The dog on the beach in Sri Lanka

by Brett Davies
(Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka)

We went on holiday in Sri Lanka and befriended a beach dog. We named him 'Ford'. He was unique, friendly and completely white. He was practically starving. We fed him plenty of rice and curry. When we left we fretted over how he could possibly survive.

One year later we returned to Sri Lanka. We rushed to the same beach. Would he be alive? One distinctive whistle and Ford came charging. Everything went into slow motion and I think I heard the soundtrack from ‘Chariots of Fire'. But, then the shock!. He was emaciated, patched by wounds and had lost all his fur from mange. He was on his last legs.

It took medicine, meals and plenty of TLC. Ford now has his distinctive white hair and is again proudly walking the beaches of Sri Lanka. And this time rather than a short holiday - we stayed on for good.