A Border Collie puppy came into our lives on Sunday 11th August 1996 rather sooner than expected. We'd agreed to buy him for £50 a couple of days earlier after we saw him at Rabbit Farm in Criccieth, North Wales. When we went to see him again on Sunday, we were told that we could take him away there and then, so we did. There we were with a new puppy on a Sunday with no food, bowls, or lead and there were few shops open. I remember that he cried all the way during the car journey back to our touring caravan that we kept at my in-laws sea-side home in Dinas Dinlle. We left him with our two children and went off to purchase the essential items.
Too small to climb onto the caravan seat!
I should point out that we didn't follow the sound advice for purchasing a puppy, such as seeing the puppy's parents, using a Kennel Club registered breeder, and not taking a puppy that is under 8 weeks old. However, he was cute and we loved him already. My wife wanted to call him Diesel, but our daughter Michelle wanted to name Lucky after the dog in the cartoon film 101 Dalmatians. Michelle won and our new puppy was duly named Lucky.
Lucky with 'Boomy,' his favourite toy
Lucky turned out to be a great dog. On his walks he played alternately with a plastic, squeaky boomerang (boomy) and a ball. Everyone who knew him liked him, and he liked them too. He didn't like most other dogs, not helped by the fact that he was attacked by two Staffordshire Bull Terriers as a young dog. For 12 years he gave us the unconditional love, entertainment and companionship. So many happy memories.
Retrieving sticks from the sea
Worn out after playing on the beach during his last trip to North Wales in May 2006.
A couple of weeks before we went on holiday to Spain he seemed to be lame in one of his rear legs, following a slip on the laminate floor in our hallway. We thought a week at my mother-in-law's bungalow would give him chance to recover whilst we were away in Spain. On our return we would review the situation, and if there had been no improvement we would take him to the vet. He did seem to improve a little in our absence, but the day before our return his lameness got worse and his back legs were giving way. My wife Sue took him to the vet on Friday 13th June where he was sedated in order that he could be X-rayed. Around mid-day the vet 'phoned Sue with the bad news. Lucky had advanced Bone Cancer (Osteosarcoma) in his left leg, and it has also spread to his chest. He had days or weeks rather than months to live. We really had no choice but to have Lucky put to sleep. The vet brought Lucky out of the anaesthetic so that Me, Sue, our son Michael, our daughter Michelle and her partner could spend some time with him at the surgery. Sue and I remained with him, fussing him while the vet put Lucky peacefully to sleep. The pain was all ours.
So, goodbye dear old friend, we will always miss you. You made each day that much better, and from now on each day will be that much worse.
LUCKY
June 1996 - 13th June 2008
Paul and Sue Biggs are members/supporters of the Border Collie Trust GB, a Registered Charity (1053585) which relies on public support to assist Border Collies in the UK.
Thanks to the staff at the Mercia Veterinary Surgery for attending to Lucky's medical needs over the past 12 years.
Walkies in the Spring Snow, 6th April 2008:
Yes Hasbeen - a bond with a horse is at least as strong, if not stronger, than with a dog.