In Memoriam
This page is dedicated to those companions who are no longer with us and who were loved and are now missed.
Emma
“Our girl from June 1992 to May 2004”
Emma was a stunningly beautiful silver grey tabby cat who came with our house! When we first moved in, visitors would comment on our beautiful cat to which we would say “but we don’t have one”. Then one evening as dusk was falling I saw this ghostly shadow coming down the drive. At first, we could not handle her as she was almost wild but over the years she calmed down. She was a fabulous hunter and regularly brought in rabbits that she had caught and these were often as big as she was. When we first brought the Yorkies home, she was horrified but decided that she wasn’t moving out and stayed in the house until a pecking order had been established. When our first Dandie puppy arrived, she was more resigned to the change. She adored Tilly and tried to teach her to hunt (with no success) and loved flying across the garden so that Tilly chased her. Emma, the cat, was definitely “top dog”.
Well over 14 years old, she developed a tumor on the side of her mouth and eventually we had to have her put down.
Even now as the sun sets I get a glimpse of a silver shadow walking down the drive to greet me.
“Was I deceived, or did a sable cloud
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?”
Milton
Polly
“Our girl from 1996 to 20 January 2004”
Polly was a pretty little palomino Welsh pony that was on loan to us from the International League for the Protection of Horses (I.L.P.H.). She had been rescued along with 20 other ponies that were in a horrendous condition and was one of only 2 animals that survived. She did her job as companion to my other horses so well. She was a gentle soul who gave us undemanding companionship and affection every day.
We miss her very much.
“Green be the turf above thee
Friend of my better days!
None knew thee but to love thee
Nor named thee but to praise”
Fitz-Greene Halleck
Lucy
My Special Girl
“14 October 1991 to 4 May 2005”
Lucy was a gorgeous dog. She played second fiddle to her litter sister, Katy all her life. She was very sensitive and liked a quiet existence. She came to us as a rescue dog when she was not quite 5 years old and at first she found affection and being stroked very difficult to accept. She slowly became the most loving and affectionate companion. Her favourite time was at breakfast when she lay in my lap and nodded off as the crumbs from my toast landed on her tummy. She was always near to me whatever – if I was out in the garden and the weather was bad, the other dogs would go in the house but Lucy always stayed with me. She got pneumonia and although I nursed her over this, she never really regained a zest or interest in life and then on the morning of 4th May 2005, I realised this was the end, we said our goodbyes and she passed away, cuddled up in her bed in the kitchen. It was very peaceful and although I hated to let her go, I knew it was her time. It was a good death.
I think of her often and miss her dreadfully.
“A faithful friend is the medicine of life”
The Bible
Katy
“Our girl from 14 October 1991 to 23 June 2005”
Katy was a tiny dog weighing only 2.5kg but nothing else about her was tiny. She was definitely top dog of the pack. In her own mind she was larger than a Great Dane. She would take on anything and we once had to rescue her from the jaws of an Airedale she threw herself at. She liked scaring visiting dogs and no matter what their size, they fled in her path. Six weeks after her litter sister Lucy died, Katy became ill and died in my arms within 24 hours. I think she missed her sister and that life was too lonely without her.
She has left a very big hole in our lives.
“O! When she’s angry she is keen and shrewd.
She was a vixen when she went to school
And though she be, but little, she is fierce”
Shakespeare Midsummer Night’s Dream