A Sudden Goodbye

A Tribute to "Smurf"

Briarpatch Bran, otherwise known affectionately as "Smurf", was euthanized today. She was the lady who spurred me into this world of the Jack Russell Terrier. I thank her for that. My life has never been the same since.

Smurf was my first registered terrier and the one who helped me discover what a hunt terrier was. She was four years old when I brought her home to live with us. Before that she had a few years of being passed to different owners, through no fault of her own, just circumstances. Her dam is the well known Foxwarren Copper of Briarpatch, her sire was Pleasant Valley Matt. I was so proud of her! She was as feisty as terriers go.

I brought her home in March, five years ago, and took her to the vet immediately for a check up and vaccinations, etc. She settled into our home well with a little patience and TLC. She was bred a few weeks later. The following month, her heartworm test turned up positive, much to my horror. The vet said she would have to be treated after the puppies were weaned. I would never have bred her if I had known. Her previous owner had neglected to put her on heartworm medication the previous summer. She was a wonderful Mother in spite of it all, raised her pups and went through the heartworm treatment with flying colours. Eventually she had a clean bill of health. I guess what I'm trying to say is that she had been through a lot of pain during her life. Having puppies and eventually a C-section and then spaying when she was 7.

"Smurf" has always been very loving, a good friend to me and followed me everywhere. She was very protective of her yard. Last spring we installed a Radio Fencing System.

Today I had let her out in the yard with her receiver collar on. About ten minutes later, all the terriers in my kennels began to bark frantically. I looked outside and saw nothing in the yard. I went outside to the back of the house and called "Smurf". She came running but I could see something was dreadfully wrong. Her hide was opened and peeled back over her shoulders to expose an area at least as big as my hand. She was in great distress and I brought her into the house. I had to muzzle her gently to prevent her from biting my hands in her pain. As I prepared to take her to the vet, I talked to her and tried to calm her down as best as I could. Before leaving, I called the vet to let them know I was on my way. The trip seemed to take forever it was 30 minutes away.

Upon being examined, it was found that she had many internal injuries, broken ribs, collapsed lung, etc. In spite of all that, she wagged her tail whenever she heard my voice. The vet could not give a good prognosis considering her past health history and her age being 9. The vet thought she might have been attacked by a larger dog who had grabbed her around the shoulder area and shook her. I will never know what really happened to her.

My heart was breaking when I realized that I must have her put down to end her pain. I could not put her through 2 hours of exploratory surgery and a very long recovery time with the possibility of many complications. She had been too good to me, presented me with wonderful puppies and always been my friend, no matter what. I had to think of her and not my own feelings. She deserved a humane death.

During the lethal injection, I held her, talking to her, scratching her ear, telling her to "go to sleep". You see, she knew what that meant, because I said it to her every night when she went to bed. She died hearing my voice, loving her into death.

Goodbye to my trusting friend. You will always have a special place in my heart because it was you, "Smurfy", who welcomed me to the world of Jack Russell Terriers, and I thank you.

Sue Halfper [alhalf@mail.wincom.net]

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