Sylvia's Diary 23-01-25

I can hardly put the phone down without another call coming in wanting us to take dogs. We cannot make space until others leave, but others cannot leave unless vet treatments are done and either a foster home comes forward, or the right match for a new home comes forward. It is me who makes that decision. I decide this by

1. seeing how urgent the call is
2. whether the dog is being PTS
3. whether the dog has problems meeting and greeting people and dogs

Of course, this is so clinical on the phone, but if people turn up with a dog in tow it’s much harder. If the police call with a sad story, it's so hard. Strangely enough, if the dog has the name of one of my beloved dogs it's hard. Actually, looking back on my post and reading it, it’s all hard.

I have often said that the nights are the hardest, but last night all I kept repeatedly dreaming of were specific dogs from calls the previous day; all in terrible circumstances and all about to die. Today the phone has been red hot with calls again. We had to drive over three and a half hours to pick up one little dog. The roads were closed because of a serious accident and the back roads were full of traffic. When we finally got home the poor little dog was so scared after travelling on her own with no other dogs or familiar humans. I put her in a very warm kennel to de-compress.

I almost feel cursed mentioning the calls, for last night was the best example ever of calls. I have started logging them in a book by my bed, as they worry me so much. Firstly, in case I forget to mention anything the next day, and secondly worrying about the dogs or people involved.. or even seagull! Last night it started early around 7 or 8. A young German Shepherd was being fed in a crate, and a baby crawled over and put their hand in the crate and food and the dog bit the child's hand. I was told that the dog had to go. I tried to calmly talk to them and gave them other places to call. I explained that until after the weekend there were no spare kennels, so asked them to call back Monday if they had no success finding a place.

The second call was at 11.30ish, a seagull was caught and hanging from a lamp post and no one would help. It was all the way in Cardigan, and they did not know what to do. In the end I suggested to call the fire station to see if they would help. I have not heard back what happened. 

1.15am, another call about a man in hospital. They agreed to call back in the morning. Just when I started drifting off around 3am, some unkind person called putting the phone down each time I answered after screeches of laughter (it seems weird to get your kicks out of waking another.) After three times it stopped. I think I fell asleep at around 4am, but I got up shortly after.

This morning when the staff came in, I told them of the calls and then set about organising the day. A lot of this took place yesterday, and I am keen to see if what I put in place went well. There are a lot of adoptions today, so I am hoping for a lot of happy dogs and people.

We seem to have many dogs here that don’t trust. Building trust is VERY hard and takes time. If the trust is broken it seems to be the same as humans, it takes a long time to rebuild and is never forgotten.  I once had a GSD pup who was a normal gregarious, naughty pup. He was racing about my kitchen doing zoomies, when he ran under a broom leant against the wall. It came down and smacked him on the bridge of his nose, he screamed with fear and pain, and I cuddled him to calm him. His poor nose came up in a huge lump for a good few days, then disappeared. However, the memory of what that broom did stayed with him forever. Months later, I took him to the stables to play around while I mucked out. I started sweeping the yard and he ran away squeaking in fear. I looked around in bewilderment, but there was no one there, just me and the broom. I put the broom down and went to comfort him, which he accepted gratefully, but when we walked near the broom he darted away again. Ace, my GSD never ever liked brooms, even as a mature dog he would move as far as he could to get away. Even with very slow de-sensory training we never completely made a breakthrough.

Midnight was another who as only a pup must have been caught with a pole with a slip device that pulls tight and dragged to a cage. She arrived with us as a mess, and 16 months later had no adoption applications that were suitable. Eventually, because she could be run from yard to yard then to my house, I took her on. It has taken many years of patience and trust on her behalf for us to be able to put a lead on her and walk her. Now still only a very few can do this. She is special, but what man once did to her has never been forgotten. Thankfully she loves me, and me her, and will sleep in my room if I am in there too, but won't get up on the bed, though invited.

Yesterday was really busy. We had adoptions, and a few dogs brought in, including a darling cav pup unsold because he has an eye condition. A specialist vet came to help us and first, he saw a hand raised pup that was not doing too well, then a very sweet cavalier who needs slipping patella surgery. He then saw a schnauzer who had had a serious accident, but was recovering. Lastly he saw a chow to see if he had cruciate problems. The cost of going to a specialist for all these preliminary examinations would have run past £1000, but this kind vet will probably charge half of that. We are so grateful to these vets who step forward and help from time to time, as we really seem to get enormous specialist bills every month.

I look forward to Saturday nights, it’s like a special night for Bill and I. We try not to work too late and try to watch a movie. However last night when ¾ of the way through “The Bank of Dave” a great little movie, the phone rang. The police had found a dog and had nowhere to put her. I agreed to meet them outside the gate. They came in cuddling a poor emaciated little stinking dog. The police were wonderful, compassionate folks. Every time the police bring a dog they are so caring and worried for the dog, and these two officers were the same. When they left, I snuggled Angel, (the name I gave her) and gave her food and water. She went to the water and drank and drank. This worried me, as she is razor thin, just backbone and rib cage and belly. However, I left her, checked on a pregnant dog, watched the end of the movie and worried. By 3am I was so worried to wake Bill and our pack of dogs that I lay worrying until I could worry no more. I got up, dressed and let our dogs out, and Bill got up too. We checked the pregnant mum (still pregnant) and went to see Angel, who was pleased to see us too. We did our chores, and I then got Angel. She stank of rotten meat. I bathed her and found that the smell was dried and congealed pus and blood. She had been attacked and under the furry matted mess was the puncture holes and infected skin. It all fell away with warm water; pressure sores or bites were also visible. The side of her nose was so swollen and she had a damaged, possibly blind eye. I think this could have been from being attacked. Was she thrown away as she needed veterinary attention? I don’t know. She is having urine and blood tests that hopefully will tell us why she drinks so much. She’s a poor little dog, but thankfully arrived here where we can give her the best veterinary attention.

I look forward to Saturday nights, it’s like a special night for Bill and I. We try not to work too late and try to watch a movie. However last night when ¾ of the way through “The Bank of Dave” a great little movie, the phone rang. The police had found a dog and had nowhere to put her. I agreed to meet them outside the gate. They came in cuddling a poor emaciated little stinking dog. The police were wonderful, compassionate folks. Every time the police bring a dog they are so caring and worried for the dog, and these two officers were the same. When they left, I snuggled Angel, (the name I gave her) and gave her food and water. She went to the water and drank and drank. This worried me, as she is razor thin, just backbone and rib cage and belly. However, I left her, checked on a pregnant dog, watched the end of the movie and worried. By 3am I was so worried to wake Bill and our pack of dogs that I lay worrying until I could worry no more. I got up, dressed and let our dogs out, and Bill got up too. We checked the pregnant mum (still pregnant) and went to see Angel, who was pleased to see us too. We did our chores, and I then got Angel. She stank of rotten meat. I bathed her and found that the smell was dried and congealed pus and blood. She had been attacked and under the furry matted mess was the puncture holes and infected skin. It all fell away with warm water; pressure sores or bites were also visible. The side of her nose was so swollen and she had a damaged, possibly blind eye. I think this could have been from being attacked. Was she thrown away as she needed veterinary attention? I don’t know. She is having urine and blood tests that hopefully will tell us why she drinks so much. She’s a poor little dog, but thankfully arrived here where we can give her the best veterinary attention.

One of the shows which is a two-day show is run from Newbury Showgrounds, it's run by Thames Agility Club and they have always let us be there for free, which we are so grateful for. For this show, we arrive on the Friday to set up for the weekend of the 7th and 8th of June. If you would like to help, please email at swvanatta@gmail.com.  

The pile of washing is so great that it’s overflowing down the path from the wash box mountain. Three washing machines, three dryers, but still not getting to the bottom of the pile. I have asked around other rescues to find many use vet bed as it washes and dries easily, but this also is expensive. We get donated bedding, and a lot are duvets, but unless cut up in four, with the ends sewn, it’s a real expense to use on little dogs. Once they pee on them, the whole duvet has to be thrown, as we cannot wash and dry it, but then the rubbish people have to be paid. It’s an onward nightmare. However, it is all worth the worry and time to see dogs snuggled in lovely beds that are cleaned two to three times a day so they are always clean and happy.

There have been many happy moments this week. Some very special dogs were adopted. When you are the one who picks them up, travels with them, watches them in the rescue finding their feet and sees them being spayed or neutered, and then are lucky enough to be involved with the adoption, this is what makes you carry on. One is Eagle, who I have included a photo of.

Our beautiful boy, Orfeas is still needing a home. He did have leishmania in Cyprus and had all of the appropriate medicines until he was clear. However, being upsetcan make it flare up, so we were provided with three months extra and we can retest again. Please don’t be put off, this guy needs a special home and a kind canine girlfriend. If he is adopted locally, we will gladly let him come to our vet for blood tests and medicines at cost if he needs them. If adopted from further afield, we would offer the same if he needed medicines with a prescription. He just needs a taste of a home, love, and kindness, not in a rescue home. One day someone will come forward, and I think everyone here will rejoice.

Just as I was finishing my diary I was called to come to the vets. There were four staff with arms draped in towels awaiting a c-section. The mum who was having the caesarean is a chihuahua, probably crossed with a cav. She was having a hard time delivering pups on her own. The staff are given a pup that the vet drops into a towel, so that the vet remains sterile to get the next puppy out. Then those pups’ lives are in the staff’s hands. The mum if conscious would lick the pup and her tongue would even get any phlegm out of the pups throats and crevices. Now, though dedicated, we don’t do that. We rub with a towel and get them breathing, clear their airways, and tie the umbilical cord. Then they are laid in a heated box until mum can come round from her anaesthetic and can care for these darlings. Just a footnote, WE DO NOT BREED PUPS. This little girl came in pregnant. We were not told, and only when she went to be spayed did we see she was pregnant. We scanned, saw heartbeats, and took her off the table. We called the previous owner who admitted she was mated by a cavalier. Now sleepless nights are ahead for me, checking on these darlings.

Now right as the day is winding down, Mowgli has come in. He’s a lab pup who had puppy strangles, which is like human mumps. We will be helping him on the road to recovery.

Thank you for bothering to read this diary. I hope your week brings you sunshine, even if the weather doesn’t. Without you all Many Tears would be lost.
Sylvia x