Paddys favourite game "YOU TUG , I STAND STILL"

It has been a very busy weekend so far.Rosie the young collie pictured on last blog has been homed and we are receiving lots of calls about our other dogs, there are a few people coming to visit tomorrow. We have to co-ordinate it so our foster people arrive at the same time as those coming to see the dogs. It is a bit of a nuisance not being able to keep the dogs all here but with a neighbour like Horrid Hawksworth we have no choice in the matter. Although far from ideal, the system works reasonably well.
My little Suzy seems better though is still not back to her normal grumpy and endearing self. Its funny, I find myself wishing she would growl at me just to show she is feeling ok. After a day of refusing food she is eating a little so that has to be a good sign.
I have been told of a farm dog in desperate need of rescuing, another one which is no good at working, the farmer has told someone he plans to shoot him.I have left a message for him to say we will have the dog and someone I know is going to go there and confront him/take the dog off him.
Disappointingly Ben Westie has been returned just hours after he went, unfortunately he was quite nasty with the cats of the house (and he lived with two) but we have done another homecheck on someone in Southport (thank you Liverpool for arranging that so quickly)who are coming up to see him tomorrow, heres hoping this will be the right home for him.
Incidentally the people who exasperated me so much the other day, the ones moving and wanting me to take their two cats at the last minute , brought in the 10 years old cat but said the other had become scared of the removal men and the hustle and bustle at the house and had disappeared, The following day they found him, he came back for food and so he was put in a basket and brought to the shelter. We were relieved to see him with the cat, after thinking he may have disappeared for good and then all of a sudden the door of the basket flew open(he hadn't shut it properly) and off ran Tiddles up the mountain! What can one say to such ineptitude?Yes I know accidents can happen but this was just the last straw with them. Of course we will put up posters in local farms but it will be a miracle if he is found. (though miracles have been known to happen)We are all so annoyed with this couple and so worried now for the welfare of the missing cat.
I made an early morning trip to the vet to collect a semi feral cat which had been trapped and taken there for spaying , the plan was to put her in the feral enclosure which is pretty full but this cat has a problem with her eyesight and it was felt she would not survive if released. Having agreed to this, her eyesight is worse than we were been led to believe and we are not sure that she is feral so for now she is in isolation and we will see how she goes. My gut feeling is that she IS feral but because she is almost blind she is feeling vulnerable, many old ferals become friendly when they are old and frail, we will decide about her future when we have assessed her thoroughly.Perhaps we will be able to find her an indoor home somewhere she will feel safe. I think she would become affectionate if given a chance. On the way home from the vet I called in to see the people who are returning three of the ponies and have arranged for them to come back one day this week.I need a driver now, the horse trailer is not easy unless you are used to it and I have enough problems driving a car! I think those who know me will second that.
This afternoon Emma (pictured here) who used to dogwalk for us came to visit with Jimmy the patterdale terrier she adopted several months ago. he looked so well, a lovely glossy coat and an unscarred face! When this little dog was found he had a badly infected and swollen face from some sort of a bite wound, look at him now, he is a different dog.It is so good to see him again.
Mei is pictured here also with Smudge whose owners brought her in this morning, she is hopefully going out to a home tomorrow if she gets on with their other dog. Her owner said nobody has the time to walk her now they have a baby in the house. Poor little unwanted dog, there is something very appealing and sweet about her, I could be tempted myself but I will stay strong, I have enough with those I have already. Speaking of my dogs, here is Paddy enjoying his favourite game of Tug of war with a difference - he lets the other dogs do all the hard work and he simply stands there pitting his weight against theirs.This time Lucy from the office is the one trying to out tug him.

A very Hungry dog.

The sun is shining today, so different from yesterday, I thought the rain would never cease. The fields desperately need to dry out but the rain doesnt stay away for long enough.I felt sorry for some of the old cats in the cattery so decided to take on 3 more as permanent residents.Trevor and Tomas are lovely friendly cats but nobody seems to want them and last week an elderly black and white female cat was brought in with very weak back legs.The vet says its probably from an old injury but she cant jump up on the sleeping shelves.So all three are now in the conserevatory with the other oldies.They will have the run of the shelter but Ill lock them in for a while to settle them down.As it is they all seem to have made themselves at home on the sofa and are purring away happily. There are 2 others I am considering but i could go on for ever and there has to be a limit.There are already around 30 living here permanently. The other 2 are Inky an 18 years old black cat and Toots a 10 years old deaf cat - though maybe someone will take on Toots, she is a very sweet little cat.Ill give her a bit longer but will introduce Inky to her new home tomorrow.
When I went to the vet on Friday a farmer had taken in a 4 months collie pup he no longer wanted, well she came back to the shelter with me and 24 hrs later went to a home.As luck would have it , Leila who has some of our animals was looking for a young collie for her daughter. I wish all animals would go so quickly.
Pal does not seem to be missing Sally but he has a new friend to share with now.An elderly and very neglected Foxhound was brought to us last week,Although she is rather old for a hunting hound, she was found at the foot of mountains where hunts regularly take place,Novbody has claimed her and if they did I would have more than a few questions to ask! Now named Bonny, she has terrible pressure sores all over her skinny frame, undoubtedly caused by lying on concrete and she is constantl;y searching for food.Walks are of no interest to her, she wants to stay round the kitchen where the food is prepared.Considering she has been starved, its of no surprise she is so obsessed with food.(I have no idea what my excuse is? I think i am just plain greedy)
I have had a few calls and emails this week to take horses but although our numbers are down, the fields are in too poor a state to consider taking on any new ones just yet and most of thepeople who contact me for equines, want them to ride.Most of the horses admitted here or on the waiting list are suitable as companions only due to various healthy issues.