Nelson

With a run and a bounce, a tail wag and a smile, a little bundle of joyful energy runs into your room to greet you. He is happy, hungry and needs a pee.

He is happy to see you, he loves you unconditionally. He speaks to you with his eyes. No words are needed. He looks at you over his shoulder with his body pointing towards the door.

Indicating, he wants to go and see what's new in the world outside. He also knows he will probably get a small treat when he comes back inside and that’s no bad thing.

He smiles and wags his tail harder. He looks at you impatiently, not understanding why you would want to try and finish writing your email before letting him out.

He makes a little happy noise. A little grunt from his throat. His tail wags a little faster, his smile a little bigger. You can see that there is no way you are going to be left in peace and so you start to get up.

He dashes to the door like a rocket. Doing a happy little dance and then sticks his nose on the corner of the door as if trying to squeeze out of it without you even opening the door.

He can't wait to get out. What if there is a cat outside that needs chasing. He needs to remind everyone that this is his garden. Chase off the birds and remind the neighbors and other dogs that this is his garden.

He is so desperate to get outside that you can barely open the door. He squeezes past and in a flash he is barking and dashing around. Sniffing here and there.

There is a flutter of birds as they are dash away as well at the intrusion into their own morning routines. Indeed there is a cat slinking around. Lying in wait for a poor unsuspecting bird that is singing its little heart out.

But the noise and rushing around of Nelson, the Jack Russell, sending them both rushing off for cover. It is a cold and fresh morning. Not Nelson's favorite temperature.

He prefers warm and sunny. And definitely dry. Rain just means misery. With his heart racing from all the excitement, he is back. He looks into your eyes once more.

That expectant look that it is time for his little treat for coming back inside. One gulp and it is gone. And with that, he whirls around and sprints back upstairs.

He dives onto the bed and begins digging to get under the warm covers once more. He loves warm snuggles. Almost as much as food.

One of his favorite things is discovering a human lying on the sofa with a blanket. A smile spreads, his tail wags. He jumps up and makes himself comfortable.

Either under the blanket or his favorite place, in the v shape behind your knees. He rests his head on your legs and seems to be watching TV like you. It doesn't take long before he drifts off to sleep once more.

Content and relaxed, waiting for when the next burst of energy is required. Maybe everyone needs to be warned when the postman arrives or a car pulls onto the drive.

Most important is cat patrol. They need to be chased off in a second before they start to get comfortable and try to move in. We can't have that.

As the morning rolls on, he starts to get a bit twitchy. A bit excited. He knows it is time for his doggie walk soon. His brother Milo is already pacing around.

His sister Donnie, snores in her bed next to the TV. She is always perfect for warmth if he is cold. Her breath, soft fur, smell and warmth are all comforting to a Jack Russell.

The human stirs. I think we're on for a walk. We all dash to the kitchen. This is going to be exciting. What are we going to see and smell out there in our village.

My brother is always way over the top with excitement. Screeching that hurts our ears, barging us all out the way in his excitement so that he can get his harness on first.

Donnie and I are a little more patient. We know it will be our turn next but we can't wait. Before we knowing it, we're all trotting along the pavement.

Slamming on our doggie breaks because there is something we HAVE to sniff. That definitely needs more inspection. Smells like our friend Tara.

She is quite a big dog. Doesn't like Donnie for some reason. I mean, who wouldn't like Donnie. But wait, another smell. Is this a new dog? But we are pulled along, our human impatient to keep walking.

Before long we are in the field and off the lead. Milo sprints off as always, looking for squirrels. Donnie and I sniff to our hearts content. Our human calling to us to keep moving.

So many smells. So many sights and sounds. Donnie is getting old, a bit like me. She can't walk as far these days and she prefers to have a good sniff. I love sniffing and taking it all in too.

I'm getting older too, can't hear as well as I used to. But I am loving my dog life. I thought that coming back to earth as a dog was a punishment for what I had done as a human in my previous life.

But you know what, I have loved every minute. Snuggles, treats, walks, adventures. So much love from our humans. So much love we give to them. It's not a bad life at all.

But, it's time for me to go now. I have become quite sick and it hurts most of the time. But my heart is full and I am so full of gratitude for the life I have lived.

My humans are sad and I worry for them. But I know they will be ok. I'm going back home. Perhaps I will come back soon or maybe I will hang out in heaven for a while.

My grandmother form a previous life is waiting for me. I can't wait to see her. Everyone is fussing over me. I can feel their deep and intense love for me.

My dad is giving me bits of sausage which always brightens my day. Suddenly, I feel very tired and everything fades away. I see myself lying there, I see my loving family kissing me and stroking me.

I see the tears rolling down their faces. I know they will miss me. I know they loved me. I follow the light I now see, and I hear my grandmother calling me.

Everything is beautiful. Everything is going to be ok. I will see all of you again soon.