The price of the love of a dog......My story.

[secrets22]

The story of how my love and devotion for dogs began. I had never had an infinity with dogs until...I was staying with friends in Bournemouth and they had 5 dogs, but one little dog Billy took a shine to me and me to him, he would always clamber over me and i loved it, but suddenly my friend Ken asked if i would like to give his little dog Benji a home, ( he was the runt of the litter and quite poorly) and without thinking i agreed, not even knowing how to manage a little dog, and so i brought him home and he blossomed. It wasn't long before i had a phone call from Ken's partner telling me that Ken had died, he had committed suicide, and he asked if i would take Billy which of course i agreed to, I drove to Bournemouth and collected Billy but he was very nervous and afraid but i held him on my lap all the way home, I showered him with love as i did Benji to, little Benji passed over not long after. Suddenly it was me and Billy facing the world, sharing an unbreakable bond, i loved that little dog beyond measure and we had many years together until his passing and i still mourn him today.😢.

Deciding we would have no more dogs, but we did, we had Charlie, Chami, Eddie, Diva and then my beloved Yonnie who was found on the streets of Cairo.

I loved all my dogs, but Billy and Yonnie broke my heart and when i lost them part of me died, they were my soulmates, and my grief is ongoing, I am consumed with loss.

I still have wee Diva and she has changed, when before she would never stay on my bed for long, but now she stays on my bed all night.

If the world had a heart of a dog it would be a far kinder place. Whether there is such a place as the Rainbow Bridge i am not sure, but if you have been blessed with the love and devotion of a dog, you are indeed truly blessed.

[Cavalierrubie]

l agree with you Secrets there is not a love like it here in this world. It is pure and unconditional and we are truly blessed to be given such a gift. There is a lot of history in your story and a lot of grief to cover. I hope as the days go by you will get comfort from those that love you and of course little Diva who will also be missing her friend and feel lonely too. You need each other more than ever. Take care. Xxxx

[secrets22 in reply to Cavalierrubie]

thank you, and yes I need Diva and she needs me, as has been shown recently.❤️

[Arymretep]

That’s so beautiful 💕

You are so right about having a dog , I was brought up with all sorts of animals but it’s the dogs I remember mostly, after all these years, they capture your heart, my OH had never had a dog, so when we got married and I wanted one of our own he wasn’t sure , but we picked Sam up from the rescue centre , a puppy just a few months old who was with us for 18 years, and my hubby was smitten , he was so upset when we lost Sam , he swore never again , until at work one day months later someone brought in a tiny puppy left in a plastic bag left by a bin, he couldn’t resist, and so we had Jess! another twelve years of love and devotion. I can say my hubby was truly captured by the love of dogs , we are in out late seventies now and don’t think it would be fair to get another dog, but I miss them so so much

You say diva stays on your bed now , I said that she’d become closer to you now, she is missing her pal too, be there for each other now😘

[secrets22 in reply to Arymretep]

thank you so much and i know you understand the love that dogs bring.❤️

[CLB1125 in reply to Arymretep]

May I make a suggestion? You said you are too old for another dog? Have you considered adopting an old dog from a shelter? The forgotten ones everyone passes by. Many of them are there because their owners have passed on and nobody wanted them. It’s just a thought.

[Arymretep in reply to CLB1125]

Yes , it’s something to think about ,👍

[MadBunny]

That's a beautiful and moving story Secrets. Those dogs have been so blessed to have you to love and care for them.

[secrets22 in reply to MadBunny]

Thank you ,but those dogs in many ways saved me.

[Audiomarc1]

Hi Roddy. There's nothing better than the unconditional love we share with our most beloved pet family. I actually would rather spend time with them than with most people.....and I do. I'll say a prayer for your continued happiness and the love you provide for your pet family. Be well my friend 😺😻🙏👍💕

[secrets22 in reply to Audiomarc1]

Hello Marc, like you, time spent with wonderful dogs is more special than spending time with most people.

[Agora1]

Thank you secrets22 for sharing a warm, heartfelt story of your life with

your furry friends. I've always loved German Shepherds.. However my last

one was my sidekick, my forever pal. We all need someone like this in our

lives. xx

[secrets22 in reply to Agora1]

Thank you so much , my Yonnie was my best friend and soulmate, where i went, she went with me.

[Agora1 in reply to secrets22]

Weren't we both blessed? xx

[secrets22 in reply to Agora1]

Yes we were both blessed despite the heartache. x

[CLB1125]

you are truly a blessing. Our pittie T was a rescue from the humane society. They said he had been picked up running the streets and nobody claimed him. He was adopted and returned twice before us. One said they didn’t know he was a pitbull and the other said he was aggressive. This is a dog that let chicks walk on him. If the cats decide his food looks better than his he walks away and let them have it. I too said no more pets after my chis passed away and our cat died unexpectedly from seizures right after we got T . He was so heartbroken that we ended up with not one more cat but two. T adopted the little girl cat Tammy for his own. Where you see one you see the other. For 9 years He has brought love and devotion into our home. Now he was diagnosed with kidney failure. My heart breaks. He has seen me through numerous severe migraines, deaths and heartbreaks. I have wiped many tears on his fur. So now I make special food for him and hug him as much as possible. My little Tammy will be lost without him. So will we.

[CLB1125]

I think I interjected myself into your post. So sorry.

[Arymretep in reply to CLB1125]

It’s good to hear everyone’s story 😘

[Cb1963]

Dearest Roddy you wear your heart on your sleeve, the whole story is full of sadness with hints of joy, I've met numerous people in my life and also had the unfortunate experience of someone taking their life. I would imagine some of the real life experiences would make a very good reading, have you considered writing a book, I'd rather read a biography about your life than Boris Johnson, you could be a perfect candidate.

I was more of a cat person but did have a cocker spaniel for a few months but he had to go back to the breeder's, he had

" Cocker rage " he was interbred and had issues, basically he would bite, and was uncontrollable, I was even feared of him, and having a young child around was extremely dangerous.

Please consider writing a book, I think you've got all the qualities a decent human being, empathy, kindness and honesty in copious amounts, I'm sorry you've lost your 4 legged friend and nothing will ease your pain, but this forum has wrapped its arms around you with love and sympathy ❤️

[secrets22 in reply to Cb1963]

Oh Cb1963 thank you so much, I really am hoping to write my story and i have written a few pages about Louisa Mary, the lady who bought the house i'm living in back in 1920, a time when woman were not known for business acumen, but she turned it on its head, my knowledge about her is sketchy but her story is one of admiration. But my story knew tremendous anxiety coupled with serious illness as a child, and because i dared to be different i suffered greatly and only made it through because of the devotion of my mother, the bullying I encountered was enough to destroy the strongest. Right now i am hurting like non other, the loss of Yonnie is a pain I never contemplated.😢

[Cb1963 in reply to secrets22]

I understand, the phrase time is a healer and remember our pets/ best friends are only loaned to us, we endeavour to give them best lives while on this planet and you sir have met the requirements with a distinction , I hear you loud and clear,take comfort knowing we are all behind you during this difficult time,

I would like a signed copy if and when you decide to get scribbling down your life story , take care my friend ❤️