31st October

Smudge woke me at 5.45am.
Took her out and then had to take several of others out too, trying to ensure she did not wake the neighbourhood in the meantime.
Had 3 attempts at getting back to bed before she would settle and just as I managed it the alarm went off!
Felt completely wired all day.
She came with me to the bank to withdraw some of the cash she is spending and then to Pets at Home to spend it!
She attracted lots of attention.
She and Lexus have surprisingly become  best mates.

Dave drove down to Southampton to pick up Tara from Second chance rescue.
Apparently everyone there has fallen in love with her. She is a sweetie.
A quick visit to the vet for vaccine and then a dark drive over to Spangleberry kennels.

We are now full to bursting and one in kennels resources are stretched.

30th October

Battersea are about to launch a campaign to promote SBT 's in a positive light to try to help in homing the many they have in their homes.
A photo of one our dogs, Dolly, and her young owner is to be featured in their campaign.
Dolly was the puppy who came to us on Christmas Eve last year. She is adored by her new family.

Smudge extended her education today by playing with a young female Whippet, seeing a river and investigating mole hills! She wasn't too keen on the river she raised her hackles  and put her tail between her legs.

I now know her owner advertised her on Gumtree as she passed my number on to an interested party. Had we not taken her in it sounds as if we would have had another unwanted litter as she was wanted (free) to be a playmate to a male Staffie of a similar age.

29th October



Exploring at the ponies

 Aaaah! Happiness is a sleeping puppy. Smudge was a good girl through the night settling down and sleeping soundly.
We took her to the ponies today where (as well as the ponies) she met several other dogs, a  Tibetan terrier, the two Spaniels from the farm and Daisy the Collie who is excellent with puppies. At home we have had her out with Khan and Lexus. Lex seems intrigued but Khan does not like puppies and barks and gets upset.
One of my pupils walked her and we gave her a good long play so that she would be tired and sleep. Listen to that.....  Silence ..broken only by a deep snore, RESULT!

After work I took Sandy and Chance up to the fields for a run. Darkness was falling. They had a great time running shoulder to shoulder and Sandy was exhibiting lots of calming behaviour which I was very impressed by, she really has come on.
Unfortunately it was marred near the end when a large Lurcher or Wolfhound appeared from nowhere and surprised them. They didn't react well and neither did I. The dog ran off back to its owner half a field away, by now it was dark. In the confusion I dropped  a lead and couldnt find it in the dark so had to share a lead between them on the way home.
Before we got back the wretched fireworks had started.

Looks as if we are going to get two nights of Trick or Treaters this year too, deep joy.

28th October

Do not start a dog rescue if you want a stress free life! ( Though I am sure you knew that.)

We seem to have had at least one crises a week for the past month but this week we have had three!
Dave rang me at work today to say we had received a call from a vets about a 3 month old female who they had been asked to 'put to sleep' as the owner was moving and couldn't take it with them!

With rescues full people are becoming desperate, but this was unbelievable!



Smudge (also impossible to photograph.)

 People regularly use the term, 'getting rid' of a Staff when they contact us now, but this owner really did just want 'rid' of this puppy, not caring what happened to her at all.

Despite not really having room we felt we had to take her in, even if it was only temporary.
One of the vets from the practise lives near me so she dropped her off this evening, after I had hurriedly bought a new crate, bedding and puppy food.

She is a wriggly,lively, skinny thing who so far seems undaunted by coming into a house full of adult Staffords. She is a very pretty 'silver' brindle colour.
We have not had such a young pup for a long time, (still has baby teeth.)

Thanks Mark for your comment.
 As for the posters, with all the things we have going on I was fairly 'tongue in cheek' about the discrimination and realise it is illegal to put posters in some places, but you usually get a few days before they are removed but this was almost instant!
I do find it faintly amusing that someone might find us so offensiveness.
And they weren't the ones on telegraph poles, those are still there!

Soo stressful here tonight! Only place for puppy to run round and investigate is the kitchen which then winds Chance and Sandy up. Ended up walking her up the road at nearly midnight to try and tire her out before bed!

27th October



Lexus doing what he does best.

 Welfare are reconsidering their decision on the free neutering and trying to find something that is workable for all.

2nd Chance Rescue  have assessed the home situation of the10 year old female in Portsmouth and have taken her in for us for a few days.
It seems the two year old was haranguing her and she was just trying to tell him she had had enough but it was decided for everyones sake she was better out of the situation. She is fine with older children.
2nd Chance will keep her for us for a few days free of charge, the only space we have is kennels. If anyone is able to offer a foster space for her please let us know, no small children and not good with Stafford bitches.

I had lots of lessons today. Jade, Saffy and Angel came with me and all enjoyed a good run at some point in the day.
Dave gave each of the ones at home a walk.
When I returned late afternoon I tried Chance and Sandy together on a walk. Thankfully it worked as this will make my life easier. They had a lovely run in the dusk, it was dark by the time we came back. The only negative, three of our Stafford Walk posters have been removed. It could be where we had put them but I still feel slightly discriminated  against.

26th October evening



Angel

 Just shows I should have more faith. I despaired yesterday when I spent most of my otherwise free day walking dogs but considering the weather today it was time well spent. My only commitment today was cancelled so I was able to catch up on things (in the dry) after all.

Second Chance Rescue in Southampton have agreed to look at a 10 year old bitch in Portsmouth for us and probably take her in. I have received two calls for her. She is supposed to have snapped at a toddler and the Landlord says they are not allowed to keep her anyway.
With no-one taking Staffords anymore I really feared for her welfare. Second Chance will keep her for a few days and then she will have to come into kennels.



Chance

 I have heard from SBT Welfare today that they are not going to fund a free neutering programme as they feel it will be abused and the dogs participating not full Staffords but crosses. This is a big disappointment especially as I have spoken to some vets  who are willing to do it at cost price. We cannot go ahead now until we get funding from somewhere else.

26th October

Oops! Have become out of sync with my blogs. This should still be 25th but have been writing late and not posting till gone midnight, so not quite sure where I am, if you see what I mean.



A Treetops rescue, what a lovely girl.

 


  Thanks Gareth and Sandi for your encouraging comments.

Walked Chance with Spryte and Khan today, he was fine and had a really good run at last. I know I can trust those two, they won't play with him and so a calm atmosphere prevails.
He also had his first vaccination. Jane the vet loved him and thought he was one of the nicest we had ever had in. David Egan also said he would be an exceptional dog and whoever adopted him would be very lucky. I still haven't fully recovered from that first night...but yes, he's coming along ok. I suppose we ought to put him on the website.

More pics from Pets at Home.



The very handsome Buster



She won prize for biggest dog of the day.



Mellow with her owner Yvette.



It was all too much for some!

After walking Chance we then went out with Sandy and Khan (again) he has slept alot tonight. This time we put up posters for the Stafford Walk. Will hit the vets tomorrow. Also an ad going in the Surrey Ad, Whats On, supplement on the 4th/18th November.

This is Kye the pup who had had 6 homes in as many months. We are so pleased Lee and Lorna are keeping him.


Kye