It’s gotcha month, if you don’t what gotcha means it’s anniversary of the day on which a person or a pet joins a family by adoption. I got Betsy my Jack Russell three years ago; I can remember it as clear as yesterday. I had arranged Betsy to be dropped of on a Friday afternoon as I knew that it just needed to be me and her, so we could bond, everyone was at school and work, I had just been furloughed, so I had a least a month of from work.
The previous owners dropped her off, came into the house, I felt emotional for them, they had her since she was a puppy. They were coming to and fro with all her stuff, bedding, dog toys and food. Betsy was having the time of her life; she was exploring and loved the garden which she didn’t have with her previous owners. Within her possessions there was a muzzle, which is something I don’t believe should be used with dogs, I personally think it makes matter worse. From that day, I have never used it.
Betsy’s previous owners had left. What do I do now? I had myself a dog! I decided to take her out for a walk, she was of course kept on the lead, just in case she didn’t like me and made a run for it back to her old owners, that didn’t happen, she was as good as gold.
I was nervous about one thing, when I was still living my parents, my niece would come down and stay the weekend. My nice was small and a little bugger I didn’t want Betsy to react to that. Betsy has nipped her a couple of times, but that is because my nice is still a little child, it’s Betsy’s way of saying calm down and back off.
The next day we were off to meet my friends dog Mabel, the most adorable chocolate labrador you’ll ever meet. We walked from Snodland to Larkfield, walked around Larkfield Reck and walked back to Snodland through Leybourne Lakes, both Betsy and I were knackered. During the evening Betsy developed a limp and couldn’t walk on her paw, I thought I had injured her for life. I texted my friend Mabel’s owner, she said to call the emergency vet. I found out how much they were going to charge me, so I asked the vet for advice, the vet said just let her rest. I had managed to swap Betsy from her dog bed, put her on the sofa, I then slept on her dog bed, it was so funny, I wished I had a photo taken of this moment.
Betsy is a great ratter; she’s killed a couple of rats, mouses and rabbits too. But one memory which I can never forget about is when we were walking up the north downs, we use to do it daily as I lived in Snodland back then, it was right on our doorstep. Betsy had gone down a rabbit hole, I was calling her, she then came out of another one. It was so funny it was like she was like the mole in those whac a mole games.
If anyone wants a dog, do get one. They will change your life for the better!
