Merlin

Vida I have sent you a pm - can you send me some more pics of him do you think?

Have you got him indoors?  Does he chew? Is he housetrained?  Had an email from someone this morning that might work.

All you need to know and see is here on this link   http://ineedahome.yolasite.com/skye.php  please help find her the life she needs.

Well that seems pretty definite Dexter though I was a little apprehensive when the lady with the JRs told me the story - thanks and thanks also for your latest effort on behalf of Skye!  Go look everyone - this is a lovely dog who need a special home!  I will put her on a new thread just for her.

How is this dog with cats please?

Well there's a strange update on this one - it would appear that Renee didn't go to a new home as her owners have now found more work here and are not leaving France after all....??  They have sent their horses back to the UK and frankly I'm puzzled after the owner emailed me that Renee had settled down in her new home......??  When I have a mo I'm going to email them again to find out.....

Hi there Vida and Christine - can you keep me abreast with how this goes in case this chap Peter gets in touch.  If we manage to sort him out with something he will probably put a good word on the AI forum to prompt others to get in contact!  Now Christine, I have one for you to ponder please.  I am going to put full details on here but I was contacted yesterday by a lady who has THE most beautiful young Alaskan Malamute!  She gorgeous.  Two years old and from a nice home that have several rescue dogs but one amongst them is a female Staffie and she's taken against the Malamute and fighting!  The people (English) are pretty desperate as they can't cope any longer and the vet says the dogs must live apart or there will be some serious damage done as they are both strong dogs.  They feel that Skye, the Malamute, should have the chance of a nice home as she's such a great dog (I'm guessing the staffie might be hard to place) good with males and loves all people to bits and is good with hens but not great with cats.  I am going to post some pictures and all her details, but in the meantime just in case you have any ideas.....

Vida I have sent the pics to a retired couple who are looking for a dog in Department 17 - Christine knows about this and I have copied her the email I sent them also.  They have four cats and 30 hens, though it's the cats they are concerned about.  I hope something comes of it and for sure will let you know if they get back to me but I have kind of pointed them in the direction of Christine as she says they are in her/your area?  The chap's name is Peter.

Thrilled to report that these two have now found a home together - in fact they have ended up with the same family who took the beautiful sad Mastiff!!  All together on a working farm in the Gers with an English family!

I agree and they look so forlorn there in the picture don't they.....  I will ask but am a little afraid of the reply as the owner did say she was going to take them to the SPA if somewhere else could not be found.  I suppose it's better than just leaving them to fend for themselves as some people do!  It's such a wretched business when people leave and their animals become homeless - breaks my heart.

Lovely news!  Saved to find another home!

I find it incredible that some on here would question Russethouse as to the difference between foxes and rats....????  Go look up rat infestations in urban areas or the country for that matter.  Believe me that should you be unlucky enough to suffer such a thing as a rat problem, then I guarantee you would embrace every fox you could clap eyes on!  Rats are a HUGE problem and furthermore a growing one that doesn't even come close to comparison with the urban fox population, on every front.  Their rate of reproduction is terrifying and their ability to resist poison and produce immune youngsters an ever growing situation.  It's not something people like to talk about for some strange reason, or publicise when a cornered rat bites, one pops up the S bend in the loo and bites your bum, urinates on your food in the cupboards or the garden where the children play............ and so much more!  But the foxes are taking the hit because of one that stepped out of line and now that makes them all villains!   Bet the rats are sniggering away in the dark corners eh!

Yes I can confirm that Renee the lovely sad Mastiff has found a forever new home with people she took to immediately and who loved her on sight!  Another happy ending but not sure about the cats........... is anyone for taking them if I ask?  Lovely Renee, saved from the brink.

I have emailed the owner to find out as my posts were all deleted off AI as there was no microchip number for Renee..........  I heard it from another source also so have my fingers crossed.  The lady who is looking after the two elderly Jack Russells I also posted on here seems to think that the same people who have taken Renee the Mastiff will also take the two JRs!!!  They have a working farm I believe and are English but she is going there this Wednesday and so will know more then.

OMG I wish I hadn't started to watch that one from Dog!  Had to stop before it really got going, sorry!  I can't bear to see these things though I know it all goes on and much worse.  I just can't handle watching it whimp that I am......... doesn't mean that I dodge the issues however.  My husband and I recently decided we would drop meat altogether because of the issues involved in how meat is produced - we run an organic small holding - vegetables and hens (for eggs) only.  We nurture wildlife in all forms and do what we can to help animal campaigns and rescue dogs and we have a couple of rescue horses.  It's small potatoes in the wider picture of things but I think that Dog is right in that the answer lies with the youngsters coming up if the butchery and cruelty is to stop or be reduced.  Education and information is paramount and stronger laws that hit, punish and stop the people who abuse and cause suffering - but without wanting to sound negative, I doubt I will see it in my lifetime now, sadly.  There should be more people, high profile VIPs that speak out for animals and show that they can make a difference, instead of farting about pouring money into facile projects for the ever growing materialistic malaise that exists today in our throw away society!  OK I'm never done on this subject but will cease here - have a good week everyone and save an animal if you can.......

Please reckon on at least 7 months to get the puppy ready to leave this country - he/she will NOT be able to leave before this time has elapsed.  From the time you have the rabies injection it takes minimally 2 to three weeks to see if it has taken (if not it has to be done again as happened to us).  The date for entry into the UK starts from the date of the rabies injection (if it takes) BUT to be sure I would take the date of entry as the date the blood test was confirmed to be on the safe side.  Having done this several times with our animals and helped other members of the family sort their animals also, it pays to get a vet who knows the procedure (our dear country vet was hopeless and we nearly came a cropper because of it) and I would agree with what has been said here - go to the DEFRA site and download the correct information and follow it to a T and then even call them to check you have understood it properly.  This all sounds pedantic I know but the consequences of not getting it right will be traumatic as so many people find out when they get to the port and it's too late...........!!

Not yet no, but will post any news I get to let people know - I feel quite sad for this lovely dog and have a very heavy heart for its future somehow!

I totally agree with Russethouse - people are so quick to blame the whole fox population and start shouting for culling to resolve the problem.  It's so wrong.  We humans have drawn foxes into our environment by leaving our waste all over the place and of course the animals will come for the easy pickings when they have cubs to feed and to exist during hard times.  We humans often love to see them in fact.  The incident with the twins was frightening but it means that a lesson has to be learned.  The media will hype this and the poor foxes will now be persecuted I fear, because one in their midst... ONE only, crossed the line probably more out of curiosity initially, than malicious intent - perhaps the babies started to scream and paniced the fox into action - we don't know!  Considering how many foxes they would have us believe there are in the community areas, it's actually very surprising that something of this nature has not perhaps happened before.  We have to learn to live alongside them in some parts of the country and behave accordingly as Russethouse said.

Up-date on Tania - stuck to your advice Christine and am very happy to say that Tania has calmed down completely!  Considering she has only been with us a week tomorrow, it's brilliant really and a little bit of an 'advert' for those on here who might consider an older rescue dog - they really do melt into the routine so very easily and quickly - so desperate to please!  She is still very attached to me but also happily follows the pack out to play and also trots after my husband and sits with him if I'm not available!  She's a real dear old soul and is just beginning to enjoy the freedom of the grounds and playtime!  Because it has been such c**p weather we lit the woodburner last night....... dogs three deep and Tania was happy to snuggle up with the rest - all legs and noses, snores and yip yip dreams!  I am so lucky!

I have just spoken with the owner of this lovely dog.  I called her because I received an offer to foster Renee till she could be found a home but wanted to know how old she was.  She's about six years old and the most docile loving dog ever.  She sounds absolutely wonderful and painfully loyal as she never wanders far from her own patch and is used to cats, hens, other dogs and horses.  The present owner's son left for the UK and poor Renee stopped eating for several days and just lay outside his bedroom door and searched the house for him for two weeks!  She's very very special by the sounds of it.  Her owner, Gerri, told me that she has had two offers to home Renee and is going to see both places this week before she makes a decision which, if either, would be suitable for Renee and where she might possibly stand the best chance of settling as the it's likely to be quite an ordeal for the poor dog.  It's SUCH a sad situation for this poor dog.  I am not sure that fostering would be a good idea for such a sensitive creature - a very caring, understanding and permanent home is the best route for this dog I feel.  Despite her size she is absolutely no trouble at all.  They don't have her papers and whilst her injections are up to date since she's been with her present owners they don't know if she's chipped...... (??) their vet didn't bother to find out!  I didn't comment about this as the lady was clearly very distressed about the dog and it wouldn't have been productive.  If there is anyone here who think they can give this lovely deserving creature a forever home - please get in touch soon!!  I am not convinced that the two prospective homes will work out by the description that Gerri gave me....... so I'm keeping this 'live'.

This is very true - I rescued my first dog when I was 21 (many moons ago) and working in Milan.  I took her back to the UK when I was posted home and visited her in quarantine three times  a week for the six months to help her through!  But we're not all made the same are we.........sadly!

Don't think Phoenix can help Renee - Sheelagh said she is sick to the back teeth of Brits leaving their dogs behind and tells of some appalling cases!  Don't know why in particular but this dog is praying on my mind horribly today - but as Christine has said, sometimes some in particular  just get to you and this poor Renee has beseeching expression and I 'm so very sad for her.

Good for you Judie!

In fairness to this lady - and I always try to be fair - I gather this morning that some friends had agreed to take all three animals and then backed out at the last minute last week leaving them in a real fix.  The lady's husband has in fact already gone back to the UK and she has stayed behind to try and sort out the animals and is extremely stressed about the situation she has landed her animals in.  This does not mean I retract what I said I wouldn't say about other Brits who dump their poor defenceless pets and run back home leaving them to a very uncertain and frightening fate!  It does actually keep me awake at night.... frequently!  This poor Mastiff has already been abandoned once and she looks absolutely adorable - my husband looked over my shoulder when I was viewing the link and saw her...... his expression didn't need any words to tell me NO!  I can't blame him as we have six and two more coming to foster this week.  If I had the means to set up a proper kennels with the kind of facilities I consider essential to house dogs in comfort (underfloor heating and good food - space not a problem) then it would be my dream come true............ not there yet though and might need the Lotto to spit in my direction!  Let's have some action for this lovely lady Renee before it's too late.

I have emailed Sheelagh and Richard at Phoenix to see if they might be able to help as I know they have often managed to foster large dogs in the past and I think in fact they have something along the lines of a Mastiff at the moment.  They have a good network of people.  I'm not going to comment on the English people who continually seem to do this abhorrent thing of leaving their animals behind when they find it necessary to return to the UK and give pathetic excuses why they can' t take them - I would be struck off the forum and in any case the message simply doesn't reach the people who do this because they are mind numbingly careless, thoughtless, cruel people who probably wouldn't have the intellect to write on here anyway.