Magnolia

Hi Lisa Thanks for your help and support. Don't forget that Joy could really do with being in a home with no other dogs. I actually think that cats are fine with him (he's ok with mine) but other dogs are a bit hit and miss. It's funny you know, everyone who meets Joy falls in love with him. He bought a grown man to tears the other day when Joy went up to him, put his head on the chaps knee and looked into his eyes with such sweetness. This man just couldn't hold back. He said that he's never seen such mutilation and even after suffering all that abuse this lovely dog can still look for affection in man. That alone shows the beauty of Joy. His training is coming on a treat. He will now sit for me on command (never done before because it's a submissive stance) and even lay down. Of course, there's always a bit of hotdog in it for him and the excitement on his face is hilarious when he hears the rustle of the hotdog packet. He could almost wet himself with excitement. It's going to break my heart the day he leaves me but I know that he'll be happier without the competition of other dogs. He even sleeps in the hallway alone because he likes the peace and quiet of solitude. I still live in hope for Joy but whoever adopts him will have to be something special to match what my boy joy has to offer because he is so very, very special to me.

Bless you Lisa. Joy's had a bit of a tough time with all the changes here but coping pretty well considering. The pup we have with us is going to her new home on sunday so life should generally settle down a bit. If you fancy coming on board to help with awareness, fundraising etc etc let me know. Also, we're desperate for foster carers so maybe you could get the word out about that for me? I understand your mixed emotions with Hobo. I was exactly the same when Roqui left us but knowing that he's in a fantastic home takes the edge off a bit. And you've done a wonderful job with persevering in finding a home for the boy. You ought to be very proud of yourself. Congratulations [:D] [8-|] [:-))] [I] [;-)] [blink] !!!!!!

Hoorah!!! Oh Lisa i'm so pleased. it's hard letting go though isn't it? I've just had a little jig around the sitting room for Hobo and have sent the dogs mad!! Send me a little bit of your luck for Joy please and keep in touch. [:-))]

Hello All I just wanted to let you all know that i'm arranging to take some items down to Nuria for the Pedro Munoz shelter  (in about 3 weeks time) that is in such desperate need at the moment. So, if anyone has anything that they'd like to donate - dog coats, blankets, medicines, collars, food, money, cheques anything please let me know. If  I can't come to you all individually i'll try and organise a collection point nearby where hopefully, I or another person, can collect the items that you have donated. Anything and everything helps Thanks [:D]

Yes we do believe that Ophelia is a labrador x galgo. She's a real little bundle. We had an incident recently where all of the name tags disappeared off of the puppies collars......that is except for Ophelia's! [8-)] That's got to be a lab in her hasn't it?! Thanks for the support everyone. It's you guys that keep me going as well as the dogs. Virtual support is a great thing [:D]  

Galgos are Spanish dogs. They're a bit like a greyhound but smaller. They have the sweetest of natures but are terribly abused in Spain by hunters. These pups were saved along with their mother from a hunter who used the bitch for breeding. i don't know the full circumstances of the mother but it's quite common for breeding bitches to be locked away and used as a puppy machine. The mother was one of those puppy machines and has now passed away. The puppies are currently near Toulouse in foster care and are all fit and healthy (if you can't travel that far we can always help to get your chosen pup to you). I've attached a short video link of my dogs (the brown one is my podenco x which is another of Spains abused breeds and the fluffy one is my poodle x) playing with Fudge who is one of the litter. She's the little brindle and she's currently with us before I take her to her forever home next week. At the  end of the video you'll see a dog with a very long curly tail. That's Joy. He's another Podenco who's looking for a forever home. You can see a write-up about him on the forum as he's the one with the mutilated nose. http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/?action=view&current=Playingdogs.flv If you want to know more about what L'Europe des Levriers please look on their website. However, be prepared for the horror that you may witness on the site. It truly is horrific www.adopter-levrier.com Everyone  involved with EDL are volunteers including the foster carers. We all do it because we have a passion to save these poor dogs from the barbaric treatment they suffer so if you want to come on board by adopting one of these lovelies, we are all here to support you. If you fancy a chat please feel free to call me 0546490844 Jaq xx

Can I help? We have Galgo pups available and they are divine! Have a look at the photo's below and let me know what you think [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Titan2boy.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Titan1boy.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Venus1girl.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Selene1girl.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Saluk2male.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Saluk1male.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Ophelia2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Ophelia1.jpg[/IMG]

Oh dear Lisa still no joy eh? How he's settling in at yours? Does he seem comfortable around everyone? I wish i could help but i'm up to my eyes at the moment what with 4 dogs and 2 cats. All's gone quiet with adopting here as well. We've got 5 puppies available for adoption and we've not had one enquiry. Now that's unusual. I'll keep in touch [;-)]

Thank you so much guys. Joy's currently curled up on the sofa with his head resting on a cushion just looking at me. I would so love to keep him because he's such a sweet boy but the personality clash between him and one of my pooches is too strong. Also, he's quite a loner really. Although he runs around in the garden with Hugo and Luca, he generally keeps his distance and prefers to go off for a sniff in amongst the bushes and brambles to see what he can find. However, throw a ball and he's up so fast it's like he's got a rocket up his bum! Whatever happens, I will not let him go until I have found the right home for him. He's suffered enough in life and yet, he's so good with people including men which I find amazing. He's got real strength of character and when he runs he's hysterical. He's all legs which he lifts so high that it's like watching a gangly hare. He does make me chuckle. If it takes me the next 5 years I am determined to get him a loving home where he can get all the cuddles he wants. So, if you could all get the word out about him and help to find his forever home I would be so very, very grateful. All I can do is hope that the determination to find a new home for Joy rubs off on everyone just like it has on Lisa. Thanks Lisa!! [:D]  

Yes it is Susie who I know is looking. Sorry I can't help and I feel guilty for it too. It's not fair is it? [:(]

I need your help! Joy is now living with us whilst I look for a home for him and boy, does he need a home. Every time I look at him I could cry knowing what horrific abuse he's suffered. Just look at his nose... Joy had his nose mutilated as his evil owner wanted him to resemble a pig (this happens a lot with Podenco's). Because of his disfigurement he stuggles to drink properly as it sometimes dribbles out of his nose, and also he puffs his cheeks out when breathing sometimes. Joy is very thin but he eats very well but slowly, and due to having been starved in the past he is obsessed with food. [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Joy13.jpg[/IMG] He loves to play ball and have a good run and he loves a sniff about in the garden but most of all, he adores a cuddle. [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Joy15.jpg[/IMG] If Joy could spend his life encased in an embrace he'd be a very happy boy. [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Joy12.jpg[/IMG] On the down side, he's not particularly good with other dogs and some cats. Since he's been with us he's had a couple of spats with Hugo because Hugo is 'top dog' here but he's played wonderfully with Luca because Luca is a doormat!! He's been fine with my 2 cats unless they get too close to his food and then he lets them know he's not happy with a growl. [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Joy19.jpg[/IMG] Joy wants a quiet life with lots of love. On his own he will make the most wonderful pet and companion as he is a true people dog. He would even suit an older couple/person who doesn't want to spend hours out walking. In a nutshell Joy needs love, patience, company, the chance to play ball and peace and quiet. Can you or do you know someone who can give this terribly sad but adorable boy a good life? 

Oh dear Christine. What an awful situation. I wish I could help. I do know of a lady looking for a small, female lapdog if there's one there but she really does need to be small. Any ideas?

There's a possibility that a new home has been found for little Nana so, touch wood, all will be well for her. I'll let you know as soon as i get confirmation [:D]  

Good news... Léa has a new home! Thanks to everyone for your support and hopefully, this truly is her forever home [:D]

Here come some more people. This is a video of the 3 rescue dogs that Joanna's currently fostering and I love them all. All they want to do is play in the garden for a bit and then cuddle up together for a very, very long sleep. Real gentle souls and if someone wants to give a home to an older dog that just wants to sleep by the fire all day (unless it's summer of course!) then Adonis is perfect. He's such a gentle giant and loves a bit of affection and a cuddle. He's goooorgeous. http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/?action=view&current=dogs003.flv For more info, once again, drop me a line [:)] Hope to hear from several offers of loving homes soon

Hi all The rescue of the pups went well over the weekend and below is a video link of them. All need re-homing apart from the brindle girl (Tagle) as she has a new home to go to shortly. There are 5 puppies in total (podenco/galgo cross) - Selene (small black girl), Venus (looks exactly the same as Selene), Titan (black boy), Ofelia (very round, lab like, black girl), saluk (black boy with white paws). Personally, i'd have bought them all home with me because they are so lovely but the husband wouldn't have it!! They're all really cuddly and play so well together. Also, they had nearly a 4 hour journey in my car yesterday and not a peep came from them on the whole journey. They were true little stars! They're going to make lovely pets. All of the pups are vaccinated, tattooed etc but they obviously can't be neutered/castrated until older. if you have any questions please contact me [:)] http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/?action=view&current=dogs002.flv Hope the link worked for you!  

Hey Lisa. My attitude is if you've got such a good heart that you'd take this poor boy in you deserve a little bit of help in re-homing him. Pulling together is something that has been lost along the way in society in general so we need try and reintroduce it a bit  (that's just my opinion). The french have taught me an awful lot about 'being neighbourly' and helping other's out in time of need. I used to be so blinkered only looking out for number one. I worked, kept myself to myself, hardly spoke to the neighbours, never asked for or offered anything and where did that get me? Nowhere really except towards a life of selfishness. Now though i'm happy to get off my arse and help out if I can as I get such a great sense of achievement from it and I feel nice. Something I very rarely felt before moving to France. Funny isn't it how a country can have such a dramatic effect on your life? [blink]

Hi Lisa I've just pm'd someone who's looking for a dog on Angloinfo Brittany. I'm sure that if he's interested we can all pull together to get Hobo to his new destination. What do you think? [:)]

This little cutie is a 10 month old galga cross looking for her forever home. She was recently in foster care but her carer became ill and had to go into hospital. Little Nana is finding the seperation from her very difficult and is spending a lot of her time crying and looking for her. She will have to go into another foster home but knowing that she could get attached to her carers again before being moved on to a (hopefully) forever home is very sad. So, we need a forever home for her now to avoid any more stress for this sweet girl. She's fine with both dogs and cats and her sweet nature is great for anyone with young children Could you be her saviour? [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Nana5.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Nana4.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Nana3.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/Nana2.jpg[/IMG] [IMG]http://i271.photobucket.com/albums/jj160/marmitesock/nana1.jpg[/IMG] Chip no: 941000002214674  

Oh Lisa, I do feel for you. It's frustrating isn't it? I'm still trying to re-home Léa and Joy and it's no easy feat. He is lovely and if I could get away with it i'd have him but my husband would have a fit! I'll keep my ears to the ground in case I come across someone who'd suit Hobo. Good luck [blink]

Hi Yvonne Thank you SO much for that. What a wonderful idea! I will definitely look into that. We do want to have a gite on site along with agility equipment for the dogs if they show interest. We currently take dogs into our home when people go on holiday but we have to limit it as we run a B&B here in the Charente-Maritime and some guests aren't keen on the menagerie. However, when we move i want to dedicate my time to dogs so your idea is absolutely fantastic. Maybe we can communicate a bit more so you can tell me exactly what you'd expect from someone like myself looking after your dog. Would that be ok? Jacqueline

Luca, my podenco cross is 60cm from back of neck (between ears) to base of tail and 60cm girth. I would say that his sizing would be the smallest for these dogs as he's a bit bigger than a whippet. I hope that helps [:)] I'm feeling a little bit incompetent as I can't even get my casting-on with my knitting right. How do you get the tension just so? I've had to undo it 8 times now and start again so there's still no wool on my needles!!!!! HELP..[:@]  

Hi Dave I'm so sorry to hear your sad news. You must all be so devastated. I do know that Tony and Sarah have the kittens available as Dave stated before. Maybe you could give them a call 0546510828

Gosh he's a beauty isn't he. I hope you'll be very happy together x [:D]

Thanks Clair I didn't expect it to be easy after all, we are in France aren't we! I'll try and get an idea from someone who's taken the 3 day course how complicated it is. I can speak french but i'm not sure if i'm up to 3 days of it [:'(]. I don't mind taking qualifications etc and having to wade through all of the french beurocracy (I think i've come to accept that in everything I do now) but I have to be sure that my french is up to it before committing.