
garden! He has never ever done this before. |
| Was that the telephone?" I was a complete wreck. Each time it rang
my heart pounded with such ferocity that I thought it might burst.
Was she alright? Had they started yet? When could I fetch her home? |
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It was a Llong day for both of us. We'd all been planning on how
we'd look after Tara when she got back - making up a special bed in
front of a radiator, and putting a mattress in the car for her return
journey etc. At four o' clock the phone rang, "You can collect Tara
now!" said Jenks, the vet. |
| Operation! What operation?" Though Tara was still groggy from her
pre-med (She had had ISOFLO anaesthetic - nothing but the best for
my angel!) and I had to lift her down from the car, she insisted on
walking in to the house by herself much to everyone's astonishment.
Later she asked to be let out and spying a cat ran after it into the
night barking. It was then I knew that she was back to stay. |
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Here are her operation scars. Because she knows that
some of you may be squeamish she's asked me to put the picture on
as a thumbnail. If you'd like to see it full size she says that you
should click on the picture. Use your browser's back button to return
to this page. |
| Tara says "Where's my dinner?" |
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And so here we are, five days on from the operation. Tara is so
much better. I don't think we realised how ill she must have been
feeling for such a long time. She's started putting on weight. She
walks and runs and plays. Today I even saw her trying to fly as
she pursued a hapless pheasant that happened to cross her path (he
did get away!). She's being a good girl and not interfering with
her stitches which have to come out on 20th January. She does not
like taking her pills very much - she knows as soon as I think about
giving them to her! She doesn't know yet that when the antibiotics
are finished, Jenks says she may have to more tablets - male hormones
this time to discourage any further lumps from appearing - and that
this will be a daily occurence. I was scared before the operation.
I realise no one knows what tomorrow may bring. But for now I just
give thanks for Tara. May I be worthy of her.
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