The dog's dinner.

In the 1960's when we lived in Blanchardstown,myself and the brother got a grand brown wire haired mongrel dog as a present.I would say he was six months old when he arrived.We christened him "Rolo".The very first thing we did with him when he settled in was to bring him for a walk across the fields which were to the back of our house .We had hurleys and a ball with us and the craic was to hit the ball as far as we could with the hurleys and watch the pup follow it and retrieve it,which he did with great gusto.Great fun all round until when swinging on a ball the dog jumped up to get it before the hurley connected and took the full force of the swing on the head.A terrible accident which reduced us both to tears and knocked the unfortunate dog out.We were fearful to go home with the new dog unconscious,so we carried him to the Tolka river and doused him with water until he came around.When he could walk without a stagger we headed home. The parents thought that Rolo looked the worse for wear but we said the long walk and all the running must have tired him out.
The dog went blind in one eye as a result of the blow.We never cracked on why.The dog became a loved pet on account of this disability and we all loved him the more because of it.
A few years later the dog was sick.He could walk but was not himself.The father came home from work and the brother ,who had long since claimed ownership ,asked him could we bring him to the vets. The da was parched for a pint after a hard day's work and said he had only three lids  (pounds ),about the price of a few pints and smokes and was not inclined to spend the money on the dog.The brother pleaded and the da relented.
The vet's surgery was about two miles away and as we had no car the lads had to walk there.We had no lead for the dog,so the da got out one of his neck  ties and used it as a lead for the dog and headed off.They got there without incident.In the waiting room of the surgery the dog took fright ,broke loose and made a bolt for freedom causing all sorts of mayhem.The vet heard the commotion from his surgery and came to investigate.The dog was caught,tie still in situ and the da apologised .The vet said "no problem,sure didn't the dog come dressed for dinner".Witty I thought.
Role was treated ,recovered and lived a long and happy life.He was never at the vet's again and a neck tie was never used to lead him around again.