A Love Shared

Not a Care In the World

Bonnie my Golden Retriever has an obsession with balls, especially her small yellow football which she carries everywhere.

She treasures this and hides it away from the other dogs. It has been found: in the flower pot, behind the conifer and even partly buried amongst the flowers. I usually find it as it is bright yellow.

I was putting plants in the garden one day when she obviously wanted to go for a walk she pushed it next to me hoping to get my attention.

"We are not going out yet" I said and carried on.

When I went to get up I noticed her ball had gone and knowing she never went anywhere without it, I turned to look where she was, but she was nowhere to be seen.

I must have left the gate open when I was carrying weeds to the bin.

I rushed outside but she was nowhere. I came in grabbed her lead, locked the door and ran over to the park just a few minutes from home.

There was nobody about, just Bonnie throwing her ball in the air and chasing it, almost doing headstands, so happy to be out. Not a care in the world, oblivious to the fact that I was even there.

She came over, I threw it for her and it landed in the wooded bit, she plunged in after it. I called her and after a few minutes she appeared without her ball. She limped over to where I was, obviously in pain. When I looked I saw a jagged cut on her side. She must have fallen on glass.

She lent against my side, we walked very slowly home. I lifted her into the car and headed straight for our Vet. He took one look at her.

"She has lost a lot of blood" he said.

With that she was taken through the door to be anaesthetised.

All the emotions came flooding into my mind. How Bonnie had always been there for me. When I was taken ill and had to spend time in Hospital, I arrived back home and she was there to greet me and softly gave me her paw. When I woke in the morning, still feeling groggy I felt her warm fur against my shoulder. She did not leave my side

Next time I saw her she was feeling very sorry for her self stitches lined her side. She looked up at me with her water brown eyes. . Now it was my turn to look after her and give her the love she gave me all those months ago.

I lifted her into the car “lets go home girl” I said she looked up as if she understood, that I would be there for her the way she was for me every step of the way.