I can still see Gilda now, a 6 week old pup, sitting at the back of the room and just staring and staring at us.

Taking everything in and working us out. She wasn't interested in playing with her litter mates, just who we were and more importantly what we were up too. Gilda had already found her new family (us) so it was just a matter of her waiting for the day she could come home. Two weeks later we went back up to Amirene and when her breeder Margaret handed Gilda over saying 'i'd like you to have this one', it came to no surprise, we already knew that Gilda was coming home to join our family a few weeks back.

As Gilda grew and her character came out it was clear to see that, that quiet little puppy sitting at the back was all a front because she soon became one of the naughtier members of the family.

Gilda was far too clever for her own good but then she did learn off a master, our old boy at the time Mr Chester. 

Gilda was one who would always have to have something in her mouth, often stolen from somewhere she shouldn't and she has been know for taking a pair of pants to the front gate just as the postman arrived.

Slightly embarrasing but then it was just her natural retrieving instinct coming through (well that's what we told ourselves ;) )  You would see her scanning the room looking for something to bring you, wagging tail and as pleased as punch. Food was often a favourite and unlike the other dogs who you could trust to leave food on the table and it still be there when you got back, not a chance with Gilda. The temptation would prove far to much for her and it would soon disappear with a very innocent Gilda looking all meek and mild on our return.

As the years went by Gilda's love of being naughty never deaminished and we kind of got used to all her antics (Well we had to because nothing was going to change).

This is why we feel her loss even now, 18 months on since she passed over as her large character was a big part of our lives. 

On 23rd March Gilda fell asleep for the last time and never woke up, she was just short of her 13th birthday.

Such a peaceful way to end her years and at a wonderful age with a wonderful life that she had lived

mostly "her" way, the naughty Gilda way and we wouldn't have changed any part of it.

She was laid to rest next to her partner in crime and "mentor" Mr Chester and no doubt the pair of them are creating havoc over the rainbow bridge and keeping everyone up there on their toes. 

 

Even now on occasion and usually out of the blue i give a little impromptu rendition of the Gilda song so, she'll never be gone....

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"Gilda bot, Gilda bot you can bop you can rock you can do the lot.

You can dance and sing do everything,

Give it up, give it up for the Gilda bot.

It's Gilda bot, it's Gilda bot, rockin' and a boppin' and doing the lot"

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