They Sleep Under The Southern Cross

by Terry
(Newcastle NSW Australia)

The Garden of Peace

Over 74 years I have had twelve dogs, a Dalmation,an Afghan, an Old English Sheep Dog and 8 Standards and a miniture Poodle.

Ten of those dogs have passed on, but are still with me in spirit, their photos are over my bed, and eight rest at the base of my flagpole under the Southern Cross on the Australian flag and in the evening sky.

I loved all my dogs, but the Standards were a world apart, more human than humans and able to twist me around their little paw.

My first, John Louis, was a character who, if scolded, would get the biggest hurt look on his face as if butter would not melt in his mouth, even when he ate the Christmas Turkey one year just before Christmas Dinner was served.

Heather, a white, was lovable but a loner as she had been hurt through having several owners who were more interested in breeding and show results than love. She was only with me a few years dying of spondylitis.

Desiree, my darling, was a real lady who loved parties and would sit next to me and observe all that happened. Tiddlemouse, my mini, used to delight in staring at her and she would scream and dive under the bed and he would look at me, waggle his tail, and say"that fixed her".When I moved to Newcastle Desiree accidently ate some snail bait,I am told it tastes like chocolate, and despite all the vet's efforts, died aged 9.

A few days after Desiree's death I opened the morning paper and there was an advertisment wanting a home for a two year old Standard. The OESD and I went and met her and she came home. Unfortunayly I lost her aged six from pancreatitis. Tammy could not only catch but throw a ball back and had balls hidden down all the chairs in the house. As one ball was taken off her she would produce another and start throwing until all balls had been conficated.

When I lost Tammy Desiree's breeder contacted me and offered me Gina, a two year old who shared her love with me for ten years, dying from a heart attack as she got up to greet me one day when I came home from work.

When my OESD,Gweneveive, died Gina's breeder sent me Tina, Gina's sister, who was two years old and had a crippled back leg from an accident as a puppy. The breeder spent thousands saving the leg from amputation rather than have it amputated or Tina put down. Tina was the happiest dog I ever knew, never complained despite her disability and loved life. She died after ten years with me and I was able to kiss her goodbye before she went, even if she did decide to go just as twenty quests were arriving for my housemates fortieth birthday lunch.

Tina was replaced with Priscilla who came from a breeder who did not want her any more and I got Oscar from the Poodle Refuge three years ago on Boxing Day. Priscilla and Oscar were both two when I got them and will probably be my last dogs because I constantly worry if anything happens to me what will become of my dogs.
But Priscilla and Oscar are another story.
Terry