If Carlsberg made dogs...

Apparently it's international dog day. Yet another reason for my permanently emaciated stick insects and dust mites to have chips on their shoulders, it's always about the cute furry animals.

I was luckily enough to have the company of two dogs when I was younger, faithful, patient Labrador Mick when I was wee - named after the wrestler Mick McMannus after he walked over to my dad as a puppy like the stocky wrestler barking "Pick me! Pick me". One of his favourite things was to disappear overnight, come back the next morning and rattle the letter box with his nose....usually accompanied by another dog we'd never set eyes on before. He always seemed to pick up a pal. That was the 70's in a memory for me. Hilarious, but the dog warden thought we were a bit mental. Often it would be his love for Goldie, the lab around the block that would lure him to run away. He was an old romantic. we said goodbye to gentle Mick after a long and happy life. Then, two years later, there was suddenly Corrie Dog.......

He was a total bosker of a dog. Course he was, the photo doesn't lie. He arrived to breathe life into the house when I was on the cusp of teenage delirium. We took him home as a tiny wee gorgeous puppy from Mr Murrays.

He was great company, endless cuddles, boundless energy, constantly enjoyed being petted. He would walk with me at night when I needed to and listened to me when I was sad, put up with me when I was happy. He had my back from day 1, more so as we got older together and I discovered booze and boys (he preferred hillwalking and treats). He took the rap when I was sick in my bedroom after a heady night in town of too much cider and black when I was 17. Parents totally bought it was Corrie and not me. Still can't believe I got away with that one. He helped me look 'cool' as I walked round town during my dislodged Indy goth phase (which I've still not quite grown out of in my head, but sadly most definately grown out of those bloody great clothes). He was great company for my friends and I when we played weekly hookie from cross country running at school. We would head out from the school, straight to my house for cheese and toast, a bit of TV Tricia and Corrie dog play time, then catch up the class on their return, nicking their water hydrant numbers as proof of us running the course.

When Dave appeared on the scene, Corrie wouldn't let him sit beside me. If Dave dared, Corrie dog would shuggle his way in between us, cuddle into me, while giving Dave a death stare. When I left the room, he would growl at Dave. That's my boy. Corrie was a great judge of character, Dave was of course not to be trusted. Don't know what Corrie would have made of Dave's beard.

After a lifetime of hillwalking and adventures on the beach and Seaton park river, Corrie dog left us with wonderul memories and a sadness that would take a long time to lift. These furry creatures do give such lasting, amazing gifts to those of us lucky to live with them. But, you know, stick insects and dust mites have cracking personalities too. They don't like hillwalking though. Probably.