Monday, November 26, 2007
Goodbye, Mercedes, 9/7/2004 to 11/22/2007
On Thanksgiving evening, I received the news that Mercedes had died due to complications of kindling. I am so sad for Mercedes, Peter Bachmann (her owner), and for me, too. Peter and I loved Mercedes. She was a beautiful doe with a killer body and indestructible coat.
Mercedes, who was my very first grand champion, died with 24 legs to her credit. She earned her last leg - a BOS - just a few weeks ago for Peter. Her greatest accomplishment on the table was 4th place at Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
I was so pleased to be able to give Mercedes to Peter. He had loved her since she was a junior. The first weekend I met Peter, he helped me put my rabbits on the table. I got my juniors mixed up, but Peter knew exactly who Mercedes was. Good thing he kept me straight!
We had both hoped that Mercedes would have some babies for Peter. It was very sad to learn that she had had three babies just before she died, but they chilled and died also. Peter had been checking her every two hours. It was just bad luck that he didn't get them in time to revive them.
I, of course, am still very fortunate to have Mercedes' line still alive and growing in my barn. She produced a grand champion daughter for me, GC The Nature Trail's Lexus. Though Lexus is no Mercedes, she did pass that wonderful body and coat down to her grand champion son, GC The Nature Trail's Lex, 13 legs. Lex is just over a year old and has started producing offspring of his own. He and Lexus have two solids and a Charlie in the nest box right now.
I recently got word that Mercedes' younger sister Nina had to be put down. But Mercedes littermate sister Porche is still living, and hopefully producing some wonderful offspring.
So Mercedes lives on - in our memories, in our hearts, and through her offspring. But she will still be missed.
Goodbye, Mercedes, I love you.
Laurie ¶ 12:42 PM
Mercedes, who was my very first grand champion, died with 24 legs to her credit. She earned her last leg - a BOS - just a few weeks ago for Peter. Her greatest accomplishment on the table was 4th place at Nationals in Columbus, Ohio.
I was so pleased to be able to give Mercedes to Peter. He had loved her since she was a junior. The first weekend I met Peter, he helped me put my rabbits on the table. I got my juniors mixed up, but Peter knew exactly who Mercedes was. Good thing he kept me straight!
We had both hoped that Mercedes would have some babies for Peter. It was very sad to learn that she had had three babies just before she died, but they chilled and died also. Peter had been checking her every two hours. It was just bad luck that he didn't get them in time to revive them.
I, of course, am still very fortunate to have Mercedes' line still alive and growing in my barn. She produced a grand champion daughter for me, GC The Nature Trail's Lexus. Though Lexus is no Mercedes, she did pass that wonderful body and coat down to her grand champion son, GC The Nature Trail's Lex, 13 legs. Lex is just over a year old and has started producing offspring of his own. He and Lexus have two solids and a Charlie in the nest box right now.
I recently got word that Mercedes' younger sister Nina had to be put down. But Mercedes littermate sister Porche is still living, and hopefully producing some wonderful offspring.
So Mercedes lives on - in our memories, in our hearts, and through her offspring. But she will still be missed.
Goodbye, Mercedes, I love you.
Laurie ¶ 12:42 PM
