The Sad Story of Storm

Some of you may know, I really love dogs.
I think dogs are more than just man's best friend.

To me, they are not animals, they occupy a strange realm between humanity and the rest of animalkind.
It always surprises me that people are closer related to mice and rats than dogs.

When I do visit my family, it is mainly to see the dogs. The eldest is quite old now, but when I was a teenager, and he was a puppy, he was very important to me.
He always slept at the end of my bed, though he shouldn't have really.
If he's ill, my mother will always let me know. I want to be there when he goes.

I'll probably cry, too.

Something happened this weekend which upset me a little.

The Baker has a brother, who up till last week lived with his girlfriend and two children.
And a massive Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Storm.

Now Storm is a handful.
I wouldn't get him angry, and I love playfighting most dogs.
He is like a frothing missile of fur and gristle.



Anyway, The Baker came down Friday night and told us that his brother and his partner had a row and dumped the kids and Storm on his mother.
He was going to take Storm back to Manchester with him, and my flatmate was going to mind him, whilst we went to the party.

I really don't know what was going to happen to Storm next, or how he thought Storm could stay in his flat all day whilst he was at work, bearing in mind the hours The Baker works.

Events pre-empted any of this.
We got to The Baker's Mum's, to find the Dog Wardens taking Storm away.

It had all been too much for him, the uncertainty, the confusion, the bitterness of the break up.
And I don't suppose he got much love during that period.

It turned out he'd killed a cat that morning, and The Baker's brother had disappeared.

The Baker was furious (at his brother, and justifiably in my eyes), his mother was clearly angry and upset- as well as concerned for the children, abandoned by both parents.

The saddest bit was when myself and my flatmate were sitting on the patio having a fag.
The children came up, playing with Sprout, The Baker's Mum's dog.
The eldest said 'He's big, but not as big as Storm. Storm's sleeping now in the garage. Storm loves to play.'

It cut me, it really did.
Who would tell them?
And when?

Liz would understand.

So we were all a little downhearted when we set off again for Manchester.
And The Baker was very angry and disappointed with his brother for letting all this happen.
For not loving his dog.

The good thing is, a home will be found for Storm.
But that's only because of people like Dog's Trust.

I'll let you in to a secret. I only give monthly donations to two charities. One is SPUC, the other is this.
I sponsor a dog called Freddie at eight pounds a month.

I did this initially, because I can't own a dog, I don't have time to look after it, but I so miss having a dog.
Giving eight pounds a month for Freddie partially satisfies deep yearnings within me.

To me, this really is a charity worth giving to, because dogs give us so much, yet are entirely dependant on us.

Please consider adopting a dog through Dog's Trust.
Because there are dogs out there who haven't received the love that all dogs deserve.