10th September

                                                         Sorry folks it's me today!!!!

Alison has her hands full today so to give her some respite I said that I would undertake today's blog.

The christening was lovely and such fantastic weather made the day even better.
The feed back that I have received on Battersea Reunion was good although many did not take their dog due to the heat none the less there was a great turn out of staffies. If there was any skirmishes, I can happily report staffies were not involved but smaller dogs!
Ali and co worked tirelessly to set up the designated area on Saturday only to go there Sunday morning to find it has all been trashed, their work in vain and they had to start all over again.

Stuart and I took Daisy, Honey, Nugget and Tara to Streatham Common dog show held by The Friends of Streatham Common last Sunday. Although this is very local to us I was not aware of the show until Ali told me about it as Battersea Dogs & Cats Home had a stand there and Ali was attending.

Ali  with Nugget

Nugget was fostered by Ali whilst she was in Battersea and Ali was tempted to keep her herself but she knew if she did that she would be unable to foster another dog as she would be up to self agreed limit. So when ever we can we take Nugget to see Ali.
 Tara was micro chipped free of charge by Battersea D&CH which we are grateful for. Tara was as good as gold, not a peep from her.
We decided to enter all four into Best Rescue,  not as individuals but collectively as one, after all they go everywhere together. Whilst waiting for Best Rescue so many people stopped, amazed at how good they were altogether, people stopped to take photos and stroke them. Honey who really knows how to play the crowd was in her element, Daisy and Nugget took it all in their stride. I was unsure whether to take Tara as she was an 'unknown' in this sort of situation. We decided that we had to take her and try, she was a star, she did not put a foot wrong or could this be due to the polish sausage I had for reward!
Ali was one of the judges so I knew we would not get a place as I had judged Squirt her Stafford in a show and did not place her explaining that I could not seem bias.

superstars

The judges came round asking about them, the mayor for Lambeth was in awe to see them. I explained they were all rescues and that responsibility had to be on the owners, he gave Stuart his personal card, why I don't know. perhaps he wants a staffie!!! Then Ali with the head vet of the local veterinary practise, she explained that she knew us and that she had fostered Nugget whilst she was in Battersea. He said that he had never come across a bad stafford all the time he had been practicing.
To our amazement Daisy, Honey, Nugget and Tara won third prize for Best Rescue, to cheers from the crowd. when we walked out people came up and congratulated us but to us it was they dogs who won the day.

Tara has settled in with Daisy Honey, Nugget and Oscar, quickly learning the routine. She has tried to push in front of Nugget at meals times, this as far as we are concerned is a No,No. Everything we do is in order of when they came in, first in etc She does not go to any of their food bowls and is learning her place. When our grandchildren visit Tara is crated in our bedroom as she has shown signs of not being good with children. She readily goes into the crate and does not stir until we let her out. She loves nothing more than cuddles and is a very undemanding dog. She is a little gem and it is hard to believe that nobody wants her.


Author:- Valerie