1st 'Pick me' day

It's Tommy's 'Pick me' day today! As we don't know when his birthday is, I've decided to use his adoption day as his special day and named it his 'pick me' day. I think it sounds great!

What a year its been, some lows, lots of highs, and allot of general getting to know you stuff. I'm still unsure sometimes of Tommy. He still has some issues and sometimes I wonder why I chose him. Then he rolls on his back with his nylabone in his mouth... What a cutie!

Here is one of Tommy's first photos -



And here he is now. (I couldn't get him in the pose I'm afraid!)





As you can see, he's put on some weight! But seems allot more relaxed in his surroudnings.
We didn't do anything special to celebrate - I'm more worried about him settling into the flat to be honest! He's still off his food...

Panorama

This wouldn’t be a dog blog if I don’t comment on Panorama last night. Obviously I watched it, any caring dog owner would, and that is unfortunately the problem. The ‘caring’ dog owners would not breed from a dog to make money. The ‘caring’ dog owners would not hand their dog into any rescue centre because it doesn’t match the furniture. The ‘caring’ dog owners already have their dogs chipped, vaccinated and maybe even neutered. ‘Its all those others’.

So what can be done? They could bring in licensing, and I would be very surprised if the government doesn’t, but that will cost a lot of money to administer and like all these things, the people that care will get it done and the people that don’t, wont.

It focused a lot on Staffies, not surprisingly, but there are lots of other dogs being bred for cash. Teacup Chihuahuas for instance can fetch up to and over £1000.00. And if you ask the breeder, they could ‘drop it round tonight’. The problem with Staffies is not the Staffies. It’s the media image of the Staff. Personally, I’ve met more snappy JRTs, Yorkies and Westies than Staffies, but these are normally the ‘nice’ ones, brought up by ‘caring’ dog people.

So, even though licensing I think will come to force, it wont stop the rescue centres being overwhelmed with unwanted dogs in the short term. I think its great that the Rescue Centres have finally come out and showed figures on how many healthy dogs are being put down. I am embarrassed to say that if Tommy were taken into Battersea, he would be put down. On lead, he can snap at another dog. There is no rhyme or reason, and sometimes he can be happy with a dog one day and not the next. So he would be PTS. I think I’d be hard pushed to find any dog that is completely bomb proof. But I suppose Battersea need an ‘excuse’ to keep putting these healthy dogs down.

I think they could look at the stipulations they have for rehoming, maybe ‘adjust the bar’ a bit. Look at the people wanting to adopt, not just if the box is ticked or not. I know a lot of people who have bought dogs because they couldn’t adopt and that leave their dogs at home all day whilst they are at work. Most of the owners feel guilty about that, and these dogs probably receive the same, if not more, attention, training, walking and care than someone who is at home all day. If they live in a flat, so what? If they are prepared to walk down the stairs to take ‘Tiddles’ out four / five times a day for wees, does it really matter?

I am worried about the future for dog owners. We live in an increasingly intolerant world where the media exasperate situations to a baying mob. Most cases, its not the dogs fault, it’s the owners. But who really wants to hear that??

Oh Amba!

She is back in kennels...  Am so sad.  Especially as the guilt I feel over not being able to adopt her had started to ebb away and I was beginning to enjoy Tommy more.  I'm so sad and f**ked off!!

Running still

Excellent update from Amba today! The ‘sit complex’ line really made me laugh!


B/f took Tommy for his run. 5km and b/f runs fast! B/f came back covered in sweat and red faced. Tommy just strolled in looking for his dinner. Looks like he’s a good match.

Vets again

Another update from Amba. She was off lead in the woods…wish I could let Tommy off.


Tommy went to have his stitches out today. The nurse put a muzzle on him whilst she done it. I felt sorry for him but he did behave – honest! They also gave him his worming tablet and I picked up some more flea treatment. Another £40.00 that I wont see again. I wish I was enjoying him more.

Amba update

An update from Amba. She seems to be settling in well, albeit with a few issues on excitability. Lucky girl!

Amba news and first day nerves

Oh today made me so happy! I went onto the terrier rescue website and Amba wasn’t where she normally is (dogs needing homes – in kennels). I was shocked, where was she?? And yes! She has been moved to reserved! I so excited for her! Please be good Amba x.


Tommy’s first day at work. He slept for most of it and didn’t bark at anyone. Tail wagging when people came in. Boss feels extremely sorry for him. He is a sensitive soul anyway but his eyes fill with tears on a regular basis over him.

Perfect day

Today was the kind of day I’d been hoping to have all week with Amba. Firstly, I took Tommy into work to clear that I could bring him in next week (cant leave him at home with that cone on.) And then we went to see Sarah and her two girls. He was so good. Laid in the garden, let the girls fuss him without getting grouchy, he was just a joy to have around. We went out for a walk and it depressed me a bit that I couldn’t let him off lead, but I know one day I will, I’m sure.


We went up a ‘dog friendly’ pub tonight because I didn’t fancy leaving cone head by himself. He was completely unfazed by it all. The train was exciting, pub was excellent and he eventually fell asleep on boyfriends friend lap. Ah bless.

There haven’t been many updates on Amba recently. I hope she’s doing ok

No fun

My first full day alone with Tommy. We walked round to the little park first thing so he could do his wee’s and poo’s. Then back home. Still not much interaction with dogs because of his non-inoculation status, I’m trying to keep him away anyway. It’s very frustrating. I called Bonnie about the paperwork. She said she would come over at about 4. Bonnie called at 3:50 – cant come today, how about tomorrow. She hadn’t called the vets either about the neutering. Not that I can do much with Tommy at the moment, waiting around for Bonnie wasn’t fun either. To be honest, I’m not enjoying this at all and keep thinking about Amba.

Who are ya???

This one was taken over the park this morning - you can

clearly see how thin the poor mite is...

Tommy the JRT!!

Boyfriend took the day off work so we could purchase ‘dog stuff’. We went to Pet City and bought bowls, food, toys, bed, collar, halter, two leads, brush, shampoo, ID tags and treats. It was fun! We have also changed his name. Being completely non-responsive to Jerry we thought it would be ok. He’s now called Tommy. We took him for a long walk up London Road so we could get a tub for him to have a bath in. He eventually calmed down on the lead but was so interested in everything and everyone! It’s a bit embarrassing as his skin allergy is horrid. I can feel people’s eyes on him the whole time. If they bother to ask we explain that he is a rescue that we’ve only just adopted him. The flea treatment is working though – he’s not scratching so much. Because of his vaccination status we still haven’t had any trips to the park – not that I think his recall would be any good! Its not quite so much fun as if I’d got Amba and a off lead romp in Hockley Woods or down the seafront. Bonnie called and said could we do the paperwork tomorrow, she’s snowed under at the moment. We went to the pictures. He was left for 3 hours. No mass disruption when we got back.

Tommys back where you can clearly see his bloodied fur - bless him...

Jerry the JRT

Called Bonnie about having the Cocker on trial. She said that he has already been adopted (I have my suspicions), but if I don’t want Jerry then I could always bring him back. Hmmm. If he is mine, and we start to bond surely I will forget all about Amba and love Jerry? At the moment, that doesn’t seem like much of a possibility. I wanted to spend this week off work going places and seeing how Amba would react to the park, beach, pub, woods, and the fete that is on on Wednesday. I feel like I’ve been cheated and I almost called the rescue centre again and plead with them if I could take Amba on trial. I chickened out and call Bonnie back. ‘Is it ok to keep him? And can I flea treat him’. ‘Yes, please do. I have tried calling his previous owners but they aren’t calling back. I will have to come round and do the paperwork, and book him into the vets to be neutered. I’ll try and book him in for Wednesday for the neutering and shall we do the paperwork about 5?’ ‘Yes, that’s fine. I’m off all week to settle him in so will be about’. ‘Excellent. I will also book in for his vaccinations and get his nails cut. Will call you later’. So that’s it. I have Jerry the JRT.

To be or not to be...

Took Jerry (ugh!) to the little park first thing. I really haven’t taken to him much. Is this because I know he might be going back? I have had a word with boyfriend and the general consensus is that we should try the Cocker as well. I think he’s right. Although Jerry is ‘such a cutie’. Albeit quiet…

Later

B/f and I took him for a walk along the Cliffs. It was good to be out, to be walking. I don’t think Jerry was walked very much where he was before. Everything is just so exciting! He doesn’t seem to pay any attention to his name. He also only ate half his dinner and seems content enough just to lie on his blanket, keeping a very watchful eye. He hasn’t messed in the house yet though. Surely that’s a bonus. I’m not as excited as what I thought I was going to be.

JRT arrives!

I am with dog! Albeit a flea bitten generally neglected dog. He’s a JRT called Jerry. Seems to be very scared (not that I’m surprised). His claws are too long. He seems a bit underweight. He’s not neutered. He is covered in fleas and has the most terrible flea allergy I’ve ever seen! His pads are also very soft. When I got to the centre Bonnie, the RSPCA lady recognised me straight away. She had 3 dogs in. The JRT, a staffie (obviously) and a working Cocker Spaniel. After a quick discussion about the JRT and the Cocker, she said that the JRT might be more suitable ‘as he is the one that would sit under the desk, he seems such a cutie’ (hummm that word again.) The Cocker is a bit nutty’. I was delaying. I know boyfriend would much prefer the Cocker, but it does have to sit under my desk! Bonnie then said ‘well, take him home on 24hour trial and see how you get on’. ‘If it doesn’t work out, could I try the Cocker as well’. ‘Yes, of course. Now you have food, bowls etc don’t you?’ ‘Yes’ I lied. ‘Just don’t leave him by himself’. ‘Oh ok’. That was 4 hours ago. I stopped off at Pet City on the way home and got the food and a blanket for him to sleep on. And a toy. He seems very timid. I hate the name Jerry. And not being able to walk him (Bonnie wasn’t sure if he was vaccinated either…) makes it all a bit confined. I wish he would show some more animation. He had just started to play when boyfriend came in with boy. He went back into his ‘quiet’ mode. I’m not sure if this is going to work out. I wish I could walk him over the park.

Where am i??

Small Hopes

I have called a few dog walkers to see if they have vacancies. Two of the three don’t (not that I would have trusted a dog in their hands anyway). The third still hasn’t responded. I am going to phone up the RSPCA lady I spoke to in August. Back then, she done a home check for a dog that I was hoping to adopt in Nottingham, which fell through (surprise surprise). She may have a suitable dog for me.

Battersea - Brands Hatch

What a day! Boyfriend drove me to insanity this morning with his ‘oh there’s loads of time’ attitude when I really needed to get going. We ended up getting caught in really bad traffic on the M25, without having lunch before we left. So by the time (which was about 2:45) we finally got to Brands Hatch it was a case of find a dog quick! There was a collie cross for adoption that boyfriend fell in love with, but so had another family. Big waggy tail and long tongues are always going to be adopted first. If only we hadn’t have spent so long in bed ;-). I filled out the form and went with boyfriend to look at the dogs. There was about 10/12 all waiting for homes. A couple of rotties (too big), a couple of too large cross breeds, the collie and the rest were staffies. It was so sad. We were drawn to a small staffie bitch called Titch, but in reality, none of the dogs were what we both wanted. We had the interview which was going very well I thought. Then the part about leaving the dog. ‘’So the dog will be left two days a week’. ‘Yes, but I will be going home both lunchtimes to walk and fuss him’. ‘That will not be long enough break for him’. ‘But I only work 10 minutes from home’. ‘So when will you eat then?’ ‘I eat at my desk’ (which is true, why waste valuable lunch times eating???). ‘I’m sorry, but that is not feasible. If you wish to adopt a dog you need to make better facilities. How about employing a dog walker, or do you have any relatives that could look in on the dog’. ‘My mom is going to anyway’ ‘well, she should come down and meet the dog as well. It’s best if the dog meets as many people as possible that it will come into contact with.’ Again, I was gutted. We had left it too late to shoot up to Battersea and at least look for another dog while I sorted out a dog sitter. It seems like it’s all stacked against me.

Now for the bad news...

I have called and they called me back. I now feel really bad as the lady that deals with adoptions has had a sick hospital bound husband! We went through a few bits and the kennel hand will give me a call back later. On the website they have put ‘strong lead – Amba’ ;-)

Emma, the kennel hand has called and has wrecked my visions. We were talking through Amba’s personality, and she was going through my questionnaire, she asked about my mom. ‘Oh, your mom will be looking after the dog sometimes and is scared of staffies’ ‘yes, but she is fine with other dogs, it’s not so much that she’s scared of them but has never been around them’ ‘I really don’t think I can let you adopt Amba. Do you think your mom will be able to hold a dog down by the throat’ ‘ah no’. ‘sigh. I’m not sure if it would ever come to that, but the possibility is there. I’m sorry, when I let Amba go it would have to be on a permanent basis. She has had too much upset in her life so far’. ‘oh, oh ok. Is there any other dogs that you may think are suitable?’ ‘Oh lets see, there are two dogs…’ but I wasn’t really listening. I was listening to the sound of my heart breaking. I had waited over six weeks for this day & it wasn’t going to happen. I am surely gutted. Boyfriend is being supportive and has tried to geer me along. But I am gutted and he knows it. Another trip to Battersea to the centre at Brands Hatch as well as London is planned for tomorrow

Call pt 3

I know there are busy but still no one has called back. Maybe I should call again?

Call, pt 2

No one has called back

Call, pt 1

I called the rescue centre today and left a message. Hopefully someone will call me back soon. I'm hoping to collect Amba on Saturday.