Hedges

1989 - 2002

Her Story

 

One evening, many years ago, a stray dog was transporting her puppies, as she walked past what was then our garage, something scared her and she dropped the two puppies she was carrying and ran off. We tried all night to get her to take them back and continue to look after them but alas she would not.

 

          We decided would take them in – Benson (the brother) and Hedges (the sister). Benson was ever the brave dog always willing to walk in front of his sister who would follow head bowed and timid! We had these wonderful puppies for about 6 months when Hedges got sick, she got better after about 10 days but then Benson was ill too, he did not survive and we were left with just Hedges. For a long while after loosing her brother, she would quiver when you asked her where Benson was.

 

          We expanded our family with a cat so Hedges every mothering started to produce milk for this kitten, and yes he suckled!!! We transformed our garage into the Billabong Bar and the main resident was Hedges, the amazing dog who mothered our cat!! Many a tourist has pictures of her feeding her ‘baby’!

 

          Snag being a tomcat went off one day and was not seen again. Eventually we got another cat, Piggy. Just 2 weeks after he came along, Hedges had her first litter – EIGHT adorable puppies, all survived and were well looked after by this amazing dog - including Piggy.

 

          The puppies were given homes and we were back to just Piggy and Hedges. We got another ginger cat that also suckled Hedges and she also went out and did not return. She had a second litter which we thought would not be as big as her first – WRONG – along came another 11 bundles of puppy love, all adorable and all easily adopted.

 

And so lived our animals – Hedges and Piggy, they slept together (Piggy on top of Hedges) and Piggy even cleaned her. Always a fixture in the Billabong, Hedges was very very friendly. I taught her how to open the door to let herself out and sometimes she would get up and open it and when she didn’t go out and sat back down, we wondered why she had done it…. That is until Piggy strolled through the door!

 

Hedges kept us company for many many years and was loved by ALL who came to the bar. She left us on March 7^th 2002 because of a nasty mishap – She will be missed and remembered by many.

 

Love Karen

 

To my dear Hedges,

You were an inspiration and a wonderful friend. I will miss you and you will never be forgotten.

 

I miss my Hedges bean!

Love Karen

xxxxxxxxx

 

To Hedges,

         

          I miss you more than I can say. No companion every meant more to me than you.

 

Love forever

Dad

xxxx