m E AN d my d OG

By KATE STEWArT

Thank you to everyone who has sent in their dog stories and pictures for our new me and my dog series. This month we are featuring In Focus readers Ann and heidi from North Bersted and Kim and Cody from Felpham. Please keep sending in your pictures and 250-word stories – we love reading them.

KIm ANd COdy my name is Kim Brown and I have a French Bulldog named Cody. Two and a half years ago Cody had an accident. he stepped down a hidden rabbit hole which caused a disc in his back to explode and after an mrI and surgery he was unable to use his back legs so now he uses wheels.

Cody used to go training with our other French Bulldog, Lexi, but after surgery was he unable to go but would look at me as though I was a traitor when I took Lexi to her class. So I asked if Cody could return to his class as he loved training and the response was “Why not?”

As a consequence, last summer Cody passed his Kennel Club Gold Good Citizens award and regularly competes in Talking dogs rally Competitions against able bodied dogs. he has an amazing personality and courage. I hope you have enjoyed reading about him, it is so easy to write dogs off because they are disabled.

ANN ANd hEIdI my Labrador/Terrier cross heidi is a lovely girl and the light of my life, she is such a happy dog and quite an energetic girl despite being around 15-years-old. I named her heidi as I love the heidi books. heidi tells me when it’s time for her three walks each day which keeps us both fit and maybe a bit younger! heidi looks like a short-legged Labrador and she has the gentle Labrador personality. She has several beds and likes to be in the one I have in my yoga room while I do my practice in the morning, she also has a ‘firework’ bed in the bathroom where she hides if there are any loud noises!

We have been together 13 years and she came from a Labrador rescue in Ireland. We have done training and agility in the past when we were both younger! We have made lots of friends over the years and the local people we meet on our walks heidi always greets with her ‘helicopter’ tail. It literally goes around in circles especially if they have treats for her!

We also do volunteer dog walking for the Cinnamon Trust where we take dogs for a walk for their older owners who can no longer take their dogs out for a variety of reasons. heidi is very happy to walk with a dog she doesn’t know, she is a great help and we all become friends. One of the dogs we looked after recently had a lovely lady owner who was 105, when she sadly died we looked after her little dog on long-term foster until the Cinnamon Trust found her a happy, forever home.

I know she is getting older so I treasure every day we are together and no holidays are planned this year as we both are happy being at home.

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To contact VILLAGES IN FOCUS please email: office@infocusmagazines.co.uk

Whether you are making your own Will, or sorting out the estate of a loved one who has passed away, we offer a complete grant of probate and estate planning and administration service that gives you complete peace of mind. Our experienced team are available to give you practical help and straightforward, jargon-free advice to help you in your time of need. From dealing with legal, tax and property issues to distributing the estate, we give you the personal support you need so you don't have to deal with it alone.