Ben by Frances Owens
I said to my husband John that I wanted a dog. I’d never had a dog in my life. When I was a young girl, having a pet never entered my mind; I had a wonderful childhood with plenty of friends to play with. When I was out playing games, I didn’t want to go in for my supper at night because then it was near bedtime and I was enjoying myself too much. Even as I got older and was going to the High School I was still having a great time. Then came the 60s and I started work. I had all these new friends to get to know. They were a great bunch. We would go to the dancing, trying out different dance halls, looking for boyfriends. Life was great. We all ended up getting married and having children. I loved my family so much, but as they grew up, they started to make their own way in life. The house was getting emptier and emptier. It was quiet. That’s when I decided to go for a dog. The children had budgies when they were young, but they died after a few years. Now I needed someone that could be my friend other than my family - so off we went in August 1984 to the Cardonald Cat and Dog Home in Glasgow.
We looked at all the dogs in their cages. My heart went out to each and every one of them. I remember I had a lump in my throat, I was wishing then that I hadn’t come to this place. One of the assistants in the Home came over to see if he could help me make up my mind. I told him I was too upset to look around again. He asked if I would consider a pup because they had a few in another building and so he took us over. Immediately, as I walked into this building, I saw two tiny black and white pups snuggling up close to one another. They were only four weeks old and had been taken off their mother far too soon. I fell in love with them right away. I wanted to take one of them home there and then but they wouldn’t let me. I was asked all sorts of questions regarding bringing this little ball of fur home to my house. I had to sign forms and I paid four pounds for him. Then we were told to come back the following week to pick him up.
I had a large cardboard box and put news papers and a small cot blanket into this. Then I went out and bought puppy food but I was told that even this food was too strong for him, so I had to buy powdered baby milk with a small bottle and teat. My husband, daughter and myself went up the following week and brought him home. We all had great walks with him. I had him for sixteen years. He became my little boy. He gave so much and asked for nothing in return. I loved him and still do. I had him put to sleep in 2000. That broke my heart. I have pictures of him on my bedroom wall. Ben will be in my heart forever.
