Denzils Story
A true story of loyalty and devotion between two of my own pets, a unique bond seldom found between a cat and a dog, especially when the dog in question is a retired racing Greyhound. Denzil is the 'Greyfriars Bobby' of the Cat World, a bond between two pets so strong that even in death it couldn't be severed... Denzils story of loyalty has generated a lot of interest from many authors and has already been featured in the book The Amazing Power of Animals. A wonderful tribute to the most loyal friend I have ever had.
I have travelled a long way in the rain to be here tonight. The only baggage I have brought with me is a heavy heart, but there is still a glimmer of hope in it, that I can be of some comfort to my friend, when he needs me most, in his hour of need. I have heard much laughter during my journey coming from the houses, decorated with twinkling lights, lights like a thousand little stars, shining from Christmas trees at the windows. I have seen two big Tom cats sheltering under cars from the rain that is beating down, and its cold very cold, I think the snow is on its way.
I have been sitting here in the rain for a long time now, but no one has opened a door to welcome me in. I know that my friend is in there, but there is no laughter coming from this house, in fact there is no noise at all, there is no Christmas tree lights at their window, there is just an eerie silence, and an occasional whispering of soothing words. They weren't expecting me, but I have to let them know I'm here, I have no idea what the time is, but I know it's late, the time is marching on and I must get in. Why do they not hear me, why will they not let me in, I start to cry but no tears are flowing from my eyes. At last my cries are heard, I see a light going on, I hear the key in the door, and finally the door is opened. She stood and looked at me with tired eyes, I know she has been crying too, and it was very late, but I looked up at her in anticipation, wondering what she would say, would she forgive me for coming to her home uninvited, so late at night, or would she tell me to go away. She whispered, Come in Denzil.
And so my story begins.
It was back in the spring of 2003, that I first saw Kaz, it was very early one morning, there was a chill in the air, and a frost on the ground, but the sun was starting to rise, and he was walking with his Mum. I could tell he was much older than me, but the years had been kind to him, and he still had a youthful look about him. Then I saw them, two nasty Tom cats who lived nearby and they were walking along side Kaz. Had no one ever told them that cats and Greyhounds should never be friends? One was Tigger, he was a big Ginger Tom cat, and the other one was the old grey cat Smokey. I am also a Tom cat, I am black with a white chest, neck and nose, but I am very small in height, I was a very thin back in those days, and despite being 8 years old I was often mistaken for a kitten. I looked over at Kaz, he had such gentle eyes, and he wagged his tail at me. I don't know who I was more afraid of, the Greyhound, or the other Tom Cats. Every morning about the same time I would watch Kaz, Tigger and Smokey walk past and every time Kaz would look over at me and wag his tail, as if to say “come and join us”.
A week past before I plucked up the courage to take a few steps near him and I made sure I had a clear escape route in case the other cats chased me away. By the end of that first week, Kaz's mum called to me and asked if I wanted to join them on the walk, and by then she even knew my name! I walked a little way with them and the other cats didn't seem to mind, so I concluded that I had been accepted into Kaz's walking party. I never knew where Kaz lived, he just always appeared every morning about the same time, and we would all follow him on his walk round the houses and as we went back past our own homes, one by one we left the walk, and Kaz carried on back to where ever he lived. This was great fun and I looked forward to my morning walk with my big friend Kaz. Spring turned to summer and by then I was a confirmed member of the walking party, and I joined Kaz on at least four short walks a day. Kaz and I became firm friends and if I arched my back, he allowed me to rub my back along his deep chest. Neighbours would often stop and tell Kaz's Mum how much they enjoyed watching us all out on the walk together, they said they had never seen anything like it before.
A year past by and one morning Kaz didn't appear for his walk, I sat for hours waiting but he never came. Later that day I saw him with his Mum, it wasn't his usual time for his walk and I could see that he was limping. I ran up to him excitedly but stopped dead in my tracks when I saw he had deep puncture wounds all over his body. There was dried blood still caked to parts of his beautiful white body. I couldn't understand who would have done such a terrible thing to my old friend, I cried for him, but he just leaned down and gave me a reassuring kiss. I heard his Mum telling some people that Kaz had been attacked late at night by two Staffordshire Bull Terriers who were being trained for illegal dog fighting, and then I heard her say in a whisper to them, that the Vet was concerned that the shock of being attacked may be too much for an elderly dog like Kaz and we had to keep a watchful eye on him. If only I had been there, maybe I could have helped Kaz, maybe scratched the bad dogs that attacked him, whatever it would have taken I would have done it.
Over the next few weeks, the times of our walks changed, everything had changed now, Kaz had lost the spring in his step, he walked very slowly and he would often just come to a complete stop. We always waited for him while he rested and he was ready to walk on. Then one day Kaz never appeared for his walk at all and I looked everywhere for him, I was lost without him. I started to walk in the direction I thought his house was, but it was too far away from my own house and I always returned home. I waited and waited, days past and still no sign of Kaz. Everyday I walked a little further towards where I thought Kaz lived to see if I could get a glimpse of him. Then I saw him, he was a good distance away and I noticed that he wasn't coming down as far as my house and his Mum was turning around to walk back in the direction they came from, what was going on, did he not want me to be his friend anymore? I noticed he was wearing his winter coat, although it was winter it wasn't cold. I wanted to see him, so I ran all the way to catch up with him, and when I got there I put my face up to his for a kiss. I noticed that he suddenly looked very tired, old, and his eyes looked sad, I went to rub my back on his chest, when I noticed that his Mum was supporting him by raising his back legs very gently off the ground by his coat. I then realised that's why he was wearing his coat, it was being used as a support to help my old friend walk. They were really pleased to see me and they had missed me as much as I had missed them. Kaz's Mum told me that Kaz had suffered a stroke, and had problems walking, but he would be well again soon. Kaz smiled at me and gave me a kiss. I was so sad that this had happened to him so soon after the attack
Everyday Kaz got stronger and stronger and two or three weeks later, to my delight, he was back on his regular walks again. He was a bit shaky on his legs but he did manage to walk without any help. I was so happy when I was out walking with Kaz, and the big Tom cats, who didn't normally like me, became my friends at least for the duration of our walks. Occasionally Tigger or Smokey would hiss or spit at me if I walked too close to them, but Kaz gave them a nudge with his beautiful long nose and they stopped it. Sometimes I would get brave and show off by taunting some of the other cats in the neighbourhood, and if they came near me I had to run and hide under Kaz, I laughed at them when they got mad at me, but they wouldn't come and get me when I was with Kaz. I loved Kaz, he was my real life hero and best friend. As the winter days became colder I saw Kaz less and less out walking, but when I did see him, his Mum explained that Kaz was getting old and sometimes he was happy just to go out to his own garden rather than go on a walk. I was sad to hear this, as I knew I would miss my old friend.
December was soon upon us, the nights were cold, dark and often wet. People were beginning to get into the festive spirit by putting up their Christmas trees in anticipation, but there was only one Christmas present I wanted. I wished that my friend Kaz would get well and we would all go out walking again. Today was different from all the rest, I thought I heard Kaz calling out my name. Surely that was impossible, but we have a sixth sense, all cats and dogs are gifted with it, but deep down I knew something was very wrong with my friend Kaz, and I just had to go to him, and so my journey began to find the house that Kaz lived in....
I don't know how long I waited to be let in, and when Kaz's Mum invited me in, she whispered to me that Kaz was gravely ill, she told me he would be pleased that I had come to visit him, and that I could sit close by and keep a watchful eye on him. I will never forget the sight of my old faithful loyal friend lying on a blanket in the living room and I said “Hi Kaz, it's me Denzil, I have come to visit you and I will sit with you for a while”. Kaz lifted his weary head and smiled at me, I could see he wanted to wag his tail but he just couldn't find the energy. I sat silently watching over him, only now and again did I close my eyes but that's when I was praying to the angels that he would get better. Kaz's Mum lay beside him all night, and every so often she would help Kaz get more comfortable by adjusting his blankets. I noticed that he also had a big soft toy, it looked just like a real fox, and it was also lying beside Kaz to comfort him.
At seven o'clock in the morning Kaz's mum said it was time for me to go home, she thanked me for coming and spending time with Kaz, and she said I hope I'll see you again someday Denzil. I thought that was a strange thing for her to say, but she had tears in her eyes, so I took once last look at my friend Kaz and left.
I wandered around aimlessly all day worrying about Kaz and decided that I would have to return later in the day to check on him. This time I decided to make the journey to kaz's house in daylight, when I got to his house, I cried so that he knew I was there. The door opened and Kaz's mum said hello Denzil, would you like to come in? I went in to the living room, but Kaz wasn't there, so cautiously I went from room to room looking for Kaz, but there was no sign of him. I was definitely in the right house, his lead was on the chair near the door and his coat was there too, but no sign of Kaz or his soft toy that looked like a fox. I thought that perhaps someone else had taken him for a walk, but I couldn't think who that would be. Then Kaz's mum told me that Kaz had gone to a place called Rainbow Bridge, I didn't know where that was, but Kaz's mum was crying. She said the vet had come to see Kaz earlier that day and given him an injection and Kaz had fallen asleep peacefully in her arms. I didn't know how long it would be until Kaz came home from that place Rainbow Bridge, so I decided to leave and return the following day.
I did return the following day and the day after that and everyday for the next 10 days. I would walk up to the front door exactly at two o'clock and sit and wait on Kaz's mum to come home and then I would begin my search of the house to see if Kaz had come home from Rainbow Bridge. Today was Christmas Eve and there was something odd about the atmosphere in the house, maybe Kaz had come home for Christmas, so I went from room to room excitedly in anticipation, and finally checked the bedroom. To my horror I saw it sitting there on a table with dried flowers and some cards, it was an Urn and it had Kaz Rest in Peace on it. I just knew now that my faithful old friend Kaz had come home for the last time, but he wasn't with us anymore, I realised that the place Rainbow Bridge must be Greyhound heaven. I cried out in horror, I stared at the Urn, I panicked, I needed time on my own to grieve. With tears in my eyes, I about turned and ran from the house as fast as I could. I cried a river for my friend Kaz, my prayers to the angels hadn't worked, they didn't listen to me, what would I do now without a friend in the world, my heart was broken.
As I sat thinking about Kaz I realised that Kaz's mum must be as broken hearted and lonely as me, and it was then that I made the decision to return to Kaz's house and be with his Mum, perhaps we could comfort one another. It was late when I got to his house, but once again Kaz's mum invited me in. She picked me up and cuddled me and thanked me for going to be with her. She explained how Kaz had gone to the mythical place called Rainbow Bridge, but she brought his ashes home to bury in the garden. Kaz used to love lying in the garden with the sunshine beating down on his back and his long legs, once used to run so graceful and fast. I could just picture him lying there and how happy he had been, it made me smile. She told me lots of stories about Kaz.
Kaz was born in Eire on 8th July 1992, one of a litter of 10. He was given the racing name Taragh Lodge. I think he won all his races, he was my champion anyway. A few years later Kaz travelled from Eire to Glasgow and eventually lived at Glasgow Vet College, where he was well looked after, and in return he donated his blood to sick and injured dogs wow a real life hero. Mum said Kaz had saved lots of dogs lives over the years, but I bet he saved millions. Mum said she had heard about how badly some Greyhounds were treated after they had finished racing and she decided that she wanted to adopt a Greyhound as a pet. She contacted a charity that re-homed retired Greyhounds, and that's who told her about Kaz. The people at the Vet College all loved Kaz, he was a real character there and the day she went to collect Kaz, all the vets turned out to say goodbye to him and wish him well in his new home. I also heard about the time that Kaz met the lady from television who starred in 'One Foot In The Grave', as Victor Meldrew's long suffering wife. Her name is Annette Crosbie. She really liked Kaz too.
Kaz's mum told me lots of stories about the wonderful times she had with Kaz, but it was getting late and she said she was going to bed, but I could stay the night in the house. I never stayed in a house at night, but decided as it was cold outside and it was Christmas Eve that I should stay, so that I would awaken on Christmas morning in a nice warm cosy house. I woke up during the night and had an idea, I would speak to Kaz and let him know that I was there looking after his mum, and how much I missed him. Kaz's mum was sound asleep so I crept past her and jumped up on the unit that the Urn was on. I didn't want to waken her, but I had to speak to Kaz, so I started to tap lightly on the Urn to see if I could waken him, I tapped for about 5 minutes, then the light went on in the room, Kaz's Mum looked over and said what are you doing Denzil leave that alone, she got out of bed, and I thought I was going to get into trouble, so I ran back into the other room and lay down. Kaz's mum came through and stroked me and said she missed Kaz too and I fell asleep with Kaz's mum at my side, thinking that I would try and speak to Kaz again another night. I tried every night for weeks to speak to Kaz, always around the same time, and I would tap on his urn for what seemed like an eternity and every night Kaz's mum would wake and put the light on and tell me to stop. I realised after the first few nights that I wasn't getting into trouble, so I'd go cuddle Kaz's mum then after a while I'd go back and tap on his urn again until she turned the light on once more. I finally stopped this after many weeks because I never got an answer from Kaz, so I guessed he was happy at Rainbow Bridge.
I liked staying here with Kaz's mum, she was good to me, she fed me lots and in no time at all I was looking like a proper wee chunky, contented cat, a real cat. She bought me toys, a new collar, because my old one was too tight on me and gave me lots of kisses and cuddles. I decided I would stay if she would let me. Not long after Christmas she said to me “well Denzil if you are going to stay here with me I will have to buy you your own little food bowl”. That day she arrived home with a smart food bowl and a water bowl and I knew that Kaz's Mum had now become my Mum too.
One day Mum brought home a statue, it was a life sized one of a Greyhound, to place in the garden on the spot where Kaz's ashes were to be buried. I loved this statue it reminded me of Kaz, it was almost the same colour too. Kaz was white and this statue was another colour of white, it was in my eyes anyway. Having the statue in the garden meant that I could sit and talk to Kaz, I had lots to tell him so I spent all day everyday with him. Mum never had to look far to find me, I'd always be in the garden talking to my best friend, eventually Mum put a piece of carpet beside it, so that I could sit there in comfort. I loved to sit in the garden like Kaz used to do, especially when the sun is shining, but I wouldn't let anyone else to go near my special place, because it's my own special place to be with the most loyal faithful friend I ever had and I protected it with my life.
Mum and I very quickly got into a routine, she wasn't very sure what to do with me at first, because she had never had a cat before, and she had to keep phoning her friend, Irene Kirvan, who has cats to make sure that I had everything I wanted to be happy. One day Mum came home very excited, she said I have great news for you Denzil, we are going to rescue another Greyhound. She explained that no one would ever replace Kaz, but that there were so many Greyhounds needing a home, to be looked after and loved, and we had plenty of that to go around. She said he would be small like Kaz, but that's where the resemblance would end, and we had to give a warm welcome to this new Greyhound and just remember the happy times we had with Kaz.
I waited for the new dog to arrive, I was told he was called McGinty. McGinty arrived about 8 o'clock one night, and good grief he was massive, he was the biggest, blackest, Greyhound in the whole world, he should have been called Titantic. McGinty came over to me and said hello, so I guessed he would be ok, we shared some gammon and I decided then that I would make friends with him. I showed him around the neighbourhood, I don't think he was impressed with a cat showing him around, but I knew the area and I was able to tell him about the other cats and dogs. I was a bit naughty though, because when we saw the cats that had been bad to me in the past, I told McGinty not to like them, but I also told him who all the good cats were….ok, so the only good cat is me, but he got the general idea! He never answered to McGinty, so Mum decided to shorten his name and he is now called Mac. I called him big Mac, it made him sound like a burger, but he liked his name. I loved having another Greyhound around and I started to play games with Mac. I would run at Mac very fast, but he didn't like that game very much, so I tried jumping out on him from behind parked cars to give him a fright, but he didn't like that game either, he was scared. I liked these games even if he didn't, so I haven't given up on playing tricks on him, but now he looks out for me, it's spoiled my fun a bit, so I have to keep thinking of new ways to surprise him. One day a nasty Tom cat had me pinned under a car and Mac came to my rescue, he barked and growled at the Tom cat until he ran away. I came out from under the car and gave Mac a big kiss. That was the day I decided he was my new best friend because he saved my life. Tigger and Smokey wanted to be his friend too, but I wanted to keep Mac all to myself, so I told him they were nasty cats, so they are not allowed to come on the walks with us. I was so happy again, it was just like old times, me and my best friend out again on our walks.
My vigil at Kaz's statue lasted from January 2005 until early in 2007, when my mum told me we were all going on a big adventure. One day she put me in her car and explained we were moving to the country, I was so glad to see Mac and the statue of Kaz sitting in the back seat. I was so happy both my best friends were coming with me. I am now enjoying my retirement as a house cat, it's a fabulous life. Mac is still my best friend in the whole world, next to Kaz, and every night at bed time Mac gives me a kiss before we snuggle down together.
It's not my time to go to Rainbow Bridge, but I know in my heart that when it is, that Kaz will be there waiting for me, and we will be able to go on long walks together again. I have never forgotten my old best friend, and I know that one day we will be reunited at Rainbow Bridge.
I hope you enjoyed reading Denzil's story. It is with a heavy heart that I have to tell you that my best friend Denzil unexpectedly fell ill on the 16th of August 2007. I woke up my mum and dad who rushed to Denzils side, it was 5am and they took him to the vet. Sadly mum said the vet couldn't save him because he had had a massive stroke and he went peacefully to Rainbow Bridge in her arms. They brought Denzil home to our Farewell Room and let me say goodbye to him, I laid down beside him until it was time for him to go on his final journey to the crematorium.
Now reunited with Kaz x. I miss you Denzil, but I know when it is my time to go to Rainbow Bridge that you will be waiting for me, love Mac xx. It is with sadness that I found out that Tigger also passed away earlier this year.xx
© copyright 2008 Pet Undertaker
