25 Years & More!

Ben 1986 -2002

Ollie 2011 -

Over the last couple of weeks, we have been planning a new arrival. We have been shopping for the essentials. We have even found ourselves decorating, which by the way if I can avoid decorating I will.

Today was the most shock of all. I found myself, tidying up big time, to the point it being a spring clean! To most people you say this is normal when expecting visitors. Well this is no ordinary visitor, it’s a permanent member of the family and first impressions count.

Our new arrival is a 6 week old Border Collie called “Ollie”.

Twenty-five years ago, this June Ian and I got married. We also had another new arrival when we returned from our honeymoon. This was a puppy too! His name was Ben. He was one of the best friends you could ever have! Ian and I made two commitments that year. The first to spend the rest of our lives together and the other to have a pet for life!

A commitment to look after and care for a pet was one of the best experiences you can have. When you give a dog your love and commitment, you receive it back unconditionally. Ben was definitely one of the family it was like having our first child. We took him everywhere we went, on some fantastic holidays in the country. If we visited friends or family he would come with us! None of our friends would mind him in their home as he was a very well behaved dog! If we went to the pub he would sit under the table and eat his crisps. Also, in them days some restaurants would let dogs in and again he would lie down quietly under the table.

Ben's Life

At Christmas, we would put all the presents under the tree including one for Ben. Patiently, every Christmas morning he would sit in front of the Christmas tree waiting for his gift from Santa!

In 1990 our first child was born a little girl called “Kelly”. We had our concerns with Ben but they were forgotten about as soon as we brought Kelly home. They became best of friends too. Then Lauren was born is 1995 therefore, we became a family of five. The girls grew up with a dog as a pet, Ian grew up with dogs and so did I. So in 2002 when Ben passed away! It hit us all badly, for along time I vowed not to have anymore pets as it really hurt when we lost Ben. But they say time heals and now I remember all the good times with Ben.

We do have another member of the family a five year old boy called Dan. The girls and I often talk about getting another dog as it would be nice for Dan to grow up with a dog around just we all did. So tomorrow is the day where our family becomes SIX! And we all so excited as we all know it’s a PET FOR LIFE!!!!!

Ps Not forgetting being married to Ian for 25 years is one huge commitment and I don’t regret one minute of it. As I love him dearly too!