Merilang

The Filigree Sheepdog

Wispy and her mother were both re-homed from a farm whjen Wispy was two. Her mother had worked and so was quite used to people and sociable so she found a home at once. Wispy had never worked as she was afraid of everything, especially sheep. So she lived by her kennel and probably met only whoever gave her her dinner. Consequently it was difficult to introduce her to possible owners.

I fell in love with her and would have taken her straight home except that I already had three dogs. These included Cymoro who was already about 16 and Frosty who had a serious heart condition. I thought if one of them died I would take Wispy and then thought, ‘No, Frosty is going to live for years yet on her pills.’ That night I was smitten with an uncharacteristic attack of superstition. One can take back words but how to take back a thought. I imagined that because of my optimistic thought Frosty might keel over and die of her next heart attack.

The only answer was to get Wispy anyway. She adored Teifi-Dog and ciopied him in everything except sheep duty. She drew the line at going near such dangerous animals. One day  in the not too distant future Wispy stories will begin to appear her when I find time to do the illustrations.

The name Filligree  Sheepdog was given to her by a great friend of mine. However she was called that only when behaving properly. When she ate a carboard box he wanted to use for my computer his comment was: Look what your whippet has done!