Dog friends

Something really lovely has happened and I think it is worth sharing. In this busy world, where it isn't always easy to make connections, it transpires that having a super friendly dog is a great way to meet people.

As you probably know I've been wandering my local streets for over two years now because all of my doctors recommended walking for recovery (from surgeries, chemo and radiotherapy). Without Stella I met no one (well except for a nice, crazy man who kept stopping his runs to warn me about the SAS surveilling me from helicopters). Since Stella joined my walks we've met quite a few normal people. I call them our dog friends.

Today while chatting through the fence to Stella's friend Trixie (a husky, rotty, shepherd cross), Trixie's Dad opened the gate and invited us in so the dogs could play together. While the dogs chased each other around the garden I chatted to Trixie's owner, Steve. Apparently Trixie doesn't usually like other dogs, but for her and Stella, it was love at first sight.

This is not the first time this has happened. In fact it has happened from the weekend Stella came to live with us. While on a little introductory walk up our street, Stella squeezed her way through one of our neighbour's fences. In order to safely retrieve her I had to release her from the lead. Stella immediately shot off (through a kid's birthday party) to play with Luna (the black Labrador who lives at number 1). We've had a few play dates with Luna since and I now know the family at number 1.

Then there is Poppy and Les. Poppy lives up the hill from us. Les is Poppy's neighbour and Poppy spends the day with Les while her people are at work. Les is retired. He was born with a heart defect and recently had heart surgery. He feels the best he's ever felt. You can tell he adores Poppy and gives her lots of time and attention. He takes her on walks and outings in the car. He feeds her salmon treats and takes her for swims. The relationship obviously brings them both joy and the pair of them benefit from the activity. Poppy often rushes out to greet Stella when we walk by, quickly followed by Les, who loves a good chat.

Speaking of chatting, we regularly talk to a lovely older gentleman. He does not appear to remember he has met us on multiple occasions, but that doesn't matter. I don't mind hearing about how he used to live in Homai near the College for the Blind and fostered guide dogs. Stella loves him. He showed Stella and I the entrance to a track he maintains, that takes you down to the Waitakere Tramline - a narrow gauge railway which has been used since 1907 for building and maintaining the Waitakere dam and water pipeline. Stella can tell he loves dogs and he radiates a calm and beautiful energy.

Stella is in love with two Leonbergers, Yogi and Pluto, who live on the semi rural road behind us. We like walking up their street because the road is closed following a big slip (so it is nice and quiet) and as an added bonus for a sheep dog - there are sheep to look at. Yogi and Pluto like walking on our street because there is a stream to jump into and have a swim. We've become quite friendly with Yogi and Pluto's lovely owners. Recently one of the Leonbergers took himself for a walk up our driveway to say "Hi" to Stella through the fence. Our cat was not impressed.

We regularly see a big, burly, bearded man jogging with a beautiful red hound (a Vizsla maybe?) called Kaos. We are more "Hi guys" as we only pass each other and wave and smile. Stella and Kaos like each other though. There's lots of tail wagging and sometimes Stella does a wee play bow.

And then there are all the interactions with random people who ask if they can pat Stella. She is such a funny soul. She lives for pats from strangers but she's not that interested in them from me. She'd rather I throw a tennis ball for her.

What I love most about our dog friends is none of them know what my occupation is, nor do they care. They just know me as "Frana, the lady with that lovely, friendly, Huntaway dog". And I like to think that Stella and I are helping some people who might be a bit lonely because: "The most important things in life are the connections you make with others.” – Tom Ford  and “Healing yourself is connected with healing others.” – Yoko Ono