Unveiling Tina's Hospital

Fit for the best girl there ever was

Dear Tina,

I wanted to write to you as it was exactly a year ago today that you left us. I can’t explain how much I miss you and how often I think about you. I would say at least 50 times a day.

If I could push pause and freeze my life for a moment it would be with you in the hammock listening to this song on our last day together. Your body had given up but you were so warm, so cosy and so happy. I was hiding the tears in my eyes. Me and you had known for a while this moment was coming and we hadn’t wasted a second.

You really taught me how to live life in the 6 months I knew you Tina and you left a huge impact not just on me but on the world.

You might no longer be here physically Tina but I wanted to tell you how you are still everywhere…

You Made Me A Better Person

You won’t believe how hard things got after you passed Tina. I’m sure they are all sitting beside you playing now but a week after you I also lost Snoop. A couple of months later Derek and Jumbo also left this world. It was one of the hardest few months in my life. The 4 of you were such wonderful dogs and the house was very quiet. I hope you are sharing tennis balls with the boys and all keeping each other safe.

What got me through that time and other tough moments was one thing Tina. It was thinking about you. Any challenge I’ve faced this past year (there have been many) I just think of your face and your soft nature.

I think my own sobriety, depression and anxiety was already in control when I met you but you cemented the recovery. When I whispered in your ear a year ago that I would never let you or all the other dogs down it was an unbreakable promise. Iron Clad.

We’ve Operated On 20,000 Dogs Like You Since You Died

I always remember stroking your belly and seeing the evidence of so much breeding. It’s amazing how a little memory like that can make so much change happen.

You were such a majestic dog but you were seen as an ATM machine and kept on a chain. I’m sitting here writing beside Bowie and her 6 puppies and I can’t help but think what a great mum you’d have been if you were given the chance.

You won’t believe it Tina but we’ve managed to sterilise 20,000 dogs since the day you passed. We do it with 9 wonderful partners in 3 countries. It’s a big number to think about Tina but we estimate that might have stopped 200,000+ dogs being born into suffering like you.

It wouldn’t be right to for me and you to take credit for it Tina as there are SO SO many people involved and so much money to raise and logistics to plan. What I can say Tina is rubbing your belly helped me push to make things grow faster. You continue to inspire so much change like that Tina.

We’re Building A Hospital In Your Name

I remember when I buried you beside the hammock as the last stones went on I had a moment where I just screamed into the jungle. It was a mixture of anger, sadness but also determination. I wasn’t going to let your life go to waste.

We are now officially building the hospital in your name. You can see all the details here. The incredible thing is that unbelievably talented architects from America and some other wonderful partners have done this all free of charge Tina. They were so inspired by YOU that they created a building that will help all the sick dogs.

The design is so unique that it even has your grave built in and a reflective place for people to visit you. Your spirit will guide the vets and nurses who work there and your kind nature will make the sick dogs feel safe as they get X rays, surgeries and all the other treatments they need.

I made the name up last year just after you had left us as a bit of a joke. The more I thought about it though the more I realised that it was perfectly fitting. Tina’s Hospital For Dogs Who Aren’t Doing So Good. Thats exactly what it will be called.

People bought T-Shirts, they climbed mountains and donated from all over the world in your name Tina. We are more than 50% of the way there to funding it already. We’ve already started building the road into the land so trucks and machinery can get there.

I Love You Tina

If I’m honest Tina I haven’t stopped since you died to take time off. I stay busy every single hour of every day on this mission. I’m scared to stop and just look at pictures and videos of you. I miss you too much to do that.

I made a little video about you Tina here that you’ll hopefully like (I got a little emotional). I think this best sums up how I genuinely feel about you.

You would be way too modest to acknowledge it Tina but you left a huge imprint. Not just on me but also on people around the world.

I often try to think why that was. For me it boils down to 2nd chances and living life to it’s full. You’d been dealt the worst hand of cards imaginable but you didn’t let that stop you once you got your chance. You lived every second like it was your last. You loved everybody. You had no regrets.

So many of us struggle in life Tina. Over the last year I’ve spoken to people with serious illness, people who themselves were dying, others with depression and lots of other illnesses and hard situations in life. In New York, Dublin, Manchester, Dubai and Thailand people have told me with tears in their eyes how you helped them. Imagine that Tina.

You couldn’t solve all the worlds problems but for a dog on a chain with only 6 months of proper living you sure crammed a lot in!

Life isn’t always easy helping the dogs Tina. It’s actually very hard. I see some horrible things and wish it could change quicker. I just wanted to let you know what a difference you have made in terms of speeding things up. I’m no longer scared of massive scale and I do things with a Tina attitude. Nobody or no single thing can get me down.

I ask myself every single day “would Tina be proud of you today” and the answer so far is yes. I miss you so much Tina but I’ll always be grateful I met you because you changed everything for the better.

I’ll see you somewhere one day soon,

To the best girl there ever was, I love you more than you’ll ever know.

Niall

P.S

You can see the hospital plans and donate here