A heartfelt tribute to beautiful Bindi Sadly, a few days ago, the beautiful Bindi, who was cared for on our Palliative Paws scheme, crossed over the rainbow bridge. Bindi came into Hope Rescue's care just over a year ago this month as a stray or abandoned dog. Her owners never came forward to collect her and her chip details were incorrect or not updated. Bindi came in with the most horrendous ear infection and her legs were wobbly but she seemed to enjoy a potter about. She was admitted to a specialist vet after a change in the colour of one of her eyes, it was feared that this could be a cancerous tumour and resulted in having the eye removed. Since that time until now she lived with her wonderful foster family. This tribute is from them... Her Royal Majesty Queen Bindi I of Hope, 2007? - Aug 2022 Bindi took her last car ride to the vets, high up on cushions, taking in the view so calmly and eating poached chicken. And that’s where she stayed while I held her. What a contrast to our very first car journey together, which began quietly enough but became quite frantic. It took a while for this crazy car behaviour to subside, after which time car rides became her number one favourite activity, just enjoying the ride. I believe that Bindi might have spent a lot of her life tethered. She had a collar mark on her neck from a heavy collar, and feet well practised at stepping over a lead or rope, so as not to get tangled. What a sad waste of such a wonderful and beautiful dog. Nobody noticed that she had such sore skin, that she had bitten herself in frustration at the constant itch of fleas, or that her poor ears were full of infection. Her ears would have stood straight up long ago but she’d scratched them so much they’d crumpled and scarred. She had been left like that for years. Then somehow last year Bindi found Hope. She got painkillers for her arthritis and ears, her fleas were treated, that big old collar was gone and she had a comfy bed for her old bones to rest. It must have felt pretty good. She tried out one foster home but it didn’t work out so she came to me. Little did Bindi know that I’d spotted her when she first came in - an Aussie Cattle Dog! As a kid I used to look at them in my Observer Book of Dogs and I always wanted one, I don’t think I’d ever seen one in the UK before. Bindi made my dreams come true. It took a while for Bindi to settle in. Everything was new and unfamiliar, suddenly she had a lot of medical attention and close handling, she had baths - she did not approve. Everything was out of her comfort zone, but it was worth it. Her skin healed, her fur grew, her legs strengthened and her ears were greatly improved. She finally loved and understood her new home, especially the dinners. I loved taking Bindi out and about, I was so proud of her, she took it all in her stride. We would walk very slowly and stop often, she loved a visit to the cafe with the good sausage rolls. She was a top sniffer, she liked to sniff everything and everyone. She lived in a world of smells, somehow she knew when Simon’s truck would get home even though she was completely deaf. She knew when meals were served, of course, and when visitors arrived. Nothing got passed Bindi’s snozzle. She was the customs inspector and the poo-sniffer general on walks, all poos were inspected, but horses seemed to be a favourite. I am now a big fan of deaf dogs. Bindi has been such a great member of the team, she was so calm and had a strong influence, no one messed with the Queen. My noise sensitive dogs benefitted so much from her presence. There is a dog down the road from us that fence charges and shouts, Bindi could walk passed so calmly that even the shouty dog would stop and my dogs would walk calmly because Bindi was there. She knew the dog was there of course, but choose to ignore all the silliness, such a regal lady. Bindi played her cards close to her chest, she was a private kind of character and very stoic. She didn’t like too much fuss and she enjoyed her space, but she liked to be in the same room as her humans. She rarely asked for anything, but she learnt that humans gave excellent under ear scratches and could open the door to the treat cupboard. Bindi very much enjoyed the treat cupboard, she would choose her wet food for dinner or decide on this treat or that. She had a special look in her eye for her very own humans, a soft twinkle and those twisted old ears would drop just a fraction - a look to melt my heart. She wouldn’t really bother with other people, although she was always polite, she wasn’t one to ingratiate herself and why should she? She was after all a Queen Sleep the long sleep now Queen B, you’re home and there’s no need to get up. Sweet dreams wonderful girl x