KAT THE DOG
2009 - 2022
REMEMBERING KAT THE DOG by Alyson Sheldrake
on the 3rd anniversary of her passing
We had been watching and waiting for a rescue dog to come along and make our home here in Portugal complete, and the moment I saw these photos of a bedraggled, pitiful little abandoned Spanish water dog, I knew she was meant to be ours.
The photo that changed everything
This was the image that popped up first on my Facebook screen. Even though she had been abandoned, was filthy dirty with matted clumped fur, riddled with fleas and ticks - as soon as she had been shorn and groomed, her eyes told such a story. There was a wisdom, a depth, a soul in there that was crying out to be loved.
And loved she was. From the first moment we picked her up from the rescue centre and took her home, we fell totally in love with this gorgeous, wise, mischievous and adorable girl.
The vet estimated she was about five years old, but her body told its own story of abuse, with its marks and scars, probable multiple births and skin and bone frame. She only weighed 11.5kg. A healthy girl would be at least 16kg. But those eyes...
A Spanish water dog. We had to look it up, had never heard of them. We knew about Portuguese water dogs of course, but our girl wasn't that big a fan of water, despite her name. But birds, rabbits, moles and voles, sheep and goats - all manner of wildlife - she adored.
We named her Kat. Dave had always joked he wanted a 'dog called cat'. Blame his Monty Python sense of humour. But it suited her. It was quirky, different. Unique.
That first night she settled into her new bed, clutching a new cuddly toy in her paws and fell asleep, as we watched over her, hardly believing she was ours.
All those firsts - the first walk around the village, the first time at the beach. Her face said it all; she'd never seen sand before. First time off lead - would she stay close or run away? After a while, it was obvious she didn't need a lead; she stayed firmly by my side wherever we went.
Whether she was racing across the sand chasing seagulls, digging holes, sniffing the air, scampering, scoffing her treats or snoozing, Kat had a remarkable presence - and everyone that met her adored her. She was the brightest, cleverest little girl who totally transformed our lives. She loved her toys, her walks, having a special place to sleep in every room (wrapped in a blanket in the winter, of course!) and could find her way home or back to the parked car wherever we went. Kat would queue up for an ice-cream in the village in the summer, politely waiting behind the other customers in line, she could snuffle out a hidden mole in the undergrowth from several hundred metres away, she adored tummy rubs and kisses, and had a joyful, infectious love of life. The perfect girl in every way.
Although I had featured Kat's story in both of my Algarve travel memoirs, detailing our life here in Portugal, the book I always knew I was meant to write was Kat's own story. In her own words. The chapters just poured out of me, and I knew I had written something special. But the incredible success of Kat the Dog: the remarkable tale of a rescued Spanish water dog has truly astonished me. This multi-award winning bestseller has captivated hearts around the world, allowed me to donate from the profits to local animal rescue charities, and has ensured Kat the Dog will have a lasting legacy. You can find out more about her book here.
She was 13. We celebrated the publication of her book, and all seemed fine. Until she started coughing and struggling to breathe. An investigative operation revealed an impossible two litres of fluid in her lungs. Seven long weeks of daily treatments followed, and she bravely battled on. Until one morning when she looked at me and I just knew. It was time. She'd had enough. It was the absolute worst day of my life. How do you ever say goodbye to your soulmate?
Her memory will live on forever. My love for her will never fade. Our darling, adorable Kat the Dog.
Until we meet again at the Rainbow Bridge xxx
