Elliephants

Short Story: Holly and Ivy

Short Story: Holly and Ivy

Ivy ducked her head beneath the tinsel that had been draped across the top of the kennel in an attempt to make the place feel festive. Before she had even put the bowl of food that was in her hand on the floor, a wet snout was pressed into her legs and big brown eyes gazed up at her. ‘Morning Amber,’ she cooed, giving the dog a quick tickle behind the ears. ‘Look what I’ve got for you, honey’’ she chuckled as she placed the bowl on the floor and watched the small golden dog tuck straight in. 

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Fireworks: bang out of order?

Fireworks: bang out of order?

Remember, remember the fifth of November… is actually quite a terrifying night for a lot of animals.   

Each year, thousands of people wrap up warm to head outside and watch in awe as fireworks shoot up into an explosion of bright colours high above their head. However, those loud bangs and flashes of light that we ‘ohh’ and ‘ahh’ over, can be incredibly frightening for our pooches. So those with dogs may well be at home, trying to comfort their four-legged friend instead. 

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Rescue dog: fostering during lockdown

Rescue dog: fostering during lockdown

Nearly four months after I left the office to work – and stay – at home for the foreseeable future, I couldn’t be more grateful for the decision I made in the first week – to foster a dog. 

Since moving out of my family home where we have had a dog for as long as I can remember, I’ve been desperate for one of my own. The only thing that had been preventing me from doing that wasn’t going to be an issue for the foreseeable future. So, with lockdown imminent, I had started looking into fostering. If there was ever a better time to offer a dog in need a home, it was now. 

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How to keep your dog cool in the heat

How to keep your dog cool in the heat

It’s hot, isn’t it? But, while we are sweating and feel like we can’t cool down no matter how many layers we strip off, we aren’t stuck in a fur coat that we can’t remove. Ours (fake fur, of course) were put to the back of the wardrobe as soon as the sun started shining. 

While we head straight for the sea or pool to jump in and out of the cool water, consume ice creams alongside ice cold drinks, all while wearing our most airy clothes – dogs don’t have this luxury. Instead, they rely on us to keep them cool in the heat. More than that, they rely on us to keep them safe. They can get both heatstroke and sunburn – which is more than uncomfortable, it can be incredibly harmful and potentially fatal. 

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Short Story: Shackles

Short Story: Shackles

I looked over at the water, sparkling invitingly in the heat of the midday sun. It was almost within touching distance, which made the frustration that I couldn’t even harder to bear. I was quickly bumped back to reality, quite literally, when I felt a child squeal with joy as him and his father climbed up into the seat that was tied to my back and sat down with a thump that, although no less painful, I had become used to over the past 30 years. 

A bullhook to the leg signalled we were off and I began to take the small steps that the chains around my legs would allow. I had lost count how many times I had walked this same route. This was the fifth time already today. 

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