The new housemate

There has been one reason, above all others, for taking my eye off the blog for a month or so, and it is this: the arrival of a new housemate. You will not, I think, be surprised to learn that the new housemate has four rather than two legs and barks (but only occasionally). 

Miss P (for the purposes of this blog, we will call her that and to differentiate her from regular guest, Little Miss P, the Shih Tzu) arrived at the beginning of the year and, since then, has nudged her way into my heart as well as my home.

An indication of this came a couple of weeks ago, when I found myself writing quite spontaneously about Miss P. Here, with just a few minimal tweaks, is what emerged:

I had not been thinking about another dog. I already had the Edinburgh Boy; he was getting on, ten this year - almost elderly for a dog. We would be able to have off-days together, when we didn't go for long walks, especially when rain poured down incessantly as it had done for months, from the beginning of autumn and on and on through winter.

And then the sad, achingly sad, email about Miss P, a dog I had looked after frequently over the past year. A young bouncy crossbreed, with boundless stamina, who ran like the wind. A few kilos of pure energy. A bit of Border collie? A bit of lurcher? A bit of spaniel? Definitely a lot of Saluki. Not my sort of dog, really. Not a Labrador.

Life, however, has its distinct way of shaking you to your core and slamming the unexpected in your face like a splapstick custard pie - but without the laughs.

Miss P's devoted and loving owners had seen their world transmute into something they barely recognised and that they could not have predicted, which meant - and this was the very hardest thing - that they could no longer keep their dog, any dog, for the foreseeable future. But they could not contemplate the thought of their beautiful canine zephyr ending up with strangers who might not love her or understand her they way they had done.

She had been born on, but thankfully rescued from, what is euphemistically called a puppy farm, then fostered and eventually handed over to a rescue centre. And then the lovely owners found her, fell in love with her kind eyes, her silky coat and just the whole sweet-natured shebang of her.

So, she could not possibly go to strangers. Instead she came to me, despite the fact that I would never have chosen her in a 'pick your favourite dog' line-up. But she chose me because that is what rescue dogs do. Best not to fight it, just concede gratefully and graciously.

As it turns out, she is the dog of my dreams, or my dream dog, what you will: a faithful, affectionate, kindly dog, in love with life, with people, with other dogs. A dog who will run every hour of her waking day, if she can, but who will turn on a sixpence and hurtle back to my side like a rocket at the sound of my Acme dog whistle.

I am in awe, watching the exquisite line of her as she races up hillsides and flies across Exmoor's streams, her feathered tail rippling and flowing out behind her .

In the evening, curled up by the woodburner, draped across her beloved companion, the Edinburgh Boy, she sleeps contented, dreaming her doggy dreams.

And I realise that I cannot, now, imagine my life without her.

Comments

[Nan]

Such a wonderful story. It makes me cry. Beautiful dog!

[Sarah]

Wonderful to have your posts again and this was one of the best. It brought a smile to me and I needed one today. Thank you. Sarah

[Kathleen Jones]

How lovely! I'm glad you've found a soulmate! Miss P looks beautiful. You're right about not choosing but being chosen though. We've been chosen by the 'Batcat' even though we'd sworn not to have an animal as we're in temporary rented accommodation. But how can you refuse?
best wishes
Kathleen

[wendy]

Lovely post, Boots. You make the dog lovers' world a vibrant place. Your words about Edinburgh Boy and the new Miss P are word pictures of delightful individuals. So pleased you're posting again. More please.w

[Jennyff]

So pleased you two have got together, couldn't have worked out better for any of you.

[colleen]

She's a beauty. I like a dog with a bit of lurcher.

And very good to have you back, D.

[Mary Coleman]

This makes me so happy to read!!!! I'm thrilled for you to have this special sweet P in your life!!!

[lovethosecupcakes]

I love your new housemate!

[Pamela (Lady Luz)]

What a wonderful solution to the owners' sad situation....an evocative tale. Thanks D.

[60 going on 16]

Thank you everyone for your delightful comments (I hope I didn't make you cry too much, Nan). We are all, quite obviously, complete softies when it comes to companion animals . . .

[Jay from The Depp Effect]

Oh, how lovely!!! She does look sweet - and possibly a greyhound/border collie lurcher. I'm told they're very popular for 'working', possibly including poaching. You get the speed and hunting instinct of a sighthound, plus the intelligence and willingness of the border collie.

You're right - rescue dogs do choose us. My Jeffie is a case in point. We were told a pack of .. um .. untruths about his character by his fosterer and by the time we found out, we were unable to return him for various reasons. He chose us, and made sure to come home with us by wooing my husband - who didn't mind what colour we had so long as it wasn't Jeffie's colour (black), and certainly didn't want a dog of his temperament, but here he is! LOL!

[Dancing Beastie]

What a beautiful piece of writing. One does lose one's heart to some animals. I'm glad for you both that she found you.