Sylvia's Diary 17-10-24

The vets have been incredibly busy with spaying and neutering, nasal wedges, entropion eyes, hernias, plus removal of lumps and life saving surgeries. Running the surgery is challenging to say the least. The vets, some volunteers, paid staff, nurses and helpers work so hard to pay attention and not let anything slip by. The dogs receive their pre-meds and are operated on and recover in our vets office, whilst others come in for health checks and weighing. I have been a vet’s helper myself on many occasions and if someone's ill and we are understaffed, I often step in. I can tell you first hand, it is exhausting. 

For me the days the vets are not working, which at the most are only two days a week, are like a holiday. The other days, I go into the surgery an hour and a half before they start. I deflate the intubation tubes that have been used the day before and make sure the rooms are warm enough, amongst other duties. I call in the first few dogs of the day, make sure the correct paperwork is there and ready, and so much more to try to help ensure it is smooth running for the day, and to make the surgery (which is VERY expensive to run) as efficient as possible. 

The drugs ordered daily often add up to £14,000 a month. This and wages plus outside vet bills are extremely heavy but also necessary. We then have a meds person who has a sheet the vets issued with the drugs needed per day and per dog. This could be ear or eye drops, pain relief, antibiotics or special baths and so much more. Some dogs receive eye drops every few hours till eyes settle. So, the meds person is also extremely busy with their book of over 50 dogs needing meds of some sort or other per day to issue, and nearly all needing the meds at least twice a day.

The people who have volunteered with us see how hard the staff work and truly understand the intricate planning that’s needed to organize each day. However, without being here it's hard for me to just tell you in my diary. This is why I thought I would tell you about the opportunity to come and volunteer with us and how good it can be, as I see no negatives. This is especially for those who live far away. We are based in Wales near mountains and beaches. We have over 30 acres to walk dogs in, by streams, woodland and fields. We have a hook up for campervans and a spot by the stream for tents. We are NOT a campsite, so after a hard but VERY rewarding day you would have peace.

The dogs are the rainbows of your soul… A working day between a staff member and a dog gives them time to learn to love and the ability to start to trust. For you it will give you a sense of purpose, a way to be creative and think of ways to help further, and a great restful and peaceful night knowing you have done your best. We would need you to book in advance and would ask you to only bring your own dog(s) if you can leave them in your camper, etc while working, as they cannot walk around the kennels. Please think about this for next summer, as the dogs and us need your help. We would love more people to help Many Tears and to understand our work goals, and hopes for the future, where all dogs would be loved, respected and enjoyed.

We homed Tilly the other day to a wonderful home. Tilly was rescued in Ukraine when the war broke out. Very sadly, Tilly watched the front door of her new home, saw her chances, and ran the second the door was slightly ajar. Everyone was worried. We jiggled the staff around, grabbed her kennel buddy and two staff went off to try and find her. It was so terribly sad and we were all terrified of what could happen to our sweet Tilly. Chelsea, our yard manager and Joe took off with Tilly's kennel mate in the van and a spare crate, a trap, cable ties and food. On arrival they scouted around and found a covered open barn near where Tilly had been seen. They set the trap and put her kennel friend in a crate beside it.  The crate was cable tied up, so it was really safe and they then stepped away and waited. 

Either Tilly was watching from afar or she smelt or heard her kennel mate, but within no time she appeared and went to her friend then to the food inside the trap and then finally, she was caught. WHAT A RESULT. Back at the rescue we were all cheering.  Now Tilly has gone back to her adopter, with Bryony, a lady who knows Tilly well and worked with War Paws and Tilly in Ukraine and with their back up as well as Many Tears of course. Chelsea and Joe are the heroes of the day but all the staff cared so much, as I knew they would - it's truly heart warming to watch.

We have had the usual stream of dogs being called in and arriving. Most have been very sad dogs, with very sad stories. Last week I picked up a red cocker who has been a breeding dog all her life, despite the fact she was living in a council flat. I picked her up with her friend who also had been used for breeding. This was a private home who had not bought her or acquired her to love and cherish but to use. When I drove her home, I was so worried, she looked like she had given up on life. She would not even raise her head. Her body was covered in urine and her eyes crusty with infection. 

On arriving home, I bathed her as the vet was busy and the water ran yellow off her. Three shampoos and rinses later and a blow dry revealed a scrawny dry-eyed cocker with entropion. The vet examined her, and we weighed her and gave the normal health check and all this week she’s had three meals a day. Today she has turned a corner, she is interested in life again and me. There are many dogs like her that go unnoticed, as the owners do not require a breeding license as they only breed a few. I really don’t understand the logic of that. Surely if only one, or one of many, every life is precious and should be properly cared for.

Two tiny little, microscopic chihuahua pups arrived. They have some sort of jean missing which means they are hairless. Everyone adores them, we even have the biggest man swooning over them, wheelchair bound people cuddling them, and staff with them snuggled in their pockets. Every time I visit them in their kennel they are missing. When you see their pictures, you will understand how they steal everyone’s heart.

Now onto biting dogs. None of us want one but some of us have got one. Some get rid of or have the vet put them to sleep, others manage them. Managing them is a matter of not making mistakes and not putting them in a situation that enables them to bite someone or something. My biter is Stan, he is a Russian black terrier who bites before he thinks. By 5 months old he was showing this trait, which is what this breed was originally bred for. The Russian army bred them, I believe solely as a working dog. They crossed Giant Schnauzers, Airdates, Rottweilers, and Caucasian shepherd dogs, plus one or two other breeds to achieve a dog that was fit for their purpose. I have had Stan a good 9 years now, and before I knew what he would do he was treated like any other dog I had. However, even as a young dog he was top of the litter, the one who ensured his needs were met first. 

We homed all his litter very carefully but when it got to Stan he stayed and stayed. We had him indoors with us before we found out what he could do. The first time it happened we thought it was a surprise reaction, as he came up suddenly on someone. The second time we realised it was in him to do this to people he did not know. He was taught to wear a muzzle; security measures were put on gates, doors etc so no one could walk in and make a mistake. 9 years have passed and I know if Bill or I mess up, then Stan probably will too. His life is literally in our hands. Everyone who knows Stan loves him, those who don’t know him, don’t ever get the chance, as one mistake could end his life. Now after all these years of him not biting one may think he’s cured, but I won’t play Russian roulette with our Russian black. I treat his care with respect and caution, so he can remain with this pack of humans and dogs till he crosses the rainbow bridge. My ethos is once the dog is with you it's like a marriage, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death we do part.

This week I am asking you to take a few minutes and consider something you’d rather not even ever think about. I won’t go into the graphic details, but there truly are some. Products you use are tested on animals, and without you knowing.. It's been proven that as animals are not made up like humans, these tests that include extreme suffering and cruelty are ridiculous, non-scientific, and barbaric, yet they go on and on. Only some of the UK public will give a minute to voice their distaste for this. However today I am asking you to sign a petition as the Welsh government DO fund some of this research and may fund more. However, they will cut funding for all sorts of other things so they can meet their budgets. Please take a minute to read the link and info and if you agree to sign the petition, do it for yourself and all of the suffering animals, including the beautiful gentle beagles that once have suffered, who will most likely end up in the bin as a means to an end of their already painful life. As you see this is something that matters a lot to me and I feel for any dog lover. https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246343 

Sadly, this year we have had so many cats and kittens called in, nearly all dumped and some because people were moving and not wanting or able to take their feline friends. These cats can range from moggies to posh cats, Persians, Ragdolls, and Russian Blues to name but a few. Nearly all come in uncastrated or unspayed. Before we rehome an animal, unless they are too young, we spay and neuter, microchip and worm. The kittens go with signed declarations to get them fixed at 16 weeks. Sadly, up here in Wales many consider them to be vermin. Now they have brought in compulsory microchipping but to be honest I have found that the dogs that are unchipped, and returned to their owners one way or another, don’t even get a slap on the wrist by anyone. Funny how someone can make a law that no ones going to follow up on, but to get something banned, vivisection, etc it’s almost impossible.

Star, our little Bichon, is a brave little trooper. Her wounds are healing, though I think she will lose a third of her tail as it's gone dead. She was mauled before coming here, and I really thought we could lose her as the infection stunk. The minute I saw her I smelt her too, however, the antibiotics and care seemed to be working thanks to our vet and the care of the staff. 

Quarrel, our grieving horse is still much the same. Alex the horse yard manager is going to visit a 25-year-old Welsh cob, whose owner cannot care for her and she is in great risk of being PTS. We try to send staff or a vet to visit, before we say yes, as it's not fair to an equine or us to bring a new horse in just to find it would have been kinder to put him or her to sleep if suffering. Hopefully I will have good news about that next week.

So that’s another wet dreary week passed. Every day I worry but knowing the people who read this care and want to make this a kinder, more humane world for our animals helps.

THANK YOU
Sylvia