When we discovered that Twix was missing on Friday, we decided we’d stop at nothing to find him. The problem was where to start.
He had gone off chasing rabbits and playing in the fields around Mum and Dad’s house, and he had been nowhere to be seen for a couple of hours. In Twix – land, this is not long at all. The other dogs came back for their dinner at 8pm, and he was still nowhere to be seen. By 10pm we were worried, but not too much. He’d come back when he was hungry. Nevertheless, we all went out armed with torches and our lungs, and started trailing the fields looking and calling for him. By 1.30am, we decided we looked everywhere we could, and that it would be easier to continue the search in daylight. Besides, he was probably just chasing rabbits and would come back when he was ready.
The next morning he was still missing. We printed 100 posters and put them everywhere we thought he could have been. We phoned the dog warden, RSPCA, rescue centres, local farmers, neighbours, the police and anyone else we could think of. Still, he was nowhere to be seen.
We were due to return to Yorkshire on Sunday evening, but we couldn’t bring ourselves to leave without Twix. If we just stayed another day, maybe we would find him. Perhaps he had been handed in to a vet. Maybe he was lost. He could have been stuck in a rabbit/fox/badger hole or someone’s garage. There was even a chance that he might have been stolen.
The extra day made all the difference. First thing on Monday, Uncle Dave arrived with his dog, Scamp (a puppy from Twix’ last litter). After walking all around the rabbit holes in one of the fields, Scamp started whining and digging at one of the holes. Thinking Twix might be in there, Uncle Dave called us over and we listened and called, but heard nothing. We gave up and went back to searching elsewhere. Scamp, however was sure he was onto something, and wouldn’t give up so easily. Uncle Dave thought he heard a whimper.
By lying down and putting your head into the hole, it was just possible to see Twix’s nose. He was trapped upside down, with a tree root over his throat, and was unable to move. After about three quarters of an hour of digging, he was able to be dragged from the hole, more than 60 hours after he went missing.
Poor Twix was traumatised, tired, hungry, dehydrated and very stiff. He’s been to the vet and will be fine, but at the moment he is resting quietly (when the puppies will let him!) and will be back to normal in no time. We have explained to him that he simply must not go down any more holes. Ever. He has agreed but only time will tell.
Twix is also cashing in on his experience. He was front page news of the local newspaper in Northampton today, and the phone hasn’t stopped ringing with papers wanting to cover the story. His book “My Rabbit Hole Hell” by Twix will soon be published by the Meaty Bone Press. Watch this space….
