Tails About Town: Doggy Vacation
Written by Emma Kemsley
On a recent holiday to India I was told by locals on several occasions that I have a big heart – I must admit it’s not something I’ve been told before, and to be honest I’m fully aware that at times I can be an ice queen, so I can only put it down to the fact that they must have picked up on the fact my heart was aching for my puppy all the way back on his own doggy vacation in Saffron Walden.
We’d been through the guilt trip phase before we left, scolded by big brown eyes as we packed the suitcase. My husband and I don’t have children, and to us Fletcher is our whole world. We love him more than anything, and I firmly believe that even if we were to have kids one day that I couldn’t love them anymore than I love our dog (cue screams of horror from parents of human-beings!). So trusting someone to look after him is a big deal. Thankfully, I’ve been blessed to find Emma Thompson at Saffron Superdogs. She trained Fletcher as a puppy, we’re friends and Fletcher adores her three dogs Murphy, Bruno and Tally.
In fact, Bruno, a Bracco Italiano, is Fletcher’s idol. He is his best bud, even if Bruno doesn’t always agree, where ever Bruno goes, Fletcher follows. Chasing deer, yep, Bru
no taught him that. Sniffing out hares, yep, he taught him that too.
I knew he was in safe hands, but still while I lay on the beach, my mind would drift to what he was doing. Turns out he was having the time of his life. Saffron Superdogs main business is dog walking, one of Fletcher’s many favourite things to do. He’ll walk (aka run) for hours, in fact, I often wonder how far he could go before he’d need to rest. He become Emma’s sidekick for two weeks, playing with groups of dogs on long muddy walks for hours every day, dropping them off, before picking up the next lot to play some more. He even went on holiday to Wales!
He adores Emma, her dogs and her lifestyle, which is probably why I’m now being given the cold shoulder. We were so excited to pick him up, however, Fletcher wasn’t so thrilled to say goodbye. My husband has been forgiven far quicker but I’m still getting dirty looks with a huff and puff as I type. I’m now off to bribe him with a long walk in the nearby field!
PS: While we were in India, I chose to spread the love of my “big heart” to the dogs that are not so fortunate to have loving homes. We volunteered at the Animal Shelter Agonda; an amazing charity that helps injured and abandoned dogs in Agonda. It also runs a feeding programme for beach dogs during the monsoon season.
Armed with bags and tins of dog food, we spent the afternoon cuddling and playing with the puppies and dogs that were currently waiting to be rehomed. All dogs are rehomed in India, and Belgium owner Brendy, revisits for regular check-ups. At the moment donations are only allowed from Indian nationals, but if you’re in the area and want to help out, please do stop by. You can also show your support by liking their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ASA-Animal-Shelter-AgondaCola-585526971600126/
