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Estuary walk

diamondlil

Mice! They taste so nice!
Too good a day to stay inside, so I took Ellie on her favourite walk. My sister's spotted little egrets on the freshwater ponds down there this week, but I wasn't so lucky. I did see plenty of waders, including lapwings, plovers, oystercatchers, green and redshanks and dunlin.
 

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I found brent geese, pochard, a merganser and mallards
 

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A greater black-backed gull, black-headed gulls
 

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Robins, chaffinches and lots of warblers, some nice fungi and lichens
 

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But today was mainly about Ellie, who had a great time. She disturbs so many birds when she crashes through undergrowth or plunges into water, but I've given up trying to tell her not to! She ruined my chances to get pictures of moorhens, a jay, some fieldfares and I don't know what else. If I go birding seriously I leave her at home, but having a happy dog was the main aim today.
 

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I've had to cut back Ellie's visits there because it wears her out so much. She still thinks she can outswim the tide. So going there is sort of bitter-sweet now. In her youth she'd do that walk, swim, chase rabbits and still want more exercise!
Ellie pulls all the way there, she's got no sense of pacing herself. It almost makes me cry when the walk back has to be so slow, with plenty of stops for her to rest. Since she's had at least 5 small CVAs I've decided I should let her live her life to the full, but impose limits on her over-exerting herself.
She's sleeping on her bed, covered in stinky mud, but utterly content. (The mud will brush out when it's dry, she doesn't like warm baths, only cold puddles, ponds and seawater!)
 
It's always been Ellie's favourite place. Sadly she's had another stroke overnight, I'm waiting for the vet to arrive.
 
Hello Janine

Sorry to hear about Ellies' latest stroke. Maybe it is not much consolation, but, take comfort in the fact that your love and devotion have ensured her a long, fulfilled life so far.
I wish Ellie a speedy recovery with no permanent damage, and, may she still have a few more years of loving devotion.

ciao
 
oh sorry janine i didnt know that she had passed away.
hey, really does look like you gave her a good send of! a day to remember!
r.i.p.
 
That was excellent timing, Janine, that Ellie got to go do her favorite thing one more time.
 
Thanks, it was pure chance that I was off work, the weather was good and Ellie was full of beans yesterday. She particularly enjoyed swimming after the brent geese, stopping at the wildlife centre cafe for a cornish pasty and playing with a very handsome collie x lab boy.
Seeing her confused and in pain today I had to do the right thing for her sake, not selfishly keep her until the next stroke, or the next. The vet and vet nurse were superb, they had to tie a tape muzzle but released it as soon as Ellie relaxed, then let her die in my arms.
Here are a few more pictures of her.
 

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I am so sorry to hear about Ellie. She had a full and happy life and the fact that she was able to spend her last few moments in your arms is a wonderful thing. Sending peace and comfort your way.
 
Thank you. I always wanted my own dog and Ellie was very definately 'mine' by her choice. She'll never be replaced in my heart, but eventually I'll find another dog that's right for me.
 
Oh J9 I am in tears again... I can't read your posts without feeling the overwhealming sense of devotion and satisfaction that you felt in being with Ellie, and her with you.
 
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