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Merlin

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Everything posted by Merlin

  1. [IMG]http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab161/squarepeg2010/IMG_1276_r1.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab161/squarepeg2010/IMG_1273.jpg[/IMG]
  2. Scramble has arrived and after a bit of a frantic first half hour getting to know everyone (I'm happy to say that all our eight dogs love him and have been more than kind) he settled down on a sheepskin by the fire to rest.  He devoured a tastey supper and slept the evening on the sofa, very tired little boy.  He spent the night in his basket by our bed and apart from a couple of wakings (wondering where is was no doubt) he settled each time after a stroke and soft words and never moved till morning!  Today he's been much more relaxed and done all the things he needed to do....!  Barked at the postman, ate a hearty breafast and had an explore with us round the garden.  We are making a sling to support his body in so he can use his legs outside and save our backs as he's no light weight!  He has run across the grass a few times to show us he can do it mind, before collapsing in an excited heap.  I shall be taking him to see the vet eventually when he's more settled and has shown us what he can and can't do so I can explain more to the vet.  It's very strange as whatever has happened to him has happened recently and suddenly we think - he toe nails are short and well worn, he has no bad or long term skin rub on his legs consistent with his having been dragging himself around like this for any time at all.  He's in very reasonable condition too, if a little thin.  I used to nurse some years ago and his lack of control  and head bobbing when he's excited, does remind me of people suffering from stroke paralysis or neurological trauma.  We love him and will do all in our power to help him and make him better and give him a life he can enjoy.  I am sure he is not in any pain......... sometimes he yelps a little when he falls badly on his back legs so there is sensation there and he's not incontinent.  He's lovely and I really don't know who anyone could have cast him out to fend for himself in this condition.  Sorry about the epistle - progress reports and photos will make it shorter next time!  Here he is meeting some of the family last night! [IMG]http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab161/squarepeg2010/IMG_1288.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab161/squarepeg2010/IMG_1286.jpg[/IMG]
  3. Congratulations and she looks a real sweetheart - hope she has a long and happy life!
  4. Merlin

    Pet Passports

    The major thing you have to make sure about is the microchip - the ones in the US are different and you have to make sure your vet puts a European one in.  Rabies innoculation is no longer compulsory here in France (which is mistake I think) but should you be wanting to travel to other parts of Europe and the UK you WILL need one so I think it's best to get it done anyway.  French authorities are very laid back in my view about letting in dogs and cats and rarely ask to see the paperwork BUT it's best to check with your vet in the US and the links that have been given here for you.
  5. I am so looking forward to getting this little fellow and thank you all for your good wishes for him!  I have re-named him Scramble!  My husband is meeting Rowan half way tomorrow in Castres and bringing him home to a whole new experience, bless him.  Once we have given him time to settle down with all the other members of the 'family' and our daily routine, I will take him to a good vet I know and see just what he thinks is wrong.  Scramble will never be left alone and I have high hopes that with the right care, and his obvious determination, he may well come back to complete mobility.  I will definitely keep you all posted on here!  Thanks to you all for caring.
  6. If we can co-ordinate a meeting up tomorrow morning, Sue at Poorpaws is going to take this little girl!  She will be safe and wonderfully care for with Sue until a loving home can be found for her - just to need to work out the pick up tomorrow!
  7. I hope everyone settles in quickly and your return home proves a happy one for all concerned.  It's a frantic adventure getting everyone back safe I know, but well done!  Rest and enjoy whils they all find their feet in their new surroundings!  So Glad it all worked out and hope it shows lots of people on here that it can be done with the proper planning, patience and a good tail wind!
  8. Hi Maggie and welcome!  So good to have such a happy ending for Sacha and Popeye and wonderful to know they are going to be together again in a loving home hopefully for many happy years to come, thanks to you and all the other good people this end - they looked so dejected at the SPA but I gather they are happy in their foster homes now.  Well done to all.  Would that we could muster the same outcome for more dogs like this........I'm sure we'll all keep trying.
  9. Have you seen the latest post?  The boxer cross pup - at three to four months old and as well behaved as she is (already clean in the house too!) - she would make a wonderful pup to have don't you think?
  10. Judie - it's good to hear and heartwarming to know.  Best of luck with your journey and your life back in the UK - hugs to all your pets - they are lucky to have such a caring and responsible human for their owner!  Safe trip.
  11. The more 'voices' the better Sweet - just keep spreading the word wherever you think it will count and be taken note of -thanks!
  12. I was troubled to read on another forum's weekly newsletter about advice, planning and check lists etc., to assist those Brits who are planning to leave France and return to the UK. To my dismay, this article completely ignored the rising problem facing owners of pets who are returning to the UK and for various reasons have not got Pet Passports organised in time and decide they have no choice but to leave their pets behind. I did email the the Forum to advise them of this massive oversight in their advice to British residents, but have not received a response. So I wish to point out to ALL who are returning to the UK to live and may have had pets here, PLEASE PLEASE make sure that you are aware of the Pet Passport system that has to be in place before you can take your pets home with you! DEFRA sets it all out quite clearly on their website so for heaven's sake read it, as many vets here in France don't have a clue - and why should they? It's up to you to get it organised and take the responsibility for your beloved pet - don't leave it to others! The figures for Brits leaving their pets behind is shocking and shameful - please don't be one of them if you are reading this and planning your trip home. There are some very good people who can often help out with 'minding' a dog till the passport is ready (seven months from start to finish) and it's usually much cheaper and kinder to leave the dog or cat with a family here if circumstances force it, than quarantine in the UK. Very often the return home is for stressful reasons and the additional stress of leaving your pet behind makes things worse and it's so unnecessary when all it takes is a bit of forward planning or asking for help.  They have been a part of your lives, your dream for a new life here that perhaps didn't go as planned - don't make them a casualty and abandon them, it's not their fault and they have been loyal and loving and have asked for little in return.  Think how they must feel........ watching you walk away?
  13. BJC - well done!  You have rallied a lot of good people to help these two and the outcome is a very happy one for them.  I am the one who is considering setting up a webpage to somehow help dogs in this situation and if I can 'translate' some of the goodwill offered by people for Sacha and Popeye into joining me as a foster network, it would be marvelous!  I know that my friends Sheelagh and Richard at Phoenix think it's a good idea - they have to concentrate on the desperate cases in the refuges and I quite understand that.  Sue at Poorpaws does a massive job rehoming to some great people she manages to find, but again, she takes the really critical cases more often than not.  So, despite the often impatience voiced on various forums about Brits leaving their dogs through lack of proper planning or circumstances some of us find a puzzle - it's the dogs in question that need the help at the end of the day.  Very often the owners are stressed and don't know which way to turn and have to make some tough decisions and just perhaps, sometimes, the dog comes at the bottom of the list of priorities simply because there is no obvious solution out there for the owners to turn to.  Hence the idea to create a website to offer help, when possible (not miracles!), advice and safe shelter for dogs that are awaiting passports so that they may re-join their families back in the UK.  I do feel that the decision to abandon dogs often comes through lack of someone there to help.  It may also be that, on occasion, the dogs will be found homes here if the circumstances dictate that they can't follow their owners for whatever reason that we should not judge.  To this end I would love to set up a network of foster families who see what the problem is and are willing to help out of the kindness of their hearts and care of dogs and cats that are facing troubled times through no fault of their own.  I am busy researching the costs involved for foster families willing to help and some way to ensure that it all works without anyone losing out or being left with unwanted dogs on their hands...... it's not an exact science and there will be hiccups but I think it can work because the people who come to help will understand what is involved and stick with it I hope and all pull together.  I'm not an idealist but I have seen and been impressed with the support and care that is often generated on this forum and others, that shows that there are some magnificent people out there who can and will help these dogs and cats that ask for so little and are completely defenceless.  If we can help stem the tide of abandoned dogs from Brits leaving, then the others whose work helping with the refuge dogs is so very important, can concentrate on that.  Constructive comments and ideas from you folks reading this will be very welcome.  Sacha and Popeye, Sampson, Abby Rose and several others I have managed to assist with the help of others recently,  illustrate that it can be done!
  14. I hear that Popeye is taken care of which is great news!  I am so glad for these two and thanks goes to all involved in their rescue!
  15. Did you see there is someone offering to foster Popeye on AI??
  16. I know the empty feeling - there is nothing that can fill it or make it easier........ only time.  My best wishes.
  17. Here you go! [IMG]http://i860.photobucket.com/albums/ab161/squarepeg2010/cocker.jpg[/IMG]
  18. Abby Rose has found a wonderful new home but it's heartening to know that others eventually came forward nonetheless.  I am so sorry to hear about your other dear dog.  Hard. 
  19. That's kind of you and great for finding this person too!  Very hopeful for this lovely little couple - still can't quite get my head round them being left this way........it would drive me insane to leave my dogs!  But as we have said on here in the past many times, we can't judge as we simply do not know the circumstances and not all of us are barking mad like me and would sell my soul to keep my animals with me......  Fingers and toes crossed for these two lovelies thanks to you BJC.
  20. Hi Lavesta  - in case you didn't get my email this morning (hotmail accounts being disrupted at the moment), the Dutch people we have been disucssing would love to adopt Sadie!  I have forwarded you their email message to my friend, so if you find this acceptable, than all that remains is to organise a meeting.  They are lovely people and Sadie would have a really really good home with them and some company too as they plan to adopt a cat for her also!  So there's a lucky cat somewhere too!  I will pm you if we continue to keep missing messages.
  21. This would be a very good result for these two, so depending on what she says, we must get our skates on and try and find someone to mind them for the six months.  I know someone but obviously there would their keep and vet bills to organise so a lot to find out as yet - but let's stay positive and hope they might be out of there very soon!
  22. The little boy Popeye is a pure bred poodle as the stud papers are with the all their other papers - think Mum is just tiny by comparison.  There is pressure to get them out of Carcassonne asap so please ask around people reading this - they are truly lovely dogs and it would make sense for them to go to an English family given Mum already has a UK passport which could be useful for some folks and the little boy could then be sorted also.  There are people in the 'network' who would babysit him whilst he was being passported if necessary.  Come on people, these two are having an especially hard time right now and make a very uncomplicated rescue as they are all ready to go!  Please ask all your friends out there!
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