You’ll Never Walk Alone

Once upon a long time ago, I walked the streets of Hungary on my own.  I was hungry, frightened and directionless. I must have left my litter and my mum when I got bigger and wandered off on my own.  It was a big scary world. Trucks would come roaring past and bikes zooming around frightened me.  I detested them and still do.

I had learnt quickly that humans could be a source of food so I would charm them to giving me some. But there were always other dogs around who had the same idea around so I needed to fight them off – no matter their size.   

The winter nights were difficult and there was also less food then. I huddled in a ball wherever I could and prayed for the nights to pass quickly.

Then one day, a human took me by the scruff of my neck and threw me into a van. I had no idea where I ended up. The good thing was they gave me some food and water so it wasn’t so bad, but then I was caged and lost my freedom.  I didn’t know it then but it was my lucky day.

A few days later another human came peering at me and I went to say hello.  I like humans, they are a good food resource, but the human didn’t give me any and went away.  But that human returned and took me away.  At this new place, they cut my straggly hair off and poured water all over me.  I guess that’s a good thing.  I was living in a home where I could wander around in their enclosed garden.  They fed me and I had shelter.

There were other dogs there too but I didn’t have to fight them for food. 

Then one day, I was put into a cage and into a van along with the other dogs and began a very, very long road journey. I had no idea where we were going.  A day and night passed. We stopped several times along the way for breaks. When they opened the door of the van again, this time it was different. Quite a few humans were hovering around the van as some of the dogs were being let out. What about me? I was full of curiosity.  Where were we?  Then I saw two women running towards us. Their eyes were searching the cages – and I raised my paw to the cage trying to get their attention. Hey! I’m here! I just wanted to say hello.

And that was how I met my foster Mum who then became my adopted Mum.  And since then I have never walked alone again.  My sister, Darcy and I have pounded pavements not in search of food but to discover new places with Mum.

May’s comment: This photo of George walking by himself in Leadenhall Market, reminded us that there was a time when he wandered the streets alone.

Can you imagine little George scouring the streets for food and fighting off other dogs much bigger than him?

We can actually. There are behaviours that is instilled in him. He must have been frightened by big trucks and noisy motorbikes because till today he hates them with a vengeance. Even though he is angelic at home, when out on the streets there are many things that frighten him – and like Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – his personality changes.

At the start, whenever we were out in the park and off the leash, he would be look ahead and survey the horizon to see which way he should go. He would run without looking back, searching, searching for something with no regard for us. Yeah, he was a problem to say the least. He has recall now but there’s always the chance that he will have selective hearing because he is also very determined. When he wants to play he will escape us chasing him down.

In the past seven years, we have, together with Darcy pounded miles and miles of pavements in London.

Yes, George, we will always walk together – the three of us.

Can’t believe it’s been seven years since I set eyes on you – and you had me at hello! You did! And it was apparent from that moment I would be a failed foster. There were days when I questioned my sanity and he still drives me crazy with his street dog madness seven years on.

As small as he is, he’s larger than life and people fall in love with him all the time. And in the midst of cockapoos, he thinks himself as one of them and holds his own.

I am so proud of how far he has come but what I love are the quiet moments when he would snuggle up, his body touching my thigh when I am on the sofa, or when in bed he curls up behind the back of my knee. It’s not particularly comfortable, I wouldn’t be able to stretch my legs, but I would lie still and drink in those moments.

I love how he would come up to me and look me in the eye, his large brown eyes just staring. Sometimes it’s to remind me that it is time for food. At other times, he just wanted me to acknowledge him.

And the feeling of quiet happiness when he finally falls asleep with his head on the crook of my arm during our travels – after a mad scrambling of getting on the train and heightened excitement of new senses and eagerness to check out all other humans nearby. When he finally calms down and he settles on my lap, he’s all mine again.

Precious little boy. You complete us.

George, then called ‘Bobo” came to me via Hungary Hearts Dog Rescue – a charity that works with shelters in Hungary to re-home dogs in the UK. There are a lot of strays in Hungary and though they’ve tried rehoming the dogs in Hungary, they would often find the dogs back on the streets.

For all of next week, our posts will be about dog rescues leading up to Remember Me Thursday on the 23rd September when we light a candle to shine a light on all the orphan dogs.