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When you called me and told me about Inde I burst
into tears on the train.
Alot of the other passengers were giving me sympathetic glances
and no doubt
thought one of my closest relatives had just died - which just
about
describes how I feel.
I spent the rest of the trip back, and most of last night thinking
about her
and this is what came to mind. Writing it down like this gives
me a sense of
closure.
The very first time I saw Inde mum and dad said "Leighton
we have a surprise
for you." This was followed by a "cooooooooome on then" and
a bounding
scampering sound of paws on the lino.
Inde was such a gentle dog that never, in her whole life, showed
even a hint
of aggression towards any of us (despite provocation at times).
When Cory
was born she took great care around him, sniffed him a bit and
sat with him
quietly, even when he used to climb all over her and pull at her
ears. (I
think that's on video somewhere).
We all saw how strong she was, how she could kill rabbits and mice
and how
she chewed some of her toys to bits and munched her way through
those solid
flaks. But when you placed your hand right into her mouth for a
playfight
(as I often did) she would growl menacingly but clamp her teeth
on you in a
gentle way that wouldn't hurt you.
Her energy was incredible. So playful and curious. I used to hide
somewhere
in the house and shout "biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiindy" and
listen as she came
thumping up the stairs (whether it be Poleshill, Crantarra, Beverley
Hills,
Sweethope) and sprinting back and forth, desperately trying to
find me. And
then when she did she'd get a treat (but not before a quick session
of 'sit'
- 'paw' - 'round' - 'up!')
I've never known a dog to have so many names. Inde - Bindy - Bind
-
Bindersfarne - Yiiind (to name but a few) - and to be so expressive
when
addressed. A "biiiiind" would usually make her sit upright
in a lightning
bolt of alertness with 'helicopter ears' as we called it. A (deep
low tone)
"
What you bind and done?" or "You bad doggy" and
they would flop down
guiltily. "Wassis then?" would usually send her into
a lip licking frenzy as
she anticipated some treat or scrap of food. She had bags of personality.
And she loved to go on walks. Sometimes she'd come back so black,
caked from
head to toe in mud (and other things) that mum would need two towels
to
cover her. One for her legs and bum, the other over the top of
her. Then
she'd be carried upstairs, (her nose sticking out from underneath
the
towells) to the bath where she'd obediently sit while she was hosed
down.
When she eventually came soaring down the stairs (she always went
a bit mad
after a bath) she was so clean and so fluffy she felt like the
clouds you
see in cartoons.
She loved to be active but she also loved to chill out and rest.
When we
spoiled her by rubbing her tummy she would flop into the 'stuffed
chicken'
pose, lying on her back with her paws down on her chest and her
'fang'
hanging down from her mouth. Totally content.
When I got back from India I spent a few months in Sweethope where
I took
her out almost every day. The weather was fine and I'd go atop
the hill and
read my books. She was such good company - When she'd worn herself
out
exploring she would come and sit by me, staring up at me and just
panting
that satisfied look.
I'm really glad that I got to see ehr again this Christmas even
if she
wasn't her usual self. It's so strange that she died the day we
left and
that almost all of us were there during her last few days. Kind
of like she
waited for us to come back or something.
Everybody thinks their pets are the best in the world but Inde
really was
one in a million and we'll never forget her. I'm going to try and
dig out a
picture of her so she can be added to our wall of fame.
Thanks again for a nice Christmas.
Leighton