We used to go on BIG walks in New Zealand as a family and sometimes we would stop in the SPCA shelter on the way to visit with the animals and generally have a look around. From the age of … as long as I can remember I have always loved dogs so on all of these visit's I would spend my time talking to the dogs and generally helping walk them etc. After all what would is better to a 8yr old than spending all day playing with dogs!

On one particular visit, about the third time we went, I met a golden retriever, the first I had seen. Instantly we bonded, not sure why, but we did. He was an older boy about ten then and a little shy. But after a while of talking to him he was soon smiling and panting happily. That was until the rest of my family came over and he cowered away and started shivering. It took a little coaxing but he came out of his shell and came over to meet the family (so to speak). The onsite manager was with them and it was then that we found out the reason. Some piece of trash person had taken him into the bush and beaten him over the head with a hammer and left him to die. They suspect he had been stolen for dog fighting and when he was no longer needed the above was the result. I do not believe in capital punishment. But I DO believe that somebody so inherently evil enough to treat a dog, or any animal, like that deserves to be put down.

Of course on hearing the story of the old boy (he was estimated to be about 11 by the vet) the family had a renewed vigour of making a fuss over him. Of course it was sad but unfortunate but maybe we could make one of his last days a good one.

Ironically it was these exact words which sparked the next course of actions that would see dogs in our family forever from this point forward. When my father said that we would be staying a little longer to give the old boy a good day he can remember in his last days to the onsite keeper, the keeper replied that it was indeed his last! He was due to be put down the NEXT DAY! Of course the next series of events is predictable. Keepers gives news, 8yr old hears said news, 8yrd old bursts into tears telling his parent that they cant let it happen, parents put up feeble argument, more tears, chat between parents and keeper, $10 for fees and I am leaving with my new best friend.

We had been warned that he only had about 6 months to live because of what had happened to him. But all that did was make us realise that we needed to make it the best 6 months of his life as we wanted to make sure the past was forgotten completely.

After trying many many many…many names for him the only name he would respond to was 'dog'. And of course why would we want to change it. So from that day forth the dog was called 'dog'

It took a lot of work to make him trust us even enough to go for a walk.. At first he wouldn't even leave the house for fear of being left behind. But over the next couple of months we managed to get him to come for walks, to the end of the drive, then the end of the green, then across the track and finally into the bush. Yes it took us a long time to venture anywhere with us and he would certainly not go anywhere without us…..or so we thought.

Dog went missing one morning and of course it sent us all into shock. Then we began searching for him and all of the neighbours did also. In good ol' kiwi fashion it was like a tidal wave of help. As neighbour went to neighbour more and more people joined in the search. That was until we found out what had happened. You see when we had got down a few streets in the village we would come into the knowledge that a Samoyed bitch had come in to season and was indeed missing also. I was in the head of our group and there was a group heading toward us also. I remember thinking how fast word had spread because OBVIOUSLY the whole village would be looking for my dog!

When we all met in the street we asked if they had had any luck finding dog. That's when we found out they were searching for Sheeba. Of course there were few laughs all around as soon as we realised what had happened. But we still had to find the duo. The days turned into three and I was starting to get a tad worried to say the least. We were all still looking for them everyday but in the afternoon who should walk back in with a VERY satisfied look on his face but the old boy who was too nervous to leave in the first place!

A few weeks later, sure enough, along cam a litter of pedigree Samoyed and assumed pedigree golden retriever. We obviously decided to keep one of the pups and we all had a BBQ to celebrate the new arrivals (any excuse for a BBQ).

The new pup fit in a treat and mum and pup became inseparable (my mum). The new pup always had a brown nose whenever it went outside and it soon became apparent why. As the pup grew so did the holes he dug! And after watching him, we realised every time he dug a little hole in went his nose! One day while sitting at the table for dinner the pup was in mums lap (apron covered as usual) and it just started digging! Maybe because of the smell of food on the apron maybe because it was bored, but dig it did. It was that day the 'pup' became known as Digger and never a name befit more. Digger really never stopped digging. Dad built a flower bed just outside the door of the house which, as soon as he saw it, Digger rightly claimed as his own. Dirt went everywhere flowers flew and then there was just a nice patch all claimed by Digger. Mum never did get her flower bed back!

Needless to say dog became more and more confident and loved having his son around to teach and hunt with for rabbits when ever we went out for walks. Over the next few years dog and I would become as close as brothers and many days we would go off together into the woods with food for both and light a fire for lunch and walk back in the afternoon. Dog would bring to my life something that no human, family or otherwise could, and I will never forget him or the times we shared. Digger went on to also become another best friend but more like a brother. I miss them both dearly. Never underestimate the healing powers of TLC. Dog was only given 6 months to live but we had him for six and a half years. Digger ended up living the ripe old age of 18 ½ . He had cancer for the last 3 years. And every time the vet saw him he gave him ANOTHER 3-6 months to live. In the end he jokingly said to my mother that he would no longer give estimates on his life as the damned dog would probably outlive her …and he did. My mother passed away in Dec 1999 and she asked for digger to be buried with her. As he needed 120% care everyday and he virtually lost the will to go on once mum had gone we decided to let him rest with her forever.

Obviously there is much more to the story of Dog and digger, how father taught son, watching them run together on walks, When digger pulled me out of a creek. Dog training, car thieves and much much more. Needless to say that my life would not have been my life without them. To ANYONE thinking of getting a dog, do it. Your life will never be the same and it will give you a profound perspective on all life. The unconditional love of a dog is something that humans can only ever strive to obtain and they have it naturally.