D is for Dogs

 This village has more dogs than anywhere I've ever lived - although as I've not really lived in a village proper since the 90's maybe everywhere else has dozens of dog owners too! 

I see so many because of living where I do - on a circular walk round the village which also has plenty of grass for the dogs to do their 'business' -daft word.

Thankfully most people pick up their dogs mess and I see them going by swinging the poo bag and think UGH, thank goodness I don't have to pick up dog poo.   

We only ever had one dog. She was a rescue dog, we adopted her in 1999. She was a collie crossed with something smaller but mainly collie. Black and white and not very big she was the cleverest dog ever, always coming back when called, sitting and staying when told. On a lead she always pulled and we never could get her to walk to heel yet she walked beside us naturally without one  - very odd.

 We named her Lucy and had her for 10 years at the smallholding and I think she had a happy life with us. She sometimes went out with Colin when he was bridge inspecting and somehow she was smart enough to know when he was walking a footpath to a bridge and then back to the car as she would do three quarters of the walk until the bridge was in sight and then sit down and wait for him to come back! She never stood up if she could sit and never sat if she could lay down but was very good at fetch and bring back which I always got fed up with before she did.

She was always happy and enjoyed holidays in the caravan or campervan and didn't mind where she was as long as she was with either me or Col. Colin used to take her to farm sales and she would have lovely time sniffing her way around everything, looking to see where Colin was and always finding her way back to him.

She hated water and would walk right round a puddle and the sea held no attraction at all. Whenever we gave her a bath or shower she would sulk for ages.

She loved the children and always remembered them when they came back from university.

Youngest daughter and Lucy in 2000

Visiting Eldest Daughter when she was away at Uni in Winchester. 2000

Son and Lucy at home in 2001

Lucy in 1999

In 2009 she suddenly she slowed down and seemed very old, (we had no idea how old she actually was), not wanting to play anymore, the vets found several lumps and then she went downhill quite quickly and on a sad day Col took her to the vets. 

We never had another dog as none would have matched up to our lovely Lucy. We buried her on the smallholding and planted a sweet chestnut tree. I hope it's still there.

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Sue