The dog has gone to bed in deep disgust at my defection
The sofa cushions moulded to ensure her night’s protection,
She didn’t get her walk tonight, the sun went down without her
As my attention lay elsewhere on stuff that’s not about her.
We’d walked the fields this afternoon so don’t think she’s hard done by
The small dog has her methods; my attention’s easy come by…
She simply looks pathetic and then offers me a ball
Or does the pleading dance and brings her leash in from the hall.
Tonight, though, I had Stuff to do that needed every minute
And though she gave the game her best for once she didn’t win it.
Somehow it seems she understood and let me get down to it
Without distracting tennis balls perhaps she knew I’d do it.
Tomorrow though of course we know will be another day
And she’ll want compensating with a walk to make me pay.
I hope the forecast’s decent, we’ll be going out whatever
Please let the day provide us with a bit of nice spring weather!
But now it’s way past midnight and there’s just one thing I need…
The small dog has the right idea, I’m following her lead.

Those of us owned by our four legged tyrants know well that it is a tyranny rooted in love. Dogs do something special to our hearts and heal us in ways we could not imagine.But sometimes it is they who need our help to heal.

Ani’s friend Fionn mac Cumhaill  is a joyous young labradoodle who has just been diagnosed with Addison’s disease after a harrowing weekend. Fionn’s two-legs, Morgana West of the Glastonbury Pilgrim Reception Centre writes,

“Fionn came bouncing into my world and, for the first time in a few years, I have felt joy again.  It has taken a while and I feel I have been on a very long journey somewhere not of this world, but Fionn has helped to bring me home again.”

Morgana has set up a blog for Fionn, you can follow his story here. And if you can help, their campaign page, set up by their friends, for his ongoing medication and treatment is here. Thank you.