A pawesome relationship through the ups and downs of life
InLife client Liz Spurdle tells us in her own words why poodle cross Jedi is the best companion for National Pet Day.
An unexpected arrival
He was six weeks old when I got him and a little ball of fluff. He came from the neighbours across the road.
I already had two dogs then and two cats and I said: ‘I don’t know if I can have another one’. But the little boy had an allergy to Dander dust. He came up with the name Jedi. I couldn’t even tell you anything about Star Wars.
They (the neighbours) didn't want any money from him or anything, they just wanted to make sure he went to a good home.
They said 'we’ll give Jedi to you for a week' and in that week I nearly lost him.
First impressions
When they first brought him over to me, I said 'I don’t know whether he’s going to like me, as I don’t know how he’ll go with my chair or anything like that'.
As soon as they put him down on the ground, the first thing he did was jump up on my feet and then jumped up and sat on my knee.
A rocky start
I’d only had him a couple of days and he got meningitis. I was taking him to the vet everyday. I took him up to Melbourne and he saw a doctor up there who made him stay overnight.
At 7 o’clock on Sunday morning I got a phone call to say he was ready to be picked up.
But he was in so much pain, the little darling. Five and a half thousand dollars later… so he owes me big time!
Personality plus
I’m glad I got Jedi. He’s very playful too. He’s the first dog I’ve ever had that plays.
Just before (my husband) John passed he said: ‘you look after Mum’ and he does. He protects me all the time.
Jedi's so much company. He goes to one of my carers for doggy daycare once a week and I miss him so much. When he comes home he comes racing towards me.
‘My world’
Dogs can pick how you’re feeling, they’re good for your emotions and it’s the company.
I think they know what you like and they seem to know when you need them. Jedi is very, very loyal to me.
If ever I’m down and crying, he sits on my knee and licks my tears. He loves being on the wheelchair because he doesn't have to walk!
Jedi’s my world, I don’t know what I would do without him.
- As told to Cathy Morris
