She was there

In September 1995, a baby girl came along, completing the family of Mr & Mrs McLeish. They met in the coastal town of South Shields, in the North East of England, in August 1994. She was a barmaid, he was a soldier who was on leave and decided to spend his time with a colleague who lived there. They said it was love at first sight. Once their eyes locked; they simply had to be together - and it was very telling that they married in the January of 1995, leading to that honeymoon baby nine months later.

The Mr, Chris, was besotted with his tiny bundle and couldn’t wait to show her off to everyone who’d give him a second to. The baby, Lauren, had his eyes, definitely his nose, and his chin dimple for certain. And he was certain she’d grow up to be just like him.

Gillian, his wife, was overjoyed that her baby looked just like the man she was so in love with. She’d never known happiness like it.

They had a few short months of bliss, as a small family unit, before Chris had to Don his camo’s and was waved off at the airport by a teary Gillian so he could go and fulfil his duty as a soldier.

Lauren grew and Gillian was certain it was by the day! They trundled along, making memories together and smiling, with Gillian writing to Chris once a week to inform him that his daughter had certainly got his stubborn attitude - even though she was only a tot.

As Gillian was putting an almost six month old Lauren down for an afternoon nap, her phone rang. And she got the call every wife, mother, father, sister or dad of a soldier dreads. Chris had been injured in a fire.

Gillian was flown out to his bedside where she took stock of his shocking injuries. Doctors were flown in from a specialist unit and were working on Chris for days. Only it didn’t go to plan.

She told him it was okay if he needed to go to sleep, and he did. With his wife by his side and his daughter hundreds of miles away, Chris passed away.

Back in Blighty, Gillian and little Lauren tried to get used to their new normal. Only, that didn’t go to plan either.

Four years and six months after her husband tragically passed away, Gillian couldn’t take the pain. She went to sleep herself. At rest, finally at peace together.

Lauren went to live with her Nana, Gillian’s Mum. And had to get used to another new normal. But as seemed to be the pattern, that didn’t go to plan either.

Lauren struggled desperately, missing her parents and grieving for a life that could have been. Her mental health declined and she was desperate for help.

Nana was stuck. Lauren had been getting counselling for years but it just wasn’t doing the job. So off to the library she went. It was time to do some research on what would really help her Granddaughter.

A dog! Lauren had asked for a dog since she could talk, and her 10th birthday was approaching so it was the perfect opportunity. She needed a friend, a confidant, someone to be there for her and only her.

Nana looked in the local paper for a little dog that needed a new Mummy. And there, the perfect option. A litter of crossbred Patterdale Terriers had been left outside of a shelter so she set off and went to have a look. Five tiny little pups all stared back at her. They were shaking. And after handing £10 over, took the little pup that looked like she needed the biggest cuddle.

26th September 2005, Lauren came home after spending the afternoon with her Uncle. And there was a tiny bundle of fluff on the floor. Two huge floppy ears, a tiny button nose, four paws, a little tail... and two of the deepest chocolate brown eyes looking back at Lauren.

“She’s yours!” Nana told Lauren, excitedly. Lauren was rooted to the spot. She felt a rush of love flood over her entire being.

“Tootsie.” Lauren had decided to call her little dog. And it fit the dog so well. To look at her, Tootsie was the most perfect name. It came from Lauren’s Grandad, Chris’s Dad. He was from Scotland, and Tootsie was a pet name he’d used for Lauren since she was born.

Tootsie did exactly what she came to Lauren for. Lauren came out of her shell, she opened up, her struggles were lighter and taken in her stride, because Toots was there. Tears were soaked up by her black coat.

Tootsie was given all the love in the world. Lauren would spend hours talking to her, cuddling her, kissing her and walking her until they were both content. She had more toys than she could ever play with but she was so loved and adored.

Fast forward nearly 16 years and Tootsie is still going strong. She has arthritis, she’s epileptic, she’s bald on her nose and she’s missing a few teeth. But just like Lauren has always opened her heart up to Tootsie, Tootsie’s done just the same to Lauren with her own quirky little personality and an unwavering determination to follow Lauren wherever she may go. Even the bathroom. She’ll sit and wait at the door.

Tootsie needed a home all those years ago and Lauren was, and still is, there. Lauren didn’t know it at the time, Nana didn’t know it at the time, but what she needed wasn’t just any dog. It was Tootsie. She was there and she still is there.