27th November

                    Happy Endings, New Beginnings!!!!!!!!
  



Fleur has gone to her new home this afternoon. Checking that all arrived safely home, the update this evening was that Fleur is laying with all four legs outstretched watching Midsummer Murders! We wish Fleur and her new owners Karen and James a long and happy life together.

Fleur was up for re homing due to her owner having to move into accommodation where only one dog was allowed, she had two, Fleur and her mother Nellie. Fleur was the elderly lady's dog which she had had from a puppy and Nellie had been her grandsons dog.
Alison took the call requesting the dogs be re homed by the owner due to the circumstances. Before Alison agrees to re home a dog the dog/dogs require to be checked for suitability. I went to check their suitability for re homing as they were within my area. I refused the mother Nellie but I accepted Fleur for the website due too her fantastic temperament and demeanour. Obviously due to the current situation with Staffies we have to be very selective on suitability for re homing.
The assessment is not a quick in and out, questions are asked whilst observing the dog in its home environment, this can take up to an hour or more. If a dog is accepted we then have to take photographs and compile a write up for their page on the website. This is then added by the webmaster to Guildford's website and we add it to Staffordshire Bull Terrier Welfare's website, should the dog be over 7 years we submit a request to The Oldies Dog Rescue website for inclusion. Whilst waiting for enquires to come in there are the unrecognised factors that have to be dealt with In the case of Fleur, she needed vaccinating, spaying, micro chipping her claws clipped, Advocate, worming, and she a health check. The elderly owner was unable to do this because of finances. Due to the logistics of taking Fleur to Guildford and Districts vets she went my vets where rescue rates had been agreed. This meant that two full morning were taken up, collecting her from her owner, taking her to the vets and returning Fleur to her owner. Not knowing how Fleur would travel I enlisted the help of a friend to handle Fleur whilst travelling. 
When an enquiry comes through Alison and I discuss the suitability for dog and applicant, a telephone call ensues, then a home check by Alison or myself in some cases we will contact other rescues if they have done a home check previously or their veterinarian for a reference. If all the boxes are ticked, a meeting is arranged with the suitable dog and it's prospective owner. If all goes well the dog is adopted there and then but in the case of Fleur, Karen and James had to come back as Fleur had to have her 2nd vaccination. This required that I was present for transfer of ownership and adoption documentation to be completed at handover.
 The time that this one dog has taken to re home, if you equate it at an hourly rate, that one would pay a service provider  you would be looking at a fee of £400 or more. Add to this the cost of veterinary services of £200 which includes only a percentage of the fee towards spaying. Whilst a donation of £150 is requested for a dog and £30 administration fee for a dog who remains in its current home untill a new home is found it does not cover the cost incurred. Certainly an accountants advise would be to cease trading!!!!!
This is not to mention that whilst Alison or I are undertaking these duties our families, jobs and dogs take a back seat. For Alison more so than I it does mean that she has less time to spend on walking the dogs that she has in her care for re homing. Juggling our lives to the fullest extent is part and parcel of our everyday life. It can be filled with happiness when a dog is re homed but when there are those lovely dogs who remain 'waiting' for such a long time it is soul destroying.
I know that I may be 'going on' but this is the other side of rescue that many are not aware of. Especially when you are told that someone has not got the money for the care of their dog, then proceeds to tell you later that they are going on holiday to America!!!!!!!! 

Breaking News:- Smudge has got a new home. I am sure Alison will tell you all tomorrow.

 Smudge dreaming of her new home
                             
Thank you Alison for your well wishes on the birth of our grandaughter.

Henry, our daughters staffie now aged 14 years  is being impeccable. He lays beside the crib and when the baby is picked up he follows close to heel ensuring that she remains safe. Henry was like this when Charlie, our grandson was born and has remained his bestest friend (Charlies words not mine).  


 
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Author:- Valerie