14th december

Little Luci the 20 week old pup Val took in proved very difficult to start with so Val and Stuart hardly had any sleep for two nights! She was insecure and had separation anxiety so that she needed to be close to you constantly. Val could not even move her foot without her jumping up and whining. The other dogs did not calm her at all and she would not settle in a crate even if someone stayed next to her.
Val despaired and really wondered if Luci had a future as she was un-homable as she was.
So Val contacted the mother of the young man who had handed her in and we gained a fuller picture.

If you wonder why so many Staffords are in rescue, here is Luci's story as we have pieced it together and I would suggest this is not an isolated case but what is happening all over.

Someone bred a litter of un registered pups. Whether this was intentional or one of these 'amazing' accidents we are always hearing of, I don't know.
Friends came round to coo over the cute babies but when asked if they wanted one the answer was 'No.' Their work, home, lifestyle did not allow it. Then they found they could not home the puppies, they grew and grew, now getting long past the age when they could have been homed and they could not afford to vaccinate them.
So, they pleaded with their friends and people who never really wanted a puppy and whose lifestyle was not suitable now succumbed and took one.
The boys who took Luci were like that. They were living in one room of a rented house and one was working. No access to a garden for toilet training, unable to securely leave her when they went out.No money for vaccines. Apparently they had to tie her to the wardrobe to have a shower! She in turn became completely dependant on them constantly being there and with no outlet for her energy increasingly hyper.
Then they split up and moved home to Mum and Luci came too!
Thankfully Mum had also paid for the vaccinations. She had a dog and a cat of her own.
So then they began ringing round rescues and of course all are full. Luci is the third five month old pup we have heard of in the past week.


Out with the gang on one of the first walks

 When Val spoke to the mother and told her of the difficulties she was having, the mother completely understood as she had struggled for a week with her.

Val then rang Ali Taylor our friend from Battersea Dogs home and Ali was able to give her advice as she has taken in many such dogs. Things have slowly started to improve.



Settled in the crate at last!

 Thanks to Val and Stuart, thanks to Ali Taylor, thanks to GDSBTR and all of you who support us Luci now has a future.