Death of a friend of wildlife
To the editor:
Pine Island’s wildlife rescue dog, Blue, passed away on Nov. 12, from complications of leukemia. Blue, an Australian shepherd, was 9 years old.
Blue has assisted in the rescue of hundreds of injured pelicans, ospreys, herons, egrets, cormorants, anhinga, hawks, owls, songbirds, coons, possums and even some six to eight bald eagles. He started when he was 6 months old. Needing no training–only his in-bred desire to herd, Blue maneuvered wildlife into a net where they could be crated and transported to the CROW wildlife hospital on Sanibel.
When not rescuing wildlife, Blue enjoyed his family (Phil and Sam Buchanan) and his friends (all of Pine Island). He loved boating, was fanatical about fishing, but perhaps most of all enjoyed riding in a golf cart. Blue is also well known in St James City as the dog that sat on the accelerator and drove off on his own in the golf cart — a 300-foot, 15-mph trip that ended when he went down a boat ramp and crashed into a boat trailer.
Blue will be sorely missed. Donations in his honor should be made to CROW, 3883 PO Box 150, Sanibel FL 33957.
Phil Buchanan
Pine Island