Buffy

“I will send them without wings so no one suspects they are angels”

Jacqui’s recent post about her “angel without wings” also known as Loco brought back such wonderful memories of a very special little dog that we had the privilege of knowing and loving.

Buffy was a cross breed Yorkie/ Maltese, who from an early age claimed our hearts and our attention.   She very quickly established her role as the leader of the pack, the boss of all who resided in our house, dogs, cats and humans alike.

Buffy was our angel without wings – my goodness she was astute and sharp.

Everybody who came into contact with Buffy simply fell in love with her.   She loved showing off her new toy and then would jump onto the couch and snuggle up.

Whilst on holiday with us,  my sister Vanessa mentioned that she was not feeling well , so she decided to spend the day in bed.  Buffy decided that she would keep Vanessa company by lying up against her lower back.   She only appeared for meal times and loo breaks.  The next day the same performance, Buffy insisted on sleeping up against Vanessa’s lower back.  After consulting a doctor Vanessa was diagnosed with a severe kidney infection.  Buffy knew that!

Buffy had a great relationship with Virgil, our Maltese as well and Raphael and Lilly our two cats.  Due to all kinds of family issues and problems we were experiencing as a family, we overlooked the fact that we did not have Lilly spayed, and she fell pregnant. One evening Lilly decided to get into bed with us.  Let me clarify this. She decided that she needed to sleep with Gail, George, Buffy and Virgil all of us in a double bed.  After much muttering, mumbling and debate George and Virgil went to sleep in the spare bedroom leaving the “girls” to sleep in peace, we all settled down and fell asleep.  Sometime later I woke up to Buffy sitting on my pillow and tapping my face with her little paw.  She was very agitated and excited.  As I moved over to turn on the bedside light I was aware of the fact that the bed was wet!  I also realised that my movement was restricted and that Lilly was lying between my legs.  Very gently I lifted the top sheet and duvet only to discover that Lilly had given birth to two kittens and was in the process of giving birth to another baby.  Excitedly we called for George, who helped us get the bedding off the bed without disturbing or inconveniencing the babies, their mother and their midwife too much. Lily gave birth to six kittens. Buffy was amazing and proved to be a very good midwife and subsequently a very good nanny.  She spent every waking moment looking after and guarding Lilly and her kittens.  Whenever Lilly left the kittens to have a meal or a comfort break Buffy settled into the box with kittens, making sure that they were comfortable and safe. 

When the kittens were old enough to be adopted into loving families an interesting thing happened.  Buffy guarded the door to the bedroom where Lilly and her little ones stayed.  Much to our embarrassment and at the same time fascination, she would bare her teeth and growl at some folk, she would not allow them to enter the bedroom.  We had one or two very awkward moments, however Buffy wasn’t having any of it, they were not allowed in – period!  The folks she approved of, could under her careful scrutiny and observation come into the room and look at the babies, pick them up and even hold them.  Buffy choose the prospective parents  – she made absolutely sure that “her” kittens were going to be adopted by kind and loving folk.

Many years ago I had to have a pacemaker fitted.   In the big scheme of things it is not a huge procedure however, it is a tricky one, for a few days post operation things are pretty unpleasant.  Firstly, it is painful and secondly I had limited use of my right arm for fear of dislodging leads running from the pacemaker to the heart.  Buffy took it upon herself to be my nurse, comforter and protector – all she wanted to do was lie on top of my right shoulder almost as if she was she wanted to keep my well-bandaged wound safe.  I eventually encouraged her to lie on the left side of my body and lo betide anyone (including George) who approached me.  She eventually realised that folk just wanted to assist and not harm me.

Oh little Buffy you certainly were one of a kind special!

We have had the pleasure of living with amazing fur children dogs and cats alike.  They were all unique in nature and personalities: Zero our little sausage dog used her pronounced overbite, to her advantage, she climbed shelves in the pantry cupboard in order to steal packets of chips and peanuts alike would tear the packets open and share them with her furry family.  One day she managed to get onto the kitchen counter, knocked a cooked Woolworths chicken still in its paper bag onto the floor and them somehow managed to get it onto a chair in our sitting room thus sharing it with the others. 

I have so many mores stories to share of little dogs and cats who shared our home and our love  –  that’s for another story and another day.

This story is dedicated to Virgil, Kirkwood, Charlotte and Benji, Buffy and Zero – beautiful angels who not only protected us, but healed us.

“If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans”  James Herriot.