My Friend Ruby

Having never had a dog, except as a child, the arrival of Ruby was a new experience for me as well as the family. She soon had us well trained!

Throughout her lifetime she showed just what a special dog she was; reassuring me during especially difficult times; supporting my bungling efforts, persuading me to accept new challenges and not to be afraid, and encouraging me to make the most of every opportunity. So it was she changed my life and in the process became my friend.

Ruby belongs to the select band of dogs whose presence has a profound effect on those around her. Her Kennel Club name Another Diamond was most apposite. What a bonus to have been the recipient of a forever friendship; it was unexpected but wonderful. I owe so much to my friend Ruby…

Anna Chelmicka had a dog as a child. It was a German Sheppard given to her father as payment for a job. Needless to say this did not please her mother, but Anna grew up liking dogs and enjoying their company, and she came to realise she had a perceptive awareness of their needs and wants. She anticipated that when she had her own place a dog would become an integral part of her life.

This did not happen. She travelled extensively spending time in Australia and Canada. Eventually she got married, returned to Bristol, settled down and had two daughters. Raising a family and teaching full time in a primary school precluded any possibility of having a dog despite the repeated requests from her children. It was not until the younger girl was old enough to take equal responsibility that Anna was coerced into getting a dog. So when, shortly afterwards, she retired after thirty years teaching, a dog was an important part of the family.

In her retirement Anna has been busy travelling around the United Kingdom and Europe in her motorhome accompanied by the dog; writing articles for various magazines; photographing and reporting on netball matches for the local paper; breeding Labradors and working as an extra in TV and films. Writing a book about her wonderful dog Ruby seemed a logical progression.

Dogs are still an important part of her life. She has Amber who is Ruby’s daughter and has just acquired Pearl who is Ruby’s great-granddaughter.