I'm afraid the bad luck continues. I'm currently in Dublin, having been to the annual conference of the ADCH. Myself, Sue and Lisa the Asst. Manager came over on Tuesday and first thing Wednesday morning came a phone call from Ken, our Chairman, who is staying at the centre in my abscence. Taffy our 14.5 year old collie had suffered a stroke and been rushed to the vets. Little I could do in Dublin but keep in constant contact with Rachel the kennel manager. Unfortunately, at 3.30pm today we made the decision that Taffy was unable to fight off the effects and so I've lost a true friend.
It is indeed the end of an era for me personally, Taffy was my introduction to Border Collie Trust in 1995 and there's no doubt that had fate not bought us together I'd still be retired but not as involved in something that can make so much difference to the lives of so many border collies.
It's only in the last 5 years that I've come to really appreciate how lucky we were with Taffy. I now see all the mistakes I made, that with many other dogs would have led to many problems. Yet despite my poor skills he taught me all that is good about collies. His intelligence was second to none. His trick with video tapes became a party piece he was delighted to perform until DVD took over. His ability to know toys by name never ceased to amaze me and even when he became deaf about 18 months ago he seemed to understand sign language straight away.
So having lost Sheba in November and now Taff, Sue and I are "dog less" for the first time in almost 15 years. It will seem very strange arriving home in the early hours of tomorrow and not see his happy face to welcome us. Of late old age had certainly crept up on him, his back legs were obviously beginning to reduce his mobility but fish oil, fish based food and other natural products had put a little bit of a spring in his step.
I'm grateful for his sake that his parting was fairly quick, I'm sad that I couldn't be there to say goodbye but as we had a telepathic link between us I know he'll have heard me. I don't suppose it'll take long before another collie moves into our home but as all of us who've been owned by a collie know, we can never forget each one who is so special in their own unique way.
I'm sure Sheba will be delighted to meet Taffy again and give her the opportunity to boss him about - but only when it's dark of course.
Despite this the conference was a wonderful event as always and we return with lots of ideas to consider.
If you're having a drink tonight please join me in raising a toast to the collies who have made our lives so special during the short time we're lucky enough to spend with them.
Bye for now
Ben
Thursday, 23 April 2009
Sunday, 12 April 2009
Easter Chain Saw Massacre
No I haven't had an enormous easter egg and needed a chain saw to get into it. But it's certainly been a busy day from a "gardening" point of view. While I put the chain saw to good effect in the paddock tyding up some overgrown and fallen branches, Sue was sorting out the memorial garden area. Feeling the effects of using a chain saw for five hours but it's one of those jobs I've been wanting to get done for ages. Haven't quite finished it but ran out of chain saw oil !!
Dogs wise it's been a quiet weekend. Friday was a busy day but it's been mainly dogs coming in over the weekend.
More gardening type work tomorrow then back in the office Tuesday for a rest !!
Bye for now
Ben
Dogs wise it's been a quiet weekend. Friday was a busy day but it's been mainly dogs coming in over the weekend.
More gardening type work tomorrow then back in the office Tuesday for a rest !!
Bye for now
Ben
Wednesday, 8 April 2009
Change of luck needed
We seem to be going through one of those bad runs of luck at the moment. Patch and a young pup were taken from us at the beginning of the month. Then things seemed to brighten up when Shaun found a foster home. Unfortunately some of his behaviour was worrying the foster home and although, as far as we've seen, this behaviour has not progressed to anything serious we obviously couldn't take chances. So he came back to us. There are some positives to take from his time in a home as most of his life was spent in a barn having food thrown in now and again - so he can be forgiven for being a bit off now and again I suppose !!
Yesterday we homed a smashing young chap who had been with us almost two weeks. A few hours later his new owner rang to say he seemed really unwell. He'd been okay when he left and from the description it was obviously not just down to the stress of the move. Fortunately they were only 15 minutes away so having collected Rachel, the kennel manager, we visited and it was obvious he needed to see a vet. An hour or so after getting him to our vet he passed away and a post mortem revealed he'd most likely died from an internal bleed that was of natural causes. Although the worry of some infection going around was lifted it was still an upsetting end for all involved.
The joys of rescue work bring such highs and lows and you have to go with the punches at times but please keep your fingers crossed for some good luck from now on !!
Bye for now
Ben
Yesterday we homed a smashing young chap who had been with us almost two weeks. A few hours later his new owner rang to say he seemed really unwell. He'd been okay when he left and from the description it was obviously not just down to the stress of the move. Fortunately they were only 15 minutes away so having collected Rachel, the kennel manager, we visited and it was obvious he needed to see a vet. An hour or so after getting him to our vet he passed away and a post mortem revealed he'd most likely died from an internal bleed that was of natural causes. Although the worry of some infection going around was lifted it was still an upsetting end for all involved.
The joys of rescue work bring such highs and lows and you have to go with the punches at times but please keep your fingers crossed for some good luck from now on !!
Bye for now
Ben
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
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
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
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