January 2000

Why, after all this time, is it still this difficult, this impossible, to write about, or even think about Witchi  without instantly feeling the lump in my throat, the tears in my eyes.

I drift back to that awful day in Palm Springs and my sheer horror when I realized she had been bitten, how we fought to save her, how helpless  I felt laying there beside her, watching her slip away. Next, the bitterness and anger the following morning, when we went back up into the hills to find and shoot the 4 1/2 foot Rattlesnake that took her life.   From there I slip into the overwhelming empty feeling that just won't leave me or diminish with time.  She was my life.  Yes, life does go on, but it has never been the same.  Why, after all this time, does it still hurt so much?

I could never have imagined, that October day in 1992, what a tremendous effect the purchase of a little white Jack Russell bitch would have on my life.  We had gone to our first National with some friends, just a fun weekend away.  I remember as clearly as it were just yesterday, passing by the ex-pen and being instantly taken by this white puppy; there was just something about her.  By mid-afternoon, the contract had been signed, and she was on my lap, riding back to Virginia where we were staying with friends.

Never, never, have I bonded so quickly with an animal.  Within hours this puppy had attached herself to me and we understood each other completely.  She was named the same evening she came home.  I remember saying, after she had done something totally obnoxious, "You little witch , you!"  That was her name -- Witch.

She just took over completely and everything, it seemed, revolved around Witchy.  She re-wrote the rules; no longer were "dogs not allowed on the furniture, dogs not allowed in the bed, dogs not allowed at the table."  Now, as I look around the house at 18 dogbeds all over the place, chewies scattered everywhere and the car always loaded with crates & hunting tools, I realize how completely she did change my life.

She was so incredibly intelligent, so focused, so willing.  To this day, she still was the most amazing dog I have ever hunted with.  She earned that same respect from everyone who watched her work.  And she taught the puppies,  who came after her,   how to hunt.  She had that same enthusiasm at the race track,  and at the G-T-G tunnel, where everyone within miles could hear me yelling, 'Mousers, Witchy, Get the Mousers!"  Conformation was much less exciting for her;  this she did because for some reason I seemed to enjoy it;  but she was the one dog who never let me down in the ring; s he always gave me 100% and showed her heart out for me.

As I sit here writing this and look over at Bear, who's watching me through his mothers eyes, or see Revlon,  curled up in some "Princess" spot, or look at Riot and still almost have to pinch myself when I think of having bred a National Champion, I can't help but look at her picture and think of how much I loved her.  Would I trade it all just to have her back? Yes.!

I no longer have my Witchy, but I do have her legacy. And I cling to them and thank Witchy for it all.  I thank her for all the wonderful friendships I've made through these terriers, all the fun times I've had, the vast new dimension the terriers have brought to my existence.

One little white Jack Russell bitch who had a very profound effect on at least one life.

Karen

The others:

[Jazz] [Tippy]  [Revlon] [Snippet]  [Mona] [Riot] [Bailey] [FryBaby] [Tick]

Afterthought

Where do you go the day we have to say goodbye?..
We wish upon you not the heaviness on our hearts.. when we have to let you go
You only know......
To give the love you gave so freely,  to the very end

Iris