Please take a moment to read the story below.
It was sent to the rescue by someone who does not want to be identified but is a wonderful story that highlights the wonderful work done by the rescue and its supporters.
Thank-you for sharing your story and allowing us to add it to the Website - you know who you are.
Hi Glenys
Many thanks for your updates on poor little Blaise. I do hope he pulls through. After reading the appeals on your website I just had to do something to help. It’s not a lot but hopefully with some other donations it can make a difference. I have been visiting your website for a few months now and became totally addicted. I follow the progress of all the rescue dogs with great interest and even got colleagues at work hooked on it too. My love of dogs goes back to my childhood (I am middle age now) but having experienced such a close relationship with one of my own, the love has turned into passion.
I feel very upset when I hear about dogs that have been unfortunate enough to go through hardship in life, and get very angry when it has been caused by the human race. It is so unfair as they offer such an unconditional love in return. In April 2001, through yourself, I’ve adopted a large, black Labrador (46.5 kilo) called xxxxxxx (I kept his original name).
He was advertised in Bolton Evening News on 18th April and I collected him day after on a trial period. However, after a day or so, and after he had a bath, there was no turning back. We have been together ever since.
He was about 5 years old at the time but now my vet recons that he is a little bit older than his official 11½ yrs. He has been and still is, very much loved and spoilt by myself and my parents.
When I adopted him, I was going through an extremely traumatic time in my personal life as my marriage just ended. I have no children so my life was very empty and pointless. xxxxxxx filled that gap and pulled me out of a depression, opened up the world to me, introduced me to fellow dog walkers and gave me a purpose to carry on living by needing me to look after him.
He was a rather difficult, domineering, strong dog with a streak of aggression especially to other dogs and passion for water. He was so passionate that he would refuse to leave the river or reservoir for 2 – 3 hours – yes hours. He caused me some anxiety, upset and tears at times but I did not give up on him and carried on undefeated. He needed some basic training and a firm but loving approach. He also needed to lose weight which he has successfully achieved and lost almost 10 kilo.
He was not very affection and used to pull away when affection was given. He can’t get enough of it now. Despite his “faults” (which I don’t think are entirely his) he has become the centre of my life. I started taking him to dog training sessions to socialise him and teach him basic commands and he has changed dramatically. He even received merit awards for his achievements and overall improvement and a couple of years ago we got the Good Citizen Silver Award.
Unfortunately, due to his advancing age we are unable to attend together anymore as he is finding it too demanding. In view of this we were unable to go for the Gold. I still attend the dog training session every week as a handler for one of my friends’ Labs (they have 3 dogs - 2 Labs and GS).
I know what it is like looking after and worrying about a sick animal as xxxxxxx has had his fair share of various ailments. I have spent many disturbed even sleepless nights, days off work and trips to the vets. He had one operation in 2002 to remove a lump on his tummy, which thankfully proved to be just a fatty tissue, and another major op in 2005 to open up his windpipe as he developed laryngeal paralyses.
It was a major operation and he was very poorly afterwards and lost most of his bark but with a lot of TLC he pulled through and is still able to enjoy his walks in a country park, which happens to be on our doorstep. He still has some smaller lumps on his body but the vet is convinced that those are just fatty tissues and since they are not bothering him, they are being left alone. He also suffers with rheumatism/arthritis for which he receives monthly injections and other supplementary medications. He has also been progressively losing the co-ordination of his back legs and he is quite unsteady on his feet. In addition to that, he has anal tumours which ulcerate from time to time and his immune system is weak so he is prone to upset stomachs.
Despite all these problems he is still a happy dog who is very much loved and very well looked after and enjoys a good quality of life for his age.
I am dreading the day when we will have to part but deep down I feel that I will be contacting you to adopt another companion to share my life with and a good care and a lot of affection.
I am so sorry for going on but I just wanted to share my personal experience with you. I hope you don’t mind.
I think you are doing a fabulous job and hope you can continue to do so for many years to come.
With regards and best wishes to you all.
Anonymous Member