Introducing Clifford

Our dog Clifford is a blue heeler/border collie cross. He's got farm dog genes so loves rural life, but started his life as a townie. His family of origin included several children, hence his name from the canine star of the children's book series "Clifford the Big Red Dog."

When his family decided to relocate from NZ to Dubai, they arranged for his adoption. But the day before departure they learned that this person intended to drop him on the doorstep of the SPCA. Not a fate one would want for a beloved pet if it could be avoided. John intervened, offering to take him down to the farm to live with Maurie, who at that point was quite frail but still living on his own with an aged sheep dog.

Clifford and John made the journey together to Piopio in the car, something I believe was a bonding experience for them both. It became clear that Clifford was never really Maurie's dog. Maurie knew that by the dog's excited reaction to our arrival on weekends and told us so.

When Maurie left the farm to go into managed care for health reasons, the discussion became what to do about Clifford. I lobbied for us to keep him despite a small backyard in Papakura, knowing that he would have weekends at the farm and live there full time eventually. John wasn't so sure, and tried to find him another home.

I knew I'd won the debate when John arrived home one day with Clifford and the trailer loaded with a brand new dog house, the cost of which would have been (for John) an exhorbitant amount of money to spend on a dog. I was told that I was responsible for his care and feeding, he was MY DOG.  Yea, right.

Clifford has since become a much loved if complicated member of our family, getting chauffered between the farm and Papakura, where he is scheduled for medicated baths at the vet to treat his sensitive skin prone to messy allergic rashes. He is known there as a bit of a drama queen, but compensates by giving the girls chocolates at Christmas.

He swims in the pond but his major responsibilities are catching rabbits and possums, both of which are pests.  He also loves helping John move the sheep between paddocks.

 

Comments

[Cheryl]

Well I look forward to meeting Clifford when I come for an international knitting retreat. If I come all that way I hope he'll at least bring me a pair of (hand knit) slippers. :)

[Karen]

Thanks Cheryl. As indicated, he's rather partial to possum and angora fibers! I am thinking about having a basket of knitted/felted slippers in the mudroom for visitors to wear, but that might be just a wee bit ambitious of me. cheers, Karen