Summer in the countryside may seem idyllic, but it can be punctuated by drama. Here is an account of a dog’s trials and tribulations in the beautiful Dordogne Valley...

1. ANIMAL FREEDOM
& DOG WARFARE
Betty, alittle Jack Russell whogrew up inParis, arrivedin
Corrèze twoyears ago. A paradise for dogs. A freedom
without limits –until the day when...
THAT SON OF A BITCH
ROTTWEILER
Cécile told me the news on WhatsApp:"Betty was attackedby a Rottweiler.
She almostdied! She’sall stitchedup, can’t walk, won’tget out of her
basket."
The said sonof a bitch hadescaped from the yard of its owner, the one Cécile
calls "BreakingBad," a shaggy beardedman with skull ringson his fingers.
A week later, Betty is muchbetter. Her body still covered with a thick
bandage, she managesto extract herself from her basket and waddle around
the garden. Yesterday, she even went down the woodenstaircase to the first
floor by herself.
Breaking Badcame tosee Cécile and said he hadchained up hisdog. He has
three appointmentswiththe veterinarian, Dr. Couderc, who treatsBetty and
mustalso evaluate the dangercategory of the mongrel in question.
Chain or not, I have decided not gofor a walk on the roadto Brivezac
anymore, andwill steer clear of Breaking Bad’sproperty.

2. THE EXPERT’S
INTERVENTION
Three dayslater. Betty returns from her third visitto the vet. New bandages.
A skin specialist from Toulouseon vacation nearby had been invitedby Dr
Couderc tocome and examine "Betty’sdelicate case". Half a dozen medical
staff congregate aroundthe small, woundeddog. The high priestessof skin
applies honey to the raw flesh of Betty. Her skin, necrotic, hadto be removed
on onethird of her mutilatedlittle body. Shethen exposesher underan LED
lamp before re-bandaging.
Arriving home, the freshly swaddled Betty is thirsty. She leans over the pool. A
little too far. Shefalls in.
Pierre, who is standingnearby, divesin like a rugby player and grabsthe
sinkingdog. Pulls her up. But he hears a crack when he throws himself to the
ground. His knee hashit a rock. Pierre is in pain. His knee is swelling.
And Betty is all wet! Her new bandages, thefew hairs sticking outof them,
soaked!Quick!Call Dr. Couderc, put Pierre ona deck chair in the shadeof the
oak tree, bringice for his knee...
Cécile goes down tothe village to buy somearnica cream. The sky blazes over
the valley; the successionof hills resemble a festoon in the flaming sky, the
crickets are silent.
Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne, July 7, 2022