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| The new Minka, who came into my life on Thursday 20th March 2003. |
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| Sixteen days after I had Minka V put to sleep, Minka VI (previous name Suzy) was brought to my door at about 9.40 pm on a Thursday evening. The previous day I had responded to an Evening Times advert, my telephone call linking me to Fern Rescue. A trip to Cardonald Cat and Dog Home earlier in the week had been unfruitful, the whole system of re-homing pets having been tightened up, now that the home was being run by the RSPCA. A message left on call-minder by Fern Rescue led to me returning the call, to be told that they were looking for a home for a greyhound. I didn't really fancy having such a large dog, but was reassured that greyhounds make excellent pets, and that they could be left in the house without any major problems. I agreed to a trial period of three days or so. At the afore-mentioned time, two women climbed the stairs to my landing, preceded by a big black greyhound with white markings on its chest and paws. One woman brought a polythene bag with half a dozen tins of dog food. The other woman told me the details of why the greyhound now needed a new home. Suzy, a four-year old bitch, had apparently bitten her female owner, who had tried to break up a fight between the greyhound and a Jack Russell terrier. As a result of being bitten, her owner made the decision that Suzy was to be put down, and arranged for her husband to take the greyhound to the vet immediately. The vet, on hearing the story, asked the man if he would consent to the grehound being re-homed. To this he agreed, and at this point Fern Rescue took on the task of finding a new home for Suzy. When the dog rescue women left to go to their own homes, I returned to the living room and sat down in the centre of the settee, to finish some work I was doing on the computer. Minka followed me to the settee and curled herself up on my right. The settee is now her adopted bed. By the Sunday (23rd March) she had won my heart, and I telephoned Fern Rescue to tell them that I was keeping the greyhound. They very kindly arranged to have her original vaccination certificate sent to me. Suzy was brought to me wearing a muzzle which I was allowed to keep. In fact it was recommended that I muzzled the greyhound every time I went out. Three weeks later I knew it was OK to leave the muzzle at home. Minka VI has such a lovely nature and is very docile. She likes chasing squirrels, but never catches any. She readily makes friends with other dogs and is quite a comical character, particularly when she lets the tip of her tongue hang out the side of her mouth. Minka VI is good with children, and elicits favourable comments from both strangers and acquaintances. Up-date 19 March 2009. Alas, on Wednesday 18th March, this lovely pet, who had become a companion of Hercules and Tiggy (Rosemary's miniature wire-haired dachshunds), was put to everlasting rest following chronic deterioration of her kidney function. Will there be a Minka VII? Come and visit often - there may be a surprise later in the spring or summer. |
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| Minka VI and her little friend Sid at the WOSARS barbeque, August 2005. |