Pets on the Cut Border line
IN THE past I have usually written about pets and their owners that I’ve only just met: in other words, strangers, having either cruised or walked past their boat.
However, on this occasion the dogs and their owner are actually friends, in the form of Dave, who is retired, and his two amazing border collies – Ben, who is 12, and Molly, who is seven years young. Dave has recently purchased a boat to start a new and exciting chapter in his life – and why not, I hear you all say, he won’t regret it.
Dave had actually owned a 40ft ex-hire narrowboat more than 20 years ago which he moored in a marina but had been without one ever since and had been looking into getting another one for the last six months. Having viewed many including glass-fibre ones he finally took the plunge on a 1972 Colecraft, 30ft narrowboat powered by an 18hp two-cylinder Lombardini diesel engine.
Ben and Molly are both rescues, Ben having been adopted at the age of six months from Wiccaweys (www.wiccaweys.co.uk) who rescue brder collies and working sheepdogs and Molly at 12 weeks from another rescue centre. They both love sardines in tomato sauce plus pork pies (don’t panic, only the small ones) plus dried dog food. Toy-wise they both play ‘fetch’; however Molly can keep going with retrieving a ball, frisbee or any other toy for hours as she never tires of it.
For both, it is their first time on a boat and they have adapted well to getting on and off the stern deck from a jetty or towpath but are still adjusting to using the steps down into the cabin. Dave’s first job was to widen the steps and fit carpet tiles to assist with paw gripping, which is essential, especially when wet as they are steep. Currently Ben can step down but needs lifting back up and Molly needs lifting down but can step up – but with a little time and reassurance they will both get the hang of it.
Other jobs carried out include adding gas struts to the hatch and Dave plans to change the mains electrics and bed layout which will make the boat layout work for all of them. But as we all know, there are always lots of little jobs to be done and tinkering seems to be part of owning a boat, especially when you have two lovely dogs to keep safe and happy.
So far they have had a few trips up and down the canal and the dogs have enjoyed it and seem quite content just sitting on the stern deck watching ducks and the world go by. They will usually chase anything that runs when they’re offloaded but are okay with cyclists, thank goodness.
Dave and the dogs plan to go travelling, have holidays and day trips but will do all of that after Dave has renamed the boat – after taking it out of the water of course, as it’s unlucky otherwise.