Posting days: Sunday and Wednesday and, sometimes, maybe, extra ‘news flashes’!

Wednesday October 5th 2016

Jess, Lee and Wilda are some of our longest standing park friends. I’ve known Wilda, the miniature schnauzer, since she was a naughty ball of fluff, and my previous dog, Ellie, loved her. Her eyelashes, which were featured many months ago in her first appearance in this blog (February 27th 2015) sometimes grow to about two inches long. When she flutters them, how could anyone not reach for the gravy bones?

Even cautious Isis thinks Wilda’s O.K., and will happily sit beside her to receive a treat.

So Wilda’s biggest public appearance, on a very special occasion, is definitely blog-worthy.

The Very Special Occasion happened on Bank Holiday Saturday this August.

Wilda waits on the sidelines ready to play her part. Her hair is brushed. Her eyelashes are at their most splendid. She wears a pretty neckband made by the bride, and from her collar, in a special box beneath a blue bow, are suspended two gold rings.

She’s not quite sure what she has to do yet, but everything will probably be O.K.

Does the other bridesmaid have a sparkly poo-bag secreted on her person? We don’t think so; after all, Wilda is a dog with a sense of occasion.

She waits.

This is a big responsibility for a little dog.

Then it happens. Lee turns towards her and calls. The bridesmaid puts her down in the aisle. And Wilda runs to the altar with the rings.

It’s a perfect performance from this delightful little character. (You wouldn’t believe that this is the same dog who grabs at her person’s boots or jeans when she doesn’t want to leave the other dogs in the park and go home.)

Next, comes the sermon. Sermons are serious matters. Best look thoughtful.

This bit’s serious. I need to look thoughtful.

But at last, a dog’s duties are fulfilled. Here come the praise and cuddles.

Phew! That’s over. I was amazing. Where’s my treat?

And was our Wilda the star of the show? Indeed she was.

So impressed were the wedding guests that they couldn’t stop remarking, “Oh, isn’t she lovely?”

“Hmmm”, muses Jess, when we meet in the park. “I thought it was me they should be saying that to!”

Thank you Jess for sending the photos and both you and Lee for letting me use them.

Isis came from the Aeza cat and dog rescue and adoption centre in Aljezur, Portugal. For information about adopting an animal from the centre, contact kerry@aeza.org or  www.dogwatchuk.co.uk