Dogs

Four Legged Family Members

Dogs have always played a very big part in our family life.My earliest memories, are of a small black and white Fox Terrier called Spot, Not much to remember about him, as I was very young. At three. I was given my first "very own" dog. He was a Black Labradore and I named him PRINCE. He was a wonderful companion for a lonely, only child. Forfifteen years. we were inseperable companions, except when I went to school, and then he slept under the big desk in my fathers office. Dad was a bank manager, and he used to tell me that no one would ever rob our bank, because Prince was there to stop them. Naturally I belived him. When he got too old to climb the stairs into the bank, one of the staff would always carry him up, and place him in the warmest patch of sun. Customers would have to step over him, but no one ever seemed to object. He was my first love.

Isn't he gorgeous! looks just like my "Prince" when he was a puppy.

Unfortunately this is not a very good photo, I must have been about 14 and Prince 11. He was not totally black , apart from his nose which was grey, he had a little white "tie" on his chest.

My beloved Dad, with NAP, our little "sort of" Australian Terrier. My mum had rescued him from another house in the area, where he had been very cruelly treated. She marched up to the house with Nap under her arm, and informed the people living there, that she was taking the dog ,and they could take her to court if they did not like it. Naturally they did not as the vet would have testified for her Nap was really called Napoleon because he acted like the little Dictator.

Mum was devoted to all animals, and in her elder days was known to locals, as the "dog lady". She would walk the streets in her big coat and red beanie, her pockets would be filled with little treats for all the dogs and cats in the neighbourhood. Our house was always filled with stray animals and birds that one of us had brought home.
I like to think that mine ,and my children's love of animals comes from Mum, she was a very good woman, and I still miss her..

This cute pair are Luci and HONEY, the Golden Retriever. Luci must have been about two years old. Honey came from people who moved overseas. She had been neglected and should by rights have disliked children. She didn't, she adored them. When Luci was about two she was a very poor sleeper and would get up around 4a.m.and snuggle down on the mat with Honey. We would rise at a much more civilized hour and tnere would be the two of them cuddled together, Honey would never move while Luci was asleep. As the girls got older

honey would sit just inside the front gate,and nothing would move her until the girls came unto site at the end of the street, then she would run to meet them. Honey lived until the ripe old age of 16 and is sleeping under the lemon tree.

A bit of a jump now, because I am still looking for old photo's of dog friends now long gone.
There was ***** who always went to the drive-in movies, because my parents knew that he would not let any one touch me!! How could I forget his name,when he was around at such an important time in my life.
Next comes BENJI,he was mine, mums and eventually Rebekahs. More about him later as he holds a very special place in our hearts.

Here is my beloved TITCH.In this photo you can tell he is old because of his eyes. He was my companion for almost the whole of his TWENTY years. I have so many wonderful memories of him, that they would take up too much room here. I have made a sepparate memorial page for him that you may wish to visit.
He sleeps under a red bottle brush in the backyard and I can remember him every day.

Here is LUCKY, our newest love. Officially he belongs to Jessika, but he spends all his days with me because Jessika is at school. We purchased him, to fill the gap left in our hearts, when we returned from Hong Kong and had to leave Poppy behind. He was "educated" by Titch and has many of his manerisms,like eating his dinner one crunchy at a time - a very slow process!! He is a very gentle, loving friend, who only wants to be loved, by every one.

Here is a photo of Lucky, taken after he had been savaged by an unrestrained German Shepherd, on our own property. He was damaged internally,and has been a very sick little dog for more than 12 months.
I can now report that he appears to be improving, he has not had a pain killer for five weeks now,and his little smile is coming back. I hope this is permanent.

The dog with no name, having a bath and obviously not enjoying it.

This bundle of white fluff is POPPY, our Hong Kong dog. We rescued her from some people who were going to dump her.They had repainted their flat and Poppy did not match the decore!
We had never had a poodle before, and I must admit I was expecting a "stupid, yappy little dog". She turned out to be the second most intelligent dog we have had.

Not only could she open the sideboard, and get out the chocolates, but also the fridge. The only trouble was that when she opened the fridge and removed her food, she did not shut it again, and things would go off.
Unfortunately, when we left Hong Kong, we had to leave her behind. It was a sad parting but she went to a nice home.