Bedlam from Yorkshire |
Bedlam with Aidan and their dad. |
"Beldam's big nose could sniff out and extract a treat from most pockets, and she
was an accomplished ball thief who became deaf while eating the stolen ball -
often after impaling it on her teeth and looking ridiculous. Once you were on her list of favourite people you were never forgotten, and never greeted with less than complete enthusiasm. She survived torsion and several stomach operations, but complained if she had a grass seed in her pad. Exuberant and charming, she was a rubbish sight-hound - not really caring if prey escaped and living happily with house rabbits. She was majestically tall at 36 inches but although she could do speed she had little grace and all the poise of a turnip. |
Bedlam and Sarah |
At the moment, when we walk in our local park we make believe she is out of sight
because she is mooching in the trees whilst watching for squirrels, she is off
to greet and mug her friends who suffered heavy treat losses in response to her
demands, or maybe she is having a fresh drink from the water butt in the coach
house's garden. When we go for a walk and there are just two dogs at the front door surely she is just last off the sofa like usual, and if you listen it seems you can hear her having a great stretch and a quick drink before she is ready to lead her friends. In the van's rear view mirror there is a head missing where she should be looking out of the back window swaying with the motion, and standing up the minute she knew where she was, impatient to be out and off. In the house and out of it we have lost the brains of the gang. To saunter round with her was to feel in the company of a best friend, a reliable but amusing companion who could cause you endless delight with her playful wit. |
She was Bedlam as a crazy pup, Bedlam as a nervous teenager bolting from fireworks
and strangers, but in more recent years the name has been pleasingly ironic as
to be with Bedlam was to be safe and well looked after. Our first puppy, she remained a puppy in her enthusiasm for cuddles and ball theft, every year we fought to save her tail tip as in wagging it with such dedication she would repaint the walls and be threatened with amputation. The most recent brush marks will be the last but we are in no hurry to get cleaning as we will miss her even more when we stop expecting her to appear." Sarah McNicholas January 2008 |