Good dog Bling

Today Bling was murdered. Fortunately she had had a lovely morning, and the week we have been on the road she has enjoyed almost constantly. So her life was chock full of joy.

I tried everything to keep her safe.But, actually, whatever one does one cannot keep pets in Greece safe from the malevolence of other humans.

In Greece, where poison is so common and so dangerous, you feel that you are helpless to protect those creatures that you love and who are dependant on you. Not being able to keep a dependant and beloved creature safe makes you helpless and angry.

After I reached Krana I was so full of grief and fury that I shouted at everyone, that there was someone, amongst them who they must control.

Of course I was incoherent and sobbing, but perhaps they understood something about their responsibility for keeping death off the mountain. Some people said that if their dog was killed they would be after the perpetrator with a caribina. Another said, we can`t stop it, it happens every year, the police can`t catch them. Another said.."He could at least have made a written sign to warn people coming up the track."

But NO warning would have kept Bling safe- she was on the lead. If it had been normal poison, which is put in a bit of meat or sausage, I would have seen it.

But this was different from what I have ever seen. A man in Krana asked me what it was. It was a white capsule..a bit like the special dog treats I bought for Bling.. no wonder she grabbed it. She spat it out immediately, but the man in Krana told me that these capsules, which are sugary on the outside, and which have yellow beads inside, are so potent that when the animal bites it, and it breaks, they are dead.

These are, unsurprisingly, illegal. I had never even heard of them.

But the man in Krana told me, some people have access to them. usually illegal hunters get them, because they want to kill foxes. If an animal bites one of these they are dead straight away. Like those suicide pills that spies are rumoured to carry.

There are several organisations which work to stop the use of poison in towns to get rid of strays. We must also do something to stop this slaughter in the wildplaces.

For the time being, EVERYONE, every where , the mountains of Greece are deadly for dogs. I don`t know how you can go for a walk and keep your dog safe..Bling was ON THE LEAD, I was watching for poison..and I failed totally to protect her.

There are irresponsible criminals who want to kill foxes or beechmartens, and don`t care what else they kill. Its bad enough that they can kill foxes and dogs and get away with it, but also, how many bears and wolves and jackals fall victim to these people?

People ask me all the time if I mind being alone. Usually I am Ok.

But sometimes, when I need someone to comfort me, being alone is almost unbearable.

Here are two of the last pictures of Bling. She was always so full of joy and zest for life.

In these photos you can see how pleased she is that she is coming when called, and will get a reward.

She SO loved being on trips with George. She enjoyed everything. She loved it when I made up her little tent out of saddle bag and George`s Numnah. She was so happy and proud when I got her a bucket of water to drink, because she didnt want to have water in her bowl, but to lap water from a bucket, just like George.

Oh no I`ve started crying again.