When I lost my 16-year-old whippet in 2021, I was utterly heartbroken.
After a year of feeling lonely and sad, a little black whippet popped into
view, and without a second thought, she came home with me. People
said, “Aren’t you rather old to be getting a puppy?” I was 79, but
walking without a dog seemed so pointless. I spent the next 18 months
teaching Delphi good manners and recall, quite challenging in the New
Forest with all the wildlife and animals! We became close and
contented companions, and I think she makes me laugh every single
day.

Then came the disaster. On a walk with my friends in October, their
large dog playing chase with mine, I was bowled over and broke my
tibial plateau, a complicated and painful break. Fortunately, Delphi was
taken in by my friends and spent ten weeks with them whilst I was in
hospital (four weeks) and then home to recuperate. Those few weeks
at home without her were unbearable, and on Christmas Eve she came
home. I had a patchwork of friends and helpers to take her for walks,
but this was not really sustainable in the long term. But for my mental
health I needed my Delphi home.

I had heard of the Cinnamon Trust and contacted them to see if they
could help with walks. After two assessments (she passed with flying
colours and we became friends with Jo and her dog) we were paired
with two fantastic dog walkers, Sandie and Lesley, and I got my life
back. Delphi quickly grew to love and trust her new friends and greets
them joyfully when they come to take her for her walk. And for me, they
have become very dear friends.

Slowly I began to go for short walks again, painfully and hesitantly, and
then came the moment when I could drive and take Delphi for a short
walk myself. I was amazed at how sensitive she was, and is, to my
slower and less secure pace, and we have lovely, leisurely walks
together now.

But my two lovely Cinnamon ladies still take her out for walks, longer
and more active ones, and the Cinnamon Trust continues to be a lifeline
for me. I cannot express adequately just how significant they have
been in my recovery, and I am deeply grateful for this wonderful charity
and the generous, caring people who volunteer for them. You are all
stars!