Old Missey paid with love by the Boss

Name: Missey Finest hour: Making a long journey home on my own after getting spooked Likes: Relaxing after a long walk Dislikes: Getting into the river

HELLO, or woof, in my canine greeting. My name is Missey and I am 14 years old. I understand I’m part Labrador (very obvious from my photo, I think) and part Golden Retriever (not so sure about this), but regardless it’s nice knowing I’m not a real bitch!

I was rescued when I was just over a year old, having been abandoned and tied to a fence, down a country lane. Thankfully, I wasn’t left like this for long before I was rescued, as I might not be writing my tale here now. I went to live with my new friend Monica in the Big Smoke (Dublin) and, initially, I found this quite scary as I hadn’t been used to hearing so many cars on the roads, and wondered why they had to display bad manners by beeping their horns on occasion.

But I adjusted in time and adapted a routine with Monica or Boss as she is affectionately known in her family. I know in the human world there are good and bad bosses but, rest assured, I reside with the best Boss I could wish for. She showers me with unconditional love and rewards me with hugs, both of which were absent in my first year born, although the Boss is a bit on the slow side on offering me treats. This is why I love when Uncle Richard comes to visit, as he slips me more than one treat in the form of human chocolate biscuits.

The Boss loves her exercise, and, while initially I found her pace a tough challenge for my shorter legs, I persevered and in no length of time, I outpaced her. However, now that she’s taken up running in the last year and with me in my elderly years, I leave her to it and her wish to become the next Sonia O’Sullivan.

Our walks have become shorter now, as I’ve a few health issues to deal with, but they are enough for me in retaining my nice slim frame.

The Boss often wonders why I pick this space out of the entire garden, but she just doesn’t get the peace it brings and the cool shade it offers in warm weather. I go on holidays “up the mountains” to Ava in Wicklow when the Boss is out of town. She is another canine lover, who spoils me more than other chums who stay, as Ava allows me to rest on her couch in her home all day and lovingly nicknames me Missey Moo.

I better finish off now as there is a limit to my tale. Being 14 years old and with health concerns, my days are sadly numbered and there is a good likelihood by the time you humans are reading this, I will have passed to doggie heaven. I’ve no fear of this, and am looking forward to meeting Rex, who was the Boss’s buddy before me. I will miss my Boss hugely when I depart and want to thank her enormously for giving me the best life a canine could have.

Monica C, Firhouse, Dublin

If you would like your pet featured in this column please send a story of 440 words and a photograph to snews@independent.ie clearly labelled MY PET