JESS

The following is based on a true story about a boarder collie by the name of Jess, written by Mollie Senior, 5th Class, Castlecuffe National School, Clonaslee, Co. Laois..

Hi, my name is Jess and I am a boarder collie around one year old, no one knows exactly how old I am. When I was born I had a great Mammy who was well fed and looked after. When I was taken away from my Mammy and brought to a new house that’s when things started to go wrong:

This is my story.

SCARED
As he lay curled up on the cold shed floor trying to get warm he couldn’t help but wonder what he done wrong. He felt so lonely and sad, his belly rumbling with hunger, he slowly began to lick the welts that he’d got from another beating. He wished he knew what the man wanted him to do but when he started shouting Jess got scared and made mistakes. He always knew when the man was going to lose his temper, his face went redder and he would shout louder. Jess knew he was doing it wrong and tried so hard to get the sheep where he thought they should be, but the harder he tried the worse his mistakes became. It always ended with that big stick the man carried being used on Jess. Oh how it hurt. Carefully Jess moved to try and get comfortable. He knew it would be daylight soon and another nightmare would begin.

He shut his eyes and tried to drift off to sleep, he thought about his Mam and his three brothers and sister. Thinking about his Mam instantly made him feel warm inside. He remembered how he would snuggle into her and she would lovingly lick him. She was always so warm and cosy. He was never cold then not even when she would get up and leave them for a short time. They would all cuddle together, everything seemed so easy, he felt loved, secure and wanted. He hoped his Mam and family were ok, he missed them so much but was glad they weren’t here. No-one should have to live here.

ALONE
As Jess slept he dreamt about running away and finding his Mam. He did not know where she lived but he would keep searching until he found her. He was woken from his sleep by the shed door opening , he moved further back into the corner hoping the man was not coming for him. A swift kick to his side told him otherwise, the man started shouting almost straight away. With his dream still fresh in his mind Jess decided that was it , he couldn’t live like this anymore. Even though he still ached from yesterdays beating he summoned all his strength, saw the shed door was still open a little and made a run for it. The man went mad and tried to stop him but Jess kept going. He knew there was no way back now. Jess almost felt like his Mam was running along side him, she gave him the strength to keep running.

He ran and ran and ran until he could run no more, panting he stopped for a rest happy that he was well out of sight. “Happy,” Jess realised he felt happy for the first time in a long time. He stopped for a rest, found a puddle, had a drink and generally enjoyed himself like he hadn’t done since he left his family.

After a while Jess began to wonder how to find his Mam, he walked for miles and miles. Gradually his happiness turned into despair. He was hungry and cold again. That night he ate some rubbish out of a bin and slept under some bushes, he couldn’t help but wonder was he any better off now than when he was living with the angry man.

Days past with Jess getting thinner and sadder all the time, people shooed him away and ran him from their gardens.

Didn’t they know he was just hungry and lonely, he just wanted to be their friend?

Finally Jess didn’t think he could walk any further, he was ready to give up. He lay down in the front porch of a house, snow was beginning to fall but he no longer cared.

A short while later two children came around the side of the house and saw Jess lying there, Jess tried to stand expecting to be moved on again but he was too cold and tired and lay back down again. The children started shouting, Jess closed his eyes, memories of the man coming back. He waited expecting a beating. The two children come back minutes later with their Mam who picked Jess up and brought him inside. They carefully dry him off with a towel. Jess couldn’t believe it, people who aren’t angry at him or trying to hurt him. He feels warm for the first time in what seems like forever. Jess falls asleep. That evening when the children’s Daddy comes home from work they give Jess a shower and comb out all the knots from his coat. Then they take him to see a vet to make sure he was ok and not in any pain. Luckily the vet said he would be fine with some feeding up and lots of love. Jess was quite nervous of all the strange things happening but somehow he felt safe.

This new house had three other dogs who all seemed pleased to see Jess, and other than one of the dogs who was very old they loved playing and having fun. Jess was given a bed in the kitchen with the other two young dogs. Jess slept soundly the whole night. In the morning the children called Jess to come outside to help with the outside jobs. He was really nervous that they wouldn’t let him back in, but they did and because he was so obedient and helpful they gave him some treats. It didn’t take Jess long to realise that this house was a happy place to live, there were lots of other animals, horses’ pigs, chickens, cats and a tortoise. They all seemed happy and content to stay here.

HAPPY
It wasn’t all plain sailing for Jess in his new home, he had to learn to live by the house rules: no eating of the furniture, all dogs must stay in the garden unless they are on a collar and lead and absolutely no chasing the horses. When Jess did do something wrong the new people would tell him off and ignore him for a while. It took Jess a while to understand the rules, but the upside was he was never cold, hungry or scared again and there was so much time for playing. His favourite game was jumping the horse jumps, so far he was able to jump 60cm, but was in training for the big 70!

Jess never did find his Mam, but he did find a new family where he felt safe and loved and where they loved him too.