EPISODE 747 “FAILLA SAVED WOODY’S LIFE” …NOW SHE’S GONE… A SAD DAY FOR THE SKEOCHS
alan skeoch
eb. 18, 2023
IN MEMORIAM: FAILLA WAS A GRAND DOG…MORE THAN HUMAN…A HEROINE
This story was written so her memory will remain as long as we live and breathe
This is our big pan where Failla was exploring when she heard Woody’s ‘Death Cry’
Failla ran with the speed of summer lightning down the grass trail to our small pond where Woody was crying.
THE STORY
She was a grand dog. Loyal, loving and intelligent. Failla knew Woody was in trouble
before the rest of us did. And she acted faster than the rest of us.
“Alan, come quickly…TROUBLE!”
“What?”
“Woody has fallen through the ice….in the centre of the pond.”
“He’s crying…knows he is in trouble….CRYING! …”
“FAILLA has arrived..;racing from back field…heard Woody crying”
“Now Failla is on the ice…both will drown.”
By the time i got there our dog Woody was half submerged trying to
get back on the ice. Flailing. Crying. But Impossible to reach.
Then a wonderful thing happened. Failla acted immediately …. began breaking
the ice until she had created a water trail for Woody. She got out on thicker ice
and circled the hole around Woody.
Then she actually shepherded him to shore using the open water trail she had made
for him. She acted fast….seemed to know what to do and did it in the twinkling of
an eye.
“Failla saved Woody’s life.”
“And she did it in an instant…she knew what to do!”
“Could the rescue have been accidental….could both dogs have drowned?”
“I think it was a conscious act…sort of a knowing reflex.”
“Hardly possible…hard to believe.”
“They are both in the truck now. Woody is flat out exhausted.”
“But look at Failla…look into her eyes.”
“She knew what she was doing.”
“And she is proud of it.”
“And her eyes are saying she would do the same for one of us.”
“Look into those eyes!”
Note: How did Failla get her name? Not because she was a ‘failure’ that’s for sure.
She was named after a fine wine.
A SAD DAY FOR ALL OF US: WE HAVE LOST FAILLA
That heroic rescue occurred a few years ago. Time flies by. Failla has aged and lately
has had trouble even getting out of her bed.
“TIME HAS COME,” said Dr. Jeff Edwards, our veterinarian. Julie and Andy delayed the
inevitable as long as possible. Even longer than possible. Failla was aware of her failings
and knew her time had come. She could no longer walk.
“I had to carry her from her bed to the truck and then
into see Dr. Edwards who assured me her death would be
painless and fast.”
“Julie was crying. I held back my tears but only just able to do that.
Crying on the inside.”
Marjorie and I drove Woody down to Andy’s place later. Woody nosed
around here and there looking for Failla. I think he knew she was gone
as he sniffed around her empty bed.
For most of us it is easy to love a dog and difficult to accept the loss
of one. Doubly more difficult to lose Failla for she seemed more than a dog.
Look into Woody’s eyes. (below)
This is Woody. He knows Failla is gone.