EPISODE 487 STORY OF TWO DOGS AND A POND WITH THIN ICE
alan skeoch
Dec. 1545
THE ICE IS STILL THIN….
THIS PICTURE IS MEANT TO BE UNSETTLING…THE DISC PLOW STANDS WHERE ONCE THE BARN STOOD. A BARRIER BETWEEN
THE TWO PONDS ON OUR FARM. THREATENING.
DANGER DANGER DANGER!!! SOME DOGS CAN SMELL DANGER AND KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO DO WHEN DANGER LOOMS AS IT DOES ON
THIS THIN LAYER OF EARKY DECEMBER ICE ON ONE OF THE PONDS ON THE SKEOCH FARM.
DATELINE: EARLY DECEMBER 2021
LOCATION: SKEOCH FARM, WELLINGTON COUNTY, ONTARIO
The pond ice was thin. Winter had not quite arrived when our dog Woody tested
the ice and at the same time tested our nerves. Sunshine, crisp air, a moment of freedom
combined all at once and Woody took a risk. Big risk. Deadly risk. He walked on
the ice. Seemed firm. So he kept on walking far from shore. He walked out to where
the December sun had thinned the ice.
Marjorie saw him standing out there. She knew the adventure was about to turn into
a tragedy. “Woody, get off the ice!” Woody looked at her…head up. And that flexing
of the neck muscles was enough to break the ice. Woody fell forward and no matter what
he did he could not get back on the ice. Each time his front paws got a grip another shard
of ice split away.
Marjorie screamed and began edging out on the shore ice which split and sank. Woody]
was splashing around. Too far away. “Woody, oh, woody!” He could do nothing but break
little panels of ice with his front paws and then submerge and pop up to try again.
Then a very strange thing happened. A wonderful thing. Woody’s step sister, Failla, heard
the cry. She was exploring the margin of another pond over the hill where the barn once stood.
Faila knew in a split second that there was trouble; And she bolted. She came full speed
to where Marjorie stood in the shallows with the ice shards.
She did not even stop for guidance. She ran out to Woody across the firm ice to the
disastrous ice which now floated in pieces around Woody as he thrashed around.
Her speed across the ice reduced her weight on the ice. She reached Woody. Stopped
suddenly and her weight broke more ice. Failla was in the pond with Woody.
“Oh dear…oh dear!” Marjorie screamed thinking both dogs were about to drown. And that
could have been true. But Failla had other ideas. She began deliberately breaking ice in
a straight line towards the shore. Towards Marjorie.
Woody is a Labrador dog. He should be a natural swimmer but. He was terrified by deep
water. Woody was having a panic attack. He would not…he could not…see
trail of broken ice. And Failla knew that. She knew Woody needed more help.
She took the lead showing him the way out through the broken ice, Failla then turned around and swam back to Woody.
She showed Woody the way through the shards
of ice to the shore where Marjorie stood. Speechless. She saved Woody’s life.
Now many readers know dogs. Dogs have many strengths and a few weaknesses. One strength is
the ability to sense danger. Failla was a long distance away when she heard Marjorie scream. Failla
could not see the pond where Woody was splashing in his panic. But she knew instinctively rear
she was needed and she hurtled back to the disaster scene. More that that. She did not stop to
assess the situation. She plunged in…smashing her way across the ice… smashing a trail for Woody to escape.
And even more that that Failla then swam through the channel she had made. A rescue dog.
If that was Marjorie doing the rescue she would get an award…perhaps even recognition by
the Governor General of Canada. A medal with a ribbon. But there was no reward except
this story. Failla will never be forgotten. There is an intelligence there when I look at her eyes.
There is love there as well.
alan skeoch
dec. 2021
Begin forwarded message:
From: ALAN SKEOCH <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>Subject: Pond storyDate: December 15, 2021 at 6:43:09 PM ESTTo: Alan Skeoch <alan.skeoch@rogers.com>
This is Woody. His half sister, Failla, keeps an eye on him.
“Woody, did you know the ice on the pond is still very thin?”
“I know now, Marjorie.”
“Did you know your half sister was willing to risk her life just to save yours?”
“I know now, Marjorie.”
“Next time stay off the ice until full winter has arrived.”
“Right you are.”
“What reward can we give your sister, Woody?”
“She can share my bed by the fireplace.”
“She likes the truck seat better….”
“That’s me, Failla, on the left.”
“Who is the other dog, Failla?”
“That’s my brother, Woody, —’ he’s not heavy, he’s my brother ‘ ”
Sent from my iPhone