Thanks to all who understood the rescue experiences I'd like to say though That luckily its not all doom and gloom in Rescue we have some very funny experiences too,and lots and lots of happy endings,thats what keeps us sane ...er well maybe not sane exactly.Then some zany ones a lady rang up on Monday asked if I'd take her Chocolate & yellow Labrador males in cos she decided to have a black they are quieter...nuff sed

You and Leigh (and anybody else for that matter) have my greatest admiration for the work that you do.

I've just been involved in rehoming a tibetan spaniel to my gran and boy did that open my eyes to rescue :-( She's got a good home now though and granny is chuft to bits.....oh and the dog's pretty blumming happy too ;-)

Oh Claire - I am pleased for Gran (and the dog as well) Didn't know you'd got sorted :D
Sara

It's been a bit hectic Sara, hope to have a natter later :-)

Mattie,

Thank you for being one of those people who give of their time and energy so freely to living creatures who cannot speak for themselves.

If it wasn't for people like you I'd never have had my beautiful Zico for 9 wonderful years. He was from rescue and had spent his days chained to an out door kennel from 8 in the morning to 6 at night because it was less hassle than putting a fence round the lovely big garden. He was also only walked once a week because his owner was pregnant and (unsurprisingly in the circumstances) Zico was a bit of a handful and she was frightened of being pulled over. His owners were not bad people, they just had completely underestimated the requirements of that beautiful grey dog.

On the 'cage' note.... Zico was completely barking mad when he arrived with us! Ruined several carpets and a sofa. We eventually got a place in a training class for him and the trainer recommended a cage. I was horrified but bowed to his superior knowledge and it worked wonders! Zico suddenly felt safe I think. Being rehomed is a traumatic experience and I feel the cage gave him a 'cave' to hide in. He spent the nights in it (as he would get up and wee on the carpet in the time it took me to creep down stairs and open the door for him!) and whenever we went out (never for more than four hours). He was four when he came to us and had never to my knowledge been caged before. We used it for about four months as I have described above, then we took the door off and he used it as a bed for a further year. Its now packed up and in the shed in case we decide to get another puppy. Having read everything you and others have said, I'm not sure I'll use it though. I think I'll trust in the advice of the breeder at the time - professional advice worked well for me last time and I'm sure it will again - even if it is different this time.

One final thought, before I stop waffling! - If I had persited with using the cage whenever I had left him alone then maybe he wouldn't have had the opportunity to eat my wedding cake! :D

Hi Mattie,

I am sure it's not always doom and gloom in the rescue world? But I would find it so hard to see those poor animals being brought into the kennels in the states that they are due to the miss treatment and the evil people who have done this just don't care.

But at the end to see them be re homed and go to a loving home must bring a lump to the throat.

I am hoping to get another dog in the summer to come and live with Molly, my husband two cats ane me of course! I am waiting until then as we are going to tour Scotland in April for four weeks and it is not the right time to be re homing a dog!

Molly is quite used to our travels now so she wont be any problem but having a second dog with Molly in our Motorhome who is uncertain is not the right time! Thankfully I did stop myself from re homing another Boarder Collie a month ago it just would not have been far on the lad. Though I did cry just hope he has got a new home now and is happy....

Julieann and Molly

I did a home check on Saturday. The people concerned were far too truthful and told me all about how their neighbours had complained about the way they tethered their previous dog in an outside kennel across the road from their house and how they'd been investigated by the SSPCA!

There's being honest and then there's setting all my alarm bells ringing.