‘I’ve channelled my grief into helping others’
Helen Leary, 71, lives in Grimsby with her husband, Graham, 71.
Walking into the examination room with Graham, then 56, I gasped. ‘Poor mite,’ I whispered looking at the blue roan cocker spaniel on the veterinary table in front of me. He was painfully skinny with severe muscle wastage.
‘His name is Sam,’ the vet explained. ‘And he needs a loving home.’
Looking into Sam’s doleful eyes, I knew we were taking him home – and that’s exactly why the vet, a friend of mine, had called me in the first place. I was never going to be able to resist.
Over the next few months, we worked hard to help Sam settle into our family. We adored him, and it was like he’d been there forever.
After 10 precious years, in December 2015, Sam – by then 16 – went blind. I knew he was getting on a bit, but was distraught, and wanted to keep life as normal as possible for him, including taking him to his regular slot at a college for grooming, which he loved.
One day while I was there, I bumped into some Blue Cross volunteers and told them about my love for animals. ‘You should sign up with us,’ one said.
A few days later, just before Christmas, I went down to my local Blue Cross centre and joined as a volunteer.Learning to spot injuries in animals, I‘d ensure they were warm and well-fed while they awaited vet treatment.
Sadly, on Christmas Day 2016, Sam passed away. We were devastated and, that night, struggling with my grief, I called the Blue Cross pet bereavement service. The lady I spoke to, Ann, was so lovely.
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S OWN ã® December 28, 2020 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã ?  ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
ãã®èšäºã¯ WOMAN'S OWN ã® December 28, 2020 çã«æ²èŒãããŠããŸãã
7 æ¥éã® Magzter GOLD ç¡æãã©ã€ã¢ã«ãéå§ããŠãäœåãã®å³éžããããã¬ãã¢ã ã¹ããŒãªãŒã9,000 以äžã®éèªãæ°èã«ã¢ã¯ã»ã¹ããŠãã ããã
ãã§ã«è³Œèªè ã§ã? ãµã€ã³ã€ã³
MIND OF MY OWN
The Woman's Own columnist has her say on the gender gap, cats and timed hugs
Check out CHICAGO
With a spectacular skyline, sandy beaches and great food, the Windy City is calling, says Zoe West
LET'S EMBRACE OUR CHRISTMAS TAT!
Becky Dickinson explains why she'll still be rocking around her tinsel-strewn tree this year
BURIED SECRETS
We look at the shocking cases of celebrities posthumously accused of being sexual predators-and how they got away with it
FESTIVE NO-BAKES
Pop on the Christmas tunes and whip up a batch of these easy sweet treats
PROTECT YOUR SMILE
Are you doing enough to look after your teeth and gums?
'TIS THE SEASON TO SHINE!
At last, Hayley McCrossan, 39, feels fit and healthy
FOR THE LOVE OF TOM
When Deborah Mitchell, 57, lost her son, she vowed to help other families facing the same heartbreak
THE NURSE WHO LEFT MY GRANDAD FOR DEAD belict
Rachael Fealey, 31, had one question for the woman who killed her beloved Grampa - how could you?
Coleen's MONEY WORRIES
What are the reasons behind her financial and marriage fears?