It is believed among those of us in a position to know, that Sally, who died in 1979, was around 19 years old. As she was an Alsatian cross (crossed with what isn't clear) this is inherently unlikely. However - I remember as a relatively small boy collecting her from the Godshill, Isle of Wight, RSPCA shelter for mistreated dogs; and sadly, I also remember, and wish I could forget, the last day of her life so many years later.
No dog is perfect - Sally had a cunning side; but her cunning was impressive - the way she snuck a gammon joint out of a cupboard, and sauntered out of the door with it before we'd noticed; the way she and her daughter (another long story there: she managed to slide back a bolt on our back door to let her boyfriend in) waited until burglars got through our kitchen window without alerting them to her presence: and then making them wish they'd chosen another career: mother, the blood!
Both dogs then went back to sleep until the morning: a job well done.
If she wasn't perfect - she came nearer to it than any dog I've ever known. She protected my young brother - if threatened, he'd only to call her name and she'd be there, of which he took full advantage. She would grab hands and guide them away - push into any potential aggressor: 'you're not touching my little boy!'.
You can't but miss a dog like that, and all these years later, I still do.
.JPG)
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