R.I.P Rhonda Apr 2003- March 2014

Yesterday started much like any other day, all the dogs were happy, ate breakfast and then enjoyed a good 6 mile walk, no hint of how the day was going to finish.

I had to go out in the afternoon for Cash's eye test and to do the school run, when I got home Rhonda was very quiet, although I could see she wasn't right I wasn't unduly worried, and in fact when she turned her nose up at her dinner, a couple of hours later I still wasn't particularly worried as she has always been a fairly sensitive girl and it wasn't the 1st time she had missed a meal. Through the evening she remained quiet, but showed no signs of any distress, my plan at this point was to pop her to the vets in the morning if she hadn't picked up by then.

It was only when I put the dogs out for their last wee that it became apparent that she was now far from right, she was wobbly on her legs, her heart was racing and her gums were very pale, all of which points to an internal bleed, the emergency vets were called and she was taken straight in, here my vet confirmed what I suspected and after a lengthy consultation and supporting blood test results, I made the heartbreaking decision to let her go.

I first met her mum when she was just a puppy herself, at the time I bred black stds, but I absolutely fell for Taladayga Miss Scarlett (who later became a champion), I spoke to her owner/breeder, Anita Bax, and booked a future puppy from this girl. I waited nearly 4 years to get my puppy, but she was so worth the wait. Rhonda was very lightly shown as a puppy, but neither she or I enjoyed it so we didn't pursue that activity, Rhonda was much more in her element out on a good walk, I suspect that Audrey inherited her hunting instincts from her mum, I can still recall waiting hours for Rhonda to return from her hunting expeditions at Bracknell forest and Virginia Water!

Right to the end Rhonda loved her walks, though her deteriorating eye sight put an end to her hunting days. Last night was the 1st visit she had had to the vets other than for neutering, she had no arthritis or other age related conditions, I am totally in shock at loosing her so quickly and unexpectedly. I suspect Alfie will also miss her terribly as he worshiped the ground she walked on and never left her side on a walk, that I will find very hard to see. 

Rhonda produced some fabulous pups in her lifetime, Audrey was of course one of them. Her line will continue through Audrey and some of her siblings.

R.I.P Rhonda.