R.I.P. Cymbrian Eunice

RIP Cymbrian Eunice

It is with a heavy heart that I write of the passing of Cymbrian Eunice.  Eunice passed on February 11, 2013.

Eunice was from a litter of six, four females, out of Cymbrian Bonnie Patch by Powchay Patch.  Bonnie was an outstanding hound that I will write about at a later time.  Powchay was Mike’s hound that spent a summer here in PA running cottontails.  He was an absolutely beautiful hound, mostly white with a fawn head and one black spot on each side , with near perfect conformation.  Powchay did not like strangers but he took to me and my boys instantly.  His head was shaped like a beagle sculpture.  His endurance was unbelievable, I never even saw him pant and he was constantly on the move.  When Bonnie came in heat, I called Mike and asked what he thought of the cross.  To this day, that may very well be the best breeding I have made.  If I would have had him here longer, I would have bred him to everything I had.  Bonnie had 6 and raised them all.  (Betsy was also bred at the same time to my Blake. Bonnie had her pups from 5pm to about midnight, Betsy had hers from midnight till about 5 am the same night.)

The 2 males in the litter were absolutely beautiful.  Monk and Pow Jr. had everything in the build and looks department.  The 4 females were also very nice.  They ranged from “Tiny,” who I was sure was going to stay small (but grew to about 14”), to “Grandma” who I thought might go over 15”.  (Although she topped out at 14 ¾”) In between were Eunice and Myrtle.  I kept both.

Eunice and I bonded and soon became partners.  She handled extremely well and loved to be with me.  I will never forget the day she started.  I jumped a cottontail in some goldenrod and Eunice heard it take out.  She followed the scent about 10 feet and let out a wimper.  I think her wimper startled her as she looked right at me.  I encouraged her on and that was it.  She took that rabbit about 20 yards.  The next couple of runs, she continued to improve and stuck a little longer until she was circling with ease.  She had a unique voice that wasn’t always pleasant but I learned to love it and trust it.  She had amazing hunt and search, always on the look-out and always busy.

Some hounds just have that ability to solve a check and Eunice was one of those.  She was quick, claimed fast, and fired out.  She seemed to have the innate instinct on where to search and how to unravel a tough check.  She gave plenty of mouth and worked well with any hound I ran her with.

One day while running with an SPO bred hound from down the road, Eunice put on a clinic.  This SPO hound had licensed places and Eunice left her nothing to do but me-too.  As the running continued, Eunice was putting more and more space between the 2.  I almost felt bad for the other hound, she just couldn’t keep up and Eunice would have the check solved before the other hound could get to the check area.  Back at the vehicles, the hounds were crated and Eunice curled up while the other hound was struggling to cool down.  Fifteen minutes later Eunice was sound asleep and the other hound was still panting heavily.

Eunice and I were indeed close hunting buddies.  I could direct her with a look or gesture or she could go on her own to rouse game.  She understood what I asked of her.  She seemed to enjoy running with the youngsters.  It was like she had a job as an educator to show the youngsters how it’s done.  She would go with the younger hounds and help them on the tough checks and was all business.  She did not race for the front on them but would clean up their mistakes and keep them on the line.

In Eunice’s first litter, she had five and raised all five.  She was a very good mother and was very proud of her pups.  Twila and Jack came out of that litter.  Her second litter had 5 also but she lost 2 the first day and laid on one the second day.  Losing those pups seemed to take a toll on her.  It was like she became depressed but she continued on, doing a wonderful job with Elsie and Annaka.  After weaning the pups, Eunice and Twila became a pretty steady duo.  They would trade the lead and go back and forth on the drive and picking checks.

Shortly after her second litter, after a hearty run, I noticed her back legs were not quite right.  After tests at the vet, the diagnosis was a slight bulged disc.  After 2 days of steroids, she was back to herself.  I took it easy on her for a couple months and it appeared she had completely recovered.  Although she was back to her excellent running abilities, I was hesitant to breed her as I thought the added weight and stress of a pregnancy could cause a relapse.

During the next few years, she was one of those hounds that you hated to leave behind.  It seemed I always had room to take Eunice and I loved having her out.  She never took anything but a rabbit her whole life and I don’t think I ever heard her bark in the kennel.  As a matter of fact, I don’t think I ever had to even raise my voice at her (other than her nasty habit of crapping on her board).

Last year I noticed a dreaded mammary tumor on her underside.  Surgery was scheduled and when they opened her up, they found 5 or 6 more.  She handled the surgery well and lived in the house for a couple months (she was house trained easily years before).  After her recovery, I kenneled her by herself for the first time in her life.  She was not content so I moved her in with Elsie, her daughter, and her sister Myrtle.

Saturday, February 9, she ate normal and all seemed fine.  Little did I know that in about 30 hours my huntin’ buddy would be gone. The tears flowed steady as I laid my beautiful Eunice to rest next to her mother, aunt and former kennelmate Lilly.  Sometimes I still expect to see her in her kennel.  I am grateful that I had Eunice and am grateful to have her pups and now her grand-pups.  Her contribution to my kennel is great.  Her gift to my life was even greater.  Rest easy girl.

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