The Golden Girls

Its been a busy week, I often feel there arent enough days in the week for the jobs that need doing here.Im also backwards and forward to Liverpool a lot, for Trustee meetings or other important meetings concerning the 2 Shelters. With a new management team in place for Liverpool there are many teething problems to iron out but on a personal level I feel a great sense of relief that there are now 3 competent people taking over the running of the Liverpool shelter. When the last manager left recently after 25 years of involvement in the charity there was a time of panic, a time where there was doubt that we would find anyone to fill his shoes. I feel renewed enthusiasm with all the new ideas and suggestions being bandied about at these meetings, its good to have new people on board.
The Westie I took in 2 weeks ago has gone to a home this weekend but it has been incrediby quiet for cats, i think the dreadful weather must be putting off visitors. The rain has been incessant and once again the fields are suffering.i spent an hour last night trying to coax a racing pigeon off the kitchen roof, this is not the safest resting place for an exhausted bird.Fortunately the rain has meant that the cats are all staying inside , i dont think they have noticed him yet. I will try again today, he probably just needs food and rest so he can continue his journey.
Have taken in an elderly black labrador which was to be destroyed, his owner said he didnt even like dogs!!!!!!!!!! Laddie has lived outside all his life, why didnt he give him away years ago to someone who could have given hinm the love and attention all animals deserve.What a waste of this dogs life. i also have a new member of the household, Muffin an 8 years old Dogue de Bordeaux was brought to me from Lampeter where the owner had moved in with her new man, leaving her pets behind.The poodle and the three cats were snapped up but nobody wanted this middle aged and very large dog.Currently she is sharing space with my other 3 big dogs and they are getting on wonderfully, what a superb natured dog she is.Someone will have a great family pet if I ever find anyone suitable! I now have 4 golden coloured females, so i have nicknamed them - The Golden Girls.
Finally it has been a traumatic week too, with losing MOnty .Then Trixe the 11 years old retriever I took in a year ago(she was taken to our vet to be destroyed)has had to have a massive mammary tumour removed.Trixie was the most nervous dog I have seen for a long while,terrified of everybody she met and in 18 months she has transformed into a happy friendly animal who especially adores Molly the Great Dane.They are always lying almost on top of each other in their basket and Trixie constantly gazes adoringly at Molly.She has recovered well from the operation, however bit seems Molly who has lost some weight recently, has the beginnings of kidney failure!It never rains but it pours.
Tara seems fine without her old pal, we did try the old labrador with her but she was not at all impressed, nor was he so that was never going to be a match made in heaven. What a shame.

Goodbye Monty

Well the dreaded day arrived.We lost our dear old Monty. It was on the cards, he was living on borrowed time but nevertheless it has been a very sad time for all of us at the shelter, he was such a part of freshfields and it will seem odd seeing his friend Tara without him. He was such a funny old man, when he arrived here as a stray 4 years ago, he wouldnt look at people and if anyone went to pat him he would walk away, he was almost autistic if this is a possibility for a dog. Over the past year, he suddenly became more responsive and would actually approach the staff for attention though would not allow it for any length of time, moving away when he had had enough.Still, it was a great improvement on the aloof dog of earlier years, of course it mnakes me wonder what sort of life he had before, no dog is like this for no reason but Im happy that he became more people friendly of late.It gave him a better quality of life. We will miss you Monty.

An embedded cat collar !

Well Im back online after a period of struggling to use a very sick computer.There is no doubt computerisation is useful but when there are problems, patience (of which I have little) is most definitely required.Its a beautiful sunny day today, the birds are singing away in the treetops and dogwalking becomes a pleasure.However, not all is well with the world even on a day like this.I have had to call in the RSPCA after a young woman brought in her cat for rehoming.her excuse was that she was moving to her parents and that the cat did not like humans!!The poor cat "Tess" had her front leg through a collar which had become embedded in her flesh, she had a very nasty open wound requiring 6 stitches! How was this ignored by her owner. the cat must have been in a great deal of pain and discomfort, never mind the fact that it was glaringly obvious the collar was NOT around her neck as it should have been!!!!Totally unbelievaBLE, what did she think when she looked at her pet? Did she think the cat was nasty to her for no reason? Now the collar has been cut off and Tess is no longer in pain, she is a very sweet little soul.
Im also looking for a home for a little West Highland Terrier whose owner neglected him, he is the nicest natured Westie I have ever come across but so shy and quiet.He is so quiet the other dogs take no notice of him and he is marvellous with cats - the downside(there has to be one) is that he seems nervous of going outside to do his toilet, he did his first outside yesterday which was incredibly exciting - yes I know I need to get a life!!!!!!
The other dog is Muffin an 8 years old Dogue de Bordeaux whose owner moved in with her new man and left Muffin and her other pets for others to take over what should have been her responsibility.8years is quite elderly for this type of mastiff but she is so gentle and good natured I am sure someone will take pity on her especially as she is another who is good with other animals.That is always a bonus.
I had wonderful news yesterday.Some months ago I highlighted the problem of horses and donkeys in France which were being sent to slaughterhouses in Italy and so not only faced an untimely death but the trauma of a long overland journey. It seems my story touched the hearts of some people who were involved in a German Shepherd Club.These wonderful people raised the money to bring over 6 donkeys.I was very moved to see the photos and I am so grateful to them all for saving them.It quite restores my faith in human nature.

Pensioners in love!

I forgot to mention that Honey the foxhound has gone to the shelter which takes on problem dogs.I am waiting to hear how she is doing there.I still feel upset! It will be good once I know she has settled and even better to hear that she has been rehomed.I know in my heart she had to go once she started showing an interest in sheep, that would have literally been the death of her if she stayed here.Lucas the lurcher has found a home , cant believe that he has gone so quickly , he has gone to someone who took a 17 years old cat on a few months ago and today she rang to tell me the dog is doing fine. Thats great news, I think all shelter staff worry when their charges leave the safety of the sanctuary, its such a hit and miss affair, animals can react so differently according to their environment.
The sun is shining today, what a difference it makes to animals and humans, everywhere looks brighter, there are cats lying about the yard enjoying the respite from the seemingly incessant rain.The pigs are pottering about happily and the two old collies Monty and Tara are sunbathing outside the office.For once the horses are not waiting to come in to their stables so early in the afternoon, some have gone up the top fields and are out of sight, others are nodding off enjoying the warmth on their backs.
Above is a photo of dear old Noddy with his girlfriend Maggie, they really have formed a close bond now and share a stable together.The old couple are pictured coming in for their evening meal last night.Noddy has always been a hard one to photograph as his deformed legs can make him look very odd indeed, this funny little pony is an absolute treasure whom we all adore.I take it quite personally when people comment on his rather unusual appearance.I think he is gorgeous!Maggie also with her funny little box feet is a sweet little shetland.We call them the Lovers.
Its been a quiet weekend for rehoming animals, although the last of our kittens have now gone, perhaps people are enjoying the change in weather too much to visit us.

A letter of appreciation means a lot.

Its been a very busy few weeks, the manager of Liverpool shelter has left after working for Freshfields since its very early days.Ive been backwards and forwards to Liverppol interviewing potential managers.A new manager will start Monday with 2 deputy managers and I am very hopeful that the new team will work well together.If this happens I will feel a lot easier in my mind, I seem to spend more time worrying about things happening at Liverpool, than I do the shelter here in Wales.I need to get back to setting this shelter on the map! When I started this charity 30 years ago, it never occurred to me that I would have to spend so much time doing paperwork and administration, to be honest had I thought about the effect running a busy animal shelter would have on my life I am sure I would have run a mile!
Anyway here I am all these years later struggling with the paperwork and the responsibilites, theres nothing glamorous about this work! I have to admit I cant imagine doing anything else which would be even half as satisfying.
On the way back from Liverpool I stopped at a village near Mold to collect an old cat whose elderly carer had died. Melvyn the son of the deceased woman had telephoned me to ask if I could take Moses the old stray his mother had been feeding for many years(he thinks he may be as old as 17) He was unable to care for him as he lived in an upstairs flat in Liverpool and Moses had been used to a rural lifestyle.Moses had been an outdoor cat all his life but was very affectionate and gentle and I gladly brought him back to the shelter.
When I returned I settled the cat in his new quarters and read the letter Melvyn had given me (along with a welcome donation)It was incredibly moving - I quote from the letter.
" Moses has been badly abused in the past and does not trust people though he longs for affection and kindness,I am so grateful to you for giving him the chance of this for once in his life.I dont know why my mother never found him a home or allowed him in the house though |I think it was because she knew she did not have long herself (she was in her 80s)Knowing he is finally going to be happy and receive the love and affection he so desperately wants has given me joy and hope"
It is rare for people who hand over pets to write such a moving letter and it really made me feel that this job truly is worthwhile, not just because many animals are rescued but also to know that we have brought peace of mind to a very caring kind person like Melvyn and others like him.
Already Moses is worming his way into our affections, he is an enormous longhaired cat with a shy but gentle character and he does not look his age.If I dont find him a home he could very well become a permanent resident here.

Changes ahead for Freshfields.

Pictured are two of the [pygmy goats we have been asked to rehome.Dorothy and Marmite had been childrens pets, however the children had lost interest and so the goats were due to be sent to market! They went straight to "foster parents" who have fallen in love with them and have offered them a permanent home(along with 4 Freshfields ponies)We are often asked to take goats but they do need very secure homes as most would escape from Alcatraz! I think many people take them on when they are cute little babies but like all animals they grow quickly and then all of a sudden the cute little kids are butting people with their hard little heads and horns and escaping from every paddock they inhabit! I remember my sister taking on two rescued (horned) pygmy goats and they proved to be a real handful, frequently knocking her flying, and believe me she is no Kylie Minogue (no offence Sandra, I just meant being 5ft 10 tall)
Today 2 cats went to homes and someone is coming next weekend all the way from Cardiff, South Wales to take Sparkles a little cat with a deformed paw who needs a safe indoor home.It is great when special needs animals find homes, it always makes the job seem worthwhile and makes up for the many sad events which occur in a rescue centre.
Dave , The manager of the LIverpool shelter is leaving after working alongside me at Freshfields for a long long time (on and off) since it first started all those years ago. so it has been a time of great stress, trying to find a replacement.Dave knows the shelter so well he will be greatly missed and I cant imagine what it will be like once he has gone, it is the end of an era and I have to remind myself that nothing stays the same forever and think ahead to the future of both shelters, Liverpool and Wales.Im sure he will feel a sense of relief to be no longer working under the inevitable pressure running a rescue centre brings but Im equally sure he will feel a gap in his life for some time afterwards.I cant imagine myself leaving although obviously at some time in the future I will have to hand over the reins to someone younger - not just yet though, I still have a fair amount of vitality left!!!!

A timid lurcher arrives.

It has been a particularly busy day on the phone with people wanting homes for animals, most oif them have been for dogs and cats but I have had several calls about horses and 2 about pigs and goats.This is when I wish there was more land here, more money, more staff etc. There is only so much to be done with the amount of grazing here but the need for a sanctuary in this part of the Uk becomes more obvious as each day goes by. I feel frustrated and inadequate at the number of animals I am able to help and can only hope that one day in the not too distant future this shelter will have beter facilities and more land.The farmer next door has land to sell but at such a price it is inconceivable at the moment.It would be wonderful to be able to extend Freshfields with that additional acreage, maybe I should set up an appeal?
Like so many others I have been distressed at the case reported in the papers about the neglected horses in Buckinghamshire.I cant help wondering why these animals are allowed to get to the point of death before anyone intervenes though I have heard that neighbours had reported the owner over the past few years,If that truly is the case, someone , somewhere needs to take responsibility for the mishandling of the situation.
It seems there is another wave of kittens around, 2 beautiful litters have arrived along with their 2 pretty tortie mums, Im sure it wont be long before they are all snapped up by potential owners.The cats are moving quite well, I| know you shouldnt have favourites but I think we all do and Sunny a handsome young ginger who has been here a long time has now gone to a home where I hope he will not be too unsettled.I always worry about the timid ones because they are so fearful going somehwre new though I know eventually it is for the best.I really loved Sunny so I will be anxiously waiting to hear how he is.
Lucas, a young black lurcher(photo above) was found shivering in the rain and very distressed, he has now been neutered and is sharing a pen with Sally and Pal our longterm collies.Lurchers can be quite nervous dogs but he seems unduly so, he is desperate to make friends but to scared to allow a cuddle.Hopefully we will soon win him over!