Sa'di (Sad Story Warning)

In September last year Lee who helps out a lot for the rescue took in an old poundie. Sa'di is a collie x spaniel and has been a heartwarming story for all those involved. My dad went to get her from the pound and in his words 'when I picked sadi up from the pound she walked so slow and I had to lift her into the car'. At the vets Sa'di was given a list of problems, she had
mammary tumours, was deaf and nearly blind and her skin was in terrible condition. Sa'di was
given just a few weeks to live. She was in good hands though and although Lee knew her time would be short with Sa'di she gave her the best possible life, and when Lee moved up to Scotland earlier this year it was a shock to see videos of Sa'di running happy and free on the beach without a care in the world. She was happy and still fighting to make sure the end of her days would be the best. 

So it was a shock when I went to petsit for Lee that Sa'di was still fighting and was so happy and bubbly. Her little cheeky grin she gave when she wanted feeding really gave me a reason to smile. For the two weeks I was there Sa'di was going strong but sadly when Lee came home she took a downward turn. Her cancer had progressed, she had to be carried to bed and the kindest thing to do was to put her to sleep. Sa'di brought smiles all around till the day she went to rainbow bridge. Lee knew she was on borrowed time with Sa'di but I don't think anyone expected her to surpass her few weeks to live by a year. She was a fighter and had the best last year anybody could possibly ask for a dog. 

Now please consider this, when you get a dog they will get old, they will break your heart and they may get ill. But they only have you, they are so loyal to you so when it comes to them being old and frail don't dump them and leave them to die on their own, stand by them until their very last breath because they would do that to you. 

When I came home from uni in December 2011, my girl went downhill from the day I went home. Before that she had been fine but she had waited for me as Sa'di had waited for her owners. And when it came the time to say goodbye I held her in my arms one last time and watched as she peacefully slipped away. It is heartbreaking having a dog but the amount of love and memories they will give you is worth the heartbreak so please don't forget that. 

Now is heart wrenching as this post is to read, trust me it was a hard one to write and now to end it I will just post a video that has always made me hold on when I think of my Em.

http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

Run free at Rainbow Bridge Sa'di xx

Mabel

So since I've been promising this post here it is. As you know when I was in Scotland I went to remeet Mabel. Its unbelievable the change some love and a good home can do so here are the pictures :) Please look carefully at these pictures, look how happy this girl is compared to when she came into rescue and think you could be that difference in a dogs life. The picture titled 'The Love of a Foster' will always be my highlight of fostering. I've seen this girl at her worse and at her best and without the rescue and myself, this oldie didn't stand much of a chance. You could give that dog a chance and become a foster. Its not only lifechanging for the dog but for you and we are always desperate for more fosters.

 

 

The Love of a foster

 I also have some sad news, which I will post following this as the poor girl needs a page of her own <3 x

An amazing change

So I returned from Scotland yesterday and was quite happy to see how much Oscar has calmed down. Maybe I just remembered him to be twice as bad as what he actually is but he didn't seem to jump up as much and the biting is definitely becoming less frequent now. Its fair to say he is doing very well. Now he is starting to show signs of calming down and his food agression is becoming improving I am going to start trying to train him more. Oscar will need a lot of work with his recall so will need some offlead walks which will take some confidence from me but with my dad we will both work with it. Along with this I'm going to try doing some basic clicker training with him and see how he does. 

Before I went I had bought Oscar a new head lead. Oscar may be small but he is strong and does pull on the lead, even with a harness on and it was removing the fun element from walks. Now, with his new lead he walks lovely and the difference is so noticeable. Although he does complain a little at the start, once on the walk he walks next to me. Anyone who decides to adopt Oscar will be recommended on these leads in hopes that they will continue is on lead training with it. 

I think thats all I have to update at the moment, he is off back to the vets later as one of his back nails is coming back so poor little man may be having an op at some point this week to get it removed. I'd rather it be professionally removed than him managing to snap it off himself and cause him alot of pain but then again the only thing we want with the rescue dogs is to make sure they are as happy and pain-free as possible (obviously).

Now since its being Summer, everyones being away and we seemed to have hit a brick wall but 5 dogs have being rehomed this week, meaning we have more room to get dogs into fosters. I was lucky enough to go send Barnaby Boo off yesterday and I feel he will be very happy in his new family home which will just be perfect for him.

Currently in rescue:

Roxy - 1 year old loveable labrador cross
Patch - 6 year old collie cross
Misha - 5 year old staffie
Doris and Dixie - Pair of 10 year old jack russels
Cinders - 10 year old poodle cross

Vikki - 1 year old jack russel x chihuahua 

Bobby - 2 year old yorkie

Baxy - 5 year old yorkshire terrier

Tolley - 16 month old border collie

Gilbert - 2 year old patterdale

Benji - 7 year old yorkshire terrier

Max - 5 year old agility jack russel 

Hugo - 2 year old jack russel

Bert - 5 year old labrador x collie

Stanley - 8 year old terrier
Marley - 4 year old patterdale x lab
Cleo - 1 year old mastiff x great dane
Eddy - 5 year old American cocker spaniel

Lucy, Tinks, Sally and Oscar x

Please pester me if I don't post Mabel pictures at some point this week... will try remember either tomorrow or Wednesday! 

Donations

So this time last year you may remember me saying I had been down to a county show in Cheshire, obviously this year I couldn't go along as I was petsitting up here in Scotland however obviously Kathy went along and over £400 was raised for the rescue over the three days. Obviously we are very grateful.

Now heres a surprise donation. The other day when on the phone to my dad he told me a letter had come through the post with £10 in it, written from a kind lady who had said it is for the rescue and if she had more she would give it. Now the only person I can think this could be is a lady up my street who I may have mentioned before. One day as I was cleaning my car, Roo, Blanche and Tinks yapping from inside the house and Sally stood outside with me a couple walked past with there collie (I think). They stopped to talk and ask about what I did so obviously I told them. A few weeks ago while walking the dogs I saw the lady from her house, and she shouted down asking how I was and how the dogs were and asked what rescue do I foster for. Just these 2 occasions and I believe this lady has posted this very kind donation through my post. I can't explain how happy it made me, yes its not the hugest amount of money but if everyone did that random act of kindness it would be brilliant and would go straight into paying the vet bills for these dogs. Now if anyone wants to make a one off donation you can on here http://www.westyorkshiredogrescue.co.uk/donate.htm. If the lady whos donated me that money sees this please donate via that next time as thats just the way I'll put your money through :) 

Now out of the asking for donations stage, the other day I remet Mabel. http://lucythedogfosterer.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/sweet-old-mabel.html as Mabel was with us only a couple of days I didn't post much about her but that was my first post. Mabel weighed in at just 11.7kg and was so skinny and fragile it made me cringe looking at her without her coats on. We all thought Mabel would be in rescue until her days ended and by the looks of it, I didn't feel like she had long but a lovely couple in Scotland, with alot of experience with lurchers and greyhounds, who run a boarding came forward. Within a couple of days her new owner was down and picking her up. The other day I went to see her, and what a chunky girl she is now! Shes gained around 3kg, and although it doesn't seem much, trust me it is! She even has little rolls of fat as she lays down, as opposed to being able to see all of her ribs and spine. It was so lovely seeing her and she greeted me with a smile and plenty of cuddles. The best thing was I got to see her in her new home, living the life of luxury, spoilt to her own living chair and her own space on the sofa next to her new owner. Living in the countryside, with an enclosed run where she can play chase. It really did make me smile and her new owner was so happy to have taken her in and I think we all must say it was fate they all found each other. From huge lurchers to a medium staffie x whippet is a bit of a change but she seems very happy in her new home and so do her owners. I've forgot to fetch my camera wire with me but as soon as I get home I will post on here the pictures of her and me :) 

Currently in rescue:

Roxy - 1 year old loveable labrador cross
Patch - 6 year old collie cross
Barnaby - 2 year old collie x jack russel
Misha - 5 year old staffie
Doris and Dixie - Pair of 10 year old jack russels
Cinders - 10 year old poodle cross

Vikki - 1 year old jack russel x chihuahua 

Bobby - 2 year old yorkie

Biscuit - 9 month old mastiff x

Baxy - 5 year old yorkshire terrier

Tolley - 16 month old border collie

Boo - 2 year old collie

Gilbert - 2 year old patterdale

Benji - 7 year old yorkshire terrier

Max - 5 year old agility jack russel 

Hugo - 2 year old jack russel

Bert - 5 year old labrador x collie

Away

So I know I said I would post more now I'm on holiday but think I may just make it a complete break. As far as I'm aware Oscar is doing fine at home and after buying him a gentlelead he is walking much better on walks and no longer pulls as bad (according to my dad), however he has tried to get it off which has led to him running off on a walk to get to another dog, who he just barked at. Thats all I can say about Oscar for now anyway, as far as I'm aware nobody has registered interest in the poor pup but he will get rehomed eventually. 

Now haven't posted this for the last few posts as haven't had the time but I'll try get back into it now.
Currently in rescue:

Roxy - 1 year old loveable labrador cross
Patch - 6 year old collie cross
Barnaby - 2 year old collie x jack russel
Misha - 5 year old staffie
Doris and Dixie - Pair of 10 year old jack russels
Cinders - 10 year old poodle cross

Vikki - 1 year old jack russel x chihuahua 

Bobby - 2 year old yorkie

Timmy Tucker - elderly miniature poodle

Joey - 10 month old collie x

Biscuit - 9 month old mastiff x

Baxy - 5 year old yorkshire terrier

Tolley - 16 month old border collie

Boo - 2 year old collie

Alfie - 4 year old border terrier

Gilbert - 2 year old patterdale

Benji - 7 year old yorkshire terrier

Max - 5 year old agility jack russel 

Hugo - 2 year old jack russel

Building a Routine

Rescue is never easy and that means neither does being a foster but it is so rewarding! The hardest part of being a foster isn't when they go to their new homes, its the challenging dogs you get in. The fact that every dog you get in is different and you need to learn how to treat each dog. But imagine how much you get to learn, imagine the feeling when a dog comes in a mess and goes out a totally different dog. Take Bunny... everyone remembers Easter Bunny. When Bunny first came into rescue, she hid in my tiny 'hallway' (if it can be called that) and would go nowhere near people. As soon as we let her outside with Tinks, I knew she was going to be a great dog. She jumped for joy and ran like there was no tomorrow but still inside she would not approach humans. After a couple of weeks I could get her to come over to me with a treat in my hand, but still when people came to view her she was very wary. It didn't stop the lovely couple who ended up taking her all the way up to Scotland. Less than 6 months on Bunny is a changed girl, she is their pride and joy and a really mischievous young girl! She has ruined a load of their things but not their lives! The best thing about Bunny is the frequent updates I get from the couples daughter, who is now pregnant. Bunny is so loyal and loving she knows and has been resting her head on her stomach. I will never forget Bunny but her story is truly one of pure joy in rescue.

Anyway I got a bit off track there, I was going to say about Oscar. Oscar is hard work, even by my standards. He is so hyperactive and can go from calm to mouthing/biting in a matter of minutes. Although he does not intend harm and is only trying to play, hes a hyper boy and I don't think he realises it at times! We're still getting round to finding a way to stop this, at the moment its all about ignoring him when these behaviours come into play. We did try lemon juice to stop mouthing the hands but it turns out he loves it! He tries to go near the little juice bottle and then although he pulls a funny face when its in his mouth he comes back for more! We will get there though but he will need continuous training and I can't reiterate that enough. Thankfully the routine we're settling in now is preventing any more food agression problems. In the morning Oscar is crated for his biscuits while I eat my breakfast, then in the afternoon it is similar. Oscar is crated while I make and eat tea and then has his biscuits, while my girls have their food in the other room. So far it is working well and he's had no more problems with our Sal, in fact he just keeps trying to play with her, much to her dismay. Even if she growls at him and tells him no he just ignores her and tries to play. Obviously this boy is very dog friendly, as long as food isn't involved. Although it is bad me listing all his problems, none of these are not solvable in time! I mean when Oscar first came in he wouldn't sit still for a minute, right now he is curled up next to me fast asleep. In a loving home this boy wil be just fine and we will find that for him! 

I think thats all for now, I need to do a full rescue update at some point but I will get round to that next week when I have more time... I am going away on Thursday, dogsitting i Scotland so I will still have internet access to keep you updated on the rescue but I'm leaving Oscar with my dad so can only give small updates on him based on what my dad says

Lucy, Tinks, Sally and Oscar x

Too tired....

... so sorry for the lack of updates and any mistakes made in this post haha. Oscar is doing well and seems to be settling down a lot, although he still nips ankles when he gets excited and does mouth he is calming down slightly when greeting people. I'm really proud of him in all honesty as today he has been left for 7 hours (an unusual occurence) and not only did he not destroy anything, he hasn't had any accidents.

After discussing with Kathy we have decided Oscar will need experienced owners. He is starting to show signs of food agression and is starting to get possessive over the kitchen, especially with our old girl, Sally. I am thinking this may be because he knows she is vulnerable as he is fine with Tinks so he will only be rehomed with another dog similar to him, preferably bigger. Oscar is hard work with his high energy requirements and as I've said before needs a lot of time and patience put in to him. He will make the perfect dog to someone who has the time to give him everything he needs. He can walk for miles but when it comes to bed time he loves to snuggle up for a cuddle under the sheets! Although he can't go to young children as he is too boisterous, he would do well with teenagers who have as much energy as him! 

Lucy, Tinks, Sally and Oscar x