Drive

We’re storytellers at 2SER. It’s in our DNA. Recently, we’ve taken to the tale of Tony-Twonames, a scrappy terrier from the western suburbs of Sydney who found himself hurtled into a whole new life in Double Bay.  Who doesn’t love a good reinvention story?

Each week, we’ll follow the adventures of Tony as he navigates his new world, from the prim and proper poodles of Double Bay to the curious conundrum that is his new family.

___

Speech impediment.

Just because I live in an apartment in Double Bay, doesn’t mean I forget where I come from. I’ll always be a Westie, western suburbs that is. I’m a cairn terrier cross.

For the record, my name is actually Boney. B like ball and well, bone. But for whatever reason my new people can’t get it. They call me Tony, with a T for Terrier. I thought she might have a speech impediment, but then she says things to me like bad boy and where’s the ball, and do you want breakfast?

Sometimes they throw a whole list of names at me – Tony Boney Maroney. And then other times Tony Two-Names.

Do they have any idea how confusing that is?

They wonder why I don’t always come back when they call me.

Sometimes I will be hot on the trail of a possum scent, focused and in the zone and then all of a sudden, yikes! One of them is grabbing me out of the bushes. I get the scolding yet they’re the numpties who a) can’t say my name right and b) don’t seem to understand that I was born to hunt small prey.

Chasing the odd cockroach or fly in the apartment can only satisfy the urge so much.

Admittedly, the woman and I make a pretty good hunting pack.

I’ll spot the roach, see it run under the armchair and give her the signal. She’s a quick learner. She then lifts the chair and I go in for the kill. She yells at me not to eat it. And I’m like lady, you don’t need to worry. I’m not going to eat it. That would be disgusting. I just give it a little death shake and then she picks it up.

It’s at that point she says good boy. So b’s are not an issue. Whatever it is, I feel like they are trying to erase a part of me. Make me more posh.

Just because I live in an apartment in Double Bay, doesn’t mean I forget where I come from. I’ll always be a Westie, western suburbs that is. I’m a cairn terrier cross.