Delivering Love

I’m not sure why I went into the SSPCA that cold January day in 2015. Maybe it was the weather , maybe it was my animal crazy heart , or maybe just maybe it was written in the paw shaped stars that this would be the day that we found our Queen .

I had a wee walk around the kennels ( or cells as pete calls them ) and tucked away round back was a tiny quivering little lady , quietly crying and so anxious it nearly broke my heart . Her eyes met with my soul and there and then I promised her I would come back for her . I soon learned she was an old lady , somewhere around 12. She had an owner who in his own way loved her but at times couldn’t care for her so she frequently found herself on the streets and in turn in the shelter . It was a very long 2 weeks that we waited as her health was checked and her teeth sorted and so on . The day before we were due to bring her home her previous owner tried to reclaim her but didn’t want to pay the treatment fee . She was definitely and finally ours .

We were to collect her on Saturday morning . Wee Toby and I had a big chat about how she needed a home and how he could be a good brother and welcome her into the pack . Maybe you think I’m daft but Toby seemed to understand and they were firm buddies from day one .

I will never forget the memory of this crazy excited pup diving into our car and ‘talking’ and farting all the way home so hyper and full of joy was she . That was it . We were family . That night she burrowed under Rosie’s duvet and she was home . Simple , beautiful , ours . Appropriately we brought her home on Valentine’s Day and since nobody knew her birthday we made that hers . It couldn’t have been more fitting .

Her anxiety was tough to overcome and although she became a settled and trusting Wee pup she always had a look in her eyes that said “I’ve known hard times , please don’t let me down” . We adored her . She adored us . But her daddy , well it was hero worship . She would cry when he left for work , went out , used the bathroom ! He called her his “bestie” and she loved him with every beat of her Wee pensioner heart .

She wasn’t meagre with her affections and you’d only need to meet her once to know how great her capacity for love was . That ever ready tail , beating it’s Wee drum beat at a moments notice . She even won over her gran Sheena and they spent many a pensioner moment together on the couch . She convinced her doggie terrified Aunty Annie that there was nothing to be afraid of and she readily offered herself as a comforting pillow when times were tough . She enjoyed Wednesdays on Aunty’s couch while we worked while Carlo leaned on her so much for emotional peace at the tough times he faced with his illness. As ever , she graciously obliged . Always .

In return all Meeka wanted was stability , love and the occasional wee rub on her favourite white spot on her chest . No matter who we brought home she accepted them , babies , cats , the lot . But nobody stole her heart more than our Wee Lulu . From the second we arrived with our tiny sickly Wee puppy Meeka loved her . She guarded her . Taught her . She let her hang from her neck with her tiny razor sharp puppy teeth . She played with her , chased her , lay with her … she was the most loving caring mother any Wee pup could hope for . When Lulu’s little heart finally gave up Meeka bore her loss heavily . She was never the same again. Many an hour was sat staring out the living room window at her grave and sunny days spent lying beside her in the garden . She’d lost her baby , and her reaction epitomised her beautiful loving heart .

When Meeka came they said we could get maybe 6 good months with her . All I wanted was her to get to the Caravan as she loved the outdoors . Boy did she make that her heaven .. chasing cows and bombing through woods like she had found her puppy years once again . When we moved to the Coach House we longed that we’d have her for Christmas . That six months turned into 44 amazing months of love and joy, 3 summers 3 Christmases . Four birthdays with our girl . Her dull flaky coat became dark and shiny once more . She bounded through the woods like she had discovered life again . She lived her best Wee doggie life . We got to be blessed by her unassuming and quietly loving presence .

Now I don’t know where I’ll put my feet on a cold night . I don’t know how to bear the silence when entering a room when once the drum beat of her tail would have been my greeting . To never hear her happy excited bark that she saved only for the arrival of daddy’s car. No more cuddles , no more licks .. no more Meeka .

She loved us with her whole heart and we tried to love her back as she deserved . I doubt we could ever have achieved such a mountainous challenge . Meeka loved extraordinarily. It was her special gift . She showed us the joy of staffies . She introduced us to the gratitude of rescue dogs . She just brought such joy and happiness that we can only be thankful for the years we shared with her .

If you’re not an animal lover this post may seem strange to you , over the top even . I don’t care . It’s rare in life to be loved so beautifully and that deserves to be shared . It deserves a thank you .

From the bottom of all our hearts Meeka you are loved . You will be missed always and your loving touch leaves it’s paw prints forever on our hearts . Goodnight my angel … I hope you and LuLu are having the best rope tug of your lives 💕 love from your family here on earth … daddy , mummy , Rosie , Daniel, Carlo , Toby, Betty, Connie and Jingles x