On February 2nd I took Bodi to walk on the beach at Alvor. After a pleasant hour or so I noticed she had some fishing line hanging from her mouth - she had swallowed a fishing hook!!! After a frantic drive to the vet, and several X-Rays taken under sedation, they discovered a large (2 cm) hook in her stomach. The Vet was not optimistic; she said that with a small hook they would induce vomiting to try and get the hook regurgitated but this was too big and too dangerous. They had to operate but there was a risk that the anaesthetic could make her vomit and move the hook, in which case they would have to X-Ray again to ascertain precisely where it was. I gave them permission to go ahead and operate. After the longest day of my life the Vet phoned me at 5 pm to say that the operation had been successful and the hook and line had been removed. Bodi spent three days at the surgery in intensive care on an intra-veinous drip. She is now at home recuperating and getting stronger every day whilst still on antibiotics and a special diet. A very brave and very strong girl for twelve and a half years of age.

Fishing with rod and line should be banned and all such fishermen exterminated for the dangerous filth they leave behind which does much harm to wildlife as well as domestic pets.