Mum, Dad, my brother Michael: everyone in the family got more affection from our ridgeback-staffie cross. And guess whose bed she used to poo on…
I think the tone was set when Ella threw up over me on the way back from the Dogs Trust. She was three months old, rolling around on the back seat between me and my twin brother, Michael (we’d just turned seven), and wasn’t enjoying her first trip in a car. She could have been sick anywhere – over the seat, over the floor – but for some reason she decided to climb on to me first.
It was the start of a beautiful but strangely one-sided friendship. Ella, a ridgeback-staffie cross, was the perfect dog: playful, energetic, naughty and tolerant. She would let us poke and prod her without complaint, turn her ears inside-out or dress her up in T-shirts or the thick woollen poncho my Greek Cypriot grandma knitted her for the British winter. And she was endlessly loving, at least to the other members of the family. Me? Too often it was as if I didn’t exist. If Michael and I were sitting on the sofa, she’d bound up to him. If I came home after a day out with my dad, he was the one she’d jump at. If I tried to take her for a walk by myself, she’d drag her feet and insist that I fetch my brother.
To add insult to injury, about once a year she would do a poo in the house. Not just anywhere, though: she’d climb the stairs to my room and leave it in a neat pile on top of my bed.
I can’t pretend I wasn’t offended by Ella’s attitude – I loved her just as much as anyone. But it took me a while to realise that in her eyes we were both bitches fighting for our place in the pack. I read that dogs are 98.8% wolf, even yappy little chihuahuas. Ella was a definite she-wolf and my mother (she who opened the tin of dog food every night) was the undisputed alpha female. Ella could handle that fact, but she didn’t want to be the omega female. That was me.
Working out the reasons for Ella’s lack of sisterhood, understanding that her indifference was atavistic and not just casual, didn’t make me any less jealous of my brother, who always took great pleasure in the fact that Ella seemed to prefer him. But I resigned myself to the situation. And then one day (happy ending, anyone?) everything changed. I must have been 16 or 17, we’d been away for a fortnight in France, and when we got back it was me she ran up to first, whining and twisting with pleasure at seeing me again. After that it was like all those years of competition had never happened. We were best friends for ever, or at least for the couple of years she had left. Ella finally loved me.
‘Dumped’ 16-Year-Old Dog’s Distressing Cries Rocked Woman To Her Core
At 16 years old, Link, a senior dog, found himself abandoned at a shelter, bewildered and heartbroken. The little dog, who had spent his entire life with one family, couldn’t understand why he was left behind and would cry for hours in confusion.
Enter Carly, who discovered Link through a photo shared by her friend Angel. Despite Link’s advanced age and health issues, Carly felt an immediate bond with him and knew she had to give him the loving home he deserved. Upon meeting him at the shelter, their connection was undeniable, with Link calming down as soon as he heard Carly’s voice and felt her soothing touch.
Without hesitation, Carly made the decision to adopt Link, giving him the chance for a new beginning in a forever home filled with love and care.
Image/Story Source Credit: GeoBeats Animals via YouTube Video
After Carly brought Link home, she observed how her own dog, Toad, was ecstatic to meet his new friend. In the initial days, Toad was particularly attentive to Link’s health concerns, staying by his side constantly. Link, troubled by skin problems, would often whine and itch. Recognizing Link’s distress, Toad assumed the role of his emotional support, a role he continues to fulfill to this day.
Image/Story Source Credit: GeoBeats Animals via YouTube Video
After two years with Carly, Link has transformed from a shy, almost furless dog into a vibrant, furry companion. Now approximately 18 years old, Link has regrown a significant amount of fur and appears entirely different. Toad, the cuddly 80-pound dog, adores his tiny 7-pound brother, and they are often found snuggled together on the couch.
Carly frequently hears comments from onlookers about the unique duo during their walks. Despite his advanced age, Link is an energetic and demanding dog, always ready to bark, explore, and meet new people.
Link’s health has seen considerable improvement under Carly’s care. Although he has a cataract in one eye that affects his vision, Carly has ensured that he receives all necessary treatments for his allergies and skin issues, allowing him to enjoy a much more comfortable and happy life.
Carly and Toad consider themselves fortunate to have Link in their lives and are thankful for the chance to care for him and shower him with love in his final years. While I can’t play videos, I can imagine the heartwarming scenes of Link’s remarkable transformation and his endearing bond with Toad. This story serves as a beautiful reminder that dogs of all ages are worthy of a forever home and the unconditional love they bring to our lives.
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