Mum, Dad, my brother Michael: everyone in the family got more affection from our ridgeback-staffie cross. And guess whose bed she used to poo on…
I think the tone was set when Ella threw up over me on the way back from the Dogs Trust. She was three months old, rolling around on the back seat between me and my twin brother, Michael (we’d just turned seven), and wasn’t enjoying her first trip in a car. She could have been sick anywhere – over the seat, over the floor – but for some reason she decided to climb on to me first.
It was the start of a beautiful but strangely one-sided friendship. Ella, a ridgeback-staffie cross, was the perfect dog: playful, energetic, naughty and tolerant. She would let us poke and prod her without complaint, turn her ears inside-out or dress her up in T-shirts or the thick woollen poncho my Greek Cypriot grandma knitted her for the British winter. And she was endlessly loving, at least to the other members of the family. Me? Too often it was as if I didn’t exist. If Michael and I were sitting on the sofa, she’d bound up to him. If I came home after a day out with my dad, he was the one she’d jump at. If I tried to take her for a walk by myself, she’d drag her feet and insist that I fetch my brother.
To add insult to injury, about once a year she would do a poo in the house. Not just anywhere, though: she’d climb the stairs to my room and leave it in a neat pile on top of my bed.
I can’t pretend I wasn’t offended by Ella’s attitude – I loved her just as much as anyone. But it took me a while to realise that in her eyes we were both bitches fighting for our place in the pack. I read that dogs are 98.8% wolf, even yappy little chihuahuas. Ella was a definite she-wolf and my mother (she who opened the tin of dog food every night) was the undisputed alpha female. Ella could handle that fact, but she didn’t want to be the omega female. That was me.
Working out the reasons for Ella’s lack of sisterhood, understanding that her indifference was atavistic and not just casual, didn’t make me any less jealous of my brother, who always took great pleasure in the fact that Ella seemed to prefer him. But I resigned myself to the situation. And then one day (happy ending, anyone?) everything changed. I must have been 16 or 17, we’d been away for a fortnight in France, and when we got back it was me she ran up to first, whining and twisting with pleasure at seeing me again. After that it was like all those years of competition had never happened. We were best friends for ever, or at least for the couple of years she had left. Ella finally loved me.
100-year-old woman finds ‘perfect match’ in 11-year-old senior chihuahua
Life has a beautiful way of surprising us, and sometimes, those surprises come in the form of a furry, four-legged companion. Meet Johanna Carrington, a remarkable centenarian who, despite a life filled with challenges, has always carried a deep love for dogs.
Johanna’s journey began in war-torn Germany, where owning a dog was a distant dream. She and her late husband once shared their home with eight Pekingese dogs, a testament to their shared love for these loyal creatures. However, when her beloved dog Rocky passed away, Johanna was left feeling alone in her house, yearning for a furry friend.
One might think that, at the age of 100, adopting another dog could be a challenge. Johanna was uncertain if the shelter would allow someone of her age to adopt. Fortunately, a caring neighbor who supports Muttville Senior Dog Rescue in San Francisco suggested that this organization might have the perfect solution.
Muttville Senior Dog Rescue recognized that Johanna Carrington and a senior dog would be an ideal match. After careful consideration, Johanna adopted Gnocchi, a charming 11-year-old Chihuahua, whom she lovingly renamed Gucci.
Gucci’s life had a rocky start; he was rescued from a hoarding situation where his previous owner had 22 dogs. Being the only pampered pooch in his new home brought him immense joy. Johanna’s caregiver, Eddie Martinez, and her daughter, Debbie Carrington, made a heartfelt commitment to ensure that Gucci’s golden years would be filled with love and care.
The moment Gucci entered his new home, he seemed to recognize that he belonged there. Johanna recalled the heartwarming first encounter, saying, “He approached the home as though he’d been here before. It was incredible. When he spotted me seated in my chair, he leapt up and perched on my lap. He made himself extremely at ease. Right away, he was just our kid.”
Now, Gucci enjoys a life fit for a pampered pup. He has “oodles and oodles” of toys to play fetch with, daily back massages while watching TV with his new mom, and even the privilege of burrowing under the covers in bed for extra comfort.
Debbie Carrington, Johanna’s daughter, shared how Gucci’s arrival transformed their home, saying, “It was sort of sad here after she lost her other dog. It was silent and melancholy until Gucci came in and brought excitement into the house. Laughing at him running around and doing silly things, and then him resting on her lap with her when she’s in her chair or bed, it’s just making her very happy.”
The heartwarming bond between Johanna and Gucci is a testament to the joy and companionship that animals bring into our lives, regardless of age. In fact, scientific research supports the positive impact of pet ownership on emotional and social well-being, particularly in older individuals.
As Johanna approaches her 101st birthday in December, she and Gucci plan to celebrate this special milestone together. For Johanna, dogs have played a significant role in her long and healthy life, proving that the love between a human and their furry friend knows no age limits.
In a world that often seems fast-paced and hectic, the story of Johanna and Gucci reminds us of the simple yet profound happiness that animals can bring into our homes and hearts.
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