Farmers Weekly columnist Steve Wyn-Harris’s long-time companion, Ditch, is off to join a posse of blokes with not a bitch in sight.
Wyn-Harris is moving off farm and no longer requires Ditch’s services. A plea went out to Farmers Weekly readers to help find a new home for the prized pooch, and plenty of offers came forward.
There was Vonnie, who married a farmer and earned the respect of her sheep dog King after digging him out of rabbit hole he’d got stuck in.
Pat, “a somewhat elderly bitch” from Taihape with a retired vet as her owner, looked a strong contender.
Then there was Lace, a sheep dog from Piopio in the King Country. She tried to entice Ditch by including a photo in her application.
But it’s been decided: Ditch will head to a sheep and beef farm in Whangaehu, near Whanganui, and join a team of like-minded canines, such as Bruce who once racked up a $4000 vet bill after requiring a ligament replacement.
“None of my team know what a bitch is, just sometimes there might be a scrap over a bone,” said new owner John Wilkie.
“In Ditch’s case, if he’s interested in stock work and can make himself useful, and is a bit of a character to boot, he’ll add to the fun round here.”
