Punky

Even my phone does not seem to compute what has happened. I am filling out the names of the dogs who were on our walks today and predictive text is confused.

I type in the name Tesla and my phone is insisting on me adding Punky. But not today, and not again.

Punky and Tesla have always been a duo. Whilst we walked Punky before her owners also got Tesla, in my mind they always adventure together. My two beautiful Rhodesian Ridgeback girls.

Monday morning I received an email from the owners and I knew before I opened it what would be the contents.

Punky passed away naturally on Sunday evening with her owner by her side.

Whilst Punky had battled sickness and cancer for a few years she had been in good spirits and good shape right up until Sunday. She had joined the walk last Wednesday and ironically I thought she had been in much better form than the previous few walks.

Last Wednesday I had introduced Punky to a dog ramp I had purchased to help her get in and out of my high truck.

She took one look at it as if to feel offended and then lept unaided easily into the back of the pickup. She was not going to allow her age to get in the way of her fun.

Today when I picked up Tesla there was an eerie silence at the house. There was only one harness and one lead hanging by the door. As I opened the door to the room where Tesla was, she checked instinctively towards the living room to see if Punky had returned.

Tesla did the same when I opened the back of the truck. I think she half expected her big sister to be waiting for her.

Luckily the rest of the gang were in place and she was happy to see some good friends and head out adventuring as if to find some normality and routine in a confusing few days.

Punky was gorgeous. And that is not just my opinion. I lost count a long time ago of the amount of Instagram comments from other owners and followers just saying how beautiful she was.

But her beauty was certainly not just on the exterior. She was one of the kindest most caring dogs I have ever walked.

We have had the most wonderful adventures over 10 years of walking together. It seems so alien that I will not get to see her again after so many marvelous moments.

My most sincere condolences go out to her owners, family and of course her little sister Tesla.

Thank you Punky ❤️🐾