Claire L
Well-known member
It is hard to believe twelve months have passed since we collected you in a car park in Roscrea. We knew you had a gorgeous face from pictures we had seen, but we were not prepared for what we saw “in the flesh” - a little ball of black and white fur with two sad little eyes, framed with incredible brown eye-brows. You were filthy, extremely niffy (unmentionable smells emanated from several of your body cavities!) and totally terrified. You lay in my arms, rigid with fear, for all of the 100 miles that hubby drove home
The first time we offered you kibble, you had to be hand-fed, piece-by-piece. When we sent you to the garden for toilet, you hid under a fir tree for several hours and it took us minutes with a torch to even locate where you were. You spent your first night with us in the kitchen, as quiet as a mouse. We stupidly misunderstood this silence for sleep – you probably lay quietly awake all night, in fear. By the next night, you had decided I was your “mother for life” and you wanted to be near me at all times. The kitchen door was lacerated with your pounding and “ryo-ryo-ryo-ryo” rent the night air, like a banshee in full flow. We tolerated the cacophony for one night – when the same thing happened the next night, we opened the kitchen door. You ran up to lie on the floor near our bed – you have been there every night since!
We suffered with you as you recovered from being spayed – you lay beside me on the couch for 10 days. We decided you would benefit from the company of another Cavalier and, coincidently Cara became available to us. You took to your new “sister” immediately and offered your services as her personal groomer. She has helped you with your shyness – you now come over to strangers for a “sniff” and actually (sometimes) allow your daddy to give you a rub. Unfortunately, she has also taught you to beg from the table – a vice you did not previously have!
You, in your turn, have taught Cara how to chase squirrels in the park and (alas) how to roll on and chew disgusting paper tissues.
A year on – you have made great strides. You now love being bathed and groomed, you are a model of good health (except for this accursed infection that bothers your eye at the moment) and you have developed a great appetite. We look forward to many more years of your love, your fear, your neediness, your sad eyes and your beautiful, soft coat.
We salute you, Minnie. Happy first anniversary of your “gotchya day"
