A few weeks ago Debbie Pritchard and myself had just finished walking the dogs and were about to load them into the car when a gentleman walked up to us and wasadmiring our two packs.
He mentioned how he had a chow that had passed away at 12 years old and how much he missed him.
The man’s name is Peter Reynolds and this is a story, not about a human rescuing a dog but how a dog came to the rescue of a man. I mentioned to Peter that we had a cross husky/chow named Hatchiko at Husky Rescue and how he was such a lovely dog.
Peter said he would have loved to adopt another dog but felt at his age he was too old to take on the responsibility. I sent Hatchi’s photo taken by the talented Christy Bennie and Peter replied that he would try pop in and visit sometime.
Two days later I was surprised to hear from Joanne that out of the blue Peter had contacted her and was coming to meet Hatchi. I was there when Peter arrived and he was a man on a mission, he told us that he had come to the realisation that there was something missing in his life. Peter lives alone so had little companionship since Baker his chow had passed on.
Needless to say before Peter left Husky Rescue the adoption contract was signed and the fee paid.
I took Hatchiko to Peters house on Friday afternoon and they are inseparable.
Peter phoned me early on Saturday morning just to tell me that they were out walking and Hatchi was acting like a puppy and Peter was so happy for both of them that he had to call and tell me.
In Peters words “I haven’t been this happy for years”.
Peter joined us on a walk this morning and said to us he had forgotten how unconditional the love is that you get from a dog and how he just feels like a new person.
We know that Hatchi is in the best possible home and he is such a lovely natured boy that he will get on with all other dogs that he comes across on his twice daily walks.
By Ian Jones
