Wishes do come true

Meet Togo – he was five years in the making and a birthday wish come true.

Do you remember Victoria? She has always loved dogs. When she met George back in 2015 – the love was mutual (Regally Yours, Victoria & George).

She desperately wanted her own dog but her mum said she had to wait till she’s ten. Partly because her mum thought when Victoria’s ten, she will be old enough to help take care of her dog. Till then George went to spend days with her on weekends.

Even when Victoria moved to Milan, she never forgot George. Whenever she came to London, she made sure to see him.

When we went to Milan, George stayed the weekend with Victoria when Mum and I went onto Venice. (Hellos, Goodbye and Hellos) Mum didn’t trust George with all the canals. LOL!

Victoria wanted her own dog but her mum said – maybe when she’s ten. She counted the days till her 10th birthday. But her birthday came and went – but Vitoria wasn’t giving up. She’s a very determined child.

Earlier last month was Victoria’s 11th birthday and guess what? Her wish for a dog came true! Truth be told, it was a close call. It was between a rabbit or a dog. Thank goodness her mum remembered her Labrador when she was growing up – and the dog won!

I guess you can say she spent her 10th year keeping her hopes alive and during her tenth year, before she turned 11, her wish came true.

Victoria told Mum about the news and since then they have been texting each other about her new puppy. And she said the puppy will be called TOGO!

Togo? Mum was wondering where the name came from. Victoria asked Mum if she had seen the Disney movie – “Togo.”

George: I may no longer be Victoria’s Number 1 doggy friend but we are all so happy that she finally had her wish! Togo will be loved, disciplined and cuddled. And we can’t wait to meet him!

May’s comment: Happy 11th birthday Victoria and welcome to your new home, Togo.

Because of Togo, I had to learn about his namesake. I subscribed to Disney Plus just so I could watch the new biopic “Togo” – the untold true story about the heroic run of the titular Siberian husky with dog sledder Leonhard Seppala (Willem Dafoe). Togo led a team of sled dogs across 600 miles of treacherous Alaskan terrain in the winter of 1925 to deliver diphtheria antitoxin to the town of Nome during an epidemic in a small Alaskan town.

Definitely one of the best dog movies, beautiful cinematography, amazing dog acting. And a guaranteed tear-jerker.

The next time when I see the statue of Balto in Central Park, I will think of Togo – who was the real hero.

P.S. Togo and I share the same birthday!