14th February

Val and Stuart said goodbye to Doris yesterday which was sad but also very lovely.

. They had adopted her as an oldie, with lots of health problems, knowing they would not have her for long, but determined to give her the best quality of life and lots of love in her remaining days.
This they did and more.
 Having been told she should only have a short walk as she had breathing problems she ended up going to the common with the rest of the pack and charging round with her ball, within weeks her breathing problem had all but disappeared.

It was not easy saying goodbye to her, especially as it was very sudden, she had been for her normal walk on the common that day, but they say they will not hesitate to take on another oldie and do it all again.

Tara our oldie still looking for a home.

Often we have older people looking for another dog, but instead of taking an old dog they want a younger dog because they cannot bear losing another so soon after their last one dying. What a shame this is. We rarely have a younger dog who is steady enough to be suitable and old dogs like Tara, who would be a wonderful companion for an older person, remain in rescue.







Which leads me on to mention that today is Valentines Day, commercialism apart, it seems to celebrate sentimental love. I have never been one for all that slushy stuff but have had cause to recall my marriage vows recently ... 'for better, for worse,
                 for richer, for poorer,
                 in sickness and in health,'

there is nothing slushy and sentimental about that! Especially after 20 years of marriage and a husband out of work for over two and a half years!

The dogs came too! Tasha Dave's JRT and my  Joshua.

This sentimental attitude seems to have crept into our relationship with our pets too, and the selfish view of only being committed when we are getting something out of it, which is one of the reasons we find it so hard to find suitable homes.
What a shame there are not more like Val and Stuart.