Sylvia's Diary 18-07-24

This week’s diary is one of the worst I have had to write. Some will not want to read this, others may be curious. However please don’t read if you already feel down.  On the way to the show last week, I had a hands-free call to say Guajiro (or Mr G) our amazing Andalusian horse had had an accident. I pulled into Cobham services tearful and shaking and composed myself. Frankly, my canine buddy sensed something was terribly wrong and came and snuggled up to me fussing around me and I called home to find out more.  

I was told in the night he was in the same field he had always been in and he had slipped or rolled on the ground, getting his hooves and legs caught through the boundary sheep wire fencing.  They had cut him out and got him up but his body was trembling and shaking, especially a shoulder muscle. They got him back home and the vet came and they thought all was ok and that he had a sort of pins and needles for having laid on his shoulder so long.  

Mr G has had extensive operations and chemotherapy over the last few years and before this accident was doing very well.  I worried but had to get to the show so I continued my journey, worked hard there and came home. I went to cuddle this amazing horse. He seemed ok though his shoulder still quivered.

Each day he was walked around and though there were times his expression was different, he was eating drinking and there was no indication of what was about to happen. He went out on a walk and he laid down. They got him up and called the vet who diagnosed severe colic and after hours of trying to decide what to do, as transporting him to a horse vet centre was a poor option for him, we decided to put him to sleep.  I led him down the field but here he actually perked up and the vet and I decided to take him back to his stable.  However once back a sudden stream of yellow grime flowed out of his nose and vet said he had to be put to sleep right away.  So I walked him back down told him how much I loved him and said goodbye. 19 years of love on both our behalves.

Hundreds of people who visited over the years have been delighted by his clever, kind ways and now it was all over. I am sobbing as I write.  I am not sure how many more hits are in front of me but also not sure how many more I can stand.  The vet thinks he had a partial twist in his gut that had died back from his last accident and was not detected. I can no longer walk down to the field. It's all just too sad right now.

I did not want to but had to keep going, for the dog’s sake.  Again we received call after call from people getting rid of their dogs or being forced to put their dogs to sleep. The stories and reasons for this range from human murders, home repossessions, divorces, the dog growing too big, too expensive, too unruly and I am sick of having to literally play God here. I take the responsibility of these calls on myself as don’t want anyone else to suffer the sleepless nights and sadness that comes from having to decide which dogs we can take in and which we cannot.

I set up Many Tears to help the ex-breeding dogs, bitches and unwanted pups from those dogs. I invite all breeders to come and see our set up here. I give advice if needed on giving the dogs toys, bedding, the importance of socialising, wormers, flea and tick treatments and hope that many have valued the time and effort we have made to take the dogs and openly show the work we do.  

Some breeders already do a good job socialising, exercising and giving their dogs enrichment.  I don’t discriminate which dogs I take, I welcome old or young.  I don’t buy dogs, order dogs or do this for any other reason other than wanting to help these dogs find great new homes. This week I have had hate mail, false allegations and unkindness.  One breeder in Ireland stood up in court after having been banned from breeding dogs 4 years ago having been found doing this yet again.  When asked where his excess dogs had gone, he named us and another person as taking his dogs but neither we nor the other person named had talked to him or been there for well over 4 years. We had not taken these dogs. One false statement and that’s what I got…. I don’t know what happened to the poor dogs that were no longer needed and wish I could have at least helped them but sadly I have been branded part of the puppy farming problem. 

Every single life is precious, I cannot understand why others so not see this. I am not a politician, I am not a dog warden or anything like that. I work tirelessly to help all dogs, especially the ex-breeding dogs.  I know those who have sent these terrible things to me are probably very pleased at how sad I am.  I am just so sorry they cannot understand Many Tears and our love, our compassion and dedication to these dogs. I am so sorry they wont shadow me and see what we do here, or cry with me and work with me, but choose not to try to understand at all.

Moses is now ready to be homed so on the website as from today. I know I will cry like a baby as he leaves but I know someone out there will have more time and love that does not need to be shared with so many dogs as I have already.

Dupree a long-term stayer with one of our staff was homed this week, as was Missy and also our special boy Hector who had been here over a year. It’s been busy and we are now awaiting more dogs that are either waiting to be picked up, being picked up or being brought in. Also, it's only days until we meet the dogs from Ukraine who all have a very special and terrible and frightening stories. They are only alive because of the charity War Paws and we look forward to meeting them and helping them.

Lastly, we are trying to find non spill water dishes for the vans as we transport dogs. Everything we have tried so far has proved a disaster. Some of the dogs want to chew and drag their bowl to the back, emptying the water on route. The metal non spill bowls are great but are too big. So we have found bowls and will drill small holes and attached them to the crates. We have put the bowls we need on our Amazon Wishlist. Or if you have one you don’t need you could send it to us.

Thank you again for your support in the last tough past weeks.  If you feel able to make a donation to keep us going please do. We are grateful for every penny that we receive.
Sylvia