Angico Merry Minstrel JW

On the 11th January 2011 we said goodbye to our much loved Macro (Angico Merry Minstrel of Downstream JW). He was 12 years and 2 months old. Considering he had cheated death many times he did extremely well to reach this age.

Mac came to us from Anne Cooke – known hereafter as his “Granny Ann” – she was so proud of him and I was so lucky to be able to have him as originally she was going to keep him for herself. He was the best mannered puppy I have ever had – he had been beautifully reared and socialised – a real “little gentleman” and so he remained all his life. He was from the 2nd litter by Ch Riversflight Marling to Pajanbeck out of Braemist Maeve of Angico. As a puppy he did well in the ring obtaining his JW at just over a year. Peter always does the work training on our dogs and found that Mac was the easiest dog he had ever had to train (rather a mistake letting him loose on me).

Mac’s first “escape from death” came at 15 months when he got Kennel Cough which turned into bronchial pneumonia. He was at the vets for nearly a fortnight on a drip and Shirley and I were both convinced he would not come through. Our wonderful vet – Josh Lida thought otherwise and he came home on Christmas day morning and made a full recovery. He continued a reasonably successful show career in 2000 and obtained the CC and BOB at Belfast under Tony Pascoe – my first ever CC – I will never forget that one – I remember how my legs shook in the challenge and ringing “Granny Ann” afterwards to tell her!

Shortly afterwards came his 2nd “escape from death”. Whilst out exercising on Newmarket racecourse he slipped on wet grass and ruptured his sub scapularus muscle. As he limped towards me with his leg all but hanging off I thought that his life was at an end. Once again Josh came to the rescue and sent us to a specialist near London who said that with time and rest we MIGHT just get him sound again. Months of physio and swimming followed and by August 2001 he was sound again.

It became apparent in the next couple of years that he didn’t really love showing and Dad kept pinching him to take to working tests or out picking up. He did his SGWQ at a Field Trial and then I decided to retire him from the ring and work him instead. That season I attempted the Shooting Dog Certificate. He achieved an A grade alongside his half brother – Ch Pajanbeck Prince of Thieves – Jan Egginton and I were so proud of our boys. I also ran him in a few field trials – I am sure that if he had not been handicapped by his appallingly bad handler (me) he might have achieved an award but it was not to be – it was not his fault. As with computer errors – it is the link between the keyboard and the chair (ie the operator) with Mac and Field Trials the problem was with the handler!

He therefore became my number one picking up dog. Every Saturday throughout the shooting season Mac and I would enjoy fantastic days out picking up. More often or not we were joined by Chloe. It was great having the two of them – I never had to worry where he was and therefore I could concentrate on not losing Shirley’s “best beloved pet!”. In late years he came out with Sasha and Diva showing them the ropes. During the week when I was confined to my desk Peter would take him out. Over the years he was to pick many pheasants and partridges and rarely lost a runner.

Six years ago he had another “mystery illness” where all his nails fell out – we never did pin point the cause but I remain convinced it was the start of what came next. The nails eventually grew back and then a year later he contracted Cushins.. however that was kept under control with good medication and he continued to rule the roost at Downstream and go out on his beloved shoots.

Two years ago his old shoulder injury came back to haunt him and his picking up days were numbered so he became the “puppy sitter”. He absolutely adored puppies and would spend many hours playing with them and teaching them games. I am convinced he did more for Diva and Joy than Sasha ever did. Although quite lame he was still able to come out on walks and enjoy life to the full.

He was still “in charge of things” until a week before he died. Just after the New Year he became very disorientated and his breathing changed. An X-ray revealed that his elbow joint had a massive tumour which was spreading and causing him pain. His chest X-ray however revealed he was totally clear in that area. He continued to potter around the garden and enjoy his “toastie soldiers” and his appetite for food did not diminish. However on Tuesday 11th January he stopped eating and the shine went from his eyes. We knew immediately that we had to make that last decision for him.

At 11.45am Josh came and very peacefully sent him to heaven. The kindest and most gentle dog went to sleep for the last time. Looking back I can not ever remember telling him off – he quite simply never did anything wrong (I am not counting stealing toast from the toaster because that was clever not naughty). He NEVER raised his voice in anger and was loved by everyone that knew him. If I could sum him up in a sentence it would be “he shone with goodness, kindness and responsibility”.

It is very quiet at Downstream without him – he was the first to bark when he heard my car coming down the road. Joy in particular misses her “big brother” and I miss him woofing loudly in my ear when I great him in the morning. We mourn his passing but celebrate the life he had. Macro – we salute your passing – rest in peace gorgeous boy.