A Year In Redwood

Here in Redwood we can be a bit soppy about our dogs!

Have you read the book – Marley & Me?  I took it on holidays with me – perfect holiday reading I thought. Except I came to the ‘sad’ part on the flight home – wept, no sobbed, all the way home!  I’m sure the flight attendants thought I was some crazy woman crying over a holiday romance!

When I was growing up there was always a dog in the house.  We had Loopy – who mysteriously ran off to live on a farm!  Purdy – the best dog ever.  She could open and close doors, bring the post upstairs, go get the paper… a general wonder dog!  Then there was Holly – the big black labrador – just a big old softie!

When I moved into my own place, I thought about having a dog, but living on my own, going off to work everyday, I figured it wasn’t going to be very fair on a dog.

So when A came along – with a little bit (just a tiny bit) of pestering, we got a dog!  Kind of by accident really.  A went to a local mechanic to get the car serviced and there was this little pup who had just wandered in and taken up residence.  It was March so we reckoned he had been someone’s Christmas present – now dumped.

So of course we took him home rather than have him go to the pound.

Buddy became a huge part of our ‘family’.  He was a bit mad (not quite as bad as Marley).  I remember him pulling clothes off the line, he figured out how to get out of those ‘body’ leads. I never figured out how he did, but one time he buried a whole round of cheese in the veg garden – the smell when I discovered that!

There was another time we went out for an evening and as it was winter we thought we’d leave him inside – nice and warm.  We were delayed getting home and dreaded the devastation that might await us.  No worries!  Buddy had pulled cushions down off the couch and made himself extremely comfortable in front of the fire!

My lovely suburban garden that I had lovingly tendered, in a few short months was destroyed with his racing about.  Despite the fact that every morning I fell out of bed at 6.50 am and took him for a long walk on the beach, and then walked him again in the evenings – he ran circles around the garden all day!

When it came to moving to Redwood, we dreaded the journey.  Buddy had this irritating habit of whining in the car.  We had a 2 hour journey ahead of us.  It was suggested we give him a sleeping tablet.  We did.  It kicked in 2 days later!

First thing he did on arriving at our new home – lift the leg on the end of the stairs.  He had claimed the house as his own.

Buddy loved living here.  Loved the visit of the postman – oh, that van smells of every dog in the parish! In fact, he loved any visitors – especially children – they were most likely to drop food on the floor, or the food in their hands would be just within reach!  And visitors were an easy target with ‘squeeky’…. he could wait for hours for someone to play and throw for him.

We were both absolutely devastated when in July 2010 Buddy was diagnosed with cancer. We had thought he was putting on weight and were feeding him less and exercising him more.  Thankfully it was quick, he lasted only 3 days.

We brought him home and buried him in his favourite spot – where he could keep an eye on everything that was going on around here.

It took months for us to decide about replacing him – well we never could really.  But living in the country, you need a dog.

In October 2010 – Harry arrived.  He howled the first night or two – and yes we gave in and let him sleep upstairs in our room.  He was so tiny and small.

And, of course, we felt he could do with some company… so his sister, Winnie, came to live here too.

A moment of pure madness really – 2 pups – double the amount of devastation.

Harry loves my shoes! 5 pairs I’ve lost now!

Winnie is more partial to socks and gloves, and she doesn’t mind if their mine or A’s!

Harry also loves to pluck feathers from hens – not interested in ducks – just hens!

They are now 17 months old…. teenagers, I guess, in dog terms…. so when will the devastation stop?

Pictures of innocence, eh?

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