Wisky was a German Shepherd. He was my pet when I was about six years old.
Wisky was a very relentless well trained hunting dog. I usually accompanied my young uncles on hunting expeditions in the grasslands of Africa. We were on one of these adventurous trips when Wisky suddenly raised his ear lobes pointing up to the sky and rapidly sniffing the air, my uncles became alert, and with machetes raised high up to the sky, they would charge after Wisky in whatever direction he led them in pursuit of some wild animal. Often it was a deer, or some daring rabbit. Wisky grabbed the deer by the hind leg and a struggle ensued. Uncle Adrian rushed in and captured the deer and a rapid slaughter was undertaken as I stood back in dismay at how the poor animal was soon to become a meal.
Without Wisky, your uncles would a very difficult time hunting. Hunting with dogs has been a way of life for thousands of years. Although I never experienced it myself, I think many young children experience bad feelings when animals are killed. When I was growing up, all the wolves and lynxes had been driven off and the deer easily over populated to starvation. We were not allowed to use dogs except to hunt and retrieve waterfowl and game birds. Running down deer with dogs was against the law, but from an early age, I understood the need to remove deer from the population both for food and to keep them healthy. There are now more deer than ever there and hunting is managed carefully.
When I was six, German shepherds were a very dangerous dog, causing many injuries and scarring for young kids. German shepherds were the only dogs that ever tried to attack me. I've recall at least three incidents where I had to stand up to German shepherds by yelling at them to stop their attacks. They are real hunters and can be very vicious as well as very friendly and loving.
Africa is faced with a dilemma. Overpopulation in some areas and poor farmlands as caused people to seek out "wild meat" of many kinds. Also, the stupid practices of Chinese medicine and the profits involved are driving elephants, rhinos, and big cats to extinction. African people need to begin to understand that their wild creatures are a sacred resource and need to be managed and hunted carefully so that there always be food for future generations.
Jack Kelly was a child performer, son of New York model, Nan Kelly, brother of actress, Nancy Kelly, brother-in-law of actor Edmond O'Brien and cinematographer Fred Jackman, Jr. On TV, from 1957 until 1962, he was James Garner's brother on the show,
Margaret Kohel Evans invites her mother's grandchildren to a delightful visit with their grandmother, sharing charming memories of her across eighteen life themes.
