End of an era

A sad day today - Patch a long standing sponsor dog has passed away. We received a phone call from his foster home today, he'd been less mobile for some time and over the weekend was even more reluctant to get up and go outside and so following the vets advice he was peacefully released from his pain.

Patch came to us in November 1997 from Wales and although he found a home he was returned and it did seem that Patch was going to be one of those dogs who would just never take to life in a home. He had serious problems with other dogs in the early days and staff who remember him found walking him hard work!! He did though love the kennels and so soon became the "original" BCT Sponsor Dog.

Over the years his temperament mellowed and he really grew to love people and I'm sure those sponsors who used to visit him will remember his cheeky looks.

We never really knew his age, when he came to us it was estimated to be about 5 to 7 years so even at the lower figure he reached a grand age.

In 2006 he went to stay for a weekend with a then member of staff Ann, and never came back. His behaviour towards other dogs seemed to change overnight and he lived the last two and a half years quite happily with two other dogs and six cats - and that's what you call mellowed !!

Our grateful thanks go to Ann for giving him some home comforts in the autumn of his life and for caring for him through his recent ill health. We will of course be writing to all Patch's sponsors in due course.

Rest easy Patch.

Sad news apart it's been a busy week as it's the end of our financial year so I've got all that side to deal with and of course the stock taking. Dogs are still finding homes but we did have more upset when a litter of pups came to us from another rescue recently and two seemed to go downhill within hours of being here. They were rushed to our vet and kept in but unfortunately one passed away two days later, the second seems to have made a full recovery and will be back with us today.

Bye for now

Ben