The Christmas that changed me

Three women reveal how their experiences over the festive season have altered their lives forever

- KARA O'NEILL

‘I’ve channelled my grief into helping others’

Helen Leary, 71, lives in Grimsby with her husband, Graham, 71.

Walking into the examination room with Graham, then 56, I gasped. ‘Poor mite,’ I whispered looking at the blue roan cocker spaniel on the veterinary table in front of me. He was painfully skinny with severe muscle wastage.

‘His name is Sam,’ the vet explained. ‘And he needs a loving home.’

Looking into Sam’s doleful eyes, I knew we were taking him home – and that’s exactly why the vet, a friend of mine, had called me in the first place. I was never going to be able to resist.

Over the next few months, we worked hard to help Sam settle into our family. We adored him, and it was like he’d been there forever.

After 10 precious years, in December 2015, Sam – by then 16 – went blind. I knew he was getting on a bit, but was distraught, and wanted to keep life as normal as possible for him, including taking him to his regular slot at a college for grooming, which he loved.

One day while I was there, I bumped into some Blue Cross volunteers and told them about my love for animals. ‘You should sign up with us,’ one said.

A few days later, just before Christmas, I went down to my local Blue Cross centre and joined as a volunteer.Learning to spot injuries in animals, I‘d ensure they were warm and well-fed while they awaited vet treatment.

Sadly, on Christmas Day 2016, Sam passed away. We were devastated and, that night, struggling with my grief, I called the Blue Cross pet bereavement service. The lady I spoke to, Ann, was so lovely.