After our August break, it was good to meet together and catch up with news and forthcoming dates, and to this meeting we invited Jan and Merlin to join us, and my report is written as would be by Merlin :

Let me introduce myself, Merlin is the name, (quite classy don't you think) ! They tell. me I am a cross between a West Highland and Jack Russell, but I do really come across more like the former. Life was really tough in my youth. I lived on a farm with other canine friends, but it seemed to be a life of ongoing beatings and I was really frightened, and I suppose I did not look or really feel my best, always in the 'dog house' as you might say. We lived behind big iron gates, and I am still rather wary if I see anything like even now.

A kind lady who was working nearby, saw me, and was very worried, and after sometime of negotiations, she took me home with her, hoping to find me another home as she could not keep me permanently. After a while, she was going away for the weekend, and asked her next door neighbours if they could look after me, which they did. I liked them very much, but went back after the weekend. A little while later, I seem to remember a lot of discussion going on, and guess what ! In the end I went next door and lived with them. They were very nice people, Jan & Geoff but it was all so different to what I had been used to, and so I 'let my hair down' as it were, and Oh boy, did I lead them a dance, never walked on a lead before, or played with a ball, and when I was let off the lead, I certainly had NO intention of coming when I was called - a real rebel.

After what seemed an. eternity (I am told 6 months) I eventually 'came to heel' and had learnt a lot of good manners, and Jan & Geoff were very pleased with me.

Sometime later, Jan heard about the P.A.T. Dogs, and had a brilliant idea that maybe I could be one, WHAT ME !!  For those who have not heard, it means Pets as Therapy and so after a long wait; more training !! - we were accepted and Jan and I passed our exams and are both qualified.

P.A.T. was started by Lesley Scott Ordish in Derbyshire in 1983 with 2 Collies 2 German Shepherds and an Old English Sheep Dog and it has gone from strength to strength. To date 18,000 of us have been trained, there are at the moment 3,500 working, and we visit about 100,000 folk in hospitals, hospices and retirement home They like to stroke and cuddle us and we love it, as it helps them, with healing of the body and the mind, good for stress, and it has been said that some patients do not require sleeping tablets after we have visited. Some people of course have had their own pets and sadly have had to re-home them because of their circumstances, and we help to make up a little bit for their loss. Because of our visits, Jan and I are invited to birthday parties, garden parties and fetes where sometimes I meet up with other P.A.T. Dogs People like to see us, and we help to collect money with our Mums & Dads, (although we do not shake the buckets of course). As you can imagine all. these training, things cost money and we think it is put to good use.

I must tell you however, one day I did have a bit of a lapse, I really do not know what came over me, but I was determined to get under the fence at the bottom of the garden and in so doing; I injured my back very badly; very nasty, a. lot of surgery at a special Pets hospital. They did tell Jan & Geoff I might not ever be able to run and jump again properly.  Who ME ! I would show them what I was made of, farms and all that ! By this time, I may mention I had become quite famous from all the visiting I had done, and people were so kind, there were so many cards and telephone calls asking how I was getting on, and wishing me better. I have now, for several years been back on the very important job.

Perhaps it has gone to my head a little, not bad going for a farm dog with humble beginnings, although some say I am slightly 'cocky' in my attitude - a cheeky chappie and my Gran calls me a bit of a 'Bossy Boots'.

I enjoyed my visit to see the ladies, stayed to tea, and. sent round and introduced myself giving  some of' them a special 'Kiss' and my Mum caught up with some folk she had not seen for years.

Meeting this month 23^rd 2.30 Village Hall