Tilley
As stated previously, Tilley, Moss' sister, used to live with Diane and I. Both girls got on famously for the first three months or so doing all the things together that young pups do: chasing, play fighting, wrecking the garden. You know, you've seen it.
The first fight came like a bolt out of the blue. Didn't last long as I seem to recall. The worrying aspect was that there was no warning. Anyway, tempers subsided and a half hour later they were lying together in their bed, licking each other's wounds. How bizarre is that?
Over the following couple of months, two more fights occurred; the final one on the beach. Pam separated them and in so doing sustained a black eye and a bitten wrist. Can't quite remember what I was doing - oh yes, that was it, keeping out of the way!! So Pam ends up at the doctors and Moss at the vets having a nasty throat wound treated. The last straw had been reached.
Pam, thankfully, volunteered to have Tilley to live with her which was such a blessing. The only other resort would have been to let her go entirely. I get to see Tilley every day and the peace is maintained. Tilley and Moss still hate each other and can never be in each other's company. Both wanted to be top dog and neither was willing to submit to the other.
Tilley does share other similarities with her sister: she is a marvellous competitor. We have enjoyed watching some monumental hare coursing involving her.
Just a word on her racing prowess. After trying her hand from the traps she was eventually disqualified for trying to put off her fellow competitors. That situation still prevails. No,Tilley is not one for the race track! For her it is the twists and turns of the lure coursing that really motivates her. Supreme sport!
Christopher Doyle, January 2006
