Introduction
“Choosing a dog may be the only chance you get to pick a relative.”(unknown) “Rescuing a dog maybe the only chance you get to save a life!”
One year ago this month, we rescued this little dog from a home in the Black Country after a request via a group in Stafford that we had never heard of. Linda and I had been associated with Staffordshire Bull Terrier Rescue North West for many years, and I used to do home visits to prospective new owners.
We were appalled at this little dog’s condition, and when we took her for a walk, she looked awful. We weren’t sure if she had been walked very much; she certainly hadn’t been out for a long time. The woods were all new to her, and she was afraid of people and other dogs, even if they were quiet and friendly.
Feeding time was fun with Lily, the little dog danced for joy every mealtime. It was so gratifying. From the beginning, she had Linda and I throwing her toy ball back and forth. She came alive and hardly seemed to tire.
Lily Responded Beautifully.
During the coming months, we were able to build Lily up physically, and with the vet’s approval (and despite recurring skin allergies), we booked her in to be spayed. It all went well.
After surgery, she looked funny in a pink all-in-one suit designed to hug her frame and stop her from scratching the stitches. It hugged where it touched, with quite a bit hanging loose. LOL! She was four years and seven months old, and keeping a young, fun dog like her calm and quiet was a nightmare. She wanted to jump up on her chair, run after her ball, and live life like she hadn’t been able to for a few days. We couldn’t walk her for a while and she was only allowed into the garden to relieve herself, but you can’t keep a live wire still, as we soon found out. However, despite our fears, all went well.
Originally, Lily was somewhat wary of me as a man, but now she is happy with Linda and me equally. She continues to grow in confidence, loves her daily walks, and chases off the intruding cats from her territory. She doesn’t quite know about the squirrels or the visiting hedgehogs and thinks that the feral pigeons can just about be tolerated.
One Year On
She rules the home, of course, but loves to please us. We never have to shout at her, and we enjoy seeing her enjoy her life. She is so gentle, full of love and enthusiasm, and we feel blessed to have her as part of our family. She tells us what she wants and is a delight. We thank God for lending her to us.
