Roy Eve & Molly by Thea

This story is dedicated to ROY EVE and MOLLY. ItÆs a story every BORDER-COLLIE Breeder and owner should read. It could happen to YOU!

THIS HAPPENED END OF 1993. IT WAS SUCH AN EMOTIONAL TIME I WROTE THIS STORY OF WHAT HAPPENED JANUARY 1994.

Roy sat quietly on the vetÆs table a little uneasy but trusting in his beloved owners. The vet picked up his paw and shaved it above the elbow. He then picked up the lethal injection and inserted it into the blood vain. He then pressed the plunger ———-Stop sobbed his beloved mistress I want to say goodbye to him. But Roy was gone. He was free at last from what seemed like the devil trying to take over his mind and in the last monthÆs of his short life turning him blind. He was back with his Creator and one day there heÆd be re-united with his owners. The tears flowed from RoyÆs ownerÆs eyes as they wrapped him in a blanket. They took him home to bury him at the farm. She softly whispered I could never love a child as much as I loved Roy.

It had started months earlier when Roy started to go blind he also became nervous. He accidently had a collision with a larger dog in the park and had a mild fit. Within the next ten days he had two more fits.

He was referred to Werribee Veterinary Hospital where one vet said they were about 90% sure it was Ceriod Lipofuscinosis (C.L.) also known as Storage Disease and to have him put down to save them money and heartache. His owners were horrified. They immediately wanted to take him back home with them to his own surroundings. They were not going to put him through any more tests and there was to be no brain biopsy. Roy went home with people who loved him and in whom he trusted.

Roy lived at least another two months happy and normal (no more fits.) then suddenly he deteriorated and one Sunday morning he suddenly took a fit that included aggression. Within hours he was put to rest. It was just three weeks from his second birthday.

Elsewhere Roy had a full litter sister named Eve. She seemed to change at around 15 months of age. She lost her best playmate due to a car accident and it was thought she was missing him. Her owner decided to mate her on her second season. Only a few weeks later it was quite noticeable that Eve was losing her sight. Werribee Veterinary Hospital was informed they suggested doing a brain biopsy as C.L. was suspected. They wanted to do this but Eve was only three weeks from whelping. EveÆs owner informed Werribee of her condition and said that it would be far too dangerous for bitch and pups. Werribee suggested that if it was C.L. it was doubtful if she would live long enough to whelp take fits and die during whelping let alone rear and wean her pups.

Well she proved everyone wrong. She never once took a fit; she was the most perfect mum and reared six beautiful healthy pups. God willing the sire of the litter is clear of any C.L. so the pups will only be carriers and not affected and they can live a normal life but never to be used for breeding.

Eve never regained condition; she was painfully thin and totally blind. She was finally put to rest 9 weeks after whelping and only 10 days from her second birthday.

A small sample was taken from EveÆs brain and sent to Werribee before she was buried under her favorite tree. Two weeks later it was confirmed. Eve did have C.L. Blood samples from Eve and her parents were sent to Dr Alan Wilton from the University of N.S.W.

In the meantime IÆd started the endless research of trying to find a C.L. carrier on EveÆs SireÆs side. EveÆs grandmother was a confirmed carrier so it was obvious where her mother had inherited it. With her father it was unheard of as several breeders had told me that there was nothing behind him. No one to blame for this terrible tragedy and I still thank the breeders of both these wonderful dogs for bringing them into the world they have so much to offer in work love and loyalty.

Hundreds of dollars and two months of total anguish later my research into the sires pedigree confirmed that it was possible to jump several generations before this terrible disease can reappear. In this case putting anything up to 2000 dogs at risk.

I first started breeding Border-Collies in 1967 in a small way but the demand was becoming greater so I needed to outcross the breed therefore I purchased a dog for stud and another totally outcross bitch to breed from. I took them to the shows and after two years of showing the bitch she became an Australian Champion. She was 5 weeks pregnant to the sire I bought and it was her second litter to him when she received her title. It was this litter that was affected. She had a third litter to him before we knew they were C.L. carriers. Fortunately that litter was not affected.

News of Molly came only hours before I started this story. It was from the one owner I had not been able to relocate But as soon as he gave his name on the phone my heart just dropped he didnÆt have to tell me anything. Instead I said I know what you are going to tell me.

Molly too had to be put down at 25 months. She had C.L. She was blind and took fits but with no aggression. Loved like a child she was living her life to the fullest till she started to get sick and eventually it was kinder to put her down.

My faith in God makes me believe that Roy Eve and Molly with their respective owners and myself with whom I stood by all the way through this terrible ordeal were chosen for this. Here in Hay as Dog Ranger I take care of all the unwanted ill-treated and abandoned dogs.

The years as Dog Ranger have been very much of a challenge as it was the Shire who approached me to do this job. I can remember being out of town one cold rainy day there was drover with a mob of cattle and I spotted a dog a small Border Collie bitch she was trying to balance herself I got out of my car knowing something was wrong she appeared to have a broken leg her feet and underarms were swollen and infected with grass seeds and she was very thin but she was still expected to work. I just picked her up and took her home without seeing the drover. Three months later and at my own expense she was once more a happier and healthy dog I was able to place her in a new loving home I did shed a few tears as I let her go I had grown to love her so much. I have jumped into the carcass pit at the tip where some puppies had been thrown alive and were cuddling into the wool of a dead sheep to keep warm. IÆve rescued dogs that have been tied to a peg for up to six years without decent shelter only fed and watered twice a week and never let off for a run let alone given a word of kindness or affection. Some of these were also re-housed to good homes. I also remember a beautiful red heeler bitch tied to a fence 16 klms. out of town. Then someone bashed her over the head and left her. She regained consciousness and managed to stagger around with one eye hanging out of itÆs socket. Someone spotted her from the road and bought her into me. Unfortunately the damage as well as the high cost involved I had no option but to put her down but she still had love and trust to offer as she gently wagged her tail and snuggled her head into my shoulders. The tears rolled from my eyes as I gently hugged her.

A dog is a gift from God. They are so faithful and forgiving no matter how they might be treated. It is well known many a dog has risked or given his life to save his owner.

I look back on the short lives that Roy Eve and Molly had on earth and will do all I can to do further research to eliminate this terrible disease they inherited. It will take many years of research and lots of donations to the C.L. Fund University of N.S.W. Then hopefully we can breed this disease out once we can tell the difference between a carrier and a clear dog with a simple blood test..

Heart full thanks to the many Border Collie breeders and owners for their help and support during my months of research.

Thea Parr Arajoel Gumtree Lane Hay.