After a dozen years of devoted work it suddenly drops dead, whereupon its master tips it into the ditch and the village dogs have torn its guts out before it is cold.

在工作了十几年死掉后，它的主人就把它往路边的沟里一扔，往往在尸骨未寒的时候就被村里的野狗吃掉了。

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Escape from Cold Ditch is still in print in the UK. Davidson has published 16 other children's books.

BBC: Author 'sues Chicken Run'

Mr Davidson says the movie's plot is based on his book, Escape From Cold Ditch, says the paper.

BBC: Author 'sues Chicken Run'

The paper also says the author received an offer from a Hollywood studio in 1998 to turn Escape From Cold Ditch into a film, but this was withdrawn when it was discovered DreamWorks were working on a similar project.

BBC: Author 'sues Chicken Run'