Quicksilver Ash of Druidale

"Ash"
 

Hips 10:7

Ash was a sable GSD cross that came in as a stray to the kennels that I was working in. She was not happy in kennels and did not show herself off to her best advantage, she spent most of her time bouncing off the walls. She did calm down once I found her a ball to play with. After she'd been in kennels over a month with no prospect of a home and time running out for her, I decided to fetch her home with me. So home she came on 24th December 2001.

She used to be a devil for jumping and disappeared out of the garden on several occasions, I can see why she ended up as a stray! She unfortunately had an accident which resulted in a broken front toe. Despite splinting and keeping her on cage rest, the break didn't heal and the vet started talking about amputation. My vet, Duncan Miller, is an orthopaedic specialist and it was decided that he would have a go a pinning her toe, and if that failed, he would amputate. I'm lucky to report that the operation was a complete success, and Ash still has all her toes, despite one being a slightly odd shape.

There was one surprise that popped up on her x-rays......she had gunshot pellets in her front leg! These were removed during the operation to fix her toe. A bit of a puzzle that I thought nothing off, until a year later I took her to have her hips x-rayed, and on the x-ray more pellets are visible. The only explanation that I can come up with, is that at some point in her past, Ash was caught chasing sheep and was peppered with a shotgun, fortunately at such a distance that the shot did her no serious damage.

Sadly Ash left us 2nd November 2010. Run free.