Monday 29 December 2014
I’m not sure whether Wales is positively brimming with abandoned dogs, or whether 2014 was just the year for us to become unintentionally involved in Welsh dog rescues, but whichever is the case, today we found ourselves on a snowy hillside on the phone to the RSPCA and the Council Dog Warden, trying to arrange the rescue of two emaciated (but very friendly) hounds. That’s now three incidents, involving six dogs in total, this year (not to mention the surrender of three packed lunches to those animals!).
The hillside in question was Moelfre, over the shoulder of which we have walked before. Today the top was our objective and, although the day wasn’t quite as glorious as yesterday, it was still a very fine day to be out.
Our objective
Having noted three different potential start points for this outing, we opted for the one which gave the longest walk, and thus set out from Tal-y-Bont (the one just south of Dyffryn Ardudwy). Aside from being on a mission to achieve the fourth revision of my mileage target for 2014, I knew that start point would take us through some delightful riverside woodland before getting out onto the open hill.
We also shunned the shortest route up the hill, opting instead for a gentler gradient by skirting past and approaching it from the south east. The extra distance gave us some excellent views over to the snowy southern Rhinogau ridge, which we’ve walked many times.
The top gave even finer views, in every which direction and we enjoyed them greatly as we paused for the remains of our lunch (the bits which hadn’t gone to the dogs).
The snowy lump on the right is Diffwys and on the left is Y Llethr. The latter is a Marilyn, but one I’ve been up a few times.
Our descent was significantly more direct than our ascent (for which my knees are not thanking me), but we made up for the short-cut by taking a slightly longer route back to Colin, giving us final stats for the outing of 8.5 miles walked with 1900’ of ascent.
You are indeed (hungry) superheroes, applause! (All the more for knowing you aren't keen, I take it they weren't collies?)
ReplyDeleteA beagle and a golden retriever on this occasion. Fortunately, even I could see that they were very clearly friendly as we approached, so I didn't even have to hide behind Mick.
ReplyDeleteAs much as I am mistrustful of dogs, they don't deserve to die a lingering death of starvation or exposure. As neither had a collar on, it seems likely that they were dumped. It makes me so cross that someone would dump a dog in a location where it's unlikely they'll be rescued and thus where they will likely suffer.
It's unbelievable that anyone would do something so evil.
ReplyDelete