“Hooray!” said George: “We‘re here, we are at the seaside at last!”
George being the family dog was beside himself with excitement and in dog language he said:
“Dad!” “Dad!” “Can we go for a walk, along the beach, come on Dad!” “Dad!” Dad!” George was going round in circles chasing his tail.
Maurice: “Would you look at him, we’ve been down here only five minutes and he wants to go for a walk!”
Jan: “How do you know he wants to do that!”
Maurice: “See the way he’s acting!” “That lead was hanging on the back of the door and look he’s got it in his mouth!”
“A bit keen, are we George!”
George looked at Maurice with eyes that would make cheese melt. George wagged his tail so fast it made his hind legs sway from side to side. George stood on his hind legs with the lead still in his mouth!
“Dad!” “Dad!” “Are we going!”
Maurice: “I better take him, he might be desperate to…….!”
Jan: “Why not let him loose in the garden – we got all this unpacking to do!”
Jan and Maurice had just moved down to the seaside from a house in a suburb of London. Wanting the quiet life and Maurice had just retired from his job with the Government.
George was a ‘Rescue Dog’ who reluctantly had to be given away by his previous owner because they had to move to a flat, and pets were not allowed to be kept and besides George seemed to be a very active dog and needed to be looked after on a permanent basis and who needed a suitably sized garden to play in. Maurice had read the advert regarding George. ‘Suitable home required for active dog’. Maurice rang the number and on seeing George made an instant decision to bring him home.
Maurice: “No!” “I think I will just give him his lead and once it’s out of his system, he’ll settle down!”
Jan: “alright, I’ll have a nice cup of tea and read the paper until you two come back – now where did I put that kettle and teapot!”
George rushed off to where all the Tea Chests were and dived into one of them and barked very loudly, Jan remarked
“Now where’s he gone!”
Jan and Maurice ran into the room and both of them peered into the Tea Chest where George was pawing at something and finally leapt out with a red ball firmly gripped in his mouth.
Jan said she had to look for the kettle and teapot and for some reason George dropped the ball and walked over to another box and scratched the side and then barked twice and then very quickly picked up the ball again, not wanting anyone else to have it.
Jan remarked “What are you up to George!” and then Jan peered into the chest and both kettle and teapot with a couple of mugs were nestled in some old newspaper.
Maurice remarked *How did he know which tea chest to look in!” Jan said “It was a mystery to her as well. Maurice places the collar and lead on George and strokes his head and says “Who’s a clever boy then!” “Come on we’re going for a walk!”
Jan removes kettle and teapot and the two mugs and after a further search finds the dried milk, tea-bags and sugar lumps plus the electric lead for the kettle. Jan scratches her head and frowns and talking to herself “I know I packed all these things separately, how on earth did they all get together in the same Tea Chest!” “Of course, the packers on the removal lorry could have placed them altogether for easy access!” ”Who knows!”
Jan moved towards another box and retrieved George’s favourite smelly blanket and his equally smelly biscuits that he loved so much along with a special bone for the hygiene of his teeth.
Jan filled the kettle with water and plugged the lead into the kettle and then into the wall socket and switched on.
Maurice and George were walking fairly briskly along the promenade and as usual on walks like this George was beside himself with excitement. He had learnt to jerk his head forward and release the ball to roll away and then with a short dash he would catch it again. He would zigzag along the wide promenade making sure not to annoy other walkers, especially the ones with dogs. He felt the fresh sea air caressing his short curly fur. Every now and then he would stop by some steps that would lead down to the beach, with the golden sand glistening in the sunshine, hoping he would be able to roll and dig and play with his red ball, the blue sea looked inviting, but to George all the colours that had been described were always going to be a sort of dull grey to him, but still it was very exciting to be here at the seaside. A gentle tug on his harness told him otherwise. Maurice stated that tomorrow we will have more time for you to play. George seemed to know what his owner was saying to him and obediently walked on.
A notice board attached to the railing stated that ‘Dogs were not allowed on the beach for hygienic reasons’
George seemed to have certain attributes that endeared himself to Maurice and Jan, he had a kind face and seemed very intelligent and George took to Maurice and Jan like a Duck to water.
Suddenly there was a wail of a siren in the distance and then coming ever closer to them and then a Fire Engine raced past and George looking forward saw black smoke and he sensed with growing agitation that it was something he should know about and he thrust himself forward with such ferocity that Maurice lost his grip on the lead. George shot off like a bullet weaving in and out of the walkers with his lead swishing from side to side along the ground. Several attempts by passers-by to capture the lead were fruitless. Maurice was running, however his age was against him and shouting to George was lost by the sound of more sirens, a Police Car followed by a Ambulance.
George saw the situation quite clearly – Jan was waving her arms frantically behind windows that did not open and the smoke was getting thicker and blacker and then Jan disappeared from view.
The Firemen were there plying their water hoses onto the flames they could see. George saw that a top small window was open, big enough for a small dog. George placed his paws onto a Fireman’s leg and turned his head round towards his lead – the fireman seemed to understand and released him from his lead and George rushed forward and with a mighty leap, missing the open window, but crashing through another, landed inside with a whimper and a howl. He crawled on his belly until he reached Jan, who was lying down on the kitchen floor and grabbed her hair and pulled it sharply. Jan raised her head and George turned round and almost said “follow me!” and they both crawled to safety into the arms of several Firemen who were waiting.
Maurice was breathlessly sobbing uncontrollably walking with Jan on the stretcher towards the ambulance and George lay very still on the ground, his belly very badly cut, he was given first aid and rushed to a vet. It was touch and go for George but eventually he made a full recovery. Jan had been released after a day in hospital because of the smoke inhalation and a few bruises.
The front page of the local newspaper reported that
“Rescue Dog rescues woman from burning House”
A photograph of George the hero dog and Jan with Maurice in another photograph appeared alongside the report.
The report continues that the kitchen was badly burnt and the good news is that the rest of house was untouched and so repairs would be going ahead after the Insurance Assessment Officer had finished his inspection.
Neglect of bad wiring would be placed upon the previous owner!
George would have to wait for his walk along the promenade, swim in the sea and play on the beach!
George was given a medal and the freedom of the town!
The notice board had been altered that an area of beach had been allotted for dogs and their owners!
Dedicated to the memory of “Misty” A dog I used to know!
