2 neglected cats arrive and Billy Jo finds a home

Pic of the 10 yrs old jack Russell Carlos, he is a sweet little dog, the owners said he was not house trained but he has not yet made any mess at all and he is great with other dogs which is always a bonus with terriers.
Another cat has joined the ranks of the permannent residents.We decided it was highly unlikely that Taz a middle aged black and white who can be quite grumpy would find a home.Sometimes visitors fall for one of the permanent cats who are always pottering about the yard and if this happens they can still be rehomed unless there is a serious health problem or they have been here too long and are happy.We once homed Huw, a 17 years old cat this way, he had only been with us for a matter of a year but someone fell in love with his gentle nature and gave him his final year living in a super home.
2 very sad neglected cats were admitted today, they had turned up in someones garden.One is emaciated and the other is very light in weight also but could be pregnant.Both have a bad flea allergy and are altogether very poor looking.They seem gentle cats and were clearly delighted to be somewhere warm and comfortable and settled in their pen quickly whilst purring away madly.We will worm them first, put them on a course of antibiotics(their eyes are gungy) deflea and see how they get on over the next week.I am running out of names for cats, maybe Bridget and Jones?
We have moved some of the almost full grown kittencats into the main cattery though I fear some are far too timid to be likely candidates for adoption.They all came in as twelve weeks old feral kittens, a few were fairly friendly and we found homes for them but others remained aloof.Out of this batch of 6, there are only 2 that are almost ready to be handled, the others will take forever. If only they were brought to us when they were very young(6- 8 weeks)there is a much higher success rate.The sad thing is that they are very attractive animals and normally would have been snapped up.
I cant remember if I mentioned that Billy Jo has been rehomed??? My memory is getting worse! Billy Jo was a very timid almost feral kittencat when she arrived with her mother and sister over a year ago(or was it 2 years ago)She has always been exceptionally nervous and amazingly she appeared to fall in love with a man who came with his family and had chosen another cat.He was so taken with Billy Jo that they took the two cats home and I have heard that she is marvellous, certainly the photo they sent showed a very contented cat. Another success story.

Cupboard Love?

The ponies boxed with no trouble at all , travelled well and are now esconced in their new temporary home.Next week 2 more horses will be going out to summer fields, probably Callie and Freddie - so many of ours are unable to leave here due to the need for constant veterinary treatment, being laminitic or they are too old to suffer (what can be an ordeal to some) of being boxed and getting used to a new environemnt
I was thrilled to receive photos of Fluff in his new home,its great to see him looking so at ease and comfortable, already he appears brighter and happier.Very heartwarming to see.
Pictured also is Linda the lady who travelled from Gloucester to give Robbie collie a home.She had brought treats with her and very quickly the cats realised there was a feast being handed out and gathered around her.I think the cats wanted to go with her too.felix actually jumped in her car and we had to quickly retrieve him. I heard from her today to say that Robbie had travelled very well and had made himself at home, been for lots of walks and already had a grooming session. For an ex working dog to be treated like this is wonderful to hear and like the other farm dogs who go to pet homes he is a very lucky boy indeed.
A 10 years old Jack Russell has been taken to the vet to be destroyed, I have just been to collect him to take him to a foster home.How could anyone take a little dog this age(or any age) to be killed.It is beyond me that they do not even try to find another home, nobody has rung here to ask us to take him.He seems a nice friendly dog who deserves a life in a loving home and someone somewhere will take him on, I am sure of that.
I think I heard a cuckoo this morning, I hope it was, it would be sad to think they would never return here due to lack of food.At one time people were always advised not to feed birds through the summer months because there was so much natural food about.Sadly that is no longer the case and it is so important we feed the wild birds all year round.If there is little in the way of natural food for them it is up to us to try and provide what we can to help them feed their young.The numbers of so many species are declining, it is important also not just to put out seed for the grain eating birds but insects, fruit and nuts too.My niece Talitha said that until she put out fruit she only saw a small variety of birds and now she sees dozens of different ones including blackcaps, longtailed tits and Jays.
Oh I got the date wrong for the Open Day it is not the 25th which is a saturday but the Sunday 26th July.It doesnt seem that far off so I must start the ball rolling and enlist some help for the day.

The Jain Award Ceremony.

I dont know how I managed to get through the Jain award ceremony without making a run for it.Thankfully Barry offered to accompany me so I wasnt entirely alone which woiuld have been much worse! Speaking in front of people terrifies me but it was a great honour to be nominated for the award and it was also another way to "spread the word" so with knees knocking and dry mouth I somehow got through the ordeal. The award itself was a wonderful figure of Mahaveer (a Buddha like figure)on an inscribed wooden plinth and it was awarded to me for my 30 years work in Animal welfare. The Jains are a spin off from traditional Buddhism and are a very compassionate group of people, there are Jain temples all over the world and they believe that life should be lived without violence and that all sentient creatures deserve to live without fear and should not lose their lives to provide human beings with food .Each year they present an award to someone they believe has shown compassion in their chosen way of life and this year I was honoured to be chosen.
I have never received anything like this in my life and to be honest I felt somewhat of a fraud accepting it but I will always treasure it and remember the lovely people we met in their Manchester Community Centre.I have shown one of the pictures of their temple which was truly beautiful and awe inspiring.
Today I had a visit from the Council, my vile neighbour across the fields has started his complaints again about the noise of the dogs.He has been watching the staff exercising the dogs from his vantage point at the top of one of his fields.They have complained to me about hiim using binoculars to spy on them.Oh no I thought here we go again and I was proved right.I told the council that staff bring their dogs in to work as they dont want to leave them for long periods of time and that most of the dogs I rescue are fostered out but that I do have an occasional dog in the house with my own dogs.Unfortunately they are now going to monitor the noise so I will be on edge if my dogs play out in the garden and of course in this nice weather they will be outside a lot.
I still have the permanent residents outside (in heated indoor pens) but they have been here a long time and he will not make me get rid of them.They live here and will continue to do so no matter what he does.
What a b.....d.I wish he would get a life and stop bothering me.The neighbours on the other side of him also spend their days worrying about him spying on them and complaining about their dogs. This horrible man and his equally horrible wife have 2 dogs, one of which has been seen chasing a neighbours sheep!! He needs to get his priorities right.
On a lighter note both Robbie and Milo collies have gone to new homes and the little yorkies will be going also this week. There are quite a few cats being admitted this week, no kittens yet but it wont be long before they start arriving in their dozens.
The three colts Merlin, Celt and Shamrock are going to their summer grazing fields tomorrow, we will miss them but it will do them good and we do need to get a few out to rest the fields here.I hope they go into the horsebox with no stress though Phoebe who owns the box is very competent so all should go well.

2 cats and a dog admitted.

Two beautiful longhaired cats were admitted today.Sami the tortoishell was abandoned in an isolated spot in Anglesey and Che the black/grey cat has been scavenging around a local kennels for several weeks. Both are friendly nice natured cats but will need owners wiling to keep to a daily coat brushing routine if their coats are to remain in good condition.
Milo a 2 years old farm collie was taken yesterday to be destroyed because he was no good with sheep, we have had him neutered and he appears to be a friendly affectionate animal., he is an unusually marked sheepdog and has 2 blue eyes.His arrival means putting off taking in the nervous sheepdog I wrote about a few days ago. He needs to come in next so I can start to assess him and try to do some work with him to overcome his problems.I am no Cesar Milan but I like a challenge and this dog obviously needs help.
I am away saturday and part of sunday so there will not be an entry tomorrow, I am off to manchester to the Jain award ceremony and as always I am feeling nervous at the prospect of having to speak in front of people.

The abandoned pup has rickets.

Pictured here are the new tabby Abigail and 2 of our ferals who escaped and took up residence in the kitten room, they sleep on top of the pens but go outside when the door is open.Somehow I think they are now here to stay.
Ruth or Rwth as it should be spelled (apologies Rwth)has been in touch to let me know that dear little Fluff is well settled in his new home and is getting lots of attention. I am well and truly elated to hear this news.This is one of the highs of doing animal welfare work, there are more than enough lows to deal with but when something like this happens everything seems worthwhile.
The little lurcher pup has been to the vet today,I was concerned about one of his front legs which appeared a bit knobby looking on the joint.The vet diagnosed rickets from a poor diet so he is on vitamin tablets.From past experience this usually does the trick, I have had lurcher pups before in far worse condition, one litter were unable to walk, their front legs were so bent they walked on their elbows but even those straightened up within weeks.Im sure Freddie(his new name) will be fine.He is a typical lurcher, shy and frail and very wimpy, they are not the bravest of dogs.I am unsure whether he is a greyhound cross or whippet cross, I think his size when grown will be somewhere between the two.He needs to meet the cats, I want him to get used to them so he doesnt grow into a cat chasing/killing machine.He is the right age to start introducing him to cats so tomorrow is the designated day.Today he has been through enough.
Another disappointment, the people failed to turn up for Minty.After the homecheck was passed I was sure they would be here today as arranged but it seems there has been a change of heart from someone in the family.Poor Minty.I really thought his time had come.
Good news about Shane one of the Anglesey ponies, a friend of the shelter Janet is thinking of giving him a permanent home in Derbyshire.If she does make her mind up definitely this will be great for Shane who will be lavished with attention.He could only go to someone like her because he may always have recurring health problems.

A great day for Fluff and Alfred leaves us.

I can hardly believe it, Fluff finally finds someone who is happy to take him on.Ruth(pictured here with Fluff) wanted an indoor cat and was moved to hear that Fluff had been here for 2 years and had a heart problem.It is just so wonderful to think that today he starts his new life and will be loved and treasured as he deserves.All the fusses and care we gave him could never compensate for the loss of a real home.I knew the right person would come along soon,heres hoping Ruth and Fluff have a long happy life together.Im ecstatic!
Alfred went off happily to his new home, he jumped in the back of their car as though he knew it was his time to go. Molly seems a little subdued, they were not great friends, didnt play or sleep in the same basket but they seemed compatible living together.I wonder if I am being unfair to her bringing new dogs in and then rehoming them.This is the first time she has not had a permanent companion.Perhaps I should find one so there is some constancy for her.I had considered keeping Alfred too but so many people were interested in him, it didnt seem fair to him.I dont have a great deal of time to spend with the big dogs although I am in and out of the kitchen during the day. Molly is now 7 years old which is a fair age for a Great Dane. She is lively when she goes out in the fields but spends a lot of time sleeping too.Maybe I should keep a dog of similar age which she gets on with.It needs some thought but it must be the right one to fit into the lifestyle here with all the other animals about.
Roy is bringing in the stray whippet cross today, he will have have to share the kitchen for now at least. l know already I am going to fall in love with him (As much as I am fond of Roy,I mean the dog and not him)Roy tells me that when he went to collect the pup from the churchyard , he was asleep on a childs grave.The gate was shut to the cemetery and he had been in there all day apparently.I suppose we will never find out his history, if only animals could speak. Its always been a mystery to me that this type of dog is not more popular, after all they seldom bark(though William does) are usually docile and placid of nature and dont pull on the lead or have a tendency to jump all over people.In fact in so many ways they make perfect pets for older people.Years ago I had another beloved dog, an Italian Greyhound called Mr Whippy.God how I loved that dog, he had been admitted from a breeder in Liverpool who didnt want him after the little dog (mysteriously) fell down stairs and broke his two front legs.He was a tiny little chap who hated walking, preferring to be carried everywhere, and of course I obliged.He lived 14 years and I was devastated when he died, he was probably one of , if not THE most special dog I had until William.I love all my dogs but some seem more in tune and there is a special bond with certain ones.
A new cat has been admitted. Abigail, a lovely tabby was taken to be destroyed because she scratched someones grandchild.She is a friendly affectionate cat with striking tabby markings.When I was a child in Liverpool, tabbies were called "Scottie Road cats". There were so many of them , it was the most common colour of cats to be seen on Merseyside.I was never sure why they were called that except that "scottie" was short for Scotland Road.I wonder if anyone else knows why tabbies had that nickname? For some reason this colour is no longer predominant, there appear to be more black cats or black and white than any others nowadays.
Blue seems to be walking much better today, he did not need any treatment, the following day he was walking normally.We were worried because he is one of the neglected Anglesey ponies whose feet have needed so much attention but he seems fine now.It is pouring with rain now and high winds are getting up so we need to bring in the old ponies early, I can already see them clustering round the gate waiting for Mei to do the honours and call them in. I hope this is not the end of the beautiful spring days.I found a bumble bee(in the kitchen) dying this morning and realised I know nothing about them whatsoever, is this normal? I thought they lasted through spring and summer! Another fact I need to look up.

Gizzie and Jessie make themselves at home.

What a brilliant weekend it has been, I had a day off yesterday and went to Llandudno and went to the top of the Great Orme. Even though the staff were keeping an eye on my dogs, I worried most of the day about them being on their own in the house.I sometimes think they rule my life and of course when I returned they were all perfectly fine.Its not something I like to do -I seldom leave them on their own and if I do the girls let them out regularly.When Im out I miss them and compensate by"talking" to dogs I meet in the street, much to the annoyance of anyone accompanying me.
There is a possible home for Bobby, one of our shetland ponies, he is only 5 years old but a very quiet placid little pony,Megan terrier went to her home and Mary cat has been reserved.
We are waiting for the people from Kent who are having Alfred lurcher, to arrive.They are travelling up today and want to meet him before taking him home tomorrow.I gave him a bath this morning so he looks especially beautiful when the meeting takes place.I still intend to stay out the way when he goes,I dont want to see him go. He is such a nice dog, no trouble at all and I will definitely miss him a great deal.
The stray cross german shepherd pup already has a home with someone locally, I have my doubts she was a genuine stray.Often the owners bring them in and make up a story.Why they do this I have no idea. but its a nuisance because then we have no background or information with which to find the right suitable home. Cassie as she will be called is going to live with two other dogs so I hope she will settle quickly.Her first night here was a very unsettled night for her but thats only to be expected.She is a lot calmer today.
The little yorkies Jessie and Gizzy might as well have lived here all their lives, they are so at home!(pictured here)They look quiite big on the photo but they are toy yorkies, dainty frail litle dogs.
Had a call yesterday about a dog curled up all day near a church in Bangor.Roy went out to collect and is fostering him for a few days, he said he is a young whippet cross, smaller than my William.He should be easy to rehome,I must harden my heart, lurchers are definitely one of my favourite types of dog.Anyhow William would not take too kindly to an usurper!