So, have you ever made a decision that has affected your whole life and continues to do so?
At the age of sixteen I was given ownership of a Cocker Spaniel called Lindy. She had been purchased to work to the gun but was gun shy, and the owner, who worked with my brother, asked if I would like her. Whilst not ill-treated, she lived in a shed with straw as her bedding. Lindy was soon transformed into a beautiful dog, shampooed, fleas eradicated and her ears groomed to get rid of old food and tatters .
Living in a remote area near Shap (due to my Father’s employment) Lindy and I walked the hills, fells and forests , we didn’t need company we had each other.
Eventually I acquired a boyfriend and again, because of our location near the Lake District , spent hours walking. One afternoon after our walk we returned to the car. The boyfriend moved close to me, Lindy’s head appeared between us from the back seat, my boyfriend, Jo somewhat grumpy, said “it’s that bloody dog or me” !! I got out of the car with Lindy , a decision made that has stuck with me ever since….it’s love me love my dog(s).
I moved on, married, and had two children, and more dogs! A Spaniel/Beagle cross, an Alsatian/Collie cross, Tina a Dandy Dinmont/ Dachshund cross (with us for sixteen years), then a ten year old English Pointer who was going to be pts due to her owners splitting up That’s when the love affair with Pointers began.
Over the years we have had many, Faye a seven month black and white because “She didn’t behave like a Labrador!” (I could have told her then owners that!). Then Isabella, whose parents had six children and number seven on the way. There followed Joy, one of Flo Barker’s Flinthill Pointers; Morgan. a true gentleman, who we managed to keep for an extra two years with chemotherapy keeping his lymphoma at bay. Then Penny from Cyprus, who came to us for just a short time. She had undiagnosed Leishmania and we had to say goodbye at just three years old – heart-breaking.
Rosie then came from Greece, a sweet gentle dog …. well apart from disappearing at 3pm one Sunday afternoon whilst walking in a local forest. Eventually we spotted her, swimming in the River Eden, which flows through the wood, in pursuit of a duck and ducklings . Seven hours later she appeared exactly where she had disappeared, tail wagging, having had a wonderful time. We went home, she had her dinner and we collapsed on the settee. We had covered about 20 miles searching for her! We didn’t even know she could swim!
I also got involved in local politics and was a City Councillor for twenty-four years, including two years as the Mayor. The Civic Chaplin, who was also a dog lover, organised a Pet Service and everyone brought their pets along and could receive a blessing if they wished. Rosie was a star, got up on the pew and went to sleep. My Mayors Charity raised funds for the local Hospice, Children in Need and Guide Dogs. We were able to name a Guide Dog puppy , so we named her Luga, as the Roman name for Carlisle was Luguvalliam.
We are now retired but ran a small business which meant taking holidays was difficult, so we bought a static caravan on the Solway Coast. Every Saturday afternoon after closing the shop we loaded the dogs (all six of them) and the Siamese Cats (all four of them) into the car and went to the caravan, we did that for ten years and the dogs and cats loved it. The beach and sand dunes were paradise and it remains one of our best memories – a simple lifestyle, but one made better by that decision I made years ago and have never regretted.
We now have two Pointers In Need dogs. Jay, who we took as a foster during Covid and couldn’t part with. Despite his recall being non existent! He is the most affectionate dog we have ever had , loves everyone, children , dogs and workmen in high vis jackets – in fact anyone that he can lean on and get a cuddle. Jay has low level Leishmania so has medication one month in three , he continues to be very fit and active .
Zoe came from northern Greece two years ago, very quiet and only now showing a bit of personality . She can be a bit reactive with boisterous dogs, but now she can walk past other dogs if they don’t invade her space , so progress there. Daddy is the love of her life, and she won’t move without him ….which brings me back to my decision “love me love my dogs”.
Having a dog, or in our case multiple dogs, is a choice we made, we fit our lives around them, the pleasure is immeasurable. The pain when you have to lose them overwhelming.
But would I change anything ? Not for one second.
Adopter: Marilyn Bowman
