Tuesday 23 June 2015

Honey and Lea

As you know
Honey and Lea are my two dogs
Lea is a beautiful golden retriever 
And Honey is a fiesty terrier
I got them when I moved up here ten years ago
And they both turned ten recently 
Honey came from the local dog shelter 
She had originally been in a home with a single mother and a baby
But she couldn't cope 
So Honey was left on to the shelter 
I can still remember the day I collected her
She was five months old
And so giddy and full of energy and fun
I brought her home
She wasn't in the house ten minutes
When she made herself at home
And jumped up on one of the chairs in our sitting area
She was cheeky from the start
And nothing has changed in that respect
But that is one of the things I love about Honey
That she has a naughty streak
She knows she's only allowed on the kitchen 
But any chance she gets
Age runs out the door and down to my bedroom
One of her favourite things to do is roll around on my bed
And no matter how many times you tell her not to do it
She will chance her arm again and again

A few months after we got Honey
We decided to get another dog
I specifically wanted a retriever
So I found Lea through an advertisement 
Again 
Lea was about five months when we got her
From the start
She was the complete opposite to Honey
When we brought her home
She spent the first day hiding in the bushes at the bottom of the garden
She was super nervous 
And very wary of us to begin with
Over time Lea has improved a lot 
She can still be anxious
But she had come on leaps and bounds
And found her confidence

My dogs have literally been a life saver 
And saved my sanity over and over again
When I couldn't find a reason to get up in the morning
I got up for them
When I didn't want to leave my house
I left to walk them 
They give uncinditional love
And are always so delighted to see me if I so much as leave the room for ten minutes
When I went in to hospital at the end of 2013 - start 2014
My mother and father looked after my dogs 
It was around this time that Leas fur began to fall out
First on a little patch on her back
But it soon spread so that her whole back was almost bald
My mum didn't tell me at the time
As she didn't want to worry me
But when I went home for Christmas 
I saw it for myself
My mum also told me that Lea had sunk in to a kind depression since I had left
I was worried
We brought her to the vet
The took bloods
Checked her hormone levels
But everything came back normal
They couldn't find any medical reason as to why her fur was falling out

I went back to hospital
And Lea continued to deteriorate 
A few weeks later
I was discharged 
And went home for good 
It was soon after this that I overdosed 
And all the professionals stepped in
A plan was put in place
My meds were tweaked 
And slowly but surely 
I began to improve 
I gained weight 
My mood picked up
And my anxiety lessened
Then I noticed that Lea began to perk up
Her mood improved
And miraculously 
Her fur stopped falling out
And began to grown back
We were all shocked here
And my mother came to the conclusion that she had been ill because I was ill
And my illness effected her so much 
That she fell in to a depression and her fur fell out
As I continued to improve
So did Lea
And it did me the world of good to see her recover
As I'm sure it did get to see me
We spoke to a vet afterwards
And she confirmed that it could have been Leas stress levels that made her so unwell
It still blows my mind to think about it

When I was in hospital
Every Wednesday night
A lady brought in a therapy dog
She went around the wards 
Visiting patients
Letting them stroke and play with the dig
So it is recognised that dogs can aid recovery
I know my dogs massively helped me over the years
Even when I was at my sickest
I still walked them daily
Fed them
And played with them
In a lot of ways 
They kept me going 
Helped me hang on
And most definitely kept me sane

Lea and Honey are now both ten years old
Honey has one eye left
But she is still going strong
In dog years 
They are now 70
So really they are elderly 
And I can see it in them 
I just can't imagine life without them
They are part of the family
An integral part of the family
Here they are on Fathers Day
Cheeky Honey will never look at the camera 





10 comments:

  1. i somehow never knew that about Lea. that her fur was falling out...

    it just shows us once again, that the things we do don't only have consequences for ourselves but for others around us. our family, our friends, now even our pets!

    i hope you'll take care of yourself now, Ruby. you've got to be well to take care of them and ours that you love and love you.

    :)

    i wish you happy thoughts and happy moments.



    -Sam Lupin

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know
      Poor Lea
      She is a sensitive little soul

      Thank you my Sammy
      You are an angel x

      Delete
  2. They're such cute little muffins!!

    I know what you mean about them saving you. At my most depressed and suicidal, it was the thought of abandoning my kitties that saved me from ending my life.

    That same exact thing happened to my aunt's golden retriever when she was sick. My old cat, Callisto used to get really depressed as well if I was away.

    They are definitely part of the family. I like my cats a lot better than many of my relatives....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. He he
      I know what you mean Mich
      My dogs are better company than many of my own family
      So I am with you there x

      Delete
  3. oh they are lovely, haven't seen them for a bit, they love to get in photos! i miss mine so much but worry not here enough for another one, so tempted though, they make a home i think. my dog knew i was pregnant before i did wouldn't leave my side! jo x

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  4. I have a retriever too. They are amazing. Xoxo

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  5. They're both SO cute! I think the bond with animals is one of the most important things in life, especially in recovery. I know for a fact I wouldn't be where I am if I didn't have my dog Charlie. He's also a shelter dog and can be nervous because he was abused. Like you said, there are days where I don't want to get up, so I get up for him.

    I've heard of dogs getting sick when their owners pass away, it's almost like they can't handle the grief and get sick as well. Charlie started losing his hair too when I was in rehab. It stopped basically as soon as I got home. I truly believe they can sense when something is wrong with us, like they did when you were in hospital. It's so amazing to me and is really special. We're so lucky to have them!

    Much love, xx

    P.S I hope I didn't offend you or anyone else with my comments on methadone. I just got really passionate there so I hope I didn't cross any lines! If I did, I apologize.

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  6. Such cuties, I've always had pets, cats and dogs mostly. I don't know where I'd be without them, especially my kitty, my mum and sister picked her up as a tiny kitten when my depression was really bad. I've had her since I was sixteen. And like you with your dogs she has saved me over and over again. There's nothing like puppy kisses and kitty cuddles. Pets are definitely family and I wouldn't have a home without them.
    I'm glad honey is doing better since she lost her eye.
    Take care dear x

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  7. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ puppies *-*
    They are so important.

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  8. ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ puppies *-*
    They are so important.

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Thank you for leaving some love x