Alfie’s Story

Alfie was born on the 23rd February 2005 in Mileham, Norfolk.  

How did I become Alfie's Mummy? I was medically discharged from the Army and moved back to my childhood village.  After living a high intense military life, to then sedentary 'village' life, it was hard, not only that, I had injuries to contend with.  So my friend suggested, having a dog as a companion and getting me out to meet people. I found an ad, for Labrador puppies for sale and me and my friend, went off to view them.  

On arrival, there were 6 puppies, 5 of them destroying the rose bushes! and one very chubby one, laid fast asleep! I said 'Id like that one', (the fast asleep puppy!) and that was the start of a beautiful and unforgettable relationship (thank you, Alfie).

On the 17th April 2005, I returned home as a 'mummy', to a little chubby puppy, named Alfie.

Alfie's Life Skills! Alfie developed into this very large, very stubborn and wonderful dog. He soon learnt, that he could use his body weight, to get his own way! (photo at bottom of page) all he had to do, was sit or lay down, knowing I didn't have the ability to move him. One instant I will never forget!

Me, my sister, my nephew and Alfie went on a camping trip to Sandringham, we decided to go into kings Lynn to do some shopping.  Now I wandered around with Alfie outside (we had crossed a major road at this point), after a while I decided to head back to the car, yet Alfie had other ideas! Halfway across this major road (in the town centre of kings Lynn) Alfie decided he didn't want to go that way, and sat, then laid! All traffic was now stopped and i'm stood there trying to move a 35kg dog, who thinks this is such a wonderful game, with his legs in the air!  After what seemed forever and feeling the 'eyes' of waiting drivers, a very nice man got out of his car and helped me remove my dog, from the middle of the road, so the traffic could continue! 

Such a wonderful memory, that I feel honoured to be the one that gets to 're live' over and over in my mind.

At the Age of 3, Alfie was diagnosed with severe hip dysplasia, I was heartbroken for him knowing that he would be in some form of pain.  Alfie never, ever gave up no matter how things deteriorated.  Then later on Alfie started having problems with his elbows, swelling around the joint, watching him struggle to get around, I found soul destroying because I couldn't take his pain away.  Then I came across these new beds for dogs, orthopaedic memory foam beds, they help reduce pressure pain and evenly spread the load across the bed.  The difference was quite remarkable.  He wasn't as stiff getting up from his favourite position (laying) and he seemed happier in himself (never imagining that years ahead, I would be here with Alfies Legacy Fund, over his bed!)

Alfie gained a sister at age 8, Hollie, she had been abandoned a couple of years before (my friend had kindly given her a home) but I just fell in love with her and kept borrowing her from my friend, overtime Hollie spent more time with me and Alfie and it was great. After relentless pestering to my friend (for Hollie to live with us permantley), Christmas 2010 was amazing, because the best gift I could ever of been given, my friend she said 'yes' and from then on, Hollie lived with us permantly.

Sadly Hollie passed away two years later 17.10.2012 and Alfie cried for a whole week, seeing him like that was so upsetting because I couldn't tell him, where his best friend was.

As months went by, Alfie all alone, I decided to get Alfie a friend and I named her in honour of Hollie, Berrie (fondly known as Berrie B). Berrie came to live with us on the 21.08.2013. A little black sprocker spaniel, who was referred to as 'Alfies apprentice'.  He taught Berrie a few things, first ' refusing to go for the first morning walk, before he had his belly rubbed! this again is another very 'prominent' memory, so its 5 am, Alfie adopts his usual 'position' (on his back legs in the air), when Berrie looked at him, paused for a second and then 'copied' him! from that morning, I had two dogs both on there backs waiting for the belly rub!

Second lesson, hunting The Alfie way! minimal burning of calories.  Alfie would wait for the rabbits to come to him, having his head down a hole (literally) and Berrie copied him! I managed to capture the moment and have a wonderful photo of my two babies, with there heads down rabbit holes! 

Berrie and Alfie became instant friends and Berrie truly adored her brother. Then in 2015, Berrie was diagnosed with pancreatitis and had continuous flare ups but she was a fighter, with her brother Alfie by her side. 2015 was not a good year, Alfie was diagnosed with cancer, he had a mass cell tumour just above his right eye.  He had surgery but due to his skull, they couldn't take the required 'depth' away, so it was a 'hope and pray', that what was taken, was enough and it was!

Start of 2016 and Alfie literally overnight constantly had his head in the water bowl, so back to the vets (who had been amazing to all of my babies) we go and more heartbreaking news, he had kidney disease.  

Over the year Alfie declined significantly and then a couple of days before 01st December 2016, all Alfie wanted to do was lay on frozen soil, even through the night, with the temperature being -2C!

01st December 2016, Alfie deteriorated overnight rushed him to the vets and he had fluid built up under skin, his body just couldn't take any more and Alfie was heartbreakingly put to sleep and joined his best friend Hollie.

Berrie looked for her brother and that was so hard. Then not thinking my world could get any worse on the 19th October 2017, Berrie was struck down with an Immune-Mediated Disease Thrombocytopenia (her immune system was attacking her blood platelets), after three and half months of high dose steroids, to suppress the immune system, at the tender age of 4 years and 7 months, Berrie's little body could not fight anymore and she was went on her final sleep, joining her brother Alfie and leaving me completely distraught with grief, in a world, with all of my babies gone.

Alfie lived his life to the full and I truly am honoured to of been the one, to have these amazing memories, forever embedded in my mind, to be accessed in a heartbeat.  I used to cry picturing him in my thoughts but overtime, the tears have turned to a smile but for all the smiles Alfie (Hollie and Berrie)gave me, apart of me will never come back, I lost part of me with them.  Now I live this life with undeniable pain inside, but if this is what I have to go through, to of had the life i've had with my wonderful dogs, then i'll take this heartache any day.

So my life now lives on, devoting myself to helping others through Alfies Legacy Fund to say thank you to Alfie, Hollie and Berrie, you truly gave me the best gift in life, a pure natural love and an unbreakable bond that will always live on...