Category: progress updates

Prince

progress update: 8th Nov

Prince has now been rehomed !!

I am 9 years old and have spent all my life on a chain in a back garden.
The people who had me said I was no use as a guard dog, it took them 9 years to realise this.

So, they were going to get another dog and thought they would shoot me.

I’m not sure what this means but I’ve been told I had a lucky escape.
Having spent most of my life on my own I’ve not had much company and I love the company of humans,

I like dogs also but can’t get enough of the fuss and stroking that I have had recently.
Helen says I’m a good old mix of many breeds with a bit of terrier thrown in for good measure.

I’m also good with cats  well any company will do when you have spent your whole life on your own with no telly!

Prince is a 9 year old terrier mix.

He was kept all his life on a chain in a garden.

Apparently, his owners recently decided that he wasn’t a good enough guard dog and that they would get a puppy to replace him.

At first they were going to shoot him themselves, then asked a neighbour to shoot him for them.

He is very shy, and has been hit as he will sometimes shy away from sudden movements

As is often the case with dogs which have spent most of their time alone

he bonds with people very quickly.


Poppy ( a.k.a Dillions' sister )


progress update: 15th Nov

Poppy will be going to her new home tomorrow.

She is going to live with a colleague of Debbie who has rehomed Dillion,

so the siblings will be able to see each other and go for walks together !!

Me and my brother Dillion spent a long time tied up in a dark, dark shed.
Dillion was taken away a few weeks ago and I haven’t seen him since.
Dooley and Rocco told me that he arrived here and went off to live with a kind lady called Debbie.
At least I know he is ok I was very worried about him.
I’m very scared and Helen has made me a comfy bed up in the kitchen,
I haven’t dared move from in front of the radiator yet and anyway it’s very warm here.
Helen says that I will come out of my shell soon as Dillion did and a good home will be found for me.
At the moment I am too scared to lift my head up.
The rope on my neck was very tight and since it has been cut off I feel much better.
I heard Helen on the phone to Mark and he suggested asking Debbie to bring Dillion back for a visit so that we can see each other again.
I am so relieved to hear he is safe.
Helen said it is typical of Mark to think how we may have been worried about each other and she will try to arrange it.
I’ve had a bath because I smelt so bad, I hadn’t noticed this but everyone else had.
I was very scared and Helen said that like Dillion I don’t have a nasty bone in my body and was no trouble.
I am going to stay with Jan across the road tomorrow until a home can be found for me and Helen said her and Louise are very good with dogs and will love me loads.
I’m not sure what love is I guess I’ll find out!

Morgan

progress update: 23rd Oct

Dear Helen

Morgan is nearly two years old now and has grown into a very beautiful dog, He is almost impeccably well behaved! With just the occasional lapses. When he first arrived he wouldn’t let us touch him – he snarled and went for us – especially me. He wouldn’t eat his food out of a bowl, but if I threw it out onto the lawn, he would gobble it .

He is a joy to take out for his walks, is ball mad and ignores all other distractions, other dogs and people most of the time. He does stop to say ‘hello’ but then gets back to the important business of chasing after his ball. He is eating well, has two walks every day – in Windsor Great Park where he is free to run and play and chase after his ball. There are lots of other dogs to socialise with too. Now, he is a loving and gentle dog, will come for a cuddle and apart from having the top of his head touched, which I understand is fairly general with a lot of dogs, he is happy to be handled.

Brian and I recently went to North Somerset and stayed in a delightful part of the country, very dog friendly. The attached photographs show Morgan having fun on the beach – then having a shampoo!

Our cat Dangermouse has finally become resigned that this noisy beast has come to stay! He often goes across the road for some peace and quiet but when he thinks no one is looking, they play together, and can sometimes be found sleeping together on Brian’s bed. After having had three Border Collies we thought we knew the breed. Morgan has shown us a new side – neither of our ‘girls’ played ball – Morgan is ball mad. We took him to flyball classes for a while, and he loved it, but he wouldn’t go and get the ball from a stranger – so we had to abandon that.

I hope all goes well with you and DAWGS and that you are going from strength to strength.
With very best wishes

Alysia, Brian and Morgan Hunt`

progress update: 30th March

“The change in Morgan over the last year has been dramatic. When we got him he would not let us handle him, he did not like to be touched or petted, he snarled and bit – but gradually, with lots of handling and cuddles he has transformed into such a beautiful happy dog.
One other quirky habit he had, was that he would not eat his dinner out of a bowl. He barked and squeaked, and sat there guarding it tenaciously, but would not eat it. If I finally threw it out down the garden ‘for Mr Fox’ – he would happily rush out and gobble it all up. He is quite the star of Windsor Great Park and everyone knows Morgan- so many people have come up to Brian, who gets taken for a two hour walk every morning, to say what a beautiful dog he is.
With very best wishes to you and many grateful thanks from all the dogs you have re-homed and saved – and from a pair of old fogies whose lives have been transformed by the coming of the lovely Morgan.
Love and best wishes
Alysia, Brian and Morgan.”

—

“Here’s the latest on Morgan, the Irish Diddycoy we got from you a while ago. He is in to garden designing, thinks he is Dairmuid Gavin, he rearranges the flower pots and sticks and plants and makes a messy camp on the lawn – what a mess! If I did it, there would have been a divorce many years ago, but he gets away with it ….

As you can see he has grown into a beautiful fellow.

Our Burmese cat Dangermouse was very upset when we brought home a Hearing Dog last summer and we did have grave doubts about bringing home Morgan. But there has not been a problem. We have always had Border Collies and DM got on very well with them, and this time when he saw the puppy, he decided he could train it, like he has trained us, and now they get on very well. The cat comes in and invites Morgan to play. This means I hide and when you find me, I can swipe your nose if it gets too close! It took some months before DM came back to being a family cat, he used to sit on a high shelf looking miserable, out of reach of the leaping, barking, full of energy beast we called our puppy. These days, Morgan has quietened down a bit, and DM has got used to him, knows that he won’t be attacked, only thwarted in the usual Border Collie way from going where he wants to go, but he is used to that and has his own way of dealing with it. He runs in one direction and when Morgan goes after him to head him back, he changes tack and heads off in another direction and usually gets away. Then he comes back for more.
He is such a mischief and full of life and love. He has just completed his 10 weeks of training, and as was once said by a teacher “ He is cheerfully indifferent to discipline”. He will sit – because he thinks it means a titbit, but he won’t ‘stay’ – no way. He has recently been castrated.
Brian had a heart attack and bypass late last year, and having Morgan to focus on and take for exercise has made the world of difference to him. Morgan has been the best thing since sliced bread as far as Brian is concerned! He takes him to training classes, (I’m not allowed to go) and also takes him for a long walk in the Great Park every morning. At first Morgan wouldn’t get into the car. He was fine one inside, but it has taken a long time to gain his confidence and get him to go voluntarily into the car. He would rush to his bed and lie on his back as if to say ‘ Oh, please NO, don’t make me go…’ Now, when he sees Brian putting on his jacket he is all bounce and ready for the off.

So that’s the story of Morgan Hunt, growing up nicely and doing very well.”

Bob

progress update: 20th Oct

Bob has gone to live with Debbie permanently !!

Bob has just arrived at the Rescue

having been rescued at the eleventh hour

as he was due to be put to sleep yesterday.

He is a german shepherd cross,

short haired and about a year old.

He is friendly with other dogs

and is a really nice dog but appears to be frightened of men at the moment.


Ernie

progress update: 8th Oct

Ernie has gone to his new home today !!

progress update from Yvonne : 21st Sep

Ernie is a delight to foster, we all love him.
He gets on great with all four dogs in his foster home and although he didn’t like being left at first we have learnt if you give him access to your bed he’ll snooze while your away.
Ernie is deaf so you have to catch his attention if you want him.
He loves cuddles on the settee and his tummy rubs.
He doesn’t really like small animals as he barks at the ferrets and rabbits at his foster home.
Martin loves him because he shows polite interest in his tank collection and no one else in the house does.

–

Ernie is a 10 year old cocker spaniel whose family emigrated to Australia and left him behind.
He is good with other dogs and children, perhaps not cats. He is very affectionate although possibly a bit hard of hearing. He really loves his walks !!

Sergeant Pepper

progress update: 4th Oct

Pepper has been with us for almost 3 weeks and has settled in well, he
is the most sweet natured, laid back dog and acts as if he has lived
here for years. He has at least 3 walks a day and is a favorite with
the neighbours and the staff at the Avon Beach cafe and shop.  He
loves the beach and has twice attempted to swim to the Isle of Wight.
He also keeps an eye on our goldfish but has stopped jumping in the
pond with them (for now).

He loves our grandaughter in fact we think he loves everyone an we
have lost count of the number of people who come up to stroke him.  He
is great with other dogs especially Raz our sons English Bull (photo),
they had great fun in our garden playing destroy all flower pots!  We
don’t think that there is a doggy squeeky toy in existence that he
cannot destroy in less than 30 seconds as he has prooved at home and
at our local pet superstore.

He came to us with a reputation for escaping and this was confimed
when he managed with the help of some trellis to scale a 6 foot fence
(NOW 8 FEET) but luckily was seen and came back when called.  Today he
was let off his lead for the first time and we walked for about 4
miles on the beach and he passed with flying colours his recall was
excellent even when with other dogs.

Pepper is so good, he loves riding in the car, so he will be going on
lots of holidays.  He has the run of the house, he has not caused any
damage and can honestly say he is the perfect little fella. He is so
loving, he loves cuddles there is nothing lovelier than snuggling up
together watching TV.  I didn’t think we would ever be luckly enough
to find another pet like our previous dog Bonnie who was 18, but we
have certainly been more than lucky to have found Pepper, we are both
very proud to be his new mum and dad.

Best wishes to you all,

from John & Jackie Hutchison

progress update: 13th Sep

Sergeant Pepper went to his new home yesterday !!

progress update from Claire: 7th Sep

What a lovely JRT. He has been very affectionate from the minute he arrived.
I’ve been heeding Loudi’s warning about his wandering ways, so he’s been on the extending lead in the garden just in case.
Not that he has wanted to be out there much in the wet weather.
He nearly came nose to prickles with the neighbourhood Hedgehog on Friday night.
He was curious about the funny little creature but he didn’t make a fuss and bark like my JRT used to.
We’ve been really careful about the doors too. The crate is useful on the occasions when we need to be in and out .
He can sit in there safely and watch what is going on without the risk of an escape.
The rest of the time he is happy lying next to me on the sofa.
He will come for a cuddle and really press his head against me.
He likes a tickle behind the ears and lots of contact.
On walks he doesn’t really pull but he does like to be in front. That’s fine by me, I don’t like little dog feet too close to mine when I’m walking.
He made positive reactions around children but because of the rain no-one has been hanging around to stop and say hello or pet him.
Hopefully he has found a new home today after meeting his potential new owners at the dog show. He was a very good boy sitting by the raffle stall watching all of the goings on.
He won a rosette for 5th place in the Rescue Dog category. He tried to eat it when I showed it to him! He left the ring sporting an orange rosette.
I however left the ring sporting a wet patch, where in all the excitement he forgot himself and peed on my leg and boot!
After all the nice things I said about him too!
I will miss him he’s such a sweetheart.

Here is a write up about Sgt Pepper from Loudi who rescued him in Ireland:

Yes, what to say about this little man? I would keep him if I could, I’m
mad about him. It’s only because Tessa speaks so highly of you and the
fact that I can hopefully follow via the web that I let him go.
He’s been with me for 9 months or so. Was re homed to this perfect
home, a recently retired outdoorsy woman who’d often visited her sister
and her dog 2 streets away. She returned him after 4 weeks-could NOT
keep him in. He scaled the walls, escaped through every open door…to
just do his ’rounds’ through the neighbourhood and return home 2 hours
later.
One night ( I was staying with a friend in his house) I let out the
backdoor for a pee (yes,lazy!!) and he was gone. An hour later I got a
phone call from somebody in the local pub. He was sitting on her lap at
the bar,enjoying all the attention…TYPICAL Pepper.
He has a feisty but very loveable nature. He is a real Action
Man,always alert and ready to go.

But he’s just as happy snuggling up
to you in bed….
He LOVES children- I would by now be reluctant to home him without
children, or at least a lot of action in the household. He LOVES driving
and sleeping in the car.
He HATES cats,there is no stopping him.
He loves other dogs, including males provided he meets them in a
non-confrontational manner.
I hope his new owners will love him as much as I do.
Since arriving into the rescue here Pepper has settled well and gets
on with the other dogs famously. He hasn’t tried to get out of the
garden but we have a 6 foot fence. He loves food and will try to pinch
the other dogs meals if he can get away with it. I think due to his
wandering nature he will need to be kept on a lead until his recall is
better.
Pepper is a typical Jack Russel (the sort that most people think of as
a Jack Russel and not the refined type that the Kennel Club now insist
is the only pure Jack Russel)
He is a sturdy, muscle bound fella who struts about confidentially,
knowing he comes from a long line of ancestors whose reputation needs
to be upheld. This is the charm of Jack Russels, they are always up for
life. Pepper is a really nice dog (though of course I’m biased because
I love them)


Trixie

progress update: 26th Sep

Trixie has gone to  her new home today !!

progress update: 23rd Sep

I have been told that I am very pretty and bearing this in mind I tried my flirting skills out on Fudge.
Fudge is the dog that lives with Keith, Helen’s boss and I went to play with with him for a couple of days whilst Helen was working.
Fudge is also a Dawgdog, he’s quite nice but was immune to my charms and was only interested in getting the stick off me.
I am full of bouncy energy just like Tigger and I soon had Fudge worn out.
I also met Buffy and Angel ( Keith’s cats! )
I was quite good with them, having lived with a cat before I know that cats are to be approached carefully.I did forget my manners a few times and thought that they may enjoy to run circles around the house as we dogs like to do but Helen was VERY firm about this and said it was not the polite way to behave in cat company. She said I need a little more firm handling with cats to learn that not all cats are like my old pal in my previous home.
I  need to learn not to pull on the lead and to come back when off the lead. I find the latter difficult as there are soooo many interesting smells to investigate.
In my old home there were four children and I love childen. I do miss playing with them and of course all the juicy titbits they drop when eating. Children are such messy eaters that a dog could get fat cleaning up after them.
At the rescue everyone agrees that I am a thoroughly nice dog and have gorgeous Autumn red highlights running through my coat.
Dooley and Rocco have told me that they are at the top of the homing list so I may have to wait my turn.

progress update: 18th Sep

Trixie is back at the Rescue because unfortunately she is not good with unfamiliar cats !!

–

Trixie is a 9 month old red setter cross

She comes from a good home with four children aged 4-12 and a cat.

The family are moving and are unfortunately unable to keep her in their new accomodation.


Mizzen + Jib ( a.k.a Chuckie + Tommy )

progress update: 22nd Sep

I am just writing to let you know how the dogs have settled in.
When we got them they were called Chuckie and Tommy, and have now been
renamed Mizzen (the blonde one) and Jib (the black one).
They are now very settled. They love going for walks in the forest and down the
beach and have even been tempted to go for a swim in the sea, Mizzen
is not as confident with the sea as Jib but is very willing to give it
a try as long as he can be by our side.
They both have lifejackets that we are getting them used to before we take them out on the boat,
Jib does not mind his at all but Mizzen always sulks.

They both come when called so we are able to let them off the lead in
the forest and suitable walks. Mizzen from the start would simply walk
with us directly behind our heels whereas Jib runs off until almost
out of sight then waits for us to catch up before going on.

They love to meet other people and dogs and are very good with our
nieces who love them.

They act like typical siblings; they love each other but do growl over
food and cuddles. The way they are with the chickens also differs, we
have introduced them on a few brief occasions – Mizzen is nervous of
them and stays behind us, but Jib would really love to eat one given
the chance; so far he has been pecked by the chickens for his efforts.

I am also very pleased to say that they are getting the idea of
housetraining and are learning to look at the door if they need to go
out.

Kind Regards,

Justine

progress update: 14th June

Chuckie and Tommy have gone to settle in to their new home today!

progress update: 12th June

Pocket Picking Day

Today Helen took us to have our pockets picked.

We sat in the back and discussed in hushed tones what she could mean by this,

has she started to consort with Fagin like criminals?

If so we will have to contact the Police,

German shepherds are very good at catching bad people,

and once caught they will be taken to court to be tried in front of Judge Collie Jeffreys.

Collies are always judges because they are so clever.
Helen was late for this suspicious appointment and drove faster than she should.

Dooley had warned us of her bad taste in music and she was in a Bauhaus mood again.

I do hope she replaces her car aerial soon
and we can educate ourselves with Radio 4 next time we go for a drive.

We arrived at a place that smelt of lots of animals and there was a
few roguish looking characters there.

A Staffordshire Bull Terrier that won’t let anyone take his chain lead from him,

looked at Helen and sat by her and she told him that she didn’t have anything that he would
want to hold onto and he could take his eyes off her bag.

Stealing bags and pickpockets we were really starting to worry now !

A nice lady called Phillipa talked to us and before we knew it she had put a
long, sharp pointy thing in our necks and after a while we stared to feel sleepy.

Before we were too tired, we managed to scent mark a large
box with lots of papers in it.

Phillipa laughed and said it was only her 1998 tax returns.

Helen told Phillipa that we do this all the time and that Yvonne who has been
looking after us is going to have to completely replace her lino after we have gone.

Helen sat talking to us whilst we went to sleep and Phillipa made her a cup of tea.

Helen said that Phillipa is the only vet she knows that
makes a cup ot tea for her clients, we didn’t get offered one.

Before we knew it we woke up,

we felt a bit sore in the place we keep our manhood but otherwise felt fine.

Helen arrived to pick us up and
after a lovely sleep and a bit of chat with the other dogs who were
really quite friendly in spite of their rough looks we went back to
Yvonne’s.

We didn’t meet any pickpockets so are still non the wiser as
to what she meant.

Chuckie:

Tommy:

This is Chuckie and Tommy, they are a year old and are a cross shih tzu size.
They are not clean in the house as they lived outdoors before coming
to the rescue.
They have been clipped quite short as their coats were matted.

They were a little timid when
they arrived in but have now settled well into the foster home.

Charlie Brown

progress update: 13th Sep

Hi Helen,
Sue asked me to send you these pictures.

Charlie is now a good friend and neighbour to our one year old Border Terrier “Bertie”

(seen also in the photo, with other local friends Edison the OES puppy,
Millie, Jasper & Buddy all rescued Westies,Goldies, & Heinz 57’s)

and we look forward to many happy ‘walkies’ together.
Best wishes Debbie.

progress update: 2nd Sep

Sue has decided to keep Charlie !!

progress update from Sue: 1st Sep

I took them to badbury rings this morning, and
he took off like a bat from hell!!…..but he came back. phew.
My next door neighbour Debbie, has a border terrier, who was
hopeless at coming back, and she had lessons on clicker training,
recall etc; She is going to help me with the long lead she has (30
metres long), and she reckons we’ll be able to get him to come back
more easily by taking him out on an empty stomach, and having good
treats like homemade liver cake etc;
She is an A and E nurse, and she reckons the sneezing might be a
grass seed up one nostril, as he has no temperature. I will be taking
him to the vet tomorrow for examination.
Debbie reckons when he puts on a bit of weight, he won’t be quite so
fast. She thinks he’s a great little dog, and will get on with her
Bertie (terrier)

progress update from Sue: 31st Aug

Hi Helen,
We took Charley to Whitecliff, after leaving you. He had a lovely
time. We let him off the lead, and he came back quite easily!
He gets on well with Curly, and he has spent the afternoon exploring
the garden, and generally getting used to his new home. He is very
responsive, and lisens to commands, and I think he will be quite easy
to train, as he is young enough, and bright enough to take it all in.
He pulls a bit on the lead, but nothing I can’t handle. all in all
we think he is a smashing dog (Dave is smitten too!)