Sylvia's Diary 31-10-24

It’s a new week and everyone is trying to catch Tilly the Ukrainian dog that the adopters sadly lost for the second time since she has been with them. These dogs have been through so much already; I guess you may call them damaged goods. Drones have been flown, wildlife cameras are set, sightings made, but all to no avail. Joyce and Chelsea were out at the crack of dawn but still no luck. It's a huge worry for all, especially Tilly. 

It’s now 8.14pm and Joyce, Chelsea and others have been tracking, searching, praying, and probably shedding a tear or two for Tilly who had been missing for well over 48 hours. She spooked on a walk when her new owner took his coat off and what memories that must have brought to her, we don’t know, but certainly she was in the thick of the Ukrainian war and she has not forgotten the terrors of it all. 

Tilly was sighted here and there on cameras, by neighbours and passers-by and last night by a bunch of staff who after work or on their day off and some paid staff, all witnessed her running through a field but sadly, nobody was able to catch her. She had gone back to her home at one point but the door was shut. Luckily, the cameras picked this up, so tonight, a door was left open for her. Her canine friend of two years was put in a crate in the hallway and Joyce sat in a car on the people’s beautifully manicured lawn (with their blessing). She had a rope set from her car rigged up to shut the door and Tilly appeared! Whilst Joyce was telling me the story, my heart rate was racing!!!! 

Tilly went around the car a number of times and Joyce sat as still as a statue. She put one paw into the house but backed out. Joyce’s heart was thumping so hard. She went back and put a few more paws in and then went all the way. Joyce was so worried - this was a one-off chance, if it failed she would run out and probably never try it again. Joyce made her move. Bang… the door was shut and Tilly was caught and safe! Next the staff group chat went mad and message after message of joy and thanks to all came in. So many amazing staff and of course Chelsea and Joyce who always had faith they could catch her. She’s on her way back to the centre now. Very sadly all the Ukrainian dogs will have to endure the fireworks that to them will sound like gunshots and bombs in the next few weeks.  Now it’s getting late. I must try to sleep if I can find some space on my bed! 

This week Joyce’s run to Ireland brought home a huge diversity of dogs from Dachshunds to Rhodesian Ridgebacks and so many others too. The horse program is going well with adults and children from special needs homes, home schooled children and groups all hoping to feel the magic of the horse, and they really do have this. There have also been so many desperate calls wanting us to pay for a surgery, requesting we take in dogs and cats and many threatening to put them to sleep if we don’t help, its so hard as we do as much. 

When pups come to us they can have very expensive problems. Some are born with hearts that have valves that don’t shut. The operation that is lifesaving is intricate and very often unsuccessful, sadly some never even get the chance as they never reach the right age or weight to operate. Those who do get a scan and an operation at the cost of £4,000-£6,000 and if that operation is successful, go on to live a long and normal life. Pups also come in with deformed limbs and juvenile cataracts, but the one I hate the most is the liver shunt pups. 

A liver shunt occurs when an abnormal connection persists to form a portal vein or one of its branches and allows blood to bypass or shunt around the liver. Sadly this not only causes huge problems for the pup, but even if it can be managed with a specific diet by around two years, usually a lot sooner, the poor dog will die a painful death. We send our pups to be operated on but this is very expensive, requires a specialist, and sadly not always possible or successful. Sweet Lux has been with us for months and only now have we found out he has a very unusual shunt. He now needs an MRI to even establish if an operation is possible. He is now with a Fosterer who has specialised in pups like this and thus is in the best possible hands till his next vets visit. He is one I do bother my God about for he needs all the help he can get. I posted a picture so he is in your thoughts and prayers too. His name is Lux.

Many years ago I ran a blog about what goes on at the rescue, however I stopped when certain individuals read and twisted my words, and started making a lot of trouble for me. One particular person started this bullying and unkindness a few years ago and we had to get a solicitor on to her. This year it’s started all over again. Some of the things that have happened to me have been so unkind and honestly their actions and words probably would have broken most. Now I have had a letter from DVLA saying a third party has said I am not fit to drive. I am assuming this person has read my blog and thought if I have a broken back, I must be on meds and therefore makes me unfit to drive and that the report could cause lots of trouble for me. Sadly for them, this is not the case and 16 weeks later I have only taken pain meds at the start and since then have chosen not to. 

My doctors never said I am not fit to drive, but the DVLA has sent pages and pages of questions and if I don’t answer they will take my licence. This sad individual thinks if I can't drive I wouldn't be able to collect the ex-breeders. Not only is that not true, as many of us have taken the required test to transport dogs via Ireland and the continent but I can drive just fine. This is just yet another thing I have to grin and bear.  However, I won’t stop writing my diary. Many of you would love to be here helping but cannot for one reason or another and writing it is a gateway for you all to feel more of a part of the work we all do, and the lives that we all can save.

Tonight is a very special night. We are helping 12 very special dogs that were rescued in Cyprus.  The rescue is called Sirius and this is not the first time we have worked with them. Hope is a very special feeling, without hope it’s hard to see a path for the future. I have worked in a place (in fact run it) where when I started there was no hope. Dogs and cats came in, they died, they weren't adopted and no one came to even look. The staff had no hope for their futures and believed putting the effort into the little time they were with us (which was just three days at the most for nearly all) was a waste of time. I led by example and showed them that dogs being loved, exercised, cared for and made comfortable really did matter, even if only for a few days. Things began to change, especially when the staff understood, and slowly they got back the hope for a future. Rescues abroad have a terrible time mirroring this practice and often the staff's morale is low. With helping, even if only now and then, not only can you help those dogs, but others too, because the staff start to feel hope which creates a happier and better environment, which benefits all involved.

Sirius rescue is a one of the rescues that have wonderful people but a really tough time. Their government is making it impossible to carry on. Dogs they rescued and nursed back to health are at the risk of having no rescue to live at and thus losing their lives. We cannot buy them their own government approved facility, but we can help a little. This is what our contact wrote about the situation, ‘"The law that was passed was clear. No building permit. No shelter. The deadline expires in September and then they start handing out fines. We don't know the amounts yet. Eventually they will close all the shelters down for not complying because for most of us it is impossible to get building permits and not for lack of trying. Since there are no alternatives for the dogs to have placement, they will euthanise, young, old, healthy, sick, big and small. Believe me we've been trying to find new premises for over a decade. The obstacles they place are deliberate and soul crushing."

There are 12 dogs coming to us but below are two of them. The pictures and videos speak for themselves. Just look at what they had to deal with when the dogs first arrived at the Sirius rescue, and how they saved these dogs due to arrive at Many Tears tonight!!!! The Cypriot dogs are amazing, so loving and happy to be here. They just make you happy to be around them. We are all hoping they will find loving homes quickly.

Not a day goes by that something does not happen.  Today Sian was picked up - she’s the old horse discussed last week that needed a home. A very kind volunteer brought her car that could tow our trailer and we were able to bring her home. She has no sparkle in her eyes and looks much like she’s given up. She needs some herbs, vitamins and TLC. I am sure once the vet has assessed her teeth and she starts to feel better, hopefully then she will start to sparkle but these things take time. Quarrel seems pleased to have her around but she just stands looking sad now. Please feel free to visit her.

This week we had a call from a lady asking us to help her. She was not a breeder but two dogs over the years had created a nightmare situation. No one had helped this elderly lady and her daughter. Because the neighbours complained of the noise, she NEVER let the dogs out. She tried to keep up, she thought putting nappies on an in season bitch would stop them mating, but as you can imagine they did. They lived in a tiny house and the dogs were not crated. I took Chelsea and Joe there and I was what I can only describe as gobsmacked. There were 50 dogs there and most of them were corgi size, shape and built, but all just crosses of some kind. There were new born pups and so many others too. The dogs were loved in their own way, but the people ultimately could not care for the amount of them. They wanted to keep 10 special ones but I managed to bring all back to the rescue, promising to spay and neuter 4 of them and take them back. These people do care, they just needed help a few years ago and no one gave it to them. One unspayed female dog and her initial litter can lead to 67,000 puppies in just six years. So they are all here now, all getting baths, vets checks and awaiting neutering.  Life is NEVER slow here.

I am still desperate to raise funds to keep doing what we do. For those who donated something for us to auction, thank you so much. There has been silver jewellery, arts and craft items, a ring, a clock, and so much more. However, I am still asking for you to look for something, anything. Perhaps you don't need, but loathe to sell because of memories or something else. Please remember these things could really help dogs. It can be anything, or you could make something as I did to sell. Please help. I really need your support.

Thank you again for reading this, your support and mostly for caring. 
Sylvia x