A Lovely, Lovely Heart.

I watched the kennel owner bathing William's blind eye when I arrived at the kennels this morning.
They both were sat quietly in the sun in one corner of the courtyard as Mary careered like a loon across the gravel chased by a dim, friendly cockerpoo with learning difficulties.
The kennel owner was rocking him back and forth  as she dab-dab dabbed and as she worked she cooed at him as a mother would do to a baby.
It was a strangely moving tableau.
" He's the gentlest dog I've ever had here" she told me after she had put him onto his feet so he could amble across to greet me " All the kennel girls love him so" 
William stopped , placed a paw onto her knee and stood up to sniff her face
" He has a lovely, lovely heart" she said


72 comments:

  1. Now I'm in tears, thinking of a wonderful, gentle dog with his lovely heart. xxxx

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  2. I anoint him Prince William... of The Isle of Dogs.

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  3. steady on, old boy; almost time to chase the bumblebees in the garden!

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  4. Anonymous11:11 am

    Admittedly I feel a little vulnerable at the moment, but I have teared up.

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  5. A beautiful encounter...

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  6. Sweet William - you don't often mention him. What a gentle soul he is.

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  7. You have a treasure there.. someone who really cares and appreciates your doggie family. So hard to come by.
    William the welshy sounds just puurfect... I would love to meet this breed of dog - they are very engaging in your accounts of their behaviour

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  8. I agree with Mitchell...
    Greetings Maria x

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  9. Of course he has a lovely heart. He's a lot like his owner!

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  10. Of course he has a lovely heart. He's a lot like his owner!

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  11. Anonymous12:36 pm

    It's good when people see the good in you, not least when you are a dog. Bless William for his part in your "tableau". Moving indeed.

    Talking of hearts, John. Just came across a comment piece written by a psychiatric/mental health nurse. Made me think of you, and I quote:

    "It takes more than “niceness” to be here. You have to have a heart as big as the earth and, at the same time, be made of stone."

    Powerful stuff.

    U

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    Replies
    1. Dogs have bigger hearts than any human

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  12. He is indeed a beautiful soul...and much loved!

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  13. this is so sweet. nothing like an old dog to wrench your heart. i like your iphone in the background!

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  14. You made me well up.

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  15. Another once in a lifetime dog.

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  16. What a beautiful scene. He's lucky he's so well cared for.

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  17. Well rats....now I can't see to type properly. What a sweet boy William is. And so nice to see a kennel owner who cares so very much.

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  18. Yet again you bring a tear to my eye. What a lovely little story. You must be so happy that you have such a good kennels. William sounds a wonderful, wonderful dog. Thank you. Sue H

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  19. I have never forgotten you describing William as the dog version of David Niven. I am about to pick Elsie up from the groomers. I can guarantee she has NOT behaved like William. :)

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  20. I always ask myself if our dogs understand what we are saying about them, i think i know the answer.

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  21. Aww... that will surely be the sweetest thing I read today. xoxox

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  22. Must have 'rubbed off' from his daddy.

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  23. That is so sweet...Love William and what a wonderful and caring person your kennel owner is.

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  24. May we all grow gentle with age.

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  25. Well, that did it ... I should know better ... weeping my heart out over the sweetness and love in your post.
    Sending lots of love to gentle sweet William ..

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  26. Well, you've done it again, wet eyes.
    Briony
    x

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  27. I wanted to say "If only they could talk" but that would spoil it and, anyway, there's no need.

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    Replies
    1. So very true! I know exactly what my dog would say to me. However, it's much more fun watching him communicate without speaking. I think every bit of him talks to me from his ears to his tail :)

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    2. Dogs do talk their emotions to you, Riona, making it easy to read what they're feeling. Not so with cats. With all the talking I do to my pussycat quartet, even if they could speak they wouldn't be able to get a word in edgeways.

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  28. He lives up to his name, "Sweet Williams".
    Of course I have tears in my eyes as I read this.

    cheers, parsnip and thehamish

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  29. A lovely post about dear William. You make me cry. There is something about old dogs that always does! I have recently been thinking a lot about my old dog who left us nearly 4 yrs ago. Still cry for him!

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  30. Ahhh, so sweet! I'm glad William has such a caring person at the kennel.

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  31. The give up in spades the love they get. I was sitting on the staircase speaking to the man who was working on the front door. McKenzie and Aliah were upstairs doing whatever dogs do when the parent is out of sight. At once McKenzie came running downstairs and sat on the step behind me and put his head on my shoulder. The man looked and said: "he loves his mama, you can tell, they learn to love easily when they are loved." You are a good papa John, they love easily because all of yours are so loved.

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    1. The kennel owner wanted to buy a welsh terrier but said one that her friend had put her off because she was so vicious
      I told her we have had four and all four have had the sweetiet of natures!
      We must be doing something right

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    2. @A.Smith that is such a lovely story.

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  32. Like that "lovely, lovely heart"
    Sweet William . . .
    (Thank you for visiting, commenting . . .)

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  33. What a precious woman.

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  34. When our ( long departed ) Sam had Glaucoma the elderly eye specialist Vet was so kind and caring and very gentle with dear old Sam.

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    Replies
    1. A Warm nature can cushion a blow so well me thinks

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  35. I'm with everyone else here - wet eyes & melting heart over the lovely sentiment from the kennel person for such a dear heart as William.

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  36. Now you've got me with a tear in my eye.

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    Replies
    1. Disabled animals slays them in the aisles!

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  37. A heart-warming tale. It's also a very adroitly composed post.

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  38. Stop making me cry like that - William is special and that kennel owner must be too!

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  39. This is lovely. Which you know.

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  40. I didnt cry. Is that bad?

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  41. Anonymous9:52 pm

    There is nothing in the world like a good dog. Nothing.

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  42. I 'welled up' too - what a treasure you have in your kennel staff ... so often people worry about how their darlings are treated at a kennel, you need have no such fears. And Mary was enjoying herself too - egging the imbecile on I'll bet!

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  43. William is such a gud dug. Puddles in my eyes. X

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  44. Great to have a kennel like that nearby. I would be confident leaving my dogs with caring people like that.

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  45. Worth anything you could pay to be able to find a boarding kennel like that!

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  46. One word...moving. Thank you!

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  47. They say a dog is a mirror with fur--so blessings on your own lovely, lovely heart!

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  48. How sweet William is and what a lovely person your kennel owner is. Both have hearts of gold.

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  49. Oh how sweet...I sure William receives as much love and he gives.

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  50. Sweet William. Sweet John.

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  51. How old is sweet William?

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  52. William is a gentle soul. We all need someone to soothe us. xoxo from gg

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