"Butch had saved me, from what I don't know. I put my arms around him and kissed him."
I was born in 1953. I live in Stoke On Trent. I am married to Alan, we were childhood sweethearts, no children. We have a dog called Rosie. My hobbies include music, dancing & American cars. I also teach line dancing.I had a lot of stories I could have told. My friends have heard them all at one time or another, all except this one, until Inside Lives. My husband Alan was the only person I told. Butch was very special to me and the day he died in my arms, the last thing he did was to growl at me. Inside Lives was an experience I will cherish forever. The friends I made, Kath, John and Marie will have a special place in my heart, always.
Butch was a Staffordshire Bull terrier. He had a pied coat, mainly white with dark splodges and an adorable black patch over his left eye. We'd found him just wandering in the street when he was a small puppy, and we kept him for only one day before his owners turned up. Months later they telephoned to say they couldn't keep him and would we give him a home. That same evening, as we settled in front of the telly, Butch sat beside me on the floor and snuggled into my side. I put my arms round his shoulders and held my face against his. He turned, looked me in the eyes, curled back his lips and growled full into my face. But the rewards far outweighed the darker side of Butch. We decided to keep him, but we were careful - we didn't let him off the lead when there was anyone around. He was now a full-grown unpredictable dog with a powerful jaw. One afternoon, when he was 5 years old, Butch and I set out for a walk. We took a shortcut along the railway sidings. I checked all around to see if it was safe to slip Butch off his lead, then off he went into the long grass - I could just see the tip of his tail. Suddenly I heard footsteps behind me. Thinking it was a jogger, I panicked, 'I must get him back on the lead'. As I turned to check how far the person was away, I knew with one glance I was in Big Trouble. Hurrying towards me was a man, but this was no jogger. He was trying to conceal something behind his back and I was in no doubt I was about to be whacked with whatever it was. I was numb with fear. And then Butch appeared. He slowly positioned himself between me and the man. He looked HUGE. Every muscle in his body was pumped up. From the back view of his head his lips were curled right back and he was growling with a ferocity that chilled me to the bone. Slowly the man put what he was carrying into his pocket and walked away. Butch had saved me, from what I don't know. I put my arms around him and kissed him. He licked my face . . . and then he growled, but this time I knew this dog loved me.
| 
