Beau Gus

The strike has been called off pending further talks between the Immigration Service Union and what passes for senior management at the UK Border Agency.

Congratulations on adopting a Rottweiler. I cannot see that you would have any problem with her on holiday in France. She is vaccinated, micro chipped, insured and has a passport. Those of us who live here and own a Rottie need a permit. To get one, in addition to vaccinations, micro chip, insurance and passport, we have to have a vet’s behavioural assessment of the dog and we owners have to attend a course on responsible dog ownership (the one I went on was a hoot until I had to pay the €100 fee!). The requirement that she is kept muzzled and on a lead in public places is worth sticking to just for peace of mind. My pal Hubert and I always exercise our dogs together. He has a Springer spaniel. I carry a muzzle, but my little girl runs off leash in the woods and has a whale of a time. We’re reasonably fireproof as Hubert is a Captain in the Gendarmerie Nationale. And BTW, bring dog food with you as it is so expensive here. We import ours from the UK. If you want an absolutely definitive answer to your question, give the French Consulate in London a call, but I’m pretty sure I’m right. Enjoy your holiday.

Poppy’s story is now being carried by Mail Online as of 1711 hrs local. All being well, the other nationals should pick it up. If the Brit owners do not come forward, I wonder if their neighbours will i.d. them. Things appear to be looking up!

Any idea what make RR bought, pl?

In 2005 we had a Thermor 150 litre water heater installed. Three weeks ago a contact breaker kept tripping and an electrician friend found that the water heater was the problem. The ceramic heating element sits in a metal tube and the tube was badly corroded, allowing water in to short circuit the element. The plumber was amazed that it had happened and replaced the tube, which was out of the two year parts guarantee, of course. So we are 230 Euros poorer and I would not recommend Thermor to anyone.

Perhaps a little general background information might help anyone thinking of adopting these two. The Rottweiler is an ancient breed. His ancestors marched with the Roman legions, as herding and guard dogs. When the legions withdrew to Rome, a number of the dogs were left around the town of Rottweil in Germany. In the Middle Ages they were to be found working as butcher’s dogs, hence their full title, “Rottweiler Metzgerhund.” The dogs would pull carts loaded with meat to market and would return home with the day’s takings slung in a leather bag around their necks. There is no recorded instance of a Rottweil butcher being mugged. Nowadays, as working dogs, they are used in search and rescue, as police dogs, and as guide dogs for the blind. They are not difficult to train and actually enjoy training because they enjoy games. The Rottie is a natural comedian who loves to play and is very gentle when he does. The “Devil Dog” nonsense began with a film called “The Omen.” Sadly, a Rottweiler figured as the guardian of the Antichrist. A complete miscasting, as Rotties are always on the side of the angels. But it was enough for the yobs to go out and buy “one of them Devil dogs, innit” to impress their moronic associates and to terrify the neighbours. Except that when the poor dog resisted attempts to make him savage, yob got nasty. Eventually, so did the dog, but only with yob. That is how so many dogs came to be rescued by the Rottweiler Welfare Association. Look at the pictures of Gaston and Gabrielle. Fate has not given them much of a chance now. Will you?

I do not want to tread on any toes, but this is becoming desperate. I just wonder if there is someone out there who would like to take these two babies on, but is put off by the Rottweiler experienced home requirement. My wife and I have been members of the UK Rottweiler Welfare Association (RWA) for over twenty years and adopted our first Rottie from them in 1987. We had no previous experience of the breed; he had had experience of a brutal owner. Lots of love and lots of veterinary bills later, we had a loving, grateful and gentle pet who became a big (50kg) favourite with all of the neighbours. Our second Rottie from the RWA was a girl. She was a little waif with a dreadful history who had to be woken from nightmares for many months after she joined us. Again, lots of TLC and we were repaid tenfold; she was a dolly. The present incumbent is another girl, adopted in France, daft as a brush and very affectionate to all and sundry. Although when she barks she makes all the windows in the village rattle. We can ignore the tabloid nonsense about “Devil dogs.” The Rottie is a gentle stalwart whose tranquil gaze manifests good nature. He is slow to anger, but will guard those he loves with his life. Some years back, the RWA re-homed two Rottweilers, a mature brother and sister as I recall, with a pensioner couple who had no experience of the breed whatsoever. It was a success story. These two little ones who need a home now have no adverse history. The recent veterinary assessment is clear evidence that they would not be a problem with the right people. The assessment is done, they can be put on household insurance at no extra premium, or so I found, the new owner would have to do a silly aptitude course for about four hours (the most complex bit on my course was how to put a choke chain on a dog!) and then it’s off to the Mairie for the permis. Incidentally, Rotties are class 2 dangerous dogs, not class one. As to the muzzle in public, I carry one just in case, but my friend Hubert and I exercise our dogs off leash together and Hubert is a captain in the Gendarmerie Nationale. I confidently predict that whoever takes these two on will bless the day they did it. And Merlin, you have my unqualified respect and admiration for all that you do to save such as these little ones, who find themselves innocent victims of circumstance. My prayer wheel is still turning.

I wish we could apply to adopt them, but we have three dogs already, one a Rottweiler. She is our third rescue Rottweiler and considers her French Category 2 dangerous dog licence quite insulting. I could rabbit on for ages about how wonderful Rottweilers are, but I would bore everyone to tears. The two dogs are from the UK and have valid passports. If all else fails, why not contact the UK Rottweiler Welfare Association and see if they can take them for re-homing? Their site http://www.rottweilerwelfare.co.uk/ also has a wealth of information about the breed and what those looking to adopt should know. In the meantime, my prayer wheel is at the steady turn for these two beautiful dogs.