Puppy On a String - The beginnings of a Dog-umentary!

As I was walking I decided I needed a stable companion, someone who could not only keep me grounded and remind me of the bigger picture, but someone who would help me to keep those around me safe and comfortable.

I needed a dog...

It wasn't a snap decision, turn after turn of my journey has happened alone, sometimes I wander in the company of others, sometimes I wander aimlessly alone, sometimes... well I just wander aimlessly, forgetting that there is a goal, a path to take and a future. Turn after turn I was aware of something that was missing on my journey, then one day I remembered how it felt to walk the path with Cassie, Cara, Mollie, all dogs... All devoted loving companions, who when the path runs short, or direction is lost, could always guide me back.

Over several weeks we visited the local rescue centres, initially I intended to volunteer and assist in the rehab of the rescue dogs, my partner was adamant that we weren't having another dog, she doesn't handle routine and consistency well at all - which kids and puppies need... however one day she said, "Why don't we go and get you a dog. It'll be yours, you choose it, your responsibility, the most I'll do is pet it and jump out of the way when it goes mental"

How could I refuse...?

Of course i had to have long discussions with the many children of the house, restructuring the business model to suit - i.e starting later, enforcing a dinner break and finishing 'officially' at tea time... designated walk times.

After visiting some pretty crappy rehoming centres, one of which was so bad the owner tore into Fiona for asking to walk one of the dogs, then spent a week emailing me insults after I told her that I thought her and her setup should be evaluated by the RSPCA, (they have been informed and are now staging a full inspection/investigation).

Eventually we found Holly, a beautifully placid Staffordshire Bull Terrier, who'd been abused by her former owners, taken with her mother to the rescue centre and had recently watched her mother leave with another family.

She never barked or forced attention on herself, however she did instantly take to me, and the 3 children who came with us, Fiona was regarded a little more cautiously.

We arranged a home visit from the RSPCA, went back to see her again and 1 week later we picked her up, all fully vaccinated etc. With a note saying, "Has a stiff leg, probably from lack of exercise"

The first day was nerve wracking, was Holly going to eat my house? She walked with us, on the lead, with no issues other than a need to sit down and rest every 200 yards or so, unfit? She lived her life in a small shed up till now... 4 years with little to no exercise will take its toll.

I was convinced instantly that I could walk her off the lead, but gave it time before I did so. She still walked perfectly at my side, and needed a lot of cajoling to get her to go run around in the field. I threw about 40 sticks before she got the message and ran in the opposite direction.

A sense of humour too?? lol. Maybe she envisioned that I was throwing sticks at an attacker, or was just nervous of being donked on the head by my random stick throwing.

Her stiff leg was more concerning, she wasn't using it at all...

3 days later she was in pain, all the time. The leg had seemingly become a lot worse, so we called the RSPCA vet and ran her there as quickly as possible. His response, "If I'd known about this I'd have had her put down."

Her knee is riddled with arthritis, the patella or cartilige is completely destroyed, every step she took was grinding her thigh bone against her calf bones... essentially the only guarenteed way to ease her pain was amputation.

Time passed slowly, we had to arrange insurance etc, ensure that the vet knew for sure what he was talking about (took her to other vets - after all, he'd missed it at least once already - his job with the RSPCA is to give each dog a full checkover before they join the rescue dogs, and then once a week every week until they leave).

Finally we got her back to him yesterday, with insurance and enough money to cover what was needed, and he brightened, "I think we can fix this without amputation, I won't amputate unless there's no other option".

Monday she goes in to either have her knee rebuilt, or her leg whipped off in a flurry of specialised butchery - makes you feel sick to the core to think that someone's bad attitude, lack of respect, hatred, could cause so much pain and suffering to a beautiful dog. The damage is 95% definately from an injury, a good kicking... and she'll suffer for the rest of her life.

However she's a happy dog right now - stoned on pain killers of course, but more attached to me than a shadow.

My walk is more of an amble, and my goal many many more days away than it was before. I have time to think, to look around, and someone to share everything with, someone who isn't tied up in everyone elses problems, someone who doesn't want to tell me what to do. Someone who just wants to share my walk with me.

Holly doesn't need warm comfortable shoes, but a warm comfortable leg would be nice for her.

Should you stumble upon us, on your journey, please stop and say Hi, take a moment to get a Hi from Holz too, she loves people, she loves everything - she's walking a little path of her own with touey the rat right now, they're cuddled up beside me watching the screen while touey chews on a slice of apple and Holz snores (whilst awake)..

We'd love to walk a while with you, if you don't mind slowing down just a little to allow my healing friend to keep up, if not, we'll catch up later and maybe share a game of football with you.

The bigger picture, the longer journey... We don't need an atlas or a map, we just need to know that its there, a purpose, a goal. And sometimes, we just need someone to take the journey with.

Someone who isn't going to tell you what you're doing wrong!

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