Pets on the Cut
Rosie and Jim ‘em-bark’ on their maiden voyage
WE HAVE owned our 1978, 38ft, 1500 BMC-powered Calcutt- built narrowboat, purchased via eBay, for nearly 10 years. Over those years we have had a number of friends’ dogs aboard for day trip cruises with their human owners, of course. We’ve also had a few unfamiliar dogs venture on our boat while moored up, to the embarrassment of their owners, who hastily try to encourage them off while apologising. However, we don’t actually mind and always have dog biscuits in the galley and put a bowl of fresh water on the towpath next to our boat, once safely and securely moored up.
We purchased two adult life jackets prior to purchasing our boat and recently a small children’s one which have all been worn when deemed appropriate and necessary – plus we also have a little doggie life jacket aboard and a life ring as it’s better to be safe than sorry. Having witnessed an off-lead puppy slip in the rain and fall just in front of lock gates, it shows just how quickly accidents can happen and how dangerous water and locks can be. Thankfully a quick-thinking and acting crew member grabbed the puppy by the scruff of its neck and pulled it out. He had no collar or life jacket on. A few seconds later and he would have been sucked under due to the force of the water through the paddles.
So after all the years of borrowing dogs, we finally adopted two rescue dogs from our local RSPCA centre. A mum, a three-year-old tricolour Cavalier King Charles spaniel and her son, a six-month-old cavapoo which we named… Rosie and Jim of course, after the children’s TV series. We did not have any difficulty choosing their names but tend to call Jim, Jimmy.
After a few months of getting them in a stable routine and used to their new home (we live on dry land) and surroundings, as well as them getting used to us and visa versa, we embarked (excuse the pun), on our maiden voyage together. However, not being familiar with their background and any water or boating experience, we purchased another life jacket from a local Dogs Trust charity shop and they were luckily both tolerant of having them put on. Task number one.
Our second task was to get them to walk, with leads on, on the jetty next to our boat, which they did without hesitation and were eager to step on the stern, without any assistance. The engine was already running so obviously that did not bother them and they stood and watched the world go by as we commenced our journey.
They loved the wind in their fur and got excited when they saw wildfowl and other dogs so we had to keep calm just in case they were tempted to jump in. When about to moor up they even managed the cabin steps and stayed inside, so our first trip was a real success!