The Dog With Nine Lives by Della Galton

paused.
    â€˜She’s fine. We’re in the Sherford Bridge car park. I’ll wait here for you. I’ve got two Labradors.’
    Tony and I ran all the way to the car park. When we got there we saw the man with two Labradors immediately, but there was no sign of Lindy.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ he said, wiping his face with a muddy hand. ‘I was holding her by the collar but she was really anxious to get away and I lost my grip. She ran back up into the forest.’
    By now I was crying, half with frustration and half with relief.
    â€˜At least she’s OK,’ Tony reassured.
    In my pocket my mobile trilled again.
    â€˜I’ve found a dog.’ This time it was a woman’s voice. ‘She’s quite tired; I think she’s been running a lot.’
    â€˜Where are you?’ I gasped.
    â€˜Lawson’s Clump car park.’ Lawson’s Clump was the next car park along the road from this one, about half a mile away, and was in fact where we’d come from. So she’d run all the way back there in the time we’d taken getting here – I was surprised we hadn’t passed each other on the way.
    â€˜Please can you hold on to her? Please don’t let her go,’ I begged the woman. ‘She’s been out all night.’
    â€˜No worries,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I’ll shut her in my car. It’s a yellow Escort.’
    Ten minutes later we were reunited with our little lost dog. She was extremely pleased to see us. She was also covered in mud and had a cut on her paw – so it had been very good of her latest rescuer to shut her in her car. ‘I’m sorry; I hope she hasn’t made too much mess.’
    â€˜Don’t worry. I’ve got my own.’ She indicated an elderly Westie curled up on a blanket on the back seat. ‘I’m happy to help.’
    Once again it struck me how nice people were.
    With our doggie family complete once more, Tony and I headed for home. After breakfast and a shower he went off to work and I took Lindy to the vet’s yet again to get her checked over.
    She was none the worse for her night in the forest. Although she did sleep a lot that day. And it didn’t stop her chasing deer either, but perhaps it made her more careful because to my very great relief I never lost her again.

CHAPTER NINE
    Another battle!
    I N M AY, 2007 , S ANDRA and Colin came to stay with us for the weekend. They’d lost their old black Labrador, Jet, the year before and they’d just got a new puppy. She was a boxer called Indy and they brought her down to show us.
    Indy got on well with all our dogs and we spent the weekend going for long walks in the forest and eating out at pubs that let dogs in. Every time we called Indy, Lindy came and vice versa!
    On the Saturday night I noticed that Lindy didn’t eat very much of her dinner. She’d seemed a bit quiet all day, but I wasn’t unduly worried. She didn’t have a big appetite at the best of times and I suspected that her nose had been put out of joint by the puppy. I should have known better. Lindy got on really well with everyone, whether they were canine or human.
    We headed off for a walk on Sunday morning and Lindy wasn’t all that keen to come with us. Alarm bells had started to ring, but I still thought that the problem was the new puppy.
    â€˜You don’t think she’s ill, do you?’ Sandra asked as we walked along the shady forest paths with Lindy idling along behind us.
    I shook my head. ‘Maybe – but I don’t think so. If she’s still off her food tomorrow I’ll take her to the vet’s.’
    Later that afternoon, Sandra and Colin said their goodbyes and set off for home and I gave Lindy her dinner. Again she picked at it and I decided to take her to the vets the following morning.
    But on Monday when I came downstairs Lindy got out of her basket and then collapsed at my feet. Horrified, I