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 Buster
In 1997 after much pleading from our
children, we decided to get a dog and so after contacting Animal
Samaritans and being checked out as a suitable family, we were contacted
by Valerie Croxford (I still have all the paperwork!) who told us that
there might be a suitable dog for us who was being fostered by a lady
called Alison in Wilmington.
My husband and I, together with our
children who were then 5 and 7, duly arrived and met “Buster” a small
scruffy terrier cross-breed. He was thought to be about 3 to 5 years
old, had bald patches due to a (smelly!) skin condition and had
undergone an ear operation which he was still recovering from. However,
it was love at first sight on both sides and we took him home to start
his new life.
Buster was a real character. He barked at
animals on the television, muttered under his breath at larger dogs,
tried to chase cyclists, hated motorbikes, scratched like a dancer when
he’d done a “wee”, stole food from plates and bins, especially his
favourite food - raw carrot! The first year we had him I found him
devouring the chocolate decorations complete with wrappers that I had
hung (too low obviously!) on the Christmas tree.
However, we loved him unconditionally.
With care and attention his skin cleared up and although still a little
deaf was still able to hear his lead rattled or a packet of biscuits
opening a mile away! He loved cuddles and was everyone’s friend so walks
took ages as he greeted anyone who looked his way. On one occasion a
very nicely spoken lady asked me where I had got my “Tibetan terrier”
from as she was looking to buy a puppy for about £600! She was most put
out when I said Animal Samaritans and after that we decided that the
reason he would do nothing he was told, was that we weren’t speaking
Tibetan! He especially liked children and when I took him to the school
where I work for “pet week”, he sat on a desk and was petted by even the
most timid children. At Christmas he wore a Santa hat or reindeer ears
for his annual photo without complaint and when each of my children left
home for university, he became my “only child” – a great comfort to me
when I was missing them.
As he got older, his eyesight began to
fail and his back legs were a little wobbly but he still enjoyed a
sedate walk and never lost his appetite! However, in March of this year
he developed a painful growth in his “good” ear which despite regular
trips to the vet, didn’t improve and because of his great age it was
felt he wouldn’t survive an exploratory operation which couldn’t be
guaranteed to work anyway. Three weeks ago, as he was clearly suffering,
with incredible sadness we made the terrible decision to put him to
sleep. No matter how everyone told us it was the kindest course of
action, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. At the vets, he
licked my arm as I held him as if to say don’t cry. Even my big grown-up
son broke his heart. Buster had been with us for 13 years and had
reached the grand old age of at least 16 – he might even have been 18.
Thank you so much for giving us Buster. I
miss him every minute of every day. We loved him very, very much.
Jane Gooch
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Steven & Sandy
Pearl
& Dean