Marleys story

We first saw Max on the SSHC bulletin board. I was instantly in love but I knew Craig, my husband, didn’t want anymore dogs, we already had 2.   Aviemore came and I couldn’t believe it when I saw David and Liz Dalziel were fostering him. Cuddles and meeting him in the flesh made me want him more but I was told there was a couple coming to meet Max on the Sunday. I knew they would snap him up…..but they didn’t!

I stayed in contact with David and Liz about Max’s progress. It wasn’t until Quithel rally that I made a joke to Craig on the phone about taking Max home with me the following day, he said ok then! Just like that! He knew how long I had wanted him and he hadn’t been rehomed yet. As long as he got on with our boys he could join the family and he did!  I knew David and Liz wanted to keep Max so after discussing it with David he made a phone call home and then told me they would be happy for me to take him on.  Much excitement followed and I used Max on my 2 dog team on the Sunday after having to not use my older boy Malek.

After some phone calls, confirmation that we were a suitable home for Max and a bit of fingernail biting on my part I found out he would be coming home with me that day! Some may have seen me jumping up and down before the prize giving, it certainly wasn’t because we came first!   Two hours later and Max is running around the garden and sat in the kitchen watching Craig chop up chicken for our supper, mentally trying to convince him with Shadow that he should give them the meat! It was like he had always been with us. Later that night Max became Marley.

Marley is half JCB! Stair gates were for barging, as were legs, furniture, porch doors and dogs. Nothing too big….head down and walk! He is, after a few weeks, getting the idea that in fact if he is good he gets lots of fuss and barging doesn’t always please!

He did cry the first couple of days at the front door but when Shadow, who is only a couple of months younger than Marley, and Marley discovered each other they became inseparable.

Marley was a great distraction for us during a very hard time. Our oldest husky, Malek, became very ill suddenly and Marley put a smile on our faces countless times when we needed it with his wookie woooooooo. He sometimes sounded like a grizzly bear too and frequently tells us his thoughts on things!    Unfortunately Malek lost his battle and Marley was a comfort to us giving wonderful cuddles when we needed it along with Shadow.

During his short period as a McInnes he has already done some husky PR at a Forestry commission Easter Extravaganza. He was a hit with everyone young and old. Marley was wonderful with the children and loved giving them kisses! We have also had some great runs with him and Shadow and all David’s great work with him shines through on his quickness on commands.

We are so happy that we had the opportunity to take on Marley we can’t imagine what life would be like without him.