Annatika Christmas Cracker aka Milly

Introducing Milly, our new kid on the block! A beautiful tri-colour girl who came to live with us on 10th August 2004. Milly is an upfront in your face Cavalier with all the wonderful temperament you could wish for. Sassy, cheeky, and very much a Daddy's girl.

Over to Milly to tell her story, Hi there, I am Milly who was called Chrissie at first but my first Mum changed my name. I like Milly best as I am throughly modern like the show girl and am very much a girl on a mission.

I came from down south to live with Ellie and Gemma here in Yorkshire, Ellie and Gemma were Rescue girls who had been with Brian and Anita for six years. I had some problems at my previous home with my Grandma Sasha as I wanted to be the top dog. OOps one day I bit her, I did not mean it but she had still got some food left in her bowl and she would not let me have it. So I fought her for it, bad move! I needed to learn some manners so I was fostered for a while with Ellie and Gemma and Brian and Anita. If things did not work out with my foster people, then I would go back down south..

Here I am meeting Ellie and Gemma and Brian for the first time. I like Brian, he reminds me of Eddie and George. Anita seems to like the girls best so I will be his little one. After all that travelling and lots of new sniffs to investigate we went out for a nice walk and then back home for tea.

Ellie was a soft touch, giving up her food ration for me but Gemma was not, I tried the old food trick when I arrived and was soon put in my place, "What do you think you are doing Milly?" "Err getting some extra food" says me! "Back of the queue pipsqeak" says Gemma. "Oh ok" says me. Its early days and I being young can sort out these oldies. Tomorrow is another day! I can get extra food I just have to work on Ellie. Whoops wrong call, I think Ellie initially was just being sociable to a newcomer on the block. I tried it on again and failed. Ellie bit my bum! and Gemma growled at me! If I have to become part of this family I will have to conform. Oh that was not part of the plan! I decide to sulk and not eat! That will show them, so I do not eat my food and they both eat it! Mum, I am so sorry, I am really very hungry and go to bed very sad.

My second day dawns and we all go out for walks, I am very excited and rush along, however, Ellie and Gemma are real slowcoaches. I met some of Ellie's and Gemma's friends on the field.

Here I am meeting Sue and Georgie, Sue is nice and has some nice treats to welcome me. I think I am going to like it here! Lots of nice wide open spaces to run in and lots of Cavalier friends to share walks with too.

When we get back home I am very sleepy, I have run my little socks off. So time for a nap! However, I have always one ear on alert, I hear Mum and Dad talking about holidays, what are they? Caravan, what is that? It's at the Seaside, Ellie and Gemma tell me, there are lots of walks on the sands and everyone has lots of fun especially dogs who can have a little swim in the sea and enjoy lovely new sniffs. Oh I think I am in for an adventure, I cannot wait to see what is in store. Time for tea and I am not wasting it today! Oh, let me at it!

Goodness me, what is happening? Everyone is so busy, my food is being moved! Hey guys, I need my food why is it being moved from my house to the car! Oh no, am I going back, have I been naughty, I have tried really hard to be good. Mum smiles and says "Oh Milly, do not worry, you are coming with us to the seaside" She puts me in the car with Ellie and Gemma so I do not worry. Ellie tells me its ok, all the humans do this they have to take the house with them when they go on holiday. Gemma says just lie down and go to sleep and in a couple of hours we will be there. Where? I ask. Oh, shut up! they say you will know when you get there. I am scared as I do not know where I am going.

Ok we are off, the car is loaded and Dad says to Mum "Have you locked up" " Yes, as always" "Alarm on" "Yes" and then off we go bye bye house and home and off to wherever. Ellie and Gemma tell me not to worry and go to sleep and then we will all wake up in a nice place by the sea. What's the sea? Ellie and Gemma begin to tell me a story about how they first went to the seaside and to the caravan and what a lovely time they had, looking in rock pools and running on the beach and all the happy times they had there, I cannot remember much as I fell asleep as they told me the story.

Wow, here we are, it's like our house but smaller, its nice and quiet, not much noise here, just a big whoosh whoosh, Gemma laughs and tells me thats the sea making a big noise, no she says it cannot get up here. We unpack and then we are off for a walk to stretch our legs after the journey. The sea smells nice, and Mum laughs as she comments on the white flecks on my nose. "Come on Milly, you will love it here !" Dad says "Come on Milly, have some fun" Ok, Dad, here I go! Give me my golf ball to chase, ok, off I go...I love it here! Can I go for a paddle please? Oh what fun, now just let me off this lead please so I can really run!

I am having so much fun, but then I feel I have a tummy ache, I have only been here for two days and am loving it , lots of long walks and adventures. Mum has got me a nice mat to sleep on, its my favorite colour pink. Mum says I might be needing a rest as I have been very busy and excited with all the changes in my life. We are going home tomorrow, I hear them mention the vet, hey what's that? Back in the car and all the stuff packed up again, I get it now, we just move stuff from house to caravan. If we have fun, hey its worth it!

Back home, still not feeling too good, maybe I sniffed too many crabs in the rock pools. Mum shouts "Walkies" "Walkies" oh no I cannot do "walkies" today. Please Mum just let me sleep, "Hey Milly, get your backside down here" she says. "I am so tired Mum, I have a tummy ache just leave me to sleep please". Mum looks at me and gets worried as I am leaking some greasy fluid from my back-end and she puts me in the car and takes me to the vet. Mum says "Sorry Milly, we have to get you sorted out" I think "Just leave me alone please, I just want some peace and quiet" Ellie and Gemma were worried too, they were making a lot of fuss about nothing. Licking me all over and making squeaky noises. "Please let me sleep girls" they look at me through the car window as Mum carries me in.

We got to the vets, Lizanne checked me out and told Mum I would need an operation very quickly. I had Pyrometra and if nothing was done. I was destined to be another Rainbow Bridge Angel. Hang on, just a minute, I have only just got here and was enjoying myself so much. Oh dear me, Mum gives me a quick kiss and passed me over to Lizanne. I was wrapped up nice and warm and had a little injection in my leg. This made me feel very sleepy, I just want to go to sleep and wake up well again so I can run and play with my Dad.

Oh goodness me, where am I ? Lots of funny smells here and my tummy feels a little sore too. There is a little Westie in the next cage to me who says in dog talk "Hello, finally woke up then?" "Yeah, sort of, where am I?" "At the Vet hospital, silly, you have had an operation like me" "Oh dear, will I go home soon?" Oh, yes, just as soon as you can eat something and go for a little walk " " Phew, thank goodness for that" "Sshhh, the nurses are coming" Good morning Milly, how are you feeling today? Would you like some breakfast? She gives my ears a little tickle and strokes me and I feel so much better. I notice I have a funny thing stuck out of my leg too. I try and bite it out and she laughs and says, "Just a little while longer and we will take it out for you! Mum and Dad have rung and send you hugs and kisses. You eat and drink now and you will be able to go home tomorrow". Home! Ok dokes, will eat and drink right now so I can go home. A nice warm feeling comes over me, and I go to sleep again. Dreaming of running on the field chasing my ball zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

When I wake up again, the little Westie says to me, " I think we are both off home today I heard one of the nurses talking whilst you were asleep" "Oh good, I cannot wait to see Ellie and Gemma again !" "Have you got sisters, I asked?" "No, I live on my own with my Dad" "Here, hang on, I can smell him and hear his voice!" Hooray, he has come for me" "Bye!" The nurse came and got the little Westie and put her lead on and led her away down the long corridor and I was all alone again. I gave a big sigh and sat down to wait. Hurry up Mum and Dad come and rescue me, I want to see Ellie and Gemma again too.

"Hooray! I can hear Mum saying "Milly Cooper" "Yeah thats me!" Its my turn and yes the nurse comes and puts my lead on and I cannot wait to see Mum and Dad again. I give them both lots of kisses and licks and they have something salty coming out of their eyes, its nice so I lick it off! "Lovely to see you again Milly" they say thankyou to the vet who saved my life and all I can say is "Lets go home now please" I cuddle up on Dad's knee for the drive home and snooze.

Back home and what a welcome, Ellie and Gemma are both waiting for me and sniff me all over, they know where I have been. Then the licking starts "Oh stop it please!" Ellie says "No, not till you stop smelling like the vet place and smell like a Cooper Cavalier" "Oh alright then, I give in" I am so happy to be home with my family. I am so lucky to be loved and promise to be a good girl from now on. Oh look its my favorite Spag bol for tea!! Yippee!

MILLY'S FIRST BIRTHDAY PAWTY!

Milly had great fun opening her presents from Ellie and Gemma and she was a real good girl and shared her cake too!

I am still Daddy's little angel girl and Mum says he loves me more than her!