China
I distinctly remember saying
“no more” as we drove to Lissi to see the newly rescued Harleys. The kitchen
was bustle of activity bordering on mayhem with my Megan, Lissi’s Alfred,
Bentley and newcomers Eddie, Kevin and in the corner was China. She took
quite some time to tenderly sniff my hand. My heart was lost and “no more”
became “one more”.
China was one of four
harlequin Danes who had been neglected and near starved. I do not know all
of the details and it is mere speculation to associate China’s reactions to
events in her past. The strangest things provoke extreme reactions. The
terrified barking at an old, disused and rotting caravan, the refusal to
walk past a flapping yellow tarpaulin and the marked wariness of tall men
wearing hats and workmen’s jackets could all be part of her traumatic
puppyhood. China still greets Edie with affection; maybe they remember their
time together.
The early days with China were not easy.
It was about six months before her diet really settled and about the same
period before she even began to really engage in her new home. Up to that
time she had a distant, untrusting look and appeared happiest in her own
company. Little by little she grew in confidence and would come to be
stroked, but only on her terms. She now willingly presents herself to her
fan club of school children and parents alike and patiently explains that
she is not a Dalmatian; she does NOT have spots. Disney has a lot to answer
for.
Her logic is impeccable. It is rare for me
to have to leave her for more than a few minutes and even then she has the
company of our other Dane or my wife. She will wait on the stairs, looking
longingly though the porch window. "I sit here and wait for my daddy to
return. He always does return, so it must be true!"
China is a dog of extremes. She has a very
striking black and white coat and the patches over her eyes give her really
cute “panda” appearance. She is the fastest dog in the park and often only
recognisable by the black and white streak that just thundered by. She used
to have the dirtiest habit, ug..yuk – say no more. She is also among the
most loving dogs that I have ever met. As my old Dane Megan grew ill I felt
a real lump in my throat as China licked and tried to clean her.
China has a real "joie de vivre”. One of
her favourite games is “knocky nine doors” where local dogs are left at
their front door still barking long, long after China has made her escape.
Her favourite expedition through the woods involves extremes of charging
through the undergrowth, leaping over branches and streams alike followed by
frantic snuffling through the leaves. She once caught a rabbit. I don’t know
who was more surprised; her or the rabbit. I tried to explain that this
would soon be an illegal act but she replied with a look that said “they
would have to catch me first”; that’s China for you.
