2 Dogs to Know Me
Part of the User Manual Series where I give some brief overviews of the media, experiences, thoughts that help make me...me. Released hourly on my 32nd birthday.
I spent the first half of my life painfully terrified of dogs. There wasn't a particular reason for the fear, I think it primarily came from a lack of exposure. I would cross the road if someone was walking their dog towards me. I would leave a room if there was a dog in it. My first few encounters with the very elderly, very indifferent dog at my first girlfriends house were stressful.
The rise of Instagram helped a lot. Seeing dogs being stupid in post after post acted like exposure therapy. Then the pandemic hit and our routine included a morning trip to the coffee shop that had opened a little window to avoid crowding inside. We would always see, and often get to greet, the various dogs on their morning walks waiting for their pawrents to collect their coffees.
It took a few more years to go from excited about dogs to actually having some of them. New relationship, new house and a lovely pair of dogs to make the house a home.
We did visit some other rescues and looked at a couple of other dogs but it was a bit difficult. Our back wall wasn't tall enough for some jumpy whippets. Some dogs were a bit too strong or a bit big for the space we have at home. We also arranged to meet a particular dog who had been adopted by the time we got to the rescue - lovely for the dog of course but I remember we were a bit confused that the rescue hadn't let us know before the 2-hour drive.
None of that mattered in the end because I found another rescue fairly soon after. Paws are based in Tipperary and their facilities seemed really fantastic when we went to visit. I had seen a pair of Beagles named Ginny and Ruby on their website and immediately fell in love.
I remember us parking up outside and being led into a big play area to meet the girls. Ginny was doing circles around us sniffing everything, but I vividly remember Ruby standing on her back legs and nuzzling into Sarah for attention right away.
We cried leaving them that day as we weren't ready to take them home. On the drive back we stopped off in Petmania buying beds, food, collars and toys. We picked them up the next day. It was all new to me and the girls, so those first few weeks were difficult. Once we started to settle though, I absolutely adored them and settled into a lovely rhythm of walks and snoozing.
Ginny passed on earlier this year which was devastating. Her and I had a special connection. The two of us were definitely the dumb and dumber of the house but the excitement that she would show when I came home filled me with such warmth. She was my shadow for those two years, and I feel so blessed to have had any time with her at all.
Ruby is still here looking after us and she's been such a wonderful companion to both of us throughout the grieving process. She's a cancer survivor now with only one eye but she's a tough one. She is definitely the leader of the house.
We don't deserve dogs but I will spend the rest of my life giving as many of them as possible the best lives I can provide.
Paws have had some trouble with their facilities in the years since. I donate to them monthly and we always try to buy extra meals for their residents around Christmas time. Please do look them up and help out in any way you can if you have some money to spare for them. They are such a wonderful group and deserve every bit of help we can give them.