Claremont Cherry
When a beloved pet dies it is a real bereavement for the human ‘owner’. Revd Marilyn Adsetts pays tribute to Claremont Cherry who appeared in the diocesan ‘Safe Evangelism’ course and features with Marilyn in a recently published book, ‘Dog Collar’ about clerical canines.
Little did I imagine when I gave my dog Cherry her breakfast on Good Friday that it would be the last day that I would enjoy her company. Shortly after eating her breakfast she became ill and the day was spent in regular contact with the vet, following an emergency visit. An emergency operation failed and Cherry died in the early evening of Good Friday.
Cherry was the dog who appeared in ‘Safe Evangelism’ listening attentively to John’s preaching. She was from the last litter of Labrador puppies which Rosie and I bred, eleven years ago, and features, with Daisy, in ‘Dog Collar’.
She was the only Labrador puppy we have had that has not chewed anything: we always said that she had been born sensible. She hated getting her paws wet and would walk carefully around any puddle. If, by some misfortune she had to go through water, she would often shake her front paws afterwards!
When I was diagnosed with ME she seemed to know that walks would no longer be a daily event and, if I was lying down, it was pointless to disturb me as I couldn’t do anything until some energy returned. This she managed to communicate somehow to Daisy, our young, lively labrador, and most definitely the world’s best chewer to boot! She also followed me everywhere and her nickname became ‘Cherry shadow’ – she seemed to be watching out for me every day; in her doggy way making sure I was okay.
Like any other bereavement, pet owners grieve for their animals, and both Rosie and I have grieved for Cherry. But perhaps her final gift to our household was to enable us to give Fudge (a 5 year old, overweight chocolate Labrador) a home to be a playmate for Daisy.
Thank you Cherry for all the good times we shared together, for your sensitivity and unconditional love to us, your proud owners.
Revd Marilyn Adsetts
Dog Collar by Richard Surman is published by Collins RRP £10.99