30th May

Yesterday I took Angel on our church Rogation walk!

There were two other dogs, Lexi my friends spaniel who Angel has walked with and knows and an Italian Greyhound belonging to a lady who is the secretary of PCC.

We got off to a bad start when I refused to join the group photo at the start, thinking such close proximity to a strange dog would be too much for Angel, the photographer muttered about not listening to the sermon on unity and togetherness and working together. I thought this a slight overreaction,an all out dog fight may not have helped togetherness either.

Angel was pretty good. When we met other dogs they had to stand aside as we were the larger group.

She was fine with Lexi but was a little tense when Mickey the geyhound was off the lead. I don't know if you are familiar with Italian Greyhounds, but they are tiny and so fine, smaller than a Whippet. Lexi, a working Cocker, looked like a carthorse next to him!

Our Vicar, Stephanie, maintained a prayerful, appreciative attitude as we walked, I wondered how much I was "running the gauntlet," by bringing a rescue Stafford with a few "issues" along on the walk!

Suddenly there was a commotion ahead and shouting from Mickey's owner. It turned out he had caught and badly injured, but not killed, a squirrel. His owner apologised over and over. The poor squirrel lay stunned but fully conscious. The churchwarden put it swiftly out of its misery and we continued our walk in a reflective mood.

Soon Sam, Angel and I branched off for home.

I couldn't help feeling relieved that on this occasion Staffordshire Bull Terriers had come away with their reputation intact, another breed had been the one to remind us that "Dogs will be dogs!"

27th May

http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=2001186626008&oid=152408834828273



Sandy in the river

 This link will take you to a video of Colin Teager doing a sponsored agility run with Neighla which raised £230 for Cleo's appeal.

When I said the other day that my time was mainly spent walking dogs and answering phone calls I was tempted to tell you exactly what I did do all day, a bit like an account of everything you have eaten or drunk!
One of the things that wouldn't have appeared on the list was housework. It's not that I dislike housework it's just low on my priorities and something I rarely get round to. The other day however, I did manage to vacuum the living room and hall and water my plant which is very old and sprouted from a "magic log" given as a gift some thirty years ago. It has recently sprouted two new "baby" plants. I really enjoyed getting round to doing this and took pleasure in seeing it done. Dave was out so I walked all the dogs in turn. Khan and Lexus had been out first they then had to wait whilst the others had their turn.
 
Sam came home and went into the living room." The dogs have made a mess," he greeted me with, "They have got some peanuts off the shelf, knocked down your wedding photo, there are elastic bands all over the floor and your plant has no leafs." It was just as he said. I couldn't believe it, it had only lasted an hour!


Elastic band dog

 I tidied it up, picking up the elastic bands which were strewn across the floor but my poor plant had taken a bashing! Khan is tall enough to reach but no doubt Lexus had gained some height by climbing on the plant pot!
The next morning when I took them down the garden it was obvious who had eaten the nuts!
The "nut" evidence continued to appear! Then this morning, what was that? I thought Lexus had an horrific worm infestation. On closer examination I saw it was.......an elastic band!
Lexus!

I wondered what had put a "spring" in his step.

Now we have to ask, does this make him a "band" breed!

26th May



Our wounded hero, recovering in the garden.



You will be pleased to hear that Lexus has made a miraculous recovery, yet again! It never ceases to amaze us how one minute he can barely move and we are convinced he has broken something, to suddenly having hardly a limp! At least we were spared a vet bill this time.

On Tuesday I walked Angel with my friend and her Spaniel up St Martha's hill again. We met quite a few dogs and the closer they were the stronger Angel's reaction.

Yesterday I walked Angel, followed by Sandy and Spryte for an hour up to the Chantries.

With Angel I met no-one.

With Sandy and Spryte we saw someone running with a dog but they turned and went the other way to us and then we met a man running. Sandy is still behaving like a normal dog and staying close on walks.



Angel on her walk



This evening I let her off by the river and she came back beautifully after only a small run, she really has turned a corner, now all she needs is a home.

24th May

As many of you are probably aware, the answer machine on the rescue phone has stated for well over a year that we have no spaces to take dogs in. Despite this we have taken dogs in and people have left messages.

Having homed a few dogs recently I decided to change the message on Sunday night. We have already received five calls to take dogs in! I am hoping some of them are connected.

Often they ring on one number but leave another number or they are number witheld so it doesn't come up on my phone. It can take ages trying to decipher the number then ring them back, often then theyare no longer available when all the time you know you are probably going to be unable to help. If you do get them you become embroiled in their horrendous social circumstances and though unable to help worry for the poor dog and sometimes the people too.Also it can take hours on top of looking after the dogs in our care.

Walking dogs and phone calls make up the majority of my day.



 

23rd May

Lexus is still very lame, perhaps this time he has really hurt himself and we will feel guilty about not rushing him to the vets. We will see how he is on Friday.

Sandy played ball whilst I picked up droppings at the ponies this afternoon. She too has grazed her legs from chasing the ball.

We raised £10.60 from selling some surplus plants.



Sandy



And the collection tin from Rivendell vets (our Vets) had a fantastic £58.89 in it!

22nd May



Lexus in his favourite place, on his masters lap.



For all Lexus fans, you will  be sorry to learn he has suffered an injury playing football and is now hobbling around.

We cannot see anything obvious on his paw or leg. 

He went after the ball several times, then suddenly pulled up lame.

"Take him to the vet," I hear you cry, but we have been here before rushing him over, all concern, expecting xrays at the very least, only for Jane to advise caution and suggest leaving it for a week. We have followed her advise convinced she is wrong and he has broken it at the very least only for him to make a miraculous recovery a day before we were due to take him back!! Thank goodness for Jane, unlike some of her less scrupulous counterparts who would have exploited our concern!

So this time we are remaining calm and giving it more time in the belief that, like all great footballers he may have a tendency to over act! 

Another good day with Sandy. She walked along the bridleway like a normal dog, sniffing and staying close and had another game of ball returning after each throw, she seems far more relaxed.

21st May

WE ARE NOW ON FACEBOOK!!
Visit our page.

Here is a photo of Paul and Cleo at home.

I feel we had a huge breakthrough with Sandy today. She came with me to the ponies and I gave her a run in the fields, she tore round but in a circle not running off in a straightline as she used to and then she rolled! Not normally something to celebrate but it is the first time I have seen her exhibit normal dog behaviour like that.

Later on I took her into the fields to play ball and she did it! I threw the ball, she ran after it and came back reasonably close to me and I approached, took hold of her collar and said,"Leave It." Which she learnt on her training course, and she gave the ball and off we went again! Not perfect but a start and gives great hope for her to be rehomed one day.

I was not able to give Angel a very long walk today but she continues to settle and did not wake us early this morning.

I was talking to Kerry who has Reah whom she competes at Agility. Kerry said Reah will ignore all other dogs at shows when she is surrounded by lots of dogs but will still lunge and growl if they meet one dog walking down the road at home.
This gives me hope for Angel.



19th May

Some recent cutesy pictures of Dolly playing frisbee.

My daughter, Jessie, has been doing her AS exams this week which involves ensuring she and some days her freind too, arrive no later than 8.45am at Godalming College. It is an horrendous journey at that time in the morning and I can't believe her friend has trusted me (twice this week) to get her there on time (with my time keeping) it has proved a huge strain, but now,thankfully, we have a break for a few days and only one more early exam.

On top of this I have been assessing Angel.

 She reacts with aggression when passing strange dogs on walks yet has been fine in the house, ignoring the other dogs, albeit crated, even eating close to them with no reaction. She is also fine sleeping next to Jade and travelling in the car next to Sapphire.

I bumped into my friend walking her young Spaniel, Lexi, today and we walked them side by side for a bit and Angel settled and was fine so I could let her have the length of the extension lead and Lexi could run off lead some of the time.

We walked to the top of St Martha's hill, enjoying the stunning views.

On the descent we saw a couple approaching with two dogs and the man put his on a lead. As we passed Angel reacted badly and they asked how old she was. I explained her story and the man said his little dog had just walked into their home in Poland one day, but he too was bad with other dogs.

During the course of conversation their elderly Cocker Spaniel had wandered over to say hello to Lexi. Worried he might  approach Angel the lady put him on the lead, but he continued to strain towards Lexi who was also on her lead. "Is Your dog on "heat?""The lady asked my friend,"O, goodness!Yes!" My friend answered. In concentrating on Angel's reaction we had both forgotten about Lexi's state. Apparently the elderly Spaniel,"Still had it in him!" We apologised and continued on our way, remarking to each other what a liability we were. My friend has heard my complaints about the "accidental" matings between two Staffords, yet we had nearly had our own Cocker Spaniel liason!

We noted we had both a "lover" and a "fighter"!

A liability indeed!

17th May

Leah has gone to her new home.

Valerie sent me the link to this wonderful article about Battersea, telling it just how it is http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/8434497/A-day-at-Battersea-Dogs-and-Cats-Home.html

16th May



Jade on duty



We had a brilliant last day at Pets At Home yesterday. People were in a relaxed generous mood and gave some large donations without taking raffle tickets. I sold the last raffle ticket at 3.30pm and was described by Dave the deputy manager as a legend (at least I think that's what he said!)

None of our owners turned up but it has it's pros and cons and it meant I could concentrate on the customers.
Sam and Roxy came again and Sam brought a seven month old Cockerpoo, she was looking after for the day, to give him some socialisation. We made quite a few friends as you can see from the pictures.

A few families came as they are considering getting another dog so they came for a chat and to see who we had with us.

There were one or two negatives including the couple with a 4/5 month old Staff pup. I saw them go into the store and put Jade away so I could catch them on the way out, but when they came out they walked fast and deliberately away and when I enquired If I could meet their dog, the chap turned back and said,"I don't think so." Now, what is all that about?

We did fantastically raising £289.44 over the whole week. Steve the store manager was pleased, in all a good week.



Ben




Meg with her free ball




Cockerpoo (Jasper) and Roxy





10 month old Gerard



Once home I organised Leah's rehoming (she should go to her new home tomorrow evening) but the day ended on a sad note with Angel being returned to us after two and a half years in a home.



14th May

The news report yesterday was very good although upsetting as it was about Pitbulls and dog fighting. You actually saw cctv footage of a group of youths dumping a bleeding dog wrapped in a towel at Battersea's gate! The dog, a female, survived but would have to be pts as no-one claimed her and she was a Pitbull.

It also featured our own Ali Taylor and her gorgeous Stafford, Squirt, showing the educational programme they take to schools to promote good ownership. Ali is a huge supporter of Welfare and all SBT rescues including Guildford and Squirt is a fantastic ambassador for the breed. She attends our forum meetings greeting each of us in turn.

Now something to cheer us up.

Two photos of Syd in his new home. As you can see it did not take long for him to find his rightful place......yes! The Bed!

John writes,"So another love affair begins! He is wonderful. He met the granchildren and loved them."

13th May

The blog was down last night, at least for me to write it it was! I thought I had broken it but it turned it's "creators" or whatever they are were carrying out maintenance work! Unfortunately I was feeling guilty about saying too much on one of the blogs and went on to edit it. It kept refusing to publish but eventually seemed to. However, later when I checked it had not changed and by then I couldn't get in at all. I switched my computer on as soon as I woke up, thinking I coukd just manage to change it before starting the day. When I looked it was the edited version already on, phew! However when I looked tonight it was the original version again aaagh! Hopefully it is the edited version now but if you have noticed it keeps changing,don't worry, you are not going mad, unlike me!

Guildford Staffords now has two reviews on Rescue Review. Do remember if you have homed one of our dogs in the last two years you can write a review about us.



Sam and Roxy



Another day at Pets At Home.

Sam and Roxy (honorary Guildford Staff) came to see us. Sam is a dog walker and a lovely cheerful, enthusiastic girl.

Then came Sarah with her four year old son Ethan and Riley who we homed to her just before Christmas.

It was essential when she considered adopting a dog that it worked with Ethan. Not only has it worked but Riley and Ethan are best buddies and inseparable, both of which were obvious during their visit to Pets At Home.

Sarah told me her husband heard a commotion in the garden, on looking through the window he saw Ethan sitting in a chair playing his harmonica and Riley sitting next to him singing!

Jade has been very good at Pets At Home this week, sitting quietly at my feet and gently greeting people. If another dog comes along though it is another matter. Because there were more dogs around today she was more unsettled which was a shame.

Closing now as Dave tells me there is something about Staffies at Battersea on our local news.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         

11th may

Pets At Home yesterday. It went quite well I sold just over thirty raffle tickets, the same as Friday.

We are there again this Friday and Sunday, it would be great to see anyone who can make it.

We have heard of un-vaccinated Blue Stafford puppies being sold in the Farnborough area.

Also rumours of someone charging £1000 a pup near Reading.

It seems the "Blues" are now the ones being bred by the back street breeders thinking they can make money from them. I think things are so bad they will struggle to home them especially at unrealistically high prices.



Tumble outside Pets At Home 2009

A friend of mine told me this about a lady she knew.
The lady explained she had recently acquired an American Bulldog bitch and whilst the children were walking it, it "accidentally" mated with an American Bulldog male!! What a coincidence! I wonder what the chances of that happening are?!

The result was nine puppies, which she was selling for £500 each. She explained she was asking that amount to put off anyone who might want one for fighting!

Oh dear! This could so easily be Staffords, I cannot count the number of times I have heard of similar "accidental" matings resulting in Stafford pups..........

And so it goes on...................

9th May

Syd is doing brilliantly in his new home.

Cleo is doing great back in her old home.



This is my gang!



We have two lovely new photos of Dolly.



Dog Tired!



Pets At Home again tomorrow  Tuesday 10th May  10am/4pm

7th May

The rain is here! Very obligingly falling at night so far,"Good growing weather," my father would say.

I have checked out David Egan's website http://www.livingwithwolves.co.uk/  he is the behavourist I met at Pets At Home yesterday, I was quite impressed, see what you think.



Here is Blaze who we homed to Luci three years ago. He is resting by a fence at Badminton horse trials.



 



6th May

Apologies tonight for a brief/late blog, I have been out to a curry evening in my role as vicars wife. It was most enjoyable.

Pets at Home was good if a little slow. I sold 30 + raffle tickets and had some good chats. There was some surprising support from old ladies who knew (for one reason or another) that Staffies do not deserve their bad reputation, this happened several times. Also met a behavourist who offered his services for free and a couple who adopted a dog from me four years ago and have since had two daughters who he is wonderful with.

Syd is settling well. Jackie is falling in love with him (according to John) although she drew the line with sharing her bed with him on the first night! He is one lucky dog and they are very happy with him.

Cleo went home!



Ready to go.



Showing her healed leg.



Reunited with Paul.



5th May

Syd is in his new home tonight with John and Jackie Wilson.

They are one of the nicest couples I have ever met particularly in their passion for Staffords and rescue Staffords.

They met Sandy, Sapphire and Jade first. John liked Sapphire and Jackie liked Jade. Then we went to meet Syd. Jackie had some misgivings as we didn't know how Syd was with other dogs but these were soon dispelled when she met him and we took him for a walk. We saw another dog and Syd took no notice as by then he was heading for home and his post walk biscuits!

He really is a lovely boy, like a big teddy bear. He weighs a whopping 24kg!

There were lots of tears, John and Jackie were upset too as his owners said goodbye but I reckon he is one lucky dog.

Tonight is Cleo's last night with us, I spoke to Paul who cannot wait to have her back.

Before that we have a day at Pets At Home, it would be great to see anyone who can make it.......and any dogs of course.....

4th May

Firstly, Jo's meeting with the dog warden went well.

It was just the dog warden plus a work experience girl,Jo, Dave and Jo's dog walker Lenka. The housing officer was not able to attend. There has been one complaint and the dog warden is obliged to follow up but the whole thing is at a preliminary stage and it would be absolute worse case scenario that Socks would be put down. Socks behaved perfectly greeting the warden and curling up on the work experience girls lap!

Dave explained to the warden that he was there in a dual role as a support to Jo as one of his parishioners and as a representative of Guildford Staffords as Socks was one of our dogs.

I should imagine the dog warden was somewhat taken aback but I have little time for our local dog warden and make no apology for sending Dave dressed in his clerical collar and letting Mr Warden know Guildford Staffords have contacts in higher places than the local council!

We have been contacted by http://www.rescuereview.co.uk/ who have added us to their directory.

If anyone we have homed to in the last two years would like to contact them and write a review about us we would be most grateful and there is the chance to win a years supply of dog food for us too!

Our dates at Pets At Home in support of pet adoption week are Friday 6th May/Tues 10th May/ Friday 13th May and Sunday 15th May. I found I was able to do a Sunday after all.

We will be there 10am/4pm each day. If anyone is able to turn up they will be most welcome.

Syd's big day tomorrow. Do wish him luck.

3rd April

Two bits of news I can't wait to pass on.

Paul, Cleo's owner came yesterday, Bank Holiday Monday, to walk Cleo with me as I wanted to be sure he could keep her using her leg and show him what I had been doing with her.

It all went far better than I had hoped and the result is he is taking her home on Friday, a week earlier than planned but better for all involved.

It was very touching to see how fond they are of each other and Paul remarked that you would not know Cleo had a problem with her leg now. Her fur has almost completely grown back and her scar barely visible.

The other bit of good news is I have a retired couple coming to see Syd on Thursday.

They have over forty years of experience of owning Staffords and their last dog (which they lost in January) came from Scottish rescue.

Let's hope it all works out.

Do think of Jo tomorrow morning. She adopted Socks from me about four years ago. She also has two German Shepherds and a terrier.

Socks has never been an easy dog with terrible separation anxiety and dog aggression. Jo has done wonders with her but now she is in breach of her housing contract due to the dogs barking and she has a meeting with the dog warden and housing officer tomorrow. She may lose all her dogs. We have agreed that if she has to get rid of Socks she should be PTS as it would not be fair on her to rehome her.

I offered to attend the meeting but due to committments I cannot make it so Dave is going instead (in his dog collar) I will let you know the result.

2nd May

Sam and I walked sandy and Spryte up to Steven's abode to drop off a note of apology following my outburst on Friday.

It was good to see Sandy have a really good run. She is getting much better at staying close most of the time.

I was surprised to note, that, whilst we have been distracted by Easter breaks and Royal Weddings the Bluebells and Rapeseed flowers have already started to go over.

No season is ever quite the same but the following poem, surprisingly, by A.A.Milne of Winnie The Pooh fame, for me, catches perfectly this time of year. I hope you enjoy it

The Invaders

In careless patches through the wood
The clumps of yellow primrose stood,
And sheets of white anemones,
Like driven snow against the trees,
Had covered up the violet,
But left the blue-bell bluer yet.

Along the narrow carpet ride,
With primroses on either side,
Between their shadows and the sun,
The cows came slowly, one by one,
Breathing in the morning air
And leaving it still sweeter there.
And one by one, intent upon
Their purposes, they followed on
In ordered silence ... and were gone.

But all the little wood was still,
And if it waited so, until
Some blackbird on an outpost yew,
Watching the slow procession through,
Lifted his yellow beak at last
To whistle that the line had passed ....
Then all the wood began to sing
In morning anthem to the spring.

AA Milne