I'm going to start by apologising in case I am breaking and CD rules here, but I came away from a friend's house this evening thinking I had to share this with people who understand and care.

My friend's daughter has a Bedlington, and tonight she was contacted by a chance acquaintance of hers about an elderly Bedlington (age unknown, but estimated as 10 years +) that she "got for free from an ad in the newsagent's window." The people she got it from told her a load of lies ("we've had her since she was a puppy and it's breaking our heart to let her go"--yeah, right--she isn't spayed, had mastitis and has most likely been a puppy factory for them all her life). Apparently this new owner has had the poor bitch three months and discovered it was blind once she got it home; when she contacted the couple she got her from they claimed her sight was fine and didn't want to know about her at all.

This woman has 6 kids, a greyhound and a very dodgy sounding partner whose friends have urged him to "just take the dog out and shoot it" because he hates it. This woman is very scared he and his friends will get drunk and do as they threaten. She has taken it to the vet for treatment and to the groomer, but her partner is adamant that he wants the dog out of the house and will not spend another cent on it.

Well, apart from saving a special place in hell for him and his friends, it's a case of getting the poor girl out of that house. She is desperate for cuddles, spends most of her time in her basket because she bumps into kids' toys and walls and even ended up with a UTI because she was too scared to leave her basket to go for a wee.

My friend's daughter rang the local breed rescue contact and was told they have no fostering facilities, that they can only assist with rehoming and that rehoming her was going to be virtually impossible. Apparently the breed rescue is inundated with offers for young dogs, but no one will help her.

The daughter doesn't want to call the RSPCA because they will put the poor girl down. I did explain to her that given the dreadful circumstances this poor girl is living in she may need to accept that this is not the worst that can happen.

With three dogs and a bitch of my own ours is far from the ideal foster home, but I can't ignore her and I feel as though I ought to take her on. Can anyone suggest what to do next?

The problem here is, IF you find a rescue that can take her asap, or foster home, the chances are by the time that is organised, the people will have either already got rid of her, or decide that they are goign to demand money for her.

This means that rescues/fosterers time is wasted and it is one reason that some rescues will be reluctant to get involved (obviously the other is that many are full).

IF you can foster, then I would get her out of there and foster her until a rescue place can be found (or a new home) - if you can't foster, all you can really do is give the girl the contact details of as many rescues as possible and hope she does the right thing. I wouldn't go calling rescues on her behalf or anything like that, unless the dog is physically in your possession.

Being in a house with 6 children and a partner with friends like that must be hell on earth for a blind dog, who has no idea where she is and what is going on around her, she must spend everyday terrified of her surroundings, bless the poor little mite.

If Bedlington rescue cannot help with a nice quiet home with someone who can offer love and patience then the kindest thing for this dog is to take her to the vet and have her pts, going into a rescue will be just as scary for her, her age and disability will make her so very hard to home as it is, mostly her age, I feel so upset for the dog but even I wouldn't want to live in that house....... and for me it is kinder to her.

Thanks theemx, after a sleepless night I have just contacted my friend's daughter to offer to take her myself in lieu of any alternative--it won't be ideal for her but at least I am at home all day to be with her and our lot are respectful of other dogs. I just can't turn my back on her.

I think you're right; the first thing to do is get her out of that situation, then consider the options. It's certain she can't stay there.

Carrington, it is horrible even thinking about her in that hellhole. The woman is desperate to get her out of there safely, she seems like she has tried to do her best for her but it is her monster of a partner and his friends who are the real risk--one of them could just take her away for purposes I don't even want to think about. I will keep you posted. I agree that with no other solution the kindest thing is to have her PTS, but that's where her husband and his 'friends' have said they won't take her to the vet when they can "do the job" themselves...I want to report them to the police but know that they won't do anything at this stage.

Glad to hear the dog is safe. It may not be 'ideal' but its a far better situation than what it was before. Now whose going to rescue the poor children and woman living with that monster???

> her husband and his 'friends' have said they won't take her to the vet when they can "do the job" themselves

I feel physically sick now.  But know that they could probably do just that with no qualms at all. 

My heart bleeds for her, knowing that my blind girl was such a happy bitch, living to almost 17 years and never knowing anything but love.

Well, help is at hand for her, Jean SW--I have spoken to my friend's daughter this morning and she is going to fetch  the poor girl out of there. Either she or I will give her a home for as long as she needs. I ought to feel happier, but I can't stop thinking now about all those animals who have no hope of ever knowing a life with love.

Good on you Jay15 for caring and helping. I agree with JG that the main thing is to get the bitch away from there, then assess the situation. It may be the kindest option is to have her put to sleep, but at least then you will know it's a carefully considered decision and not a rushed one.

Please let us know what happens to her.  I'm almost in tears here.

JAY15, I have the greatest of respect for you that you have taken on this poor little dog, bless you. {{hug}}

Well done JAY15. The world needs more people like you.

Ok everyone, I've just got in and sorry I've had you waiting for news of...Noodles the Bedlington!

Noodles has been liberated from her horrible home and is being fostered by my friend and her daughter--they decided they wanted to have her after all. They've made contact with the breed rescue elsewhere in the country and it may be that she eventually goes there, but she is safe and sound and welcome. So I wanted to say that there are some real angels out there--my friend and her daughter being two of them.

Noodles has made herself right at home. She has accepted her guardian angel with casual good grace (as though there was never any doubt someone lovely would ride to her rescue!). She's already sorted out her top dog place, much to the resident Bedlington's initial chagrin (he's a young lad and will soon get over be bossed around), and she seems very happy. She needs to lose a bit of weight because she's had too little exercise, but she has ended up in a knowledgeable, loving temporary home, and thank god for that.

It has made me think hard about a couple of things. The first is that I am going to put my name down for fostering with our breed club and another local rescue this house will welcome oldies. I can't live with the idea that it is such a lottery for dogs as to whether they find and keep a loving home, and especially that in their old age the 'responsible' human can just decide they're too much trouble and just get rid.

The second thing is that if it weren't for the messages you've all sent, with advice, encouragement and support, it would never have been so easy to sort things out for Noodles. Thanks so much everyone--CD friends are the best!

Thank you so much for posting.  CD is one place that people can worry over dogs they don't know!  The news is welcome. 

I feel so strongly about my lot, that they are all provided for.  I don't have family, so my own vet has agreed to come and collect my lot if anything happens to me.  He knows that I couldn't bear for them to go to the RSPCA and be put in kennels.  He is best placed to know what sort of foster homes my gang would do well in. 

I hope that, after being used as a breeding machine, Noodles will have a happy retirement.

JAY15, from the bottom of my heart.  Thank you.

> I feel so strongly about my lot, that they are all provided for.

Nowadays I worry more about my dogs than my, admittedly now older, children - the kids at least could express an opinion but who would understand that look from one of my dogs that says  "Yuk, don't send me there!  Her carpet makes me itchy and her water tastes weird..."

Thanks Jay15 for the update, I've only just caught up with this story and I too would have whisked that oldie out of there to find a home for her myself.  Thank goodness your friend and her daughter have ridden in to the rescue :)

JeanSW, I think the most touching thing to see is how an animal (or bird, for that matter) adjusts to the immediate situation and knows it is safe. Noodles must have had a miserable life, but to see her queen of all she surveyed from the couch made me cry.

Many years ago I bought a young African grey who was miserable in his then home as he was severely bullied by an older bird. The woman who sold him to me gave me a brief but harrowing description of his life and I wasn't sure how he would be in his new home. He spent the first hour silently inspecting everything in minute detail and never so much as returned a glance at me although I talked to him and told him his new name was Hedgerow (he'd been called Pedro). After he finished looking the place over he drew himself up and just started shouting his name "Hedgerow!" over and over again. It really felt like getting the Hedgerow seal of approval and he went on to be a great companion, even if he was a bit withering at times in terms of letting you know you weren't worthy.

Well done and lovely to hear she is safe and happy in her new temporary home. You never know that hopefully they may become failed fosters as she sounds like it is a perfect home for her !

It takes people like you to go that little bit further to help dogs in difficult situations and rescues are always on the look out for for people like you !

Firstly, fantastic news!!! :-)

I can't live with the idea that it is such a lottery for dogs as to whether they find and keep a loving home, and especially that in their old age the 'responsible' human can just decide they're too much trouble and just get rid.

Secondly, this is why the whole dog breeding world needs a massive shake up, breeding should only be done by those who will take full responsibility for what they breed.

Myself and most of us on CD know full well that we may well have our oldies/adults and even pups come back for all sorts of reasons and we are prepared to do what is right and take them in to have a good home.

All the other dogs do need angels like yourself and others to help them but it shouldn't be so...... there are too many fickle owners and terrible breeders out there.

This one dog has been very lucky and I'm so, so, happy she has a lovely home now, certainly brings a tear to the eye.........

what a lovely end to a harrowing story. Well done J;ay15 and your friend for your amazing help you have given Noodles. May she now have a long and happy retirement

Just a quick update on Noodles--we paid a visit to her this afternoon to bring her some low calorie treats (bite size bits of oven dried lambs lung ...mmmmm--imagine chewing through your grandmother's tights and you probably have a good approximation of texture) and she is doing very nicely. She'd been for a little walk, probably a lot further than she's been in a long while, came home in from the rain, said hello and hopped up onto the sofa for a nap and some impressive snoring to accompany the cuddles. Not at all fazed by her experience!

Awwww........... :-)

> Not at all fazed by her experience

That is so humbling.  Most dogs just want to be loved.  :-)

Secondly, this is why the whole dog breeding world needs a massive shake up, breeding should only be done by those who will take full responsibility for what they breed.

I fully agree BUT it won't solve all problems, simply because not all owners will get in touch with the breeder, for whatever reason. Especially the pet owners that years down the line have forgotten who they got the dog from ("think it was in such and such a town" -amazing how even some dog savvy people say this!), have lost the paperwork ("we moved house and can't find it") and of course no matter what you do, some buyers simply will NOT keep in touch. I contact ALL my buyers every Christmas, but there is one I have never, ever heard back from after the first week, and a few that get in touch but with a few years in between each time.

Not long ago I was contacted by a cat rescue who told me they had two cats I'd bred. Both were young, owners lived closer to me than to the rescue they had dropped them off at (!!), had been in email contact with me in the past 6 months, they had all the papers with my contact details on (as they handed them to the rescue), they had signed the contract agreeing to return them if they could not keep them (the rescue got this as well!) yet they still did not contact me. I think some people just feel too ashamed. Oh and then there was my former vet who spat out the words "I'd never return a dog to its BREEDER if I couldn't keep it!" -the word breeder said as if it was the dirtiest word in the language.........can imagine vets like that may have changed the opinion of some pet owners as well.....

Great news about Noodles anyway. :)

> I fully agree BUT it won't solve all problems, simply because not all owners will get in touch with the breeder, for whatever reason.

This happened to someone in our breed where the owner lied to the rescue saying the breeder wasn't interested, fortunately the rescue knew that people in our breed are pretty responsible and the breeder was traced, ever after all her pups went with permanent ID by tattoo.  Not fool proof, but nothing is.  The NDTR will  go the extra mile in trying to decipher and extrapolate any poorly legible tats.  Chips either read or don't, and none of the registries keep permanent record of the breeder.

This is why it is important to permanently identify puppies before they leave you.  I do stress that pups will be traceable back to me should they stray etc, so making ti extra clear that I expect pups to be referred back to me should they need re-homing, as I would get to know anyway.