LOTTIE'S LOVELY  by Jane Wain

 

I'm so lovely….well, that's what my new Mum keeps telling people. Every time she visits The Ark (which is at least once a week as she is a volunteer dog walker) people say to her, 'How's Lottie?' and she replies 'She's so lovely'. I know many of you who can remember me might find this hard to believe!

I was a guest at The Ark for over a year and lots of very nice people felt sorry for me and sponsored me; but no one wanted to take me home. Even though I was always very pleased to see people, I did have a bad skin problem, due to my hay fever and allergies, and I appeared to be aggressive towards other dogs. But I think I was just misunderstood! I mean, how would you feel if you had lived with such noisy neighbours for so long? I think I had got quite stressed and just liked to bark at them.  Now that I am living in a lovely house I'm fine and I only bark a little bit when I meet strange dogs on the park, and I never bark at any of my many new friends.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every morning I go out with the '7 o'clock club'. They're a motley crew, including Border Terriers, a Miniature Schnauzer, Collie and a Bernese Mountain dog (I'd never seen a dog as big as that before) and of course my two house mates, Pip and Sachi. When I first met Pip we had 'handbags at dawn'! She was also rescued from The Ark and I'm not sure she was too impressed with me coming to live in her house. But after we had been for walks on the park together, she became my friend. She lets me swap beds with her and everything.

 

 

 

 

 

 

My other mate is Sachi, a Black Lab x Collie. She has lived in the house longest and is very patient, especially as I'm always pinching her bed and her toys. We all went on holiday recently and Sachi took me paddling in the sea. It was fantastic! I especially loved barking at the waves, but I'm not sure Pip liked getting wet (which was a bit tricky as we were fastened together!). We all went for a really long walk along the cliffs; my new family take me for lots of walks to all sorts of interesting places. When we get in I'm a bit tired, but love to snuggle up with my mates.

Christmas was an experience. After my Mum had walked dogs at The Ark on Christmas day, I went to Nana and Grandpa's house. I spent the day with so many people - I counted 17 at one point. It was a hoot, sitting in the middle of wrapping paper, toys, books, slippers and the sound of laughter.

We had some house guests of our own recently. Three other canines came to stay while their Mum & Dad were on holiday. No one was quite sure how that would go - for some reason I have a reputation. But I just loved it, especially playing with Alfie. He's only 14 weeks old and loved to chase me, bite me and scratch my nose. It was such great fun, we rolled around for hours. I miss him now he's gone, but Mum has promised to take me to play with him at his house.

So as you can see, I have now settled into a lovely house. I'd like to thank everyone who sponsored me, and Sachi and Pip for putting up with me (and for letting me sneak on the sofa). My skin is so much better now and I have made lots of new friends, who all think I'm lovely too!

                                

 

Lottie with best mates

Sachi and Pip

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Snuggling up

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