Sunday, 8 February 2015

Three Dogs; Two Chickens; and a Lost Garden Visit

I had been looking forward to joining fellow garden lovers today for a visit to the Cambridge University Botanic Garden, but as I picked up my coat to leave the house, three dogs came into our gated and fenced garden and attacked our chickens. 

Despite wintry weather, our hens have been laying. This morning as I let them out to wander around our garden, I stopped for a moment to admire Herby's golden feathers shining in the winter sun. Now Herby is in a box in my office. I am bathing her wounds and hoping that she is not in too much pain. The day out I had been looking forward to for weeks has gone ahead without me. Why? Because someone failed to look after their dogs properly. The owner of these animals is responsible for turning a relaxing, enjoyable Sunday into a day of stress and pain and sadness.  

I hope that our beautiful chicken makes a full recovery. I also hope that the owner of the dogs takes better care of their animals in the future. 

 Thank you to those on Twitter and Facebook for your prompt advice so generously and thoughtfully given. You illustrated the very best side of the power of social media. Thank you. 
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20 comments:

  1. Mark and Gaz8 February 2015 at 12:38

    Oh no :( sorry to hear that, I can just imagine the distress and annoyance this has caused. Hopefully Herby will recover fast and be well again in no time at all. As for the owners of the dogs, responsibility should never lapse at any point. Take care x

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith9 February 2015 at 10:43

      Thank you. It was awful. Getting the dogs out of the garden was a nightmare, then they returned 40 minutes later to have another try.

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  2. Jo8 February 2015 at 18:13

    How terrible. Some dog owners are so irresponsible, they really shouldn't be allowed to keep animals. I do hope your chickens make a full recovery.

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith9 February 2015 at 10:45

      Thank you, Jo. We made Herby a mini hen house from a rabbit hutch and put a perch in it in case she wanted to roost. She did use the perch and has started to eat again.

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  3. rusty duck8 February 2015 at 21:42

    Oh this is awful. I do hope Herby makes a full recovery.

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith9 February 2015 at 10:53

      Thank you. She is keeping me company in the office. Our other hen is refusing to leave the run this morning, poor girl.

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  4. Angie9 February 2015 at 15:53

    I do hope Herby recovers from such an awful attack. Do you know who the dogs belong too and more so, can you report it?
    Hope to read a positive update soon.

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith11 February 2015 at 10:50

      I've never seen the dogs before. Herby looked very weak last night, so I feared the worst when I went to check her this morning. Happily, she has perked up today! She's nowhere near being back to her old self, but she is showing more interest in food.

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  5. rochefleuriegarden9 February 2015 at 18:47

    Hoping for a fast recovery. Poor Herby must have been traumatized beside being hurt.

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith11 February 2015 at 10:53

      Thank you. She was - I was too, to be honest (I had no idea if the dogs would turn on me too). Thankfully I had got Herby indoors by the time the dogs returned. I doubt she would have made it through a second attack.

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  6. Endah Murniyati9 February 2015 at 22:22

    I hope your beautiful chicken will recover soon. By the way, I love your last picture, beautiful chickens snd flowers.

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  7. Casa Mariposa10 February 2015 at 01:10

    That's horrible! I hope she recovers. Do you know whose dogs they are? Can you take any action against the owners?

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith11 February 2015 at 10:57

      I don't know who the dogs belong to. I have never seen them in our village before. Herby's looking a bit better today, thank you.

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  8. Jo@awholeplotoflove11 February 2015 at 15:53

    Oh that's awful I hope she recovers. I would never ever have my dog off his lead as I couldn't be 100% sure if I could control him even though he is well behaved. I'm sorry you missed your trip because of someone's irresponsible behaviour. x

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith15 February 2015 at 07:45

      Thank you, Joanne. We have owned dogs of varying behaviour patterns, but even the one which was almost impeccably behaved (he would bring a can of beer to guests), had his triggers when he would not come back immediately.

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  9. Indie12 February 2015 at 02:50

    Oh, no! Poor chickens and poor you :( I hope your chicken recovers quickly. Could they have been a wild dog pack? How sad that someone might be that irresponsible - some people just shouldn't own pets!

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith15 February 2015 at 07:46

      They weren't wild. I still don't know who they belong to. The poorly chicken is recovering slowly. She managed to wander around the walled courtyard garden for 40 minutes yesterday, which was a massive improvement.

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  10. Linda14 February 2015 at 18:32

    I am so sorry to hear about the chickens. Your photos are lovely. Warm greetings from a very cold Montreal, Canada. :)

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    1. Sarah Shoesmith15 February 2015 at 07:46

      Hi Linda, thank you. I hope beautiful Montreal warms up very soon.

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