My Tribute to Pebbles

In a few day’s time I will be removing the gorgeous photographs of Pebbles from my blog because it will be so difficult to look at her pretty little face, but before I do that I want to pay tribute to my lovely little dog.

A few years ago, in what I call “my previous life” I married and husband came with a Westie. In time she had a litter of six pups. After puppy number five we thought that was it but over an hour later, when the mother dog, was outside she dropped puppy number six onto the gravel. She was the runt and was named Pebbles for obvious reasons and became mine!

Fast forward a further few years and I left the marital home and moved into a shoe box terrace. Some of my friends queried me taking Pebbles away from, not only her mother, but also the luxury of acres of rural land where we didn’t have to worry about their barking as we had no neighbours. To say I also was worried was an understatement. Would she pine for her canine mum? Would she bark/howl for her, or ditto when I left her on her own? How would I resolve that problem living in such close proximity to other people ?

I needn’t have worried, because as though she sensed my upheaval she settled in “all girls together” style and went from being a farm dog to, dare I say it, almost a lap dog! Since my move here she’s been a constant comfort to me in times of need.

Just after Christmas my beloved dad was rushed into hospital and I moved in with mum (still there now). I looked after mum during dad’s illness and consequent passing and there was the ever comforting Pebbles by both of our sides.

In the last few days of dad’s life, one of the few things he was able to say was “where’s Pebbles?”. Like everyone else, she had wheedled her way into his heart, right until the end.

So, as always I waffle, here’s what so sadly happened last week.

Pebbles was unexpectedly taken ill in the early hours. I phoned the vet and she was immediately rushed in and had an operation to remove an infected ovary/uterus. For the next few days she was sent home, re-admitted, sent home and re-admitted.

I had been warned that peritonitis was a grave concern and tragically on Saturday it became apparent little Pebbles was seriously ill. I rushed her in yet again and am not ashamed to say I drove with one hand on the steering wheel and one hand stroking her little head.

The peritonitis fear had come true.

The final goodbye was very peaceful, the vet administered a sedative and left me for ten minutes for her to quietly fall asleep whilst I stroked her and talked to her. By the time the vet returned she was sound asleep and wasn’t even aware of the procedure to end her pain.

I cannot fault her vets www.alderholtvets.co.uk The compassion and care shown, not only to Pebbles, but also to me, were unsurpassable.

Jeez I’m going to miss her.

xx