Great Walks editor farewells his favourite walking companion
Great Walks editor Brent McKean said goodbye to his favourite walking companion this week, his dog. This is his tribute to his beloved Elvi.
"I have many favourite walks. But one of my favourites was something very simple. It was my daily walk with our staffie Elvi. After moving to the country last year my partner Holly, Elvi and myself got into a morning routine, leaving the house at 6.30 and walking a 45min loop into the town, including a stop at a creek, which Elvi ran into, full flight.
Just before Covid chaos we decided to get a dog and through a wonderful charity called Fetching Dogs we found Elvi. She was a gorgeous puppy who happily played with our kids when we first met her, and it was this instant bond that persuaded us to keep Elvi and she immediately became part of the family.
Covid hit and puppy lessons were through Zoom. But they seemed to work as Elvi learnt to obey my commands (mostly). She loved running and getting wet, chasing a ball, wrestling with big dogs. But she most loved being with her family - playing tug-of-rope with my son Billy and chasey with my daughter Matilda.
Working from home meant a large brindle staffie sleeping near my feet. She was my shadow. She was the excuse for the family to get outdoors, to explore a new park, find a dog-friendly beach.
At night she had a choice of places to sleep and chose them all. She’d start off on Matilda’s bed then moved to Billy’s room where her favourite beanbag was waiting. It’d take five minutes of noisy shuffling as she found the exact beanbag shape to sleep in.
A little later she’d make her way to our room where her mat and blanket were at the foot of our bed. If she heard us sleeping, she’d jump on the bed and muscle in between us. I’d wake up and this immovable lump would stare back at me with large chocolate eyes. How could I refuse?
We had her for two-and-half wonderful years, and we were all looking forward to her coming with us to our new house, and growing up with the kids.
But then one day she disappeared. She pushed her way through a fence, curious about the neighbour’s sheep, then she was gone. We spent 10 long days looking for her, calling her name. Searching under houses and sheds, knocking on doors, handing out flyers and creating a social media campaign.
Everything stopped as we looked for our beloved dog. It was a sad and anxious time. Nobody slept, we all cried. But we just couldn’t find her.
Then last week someone rang and told me a dog had been found floating in a local river. On that cold, wet night Holly and I drove to the spot, and two kind women were waiting for us. One had found the dog on a riverbank and towed it to the jetty behind a kayak, and when I removed the rope and placed the dog on the jetty, I knew it was Elvi.
My heart sank and I cried and cried. My poor, sweet, silly, loyal Elvi was gone. I can still hear Holly’s sobs as we gently wrapped up our dog, placed her in the back on the car and drove to the vet.
People are amazing. In the following days friends dropped off meals, delivered flowers, rang us, sent us cards. We were a grieving family living in a sad and quiet house. One normally filled with the patter of paws, ridiculously loud puppy yawns and the odd curious bark.
After a few days we went to the river and made a simple memorial for Elvi. I cried even more. We all did. And we hugged a lot.
Holly and I still do our morning walk. We say it’s for our health but really, it’s about finding a reason to think and talk about our beloved staffie - and stop at the creek, which Elvi ran into, full flight."
Words and photos_Brent McKean