Strange how things happen when you least expect them too.
Having been in the depths of misery since old Motlie died, I was getting used to not having him around when one day a friend told me that her mum had lost her little dog and did I know if 'the kennels' I got my dogs from had a little old dog that might suite her. The kennels being, the Canine Defence League Kennels at Roden. I rang them and had a chat to old friends and we talked about Fizz, Gracie and Lottie who came to live with me from there and who are really enjoying agility and holidays in the caravan.
I was told of a little 'sweetie' who was ten years old and who needed a good home, however my friend's mum had decided the time was not right for her and so was not looking for another dog. A very responsible decision, as you can never replace a lost doggie friend however hard you try and it is a dangerous thing to try and do. It leads to disappointment and resentment when the new dog does not shape up into being the dog that has died.
As I hadn't been to Roden for a while, I popped the dogs in the car a couple of weeks later and went to the kennels. In the meantime, Jan, the manageress there had sent me some photos of the little dog and I must admit he looked more like a little alien than a dog. His name was Turtle, which puzzled me a bit!
As usual, the NCDL staff welcomed the dogs with open arms and were pleased to see they were looking and doing well. Round the corner came a little dog, with grey, thin spiky coat, limping and woofing fit to bust. The NCDL didn't know too much about his background. It seems that The NCDL at Roden, go up to Manchester and collect 20 to 30 dogs a time and bring them back to the kennels so they are not put down and try to give them a chance for rehoming in a different area. It gives you an idea of how dog charities are swamped in some areas and how others try to help out by doing this sort of thing. And remember they are a charity and rely on public support and YOUR
donations. (I hope this story makes you rush to join the NCDL if you are not already a member).
It turns out that Turtle was added to the bunch destined for Roden. Ten years old and had been on the streets trying to survive for a long time. He was underweight, with arthritic elbows and an old fracture above the right elbow that had not healed properly so he is forced to walk with an odd gait and limp. It seems he wouldn't eat to begin with, but after his veterinary check he had a dental (and was neutered) he began to eat properly and liked plenty of it. The vet was worried about the old fracture and felt that amputation was an option. The girls at Roden who looked after Turtle decided to take him out of the main kennels and have him in the 'house', where they live and keep the old or poorly dogs. He was started on anti-inflammatory drugs and it was a 'wait and see' situation. I know nurses are often called 'angels' but I think that title should be extended to those people who work or help the animal charities as those girls saved this little dogs life and have done that many times before in other situations; real unsung heroes. I asked how this dog had come to be called Turtle and it seems that the dogs have no name when they arrive so the day before they do, the kennel staff look through magazines and papers to collect names for the dogs so they start at the kennels with a name of their own. This little dog landed at T in the alphabet and was called Turtle.
As I was about to go on my 'end of dog show holiday' to Dartmoor with my dogs, I could not take Turtle home that day. Somehow amongst the conversation, being told this dogs storey and sitting on the floor with him cuddled up to me as close as possible, I had heard myself say 'I can offer him' a home! I felt that I had always been so lucky with the dogs I have had from Roden and that they have given me and taught me so much, that it was time to give something back and offer an old and disabled dog a comfortable home for the rest of his life. So the scene was set for a collection the weekend after my dogs had had their holiday. To do anything else would have been too unsettling for a traumatised dog and anyway our dog holiday means walking on the moor every day and Turtle certainly couldn't do that.
We had a great holiday; my dogs' love the caravan and little legs or not fifteen mile walks means nothing to them. We also visited some National Trust gardens and had some lovely walks in beautiful settings. While we were there it was reported on the radio that the National Trust was thinking of banning dogs from their gardens because some dog owners do not pick up after their dogs, shame on those dog owners, what does it take to pick up after a dog, (I always carry nappy sacs), it is after all part of the package of care an owner should give to their dog! Sometimes I despair at the human race.
Most evenings in the caravan was filled with a variety of snoring sounds, (theirs).
The day came to pick Turtle up and so I packed the back of the car with a duvet and soft dog beds. As his legs are so vulnerable I wanted to be sure his ride home would be comfortable. The drive to get him was a nightmare, talk about being tested! Lines of traffic lights and accidents on the way, Roden is 75 miles from where I live.
Once there, paperwork done, Turtle wondering where his tea was and anxious about being in a car that was 'taking him away'. Once on the road he settled down with a resignation that really no one could do anything worse to him that hadn't happened already. The look a very traumatised and defeated dog will give when they are resigned to bad treatment as the norm.
As we drove along my thoughts went to Motlie. I had thought about taking an old dog in very carefully so soon after losing an old and special friend. I was satisfied that this little dog had just been in the right place at the right time, perhaps it was his time for a bit of luck. He was not replacing Motlie, just a dog needing a lot of nursing care and a nice home and I could certainly give him that. I think Motlie would approve.
By the way as Turtle and I drove out of the gates at Roden, His name became TRAMP!
By the time we arrived home, it was twilight. Not the best time to introduce a new dog to an established household. I let my five dogs out into the garden and once they had settled down I took Tramp out of the car and sat with him on my lap, in the garden until each dog had been introduced quietly and calmly. The old boy took it all in his stride. Once that was over I put him on the ground, on the lead and walked him round the garden and then the cottage. My dogs are real dears and all being rescues they have only ever been welcoming to a new dog into their home. The next thing to happen was tea! Bowls full, heads down and munching noises coming from the kitchen meant that Tramp would now slowly be brought into the routines of his new home so he could draw some security from them as time went by.
Surprisingly, we all had a good nights sleep. All my dogs have their own 'bedroom basket' as I don't see the point of having a dog behind a door away from you at night. There are security issues for the dog, especially a traumatised dog and also real security issues for the house if someone breaks in and the dog is behind a door somewhere. Don't get me wrong, the dogs sleep in their baskets; but we always have a cuddle in the morning, (I tell myself it is 'pack bonding').
The days that followed involved the quiet introduction of Tramp to our home routines. Early morning walk in the forestry, breakfast, quiet times during the day, lunchtime biscuits and teatime walk and supper. The basic stuff! Extra walks are often the norm but each evening we play games which can help a traumatised dog relax and gives me a chance to see the level of concern the dog has, as many rescue dogs do not know how to play but are just resigned to being treated badly. Tramp was too worried about his situation to consider playing so he was given a massage each day to try and convince him he was safe and give him a little bit of pleasure.
Next stop the vet to introduce him and have him checked out. I am lucky that our vet Kate and her partner Lisa will always give an animal a 120% chance and pull all the stops out if needed. What is so reassuring is that everyone who works at the vet's surgery has the same caring attitude. Tramp was given his Old Age Pensioner check and treatment for his arthritis and old fracture was decided upon. That was six weeks ago now and when I took Tramp back for a check to see how he was doing the verdict was 'remarkably well', so that was nice to hear.
In those six weeks old Tramp has learnt to sit, down and come. His coat is growing and I think he will be a handsome boy in a few months time. He loves his grub and his weight is about right for his body now. He started playing with a ball two weeks after he arrived and now has a grand collection of toys that he calls his own. He has learnt to walk well but with a very odd gait and manages sometimes a good hours walk in the forestry with me carrying him if he gets tired. All in all it's so far so good. Slowly Tramp is telling me his story and gives me clues as to what has happened in his life. He will, (I hope), in time trust me enough to be sure that he is staying with us and that he will never have to deal with bad treatment again; but that will take a long time.
The other dogs have welcomed him into their home with no reservations. Tramp is happy with the new company and has found a place in the pecking order that he is comfortable with. The rest of Tramp's story can only be told with the passage of time but I think he is ready to give us a chance to make the senior part of his life a happy one.
WHEN A TELLY TUBBY CAME TO STAY
La La's Story
I think the telephone call went something like this; 'we have a nine months old toy poodle pup in, are you interested? Common sense would have said no but somehow I found myself in my car on the road to Roden NCDL once again.
Pulling in to the kennels, I was aware that everyone was more than busy, five weeks to Christmas means that many people shed their lifelong responsibilities and dump or just 'out' their dog. Quite often it is an old dog that will shortly be replaced by a new puppy, just for the Christmas period others will be got rid of because the family have decided to go on holiday. Some reasons I have heard would just make you sick! Many of those bought for Christmas are dumped soon afterwards, some people will be responsible and find a place like Roden where they at least will be safe until they are hopefully rehomed. Sadly, the NCDL, kennels are sometimes full, like today.
I have seen the kennel staff distressed, angry and frustrated at situations that they have to deal with, but always (because I couldn't) they deal with the public in a courteous manner.
Round the corner came a 'Whirling Dervish', the size of a hamster, called LaLa, supposedly Apricot but white with apricot ears. I was quite pleased that Tinkiwinkie, Dipsy and Poe didn't follow. Unsure about walking on the floor, this little bundle seemed as though she had not been on the ground very much. Someone had been very responsible with her and brought her to Roden because they could not cope any more. Now Roden was full and that puts the kennels under great stress because they cannot respond as quickly as they like to when other dogs need some help.
The 'Whirling Dervish' just kept whirling, by the time all the paperwork was done she was just considering becoming quiet and as I pulled out of the kennels she decided it was time for a sleep. Good for me because when she next woke up, we were pulling up outside the cottage.
As usual, quiet introductions, all mine pleased to see her and teatime cemented the acceptance. A walk in the forest the next morning after a very civilised night, was amusing. LaLa tried to walk while shaking all of her feet. By the end of the walk she was resigned to getting her feet wet but then stood in a deep pile of mud and sank to her tummy. She takes it all in her stride now.
Getting LaLa to eat properly took a while. She would be sick after every small meal. So after finding a food that really suited her it was a matter of tiny meals until she could cope with proper amounts. She was very thin so the introduction of good nutrition was vital. She had a strange coat just like 'felt', that was difficult to groom. As she began to eat more, the 'felt coat' began to release and her proper coat was left. Sometimes a puppy that has not had appropriate nutrition will hold onto its first fluffy, down like coat and it does not release as the months go by. When the nutrition improves the pups' body kicks into its proper cycle of growth and the adolescent coat comes through properly.
LaLa hasn't looked back. She has had her introductory vet check with Brita, another of our vets' and passed with flying colours. All she needs to do now is to be gently socialised and taught the basic manners. She plays endlessly with my miniature poodle Fizz and is quite fearless. The only fear she has at present is when I go to touch her neck. We will sort that out in time. Lots of play and collar on and off will help. No bad experiences will gain her confidence. I sat and watched LaLa, Fizz and Lottie play with each other yesterday. They have a bed that is a car, and they can get under the dashboard bit and hide. It was like watching three children who were playing hide and seek.
It is now December, the season of good cheer--- but not for everyone, especially if you are an unwanted dog.
Mine are the lucky ones', give some thought to the ones we left behind and the kennels that deal with heartbreak every day.
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