Sandy

In England alone, in 2019/20 there were 976,425 admissions to hospitals related to alcohol consumption.

As these figures don’t include Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland the total figures for the UK are much higher.

Also in any one year in the UK over 9,000 individuals die as a result of their abuse of alcohol.

Alcohol abuse causes millions of pounds in lost productivity over any one year and results in the police spending thousands of hours dealing with this problem. Even doctors and nurses are victims of people so inebriated that they can barely stand but arrive in Accident and Emergency units having to be “dried out.”

In the USA the figures are even more horrendous due to their vastly larger population. Example: Over 80,000 deaths each year are alcohol-related.

Add the rest of the world, well the figures are almost unimaginable.

There are a number of organisations that assist those who suffer from this addiction, the most well-known worldwide is Alcoholics Anonymous, so if you or someone you know needs assistance please don’t wait. One story like this is more than enough.

Trevor and Ann was the classic “boy meets girl” story. Trevor was not only her husband but Ann’s best friend. He was a great fellow, fun to be around, charming, the typical next-door neighbour, the sort that is described as a really nice guy.

Trevor and Ann were blissfully happy.

A change in circumstances

Sadly that was to change. At work one day, Trevor witnessed the death of a very close friend. It was a work-related accident but the death was gruesome in the extreme and had a profound impact. Like most of us, Trevor liked a drink but it was at the accepted level of a social drinker but following the death of his friend he started to drink more made worse by the fact that his mother supplied him with the occasional small bottle of whisky to “help him cope.” In addition, he suffered nightmares but didn’t share this with Ann, probably as a result of machismo pride. This, understandably, is a bloke thing, we don’t want to be seen as weak, or wrong but that’s human nature. The drinking spiralled into large bottles, then to Vodka and the descent into alcoholism started. He saw a psychiatrist, was taking valium and temazepam, and spent time in a psychiatric hospital ward.

Sadly Trevor’s behaviour started to deteriorate, the loving, devoted husband slowly became more morose, more argumentative and finally violent. He then crossed the line. He hit Ann. Being the person she was Ann forgave him the first time and the second and many more, she endured the black eyes the broken bones and the stitches. You see like so many before her Ann wanted the old Trevor back, the man she loved and believed that if she stuck with him he would change.

The day of reckoning finally arrived when Ann found herself holding a carving knife against Trevor’s chest.  Ann then knew that if she stayed one of them would lose their life and the other would spend decades in prison. The obvious problem was what to do with Sandy the couple’s dog. Ironically Trevor had shown no violence to Sandy and Ann knowing that leaving was imperative and also knowing that there was no chance of finding a temporary home with a dog she gambled that his attitude to their pet wouldn’t change.

Ann left, found temporary accommodation and continued to visit Trevor in the hope that he might eventually realise that his life was slowly ebbing away. She also needed to check on the welfare of Sandy.

Missing

One evening Ann received a desperate phone call. It was from Trevor. “Sandy has gone missing.”

Ann enlisted the help of Martin, a neighbour, and both of them walked the streets calling for Sandy. They walked along the canal towpath, around the local lake and the nature reserve and as darkness fell they headed to Trevor’s to discuss what to do next. Ann let them both in with her own key and entered the kitchen where the table was cluttered with empty vodka bottles, unwashed dishes and the detritus associated with neglect. And what was under the table but Sandy, fast asleep without a care in the world and snoring!!

Trevor was so far gone he had missed his dog snoring at his feet.

Without a doubt, Trevor truly loved the dog and although Sandy may have missed the odd meal, Trevor always took Sandy for a walk every day. Probably the only fresh air he got with the exception of visits to the off licence to purchase more alcohol. It could be argued that Sandy was the only reason that Trevor continued to function but as his behaviour became even more unpredictable Ann decided that Sandy was at risk and took him away.

Sandy went to live with Ann and her new partner Martin in January 1994

For the participants in this drama, the outcome was predictable.

A further two years passed and on the 17^th August 1996, Trevor died. The cause was not unexpected, cirrhosis of the liver. I have no doubt that Trevor suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), common amongst ex-military and people who witness and live through traumatic events. Sadly it was to destroy his life.

Ann finally found peace. She fell in love again, married Martin and they are as devoted a couple as can be found. They are rarely apart and it is very noticeable when out walking they always hold hands.

And last but certainly not least is Sandy. In his life, he was to see the best and some of the worst in human behaviour. The wonderful thing about dogs is that they don’t make judgements. They tolerate our failings, accept our illogical human behaviour with benevolence and provide us with the companionship we crave and the solace we need. Indeed Sandy was a prime example of that devotion that we take for granted every day.

Sandy passed peacefully in his sleep on the 20^th of January 2001.