How Our Best Friends Break Our Hearts – One Dog At A Time
All our dogs have the ability to break our hearts. Whether you share your life with a CAVALIER KING CHARLES SPANIEL or a Labrador Retriever, the bond you form with your dog can be one of the closest and most powerful you will ever experience.
If you want proof of just how extraordinary the relationsip between man and his best friend can be then you really must read a stunning new book called One Dog At A Time. It has been written by a British Marine and dog lover called Pen Farthing and tells of his time serving in the violent Helmand Province of Afghanistan.
While dodging the bullets and mortars, Sergeant Farthing witnessed the cruel and barbaric Afghan tradition of dog fighting. Rather than standing by as many would have done, he risked his life by breaking up the fighting and freeing the dogs. One of them, a big, battle-scarred mastiff he christened Nowzad after the town he was stationed in, found his way into the Marine compound where he befriended his liberator. As Farthing’s tour of duty continued, he and Nowzad became inseparable buddies. The tough British soldier and the powerful dog formed an odd couple in the middle of the war zone. They were soon joined by other dogs who were drawn to the sanctuary the Marine compound provided. At one point, one dog pushed her litter of newborn pups through the wall of the compound so that they could be safe from the Taliban bombs and general cruelty of the Afghans towards the dog.
By the end of his time in Afghanistan, Farthing had more than a dozen dogs and puppies living in his makeshift sanctuary. As he prepared to leave, he was faced with the heartbreaking prospect of leaving them all behind.
We wont spoil the ending of this powerful book, but suffice it to say that two of the dogs he rescued are now living with Pen Farthing in England. He has also set up a fantastic charity to rescue other abused dogs in Afghanistan. His work is truly inspirational and is winning the admiration and support of dog lovers everywhere. Part of the proceeds from the book will go towards his charity.
If you only buy and read one dog book this year, make it One Dog At A Time.
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We just “lost” our 11 year old Cav Yankee, to CHF. He was bought from a disreputable breeder, who disappeared as soon as we called about his numerous health problems. Yankee suffered throughout his life from masive seizures, and a grade 5 heart mummur, nevertheless, he gave our family so much love, fun, and joy that we are devastated, and can’t quite believe that he will not just “show up” around the next corner in our home.
Feeling we just couldn’t live without another Cav, but not wanting to merely replace Yankee,after much research, we purchased an black and tan puppy Cav. Although he has a completely different look, demeanor and personality, he is just as cuddly, sweet, clever, and adorable as Yankee. His name is Bently. What a wonderful breed they are !
I have this cousin who adopted a 2 month old Cavalier which she thought was a stray. And she put up MISSING DOG posters in the whole of North Yorkshire. 1 month, 3 months. A year passed with no reply, so she took in the Cavalier as her own. One day, while grooming him in the yard, the doorbell rang. A brunette in her late 30s called,” Bud-bud!” And the dog rang to her and she picked him up. “Oh, look how well he is now! I thought his life had ended a year ago after 2 days dumped by the rubbish chutes, had it not been you. Fine, next time, if he’s sick, I’ll put him here again, better than the vet which is a waste of money!” The brunette said and went into her limo, with my cousin hurling a torrent of abuses at her.