The first dog we gave a parcel to rip open on Christmas Day was our legendary rescue. They’re all special but …. He was thrown out of a moving car, outside our dog shelter. Staff ran out to save him from being run over or lost on the moors. They called him Noel. He came to us 6 weeks later, a bundle of skin, bone,anxiety and awful gastric problems. We changed his name -I couldn’t face using Noel the reminder of how he arrived in the shelter
Their vet offered 6 months free treatment because he feared the gastric problems would persist. Long story short, he was with us 16 years, probably reached 17 years of age. within a month could travel in a car without vomiting, within 6 months we were gradually moving him to a normal diet. He stopped stealing and guarding food.
So, his first Christmas with us, he had a tug toy, wrapped so he could sniff and open it. We continued this tradition, he loved being part of the giddy present opening. He wasn’t scared or over excited. He was your classic rescue, you could almost see him working out - hey I get fed, no one hurts if frightens me, I go on happy sniff walks with these humans, I think I understand love….
So my current non rescue pedigrees will get a Christmas gift. This Christmas morning it’s just me my lab and my spaniel who wake up together Christmas morning, we can each open a gift together.
Then a walk for them before I go to join family at our daughters. Then early evening, me and those dogs will snuggle down near the fire. 💖💙🐕🐶. It’s not anthropomorphism, they’re definitely dogs, walks play to their breed characteristics but they’re family and I thank the gods they’re here x