Bess
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| Bess @ 2 years old |
Bess is the result of a visit to the RSPCA kennels at Southridge,
South Mimms in Hertfordshire in June 1996. I had gone their to get a cat,
but while having a look around the kennel blocks I fell in love with a very
scruffy bitch they had in there. As it turned out the bitch was not for rehoming,
but only their to nurse the 15 6-week-old pups she had just had, and they
were looking for new homes. I put my name down for one of these youngsters,
the one that looked as if she would turn out like her mum. A week later the
RSPCA called to ask if I could take the pup early as they had kennel
cough going around and these youngsters were at risk. I did not have to be
asked twice, Bess was home introducing herself to my other dog Kim,
and all of my cats the same day.
At that time I worked as an electrician on farms and smallholdings around Hertfordshire and Bess was able to come with me to work every day. The tennants all fell in love with this little scruffy dog, and she grew up meeting all types of farm animals, and learnt how to behave around them. Bess travelled well and soon became familiar with the different routes and knew what properties we were working at each day by looking out the van windows at the surrounding area, and sniffing at the vent on the dashboard.
When I was medically retired in 1999 I had to adjust to a new way of life, but Bess had just as much adjustment to make. After just over 3 years her daily routine was gone, and with me no longer being able to drive this was an even bigger blow for her as I never left her at home. We have both grown old and grey together, but at least she still has some dark hair?!
Bess now built on her relationship with Kim, and took over training new pup Libby when she arrived in 1999. when Kim passed away in October 2003 poor Bess was devastated, and despite having Libby and Kane for company she spent the first few weeks sitting on Kims grave as a daily routine, just sitting quietly with a very sad look on her face. It took months for her to bounce back to the way she was, but soon developed a similar relationship with Libby.
Despite her size she still feels that she decides what the other dogs should be doing, and shows herself to be a cranky old madam at times when they take no notice of her.
Bess likes nothing more than being a lap dog, and is always the first to sneak back up onto the bed when the bedroom lights go out. Being the little one there is little chance of her restricting your movement, and if you ask, she will get back off (at least until you fall asleep).
At that time I worked as an electrician on farms and smallholdings around Hertfordshire and Bess was able to come with me to work every day. The tennants all fell in love with this little scruffy dog, and she grew up meeting all types of farm animals, and learnt how to behave around them. Bess travelled well and soon became familiar with the different routes and knew what properties we were working at each day by looking out the van windows at the surrounding area, and sniffing at the vent on the dashboard.
When I was medically retired in 1999 I had to adjust to a new way of life, but Bess had just as much adjustment to make. After just over 3 years her daily routine was gone, and with me no longer being able to drive this was an even bigger blow for her as I never left her at home. We have both grown old and grey together, but at least she still has some dark hair?!
Bess now built on her relationship with Kim, and took over training new pup Libby when she arrived in 1999. when Kim passed away in October 2003 poor Bess was devastated, and despite having Libby and Kane for company she spent the first few weeks sitting on Kims grave as a daily routine, just sitting quietly with a very sad look on her face. It took months for her to bounce back to the way she was, but soon developed a similar relationship with Libby.
Despite her size she still feels that she decides what the other dogs should be doing, and shows herself to be a cranky old madam at times when they take no notice of her.
Bess likes nothing more than being a lap dog, and is always the first to sneak back up onto the bed when the bedroom lights go out. Being the little one there is little chance of her restricting your movement, and if you ask, she will get back off (at least until you fall asleep).
