My Dog Max

My Son was 10 when I decided that it was time to get a dog again. My Ex Husband was away and I decided not to say anything to him as I knew he would be against it. Ifelt lost without a Dog as I always had one. Also my Ex Husband was away a lot with the Army so I felt safer with a Dog there. I started looking in Papers and that. Then a few Days later, this Ad caught my eye

Golden Labrador 18 months old for Sale

Please phone to view

£150 or nearest offer

Then it showed me the Phone Number. I just had this feeling, so I picked up the Phone and arranged to see the Dog in the next hour. I decided not to say anything to my Son and Daughter in case it did not work out. I asked a Friend if she would pick them up from School for me and keep them till I got back. My Friend agreed. So I got in the Car and set of to find the Place. I knew roughly where it was. I arrived at the Address and a Woman answered the door. First thing I saw was a long haired Cat and another Dog. I asks the Woman why they are getting rid of the other one. The Woman told me because her Son has Asthma. So I say "I assume you are getting rid of the others to". The Woman says no she is not as they do not affect her Son. Of Course I am confused as the other Animals where long haired so why do they not affect. Well I asked the Woman to see the Labrador, as I had not seen him. The Woman opened the Door to the Kitchen and I was shocked, there he was, sad eyes, skinny and dirty and not looking nice. My Heart went out to him and without a second thought I told the Woman that I will give her £100 for him and even that is to much. The Woman said no way. So I said "Ok then from here I will be going to the RSPCA and bring them round". The Womans Face changed, at that precise moment a little Boy of about 6 goes up to Max and kicks him in the Side. That was the last straw for me, I said to the Woman, here is £50 and i took the Dog and walked out. The Woman came after me and said "you said a £100".I told her I had changed my mind and still have a good mind to report her. The Woman slammed the Door shut. I realized I had no collar or lead for him but he walked next to me and got in the Car. I was in tears at the sight of the poor thing. I stroked him and spoke to him gently and he sat down on the back seat.

I got home, my Son and Daughter where there. I got Max out the car, my Daughter started screaming and running. My Son went to the Dog and stroked him. Max sat down and then nudged my Son with his Nose. I was sure that is when the Bond started between the 2 of them.I got my Daughter to go near Max and he slightly nudged her to, she jumped a bit, but my Son told her to stop being a sissy and to stroke him. Max went in the House with me and first thing I did was run a Bath for Max. Of course there was Gizmo the Cat, he was a Persian. Gizmo came tO check out the new Member, as he was not scared of anything and he thought he owned the House.

I was upstairs and shouted Max as his Bath was ready. Well, no Max came. So I went to see why he was not coming. As I came out the Bathroom, there was Gizmo, the loving Cat, sitting at the top of the Stairs not letting Max come up. Max was sitting half way up the Stairs looking sad.

I laughed and told Gizmo of and told him to let Max up the Stairs, he just sat there and looked at me. My Son came up the Stairs and told Max to come with him, so Max walked up with my Son, Gizmo was about to Swipe him when I picked him up and told him he was naughty.

We bathed Max , I noticed he was covered in Fleas. After we had bathed him I went to the Shop to get Flea Treatment for him. In the Meantime Gizmo calmed down a bit.It only tooka few Hours for them to become good Friends.

My Ex Husband was due home the following Afternoon and I had to pick up the Courage to stand up to him about the Dog. The Children where in bed and I was watching the TV, I was just thinking about going to bed and read when I heard a noise at the back door. I realized I had not locked the back door, the same time that I heard it so did Max and as the back door opened he ran in the Kitchen and was going mad. I heard my Ex Husbands Voice shouting "What the Hell is going on, get this dog away" I ran in the Kitchen to calm Max down and to tell him it was ok. He looked at my Ex Husband unsure. Of course my Ex turned around and said "You can take him back where you got him from." I told him no way. I mean Max was doing his Job he was protecting me, he didn't that this Person lived here. Well my Ex was determent I was taking him back and I was determent that I wasn't, and something gave me the strength to stand my Ground, well it was Max actually, as there was no way was he going back to them People. My Ex stormed past me and went to bed. I slept downstairs with Max and Gizmo. My Cat would only sleep where I sleep.

Well Max stayed, no way was I letting back there. I stood my ground for the Dog even though I was scared of my Ex Husband. After a week he came round to the Dog and all was well.

We had Max a year when someone left our back Gate open, which we did not know. Max got out the Garden as he was looking for Mike, well he got knocked down, but fortunately he was not badly hurt. I put a lock on the back Gate so it could not be opened again.

2 years after we got Max, who was so close to my Son, we bought our own House. I moved with the Kids up North, my Ex Husband was still stationed down South. I felt safe with Max around being on my own with the 2 Kids at night. He was the sweetest and softest Dog, but when he saw one of us hurt he would be there.

Max became a lovely, obedient, protective and loving Dog. My Son and Max had a special Bond, which no one could break.

Max was 12 years old. It hurt me to see him getting slower. When my Son worked away and came home at weekends, oh the Joy of seeing Max so full of Life and jumping all over my Son, he was always the first to greet him. I got divorced and shortly after my Son was back working from Home, Max was so happy. The only thing was, he was in a way where most of the time we had to leave him in the Kitchen. My Son used to take him in his room with him. I felt awful, but he just was not able to hold his Water and that anymore. I came home from Work one Day and saw blood on the Floor. I checked Max over and I could not see anything at all on him. My Mum and her Husband came to visit us and I took time of work. One Morning I came down and there was a lot of Blood on the kitchen Floor. I knew, but I did not want to know. Max laid there looking sad at me. I knelt down and stroked him. I love this Dog and I do not want to let him go and I knew it would break the Kids Heart, specially my Sons. My Mum saw all the Blood and said that we have to take him to the Vet. I didn't want to, but I knew I had to. I asked Mike if he wanted to come and he said no he couldn't. He came down to see Max, it broke my heart, he was saying Goodbye. But surely Max was coming home again.

My Daughter came with us. Well what I feared was being said. Max had Cancer, he was to old to be treated, the Vet said he needed to be put to sleep. I refused at first, I didn't want it. I looked at Max and he looked at me so much love and trust there, he was saying "please I am in Pain" I stroked him and I said "Ok, I guess I would be cruel to keep him alive." My Mum left the Room. My Daughter and my Mum's Husband stayed. The Vet got the Injection ready. I sat on the floor with my Lovely Max. I whispered in his ear that I love him. The Vet asked me if I was sure I wanted to stay. I said "Yes, my Baby is not going to be alone when he leaves here, he will be in my Arms." As the Vet injected Max looked at Mel, she ran out of the Room crying, she said later that he looked at her saying Goodbye, well, the Vet moved away from Max, he looked up at me one more time and then died in my Arms. All I could do was cry and shout " No Max don't leave me" I would leave him, I sat on the Floor with my Dog holding him, crying wanting him to wake up. But he didn't, my Baby was gone, gone for good. the Vet and my Mums Husband prised me away from Max. As we walked out I could see all the People looking at me with sorry in their eyes. I got outside I could not breath, I had set my breathing of. My Daughter and my Mum held me.My Daughter said " I am sorry Mum I could not stay, I am so sorry." I told her it was ok, that I knew it would hurt her.

When we got home, I told my Son and he said "I know, Mum, I am sorry, I just couldn't do it" He started to cry, I held my Son for a long time.

We had Max cremated, when I picked him up, my Son sat with the Ashes and started to cry, he cried because he thought he had let Max down, I told him that Max understood, he was not alone when he died, he was in my Arms. It took my Son a long time to get over Max, but little Gissi helped him. To this Day I say that Max led me to Gissi. He led me to that cage where a little frightened Dog was in, that would not go to anyone, but he came to me and put his head in my Hand. It was Maxes way of helping me not to loose my will in Life, because I had been bullied out of my Job because of my Illness, who felt useless, who felt there was nothing left for her, nobody needed her. Well this little Fellow Gissi needed me and Max knew that. He also knew that Gissi would help my Son. Then my Son got Cookie and of course she is my Son's everything. She has not replaced Max, no Dog ever will, but she is in his Heart and she loves him. They also rescued her. So you see Max knew who needed us.

This is a Tribute to our Loving and caring wonderful Dog Max

We miss you Sweetheart, but thank you for giving me Gissi, You have a special Place in our Hearts and always will have.

I love you Boy and I do hope you are in Doggy Heaven as that is where you belong

Love Mum Mel and Mike xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx