best for REAL LIFE
When Patricia Noble’s loved dog passed away, the grief was overwhelming. With understanding and support, she’s now found a way to help others…
Sitting on the sofa next to my husband Alex, our dog, Dougie, was on my lap. I was stroking his head, whilst he slept soundly. This was my happy place. Our trio, we were a family, and we absolutely adored our pet.
I hated to disturb sleeping beauty but it was bedtime for us, too.
‘Come on then,’ I said gently, and Dougie’s soulful brown eyes looked up at me, before he followed us to our room and positioned himself on his doggy bed.
I’d always loved animals, but growing up, both my parents had worked so I’d had to make do with a goldfish. Then, when I was in my 20s, I’d met Alex at a wedding – I was the bridesmaid, he was the best man! – it was meant to be.
We could talk about anything. We’d gone on to get married in 1991 and always approached things together. I’d wanted to get a pet, and when we discovered that I couldn’t have kids, we knew there was space and love in our home for a fourlegged pal.
So, we’d got Scottie, a Dachshund. He was a right little character until he passed away in 2008, It was devastating and it wasn’t long before we started thinking about another addition to the family. Our Ayrshire house felt too quiet without the patter of four paws.
Dougie was our next puppy, Dougie, when he was 12 weeks old in late April 2009 from a local breeder.
If I cupped my hands together, he fitted in my palms! He loved sitting on our laps and, despite his size, he was stubborn and thought he was a lion. Dougie became my shadow while Alex was at work as a Minister, then he’d jump on Alex when he got home. We’d do three walks a day alongside my voluntary work, and he stole our hearts – as well as training us well!
Such was the depth of our bond, that in time, Dougie became like my unofficial support dog.
One afternoon I’d been sitting down when he came and sat by my feet, titled his head to the side and stared at me. Shortly afterwards, I could feel the beginnings of a migraine coming on. He seemed to know even before I did! From then on, he always tried to warn me if he sensed a change in me.
I’d suffered from recurrent depression since adulthood, and he was always a beacon of light, a comfort. But when Dougie was two-and-a-half, he started having problems with his back – a common issue in Dachshunds because of their little legs. He needed surgery to realign a disc and the nerves. He was on bed rest for three months – he hated it!
