Drama and tragedy here yesterday, during and after the early morning dog walk.
As usual, Erin was on a lead, Suki and Nessie were running free, in and out of the forest. After 40 minutes or so, on the way home, Nessie stopped, trembling, slavering and shitting . . . though making no sound.
I picked her up and carried her the mile or so back. Near home, Erin started wobbling too . . . and slavering. She made it home and lay down. Both declined to drink.
I rang Jan's dog-loving friend, Paul, who came straight round and whisked both off to the vet, while I fed the other animals.
Nessie died there, having ingested poison somewhere along the walk. Erin recovered, having apparently had a minor fit from the stress. So sad and difficult for Jan, working away in England.
The source of the poison is unknown. Previous cases in Portugal have involved dangerous dogs (Nessie is the little one in the photo), dogs roaming in bird-breeding territory, spraying against mosquitos and my guess, the Pine Processionary Caterpillar. The photo shows caterpillars near Portalegre recently. The local forest is mostly pine and eucalyptus plantation.
Now it's just two dogs walking, twice daily, both on leads . . . less fun, but they seem to accept it . . .
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