Ani’s Advent 2019: A Christmas warning from Ruby and Willow

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Sue Vincent

Dear Santa,

You know the trouble with Christmas? It is all the stuff we can smell… wonderful tasty smells… and there are so many ‘not alloweds’. And while my two-legs is pretty good at making sure there are plenty of nice things I am allowed to eat, there are so many other things I can smell…

But, if you read my friend Ruby’s story, it is easy to see why our two-legses try to keep us safe and say ‘no’, even when we do the whole puppy-eye thing.

Ruby’s story says it all… and there is a link to some of the things we are definitely not allowed.

The two-legs says I have to mention making sure the fridge is properly shut too…

And the cupboards…

Much love,

Ani xxx

Ruby’s Christmas Warning

Now in my defence, although I am a retired guide dog and highly trained I am at heart a dog. A Labrador at that. We  Labradors love our food and we will honestly eat any and everything. We are always hungry!

Yesterday I  am afraid to say  I was very naughty. I had just come back from my walk with the male two legs (who  I  adore above all else). I had had my wash down and been towel dried, it is very muddy over in the fields. So my two legs took me in and gave me two treats and told me to stay in my bed. Then he went out to clean up outside…..  I  could not resist the fabulous smell coming from the kitchen. I took my chance and snook out and there were hundreds of mince pies on the worktop! Yum!

The male two legs had been baking all morning! The smell was magical, he had been soaking the fruit and brandy all of the previous night! I don’t know what happened the next thing I  know  I was up on two legs and I had a magical mince pie in my mouth… I did not realize the two legs was keeping an eye on me through the window! He was shouting and banging on the window I wondered what the problem was so  I ate the mince pie as quickly as I  could before anyone took it from me!

My beloved male two legs was very angry with me! He shouted at me and told me I was a very bad girl…. he never does that, never shouts at me. Just then the female two legs (the one known as Willow) arrived home and she was shocked and not at all pleased with me either.

Well very quickly I heard the two, two legs discussing what had happened and then Willow two legs rang the Vet! Doh!  the vet! The next thing I  know we are dashing out to the car, and it was dark and damp and we had to go through what they call the rush hour.  The male two legs seemed very agitated and worried would not get there in time but we did.

Went we got in to see the vet he was lovely and he asked the two legs lots of questions. He told them that the situation was very serious and, worst-case scenario it could be lethal. Then told them what he was going to do.  He said he would give me an injection to make me sick!  Ummmn ! I don’t like being sick.  But he did and oh! poor me I was so sick for about half an hour. My two, two legs stayed with me and so did another two legs dressed in blue. The vet kept looking in to see how I was doing and saying “Sorry darling” … I  think he was.

After they were sure that I had finished being sick, the vet gave me another injection to stop me feeling too rough and settle my tummy. Then he told my two, two legs that I could go home but they had to give me special medicine every half hour, to replace electrolights…   whatever they are! OH!  worst of all I  was not allowed my dinner, I was allowed half a  boiled chicken breast but I  was hungry all night.

Well, the male two legs found it very hard to get me to take the liquid from the syringe the female was better but she found it stressful, I could tell, and I was stressed too! The female two legs stayed up until nearly half-past one to make sure I  was okay.

This morning I was feeling better and the male two legs gave me a tablet from the vet then after half an hour  I got my breakfast, not chicken, my proper breakfast! Later  I had my normal walk! I was feeling much better. I showed the two legs how to give me the electrolights thingy, all they needed to do was put the dose in a saucer then hold it up for me. No mess, no fuss no stress!

Tomorrow I have to go back to the vets for blood tests. My two, two legs are worried because the vet told them that I could have kidney or liver damage or even die, but he seemed to think I should be okay.  … who knew these mince pies were so dangerous! The two two legs did and as careful as they had tried to be   I had snook through their defences! They have vowed to be even more careful in future…. no extras for me I  guess!

So I cannot stress enough dear animal friends, and all bloggers with cats or dogs please be extra vigilant about Christmas food.

Read here what is poisonous for us pets!

About Willow Willers

I am the mum of three boys all now grown and flown to live their own lives. Luckily they do keep in touch and visit often. I now have two beautiful grandsons.

When I started this blog I had not long come home from the hospital after an accident in which I broke my back. I was in the hospital for a month and had three operations.

It has taken me a long time to recover, I am still recovering but every day my body is getting stronger. It has taken a huge toll on me mentally I had to retire early on health grounds, I had to come to terms with finding out people I thought were friends were not. I had to make a new life for myself. Things I could do easily have become difficult. 

Writing poetry and prose has helped me a great deal, in fact, I think it has saved my life. 

Find and follow Willow Willers

willowdot21 Blog     Facebook     Twitter

Antlers are for Reindeer!

If you would like to help save Ani from a fate (she says) worse than death, send your Letters to Santa, festive memories, short stories, flash fiction or poems to the Small Dog. She will post them every day through December until Christmas.

She would especially like to hear from her four-legged or feathered friends (she has a special place very close to her heart for turkeys)… but she says that two-legs are better than none, so she will accept submissions from humans too. To get in touch, please use the form on the contact page or email Ani at findme@scvincent.com

About Sue Vincent

Sue Vincent was a Yorkshire born writer, esoteric teacher and a Director of The Silent Eye. She was immersed in the Mysteries all her life. Sue maintained a popular blog and is co-author of The Mystical Hexagram with Dr G.M.Vasey. Sue lived in Buckinghamshire, having been stranded there due to an accident with a blindfold, a pin and a map. She had a lasting love-affair with the landscape of Albion, the hidden country of the heart. Sue  passed into spirit at the end of March 2021.
This entry was posted in Ani's Advent 2019, Dogs, Photography and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

51 Responses to Ani’s Advent 2019: A Christmas warning from Ruby and Willow

  1. Ritu says:
    December 2, 2019 at 06:36

    Definitely need to be vigilant 💜 I’m glad Ruby was okay 💜

    Liked by 3 people

    Reply
  2. willowdot21 says:
    December 2, 2019 at 07:47

    Thank you Sue I love Ani’s wise introduction and lovely photos. Thank you for spreading Ruby’s message.💜

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  3. Pingback: Ani’s Advent 2019: A Christmas warning from Ruby and Willow | willowdot21

  4. The Story Reading Ape says:
    December 2, 2019 at 10:29

    Reblogged this on Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog and commented:
    A tale with an important message for pet owners…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. jenanita01 says:
    December 2, 2019 at 10:57

    Who knew a mince pie would be so wrong? Good to know…

    Like

    Reply
  7. annabellefranklinauthor says:
    December 2, 2019 at 11:00

    This is so scary! I’ve heard how dangerous grapes and raisins are for dogs, but I’m sure there are a lot of people who haven’t. You wouldn’t think a simple mince pie could be lethal. Thank you, Ruby, for spreading this message – and thank goodness your humans acted so quickly to save you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  8. Esther Chilton says:
    December 2, 2019 at 11:19

    I edit my local Cats Protection magazine and wrote a guide about what’s poisonous to cats. People don’t think about what could harm our beloved cats and dogs over the festive season. And our furry friends certainly don’t help themselves! I’m so glad Ruby was okay x

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  9. robertawrites235681907 says:
    December 2, 2019 at 11:22

    Gosh, I had no idea that raisins and grapes were poisonous to dogs. I am glad Ruby was okay, Willow.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. Pingback: Ani’s Advent 2019: A Christmas warning from Ruby and Willow | Campbells World

  11. roughwighting says:
    December 2, 2019 at 12:37

    Oh my gosh, Ruby wrote her warning story so well. I winced and cried (and laughed) through it all. I shouldn’t have laughed, but I have had “perfect” dogs like Ruby who behave themselves so well, until they don’t. One time my Tory (who was a breeder for the Guide Dogs!) jumped up on the counter where my son had placed a box of dozens of chocolate bars he was selling for Scouts. And Tory ate them ALL, plus the paper. Yes, emergency run to the vet, but somehow, Tory got rid of it all from the other side of her body and recovered. Chocolate I’d always known was bad for dogs – and recently learned about raisins and grapes. Wonderful reminder to all of us dog lovers. xo

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  12. fransiweinstein says:
    December 2, 2019 at 12:44

    Such an important post Sue (and Ani). I was so paranoid when I had my cats, especially with plants and flowers. You just can’t be too careful.

    Like

    Reply
  13. Darlene says:
    December 2, 2019 at 17:54

    I’m so glad Ruby is OK. Those darn mince tarts. Dot will only eat the pastry as she hates raisins. If there is one in her piece of tea cake, she spits it out. Don’t blame her, I hate them as well. The list of harmful things for dogs is good to have. Thanks.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  14. OIKOS™-Publishing says:
    December 2, 2019 at 18:26

    What a amazing, and important warning post. Thank you Ruby, we all need to know what can be harmful to our fourleggers. Michael

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  15. Mary Smith says:
    December 2, 2019 at 19:28

    A very timely warning. So glad Ruby recovered with no ill-effects.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  16. petespringerauthor says:
    December 3, 2019 at 00:23

    I so enjoyed your story, Ruby. I wish you could meet my beloved yellow labs, Jake and Lulu. Jake, in particular, is driven by food. He and I have developed quite the routine after dinner. (pssst, please don’t tell our friends). I put the dishes into the dishwasher, and Jake licks the plates. I’m secretly embarrassed to tell anyone I allow him to do that, but I find it comical that he has become part of the precycle washing. Try not to freak out those two-legged creatures anymore.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  17. dgkaye says:
    December 3, 2019 at 01:42

    Great caveat list Willow, and lovely intro from Ani ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  18. Widdershins says:
    December 3, 2019 at 01:56

    What a close call! … so glad you’re doing so well, Ruby. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  19. Anne Copeland says:
    December 3, 2019 at 02:46

    Mince pie is my favorite of all in the whole world! Made my mouth drool just thinking about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  20. D. Wallace Peach says:
    December 3, 2019 at 22:11

    What a terrible treat! I hope Ruby learned a lesson, though two-legs have to be extra careful not to leave mince pies and other poisonous foods around. I hope Ruby gets a yummy dog treat under the tree. 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  21. Adele Marie says:
    December 7, 2019 at 12:06

    wow, a very serious warning, I hope you are okay now. xxx

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.