WARNING !! I have heard from Ann who adopted the lovely scruffy Mojo from Cahors refuge last year. They had a nasty scare when Mojo started violently trembling and they thought he was fitting. A mad dash to the vet where they found out they he had eaten poison. The vet said that farmers are putting slug pellets down when they fertilise so it is easy for a dog to get the poison on their paws or drink it if the pellet has been rained into a puddle. So, if your dogs shows any symptoms, get him/her to the vet directly, any delay could prove fatal.
ps What could also prove fatal to humans (if I get my hands on them) is taking a dog back to the refuge in this freezing weather after they have known the comfort and warmth of being inside. For heaven’s sake couldn’t you wait just a week until the weather improves ?
Well thank goodness for that. January is over for another year. Don’t you just hate January ? Well I suppose those of you with birthdays in that month quite like it, but for me it is just a no-money-after-Christmas, bill-laden, long stepping stone to February. I often think that it would be much better to start the year with February, a nice little short month which would get us on our way and prepare us for January after that. Of course this year there is the excitement of having the 29th February and I will propose to Ernst just for the hell of it. Of course he will say no – thank goodness as he is German and I really don’t want to be a ‘Frau’ !!
Ok I’m getting out the soapbox now. We are quite a close few doing what we can to make dogs’ lives not a ‘dog’s life’, if you see what I mean. We work closely together, there is NO competition between associations. We give up free time, a normal home life, put marriages at risk and I dread to think how much money comes out of our pockets to save dogs and make them happy. Obviously, no-one forces us to do this, we choose to do it. So, to those people who go on forums to criticise and sling mud without having all the facts, I say “bog off”. Personally, I think that those who have the time to spend all day ‘chatting’ on these forums, should get out more. (Except you dear Evelyn !!)
If you adopt a dog who is not right for you please do not refuse offers of help. It is certainly true that refuge dogs can develop a slightly different personality when they are in a caring loving home. Would you expect an adopted child who has lived for a long time in an orphanage to automatically know the rules of your household ? For dogs it is the same (and they don’t have the ability to speak to make things easier), so, please give them time and, as I said before, accept advice and help.
Luckily it is very rare that Poorpaws gets ‘returns’ but the dogs here live as a family and I can assess their personalities so know what sort of home they would be happy in.
Ok off the box now !
After saying we get few returned dogs, I have to report that poodle Tiny is back – the second home lasted less time than the first !! He will now join the band of ‘lifers’ here. He is a complex little lad who has a complete aversion to collars and harnesses so much so that he nipped me the other day when I put a collar on another dog !!
Talking about Tiny, I had a lovely day recently going up to north of Angouleme with Doreen and Andrea. Doreen adopted a poodle from us quite a few years ago, the lovely Sean. Sadly Sean developed a tumour last year and had to go for the big sleep. I promised to find another poodle for Doreen and came up with Tiny who was a darling in the refuge. However, when he was out in the big wide world his true colours came out. Poor Doreen, she tried so hard with him but after he bit his way through the vet, the girl at the poodle parlour and got bossy with her, I took him back. So we were then looking for another dog and I came up with Mamouchka who was quite a way up North. Doreen, daughter Andrea and I set out on, what for me, was a VERY BIG ADVENTURE !
We discovered we all love country music so it was Tammy Wynette and yee-hah all the way there and back. Little Mamouchka fitted the bill very well. Or so we thought. A visit to the vet and Doreen emailed me to say that Moumou has a tumour and doesn’t produce tears. (She could have some of mine, I produce them by the gallon at the slightest thing – have you seen the film Hachi, oh good grief, a real giant box of tissues jobby). Obviously this was all very upsetting but dear Doreen has not given up, Mamouchka will be operated on, has drops for her eyes and has Doreen as her guardian angel.
On a happier note……………….adoptions ! Wow, what a month ! Fleche, Tanguy, Primus, Lola and Caline all packed their bags and went off to join the circus. Reports are that they are all sooooo happy, so we are too.
I – unforgivably – forgot last month to thank all the ex-Poorpaws who sent us Christmas cards with pocket money inside to buy biscuits for the less fortunate dogs. Especially Oscar of Brassempouy who, even many years later, never forgets his pals. What a handsome chap he has turned into – can’t believe his name was once ‘Petit’ !!! You are all incredibly kind, even those who have lost dogs and don’t feel ready for another one ………………. yet, got in touch. I’m working on you !!
And to the lovely person who suggested I write a comedy series, thank you – don’t think I’ll give up the day job yet though !!
Much love to you all and who knows, if things go wrong I could be Frau Biefang this time next month !!!
Sue x
Well, here we go again, another New Year. Here’s hoping you all have a good one and give in to the desire to adopt more dogs !!
My Christmas was a washout ! A rotten, eyes streaming, nose running, throat tickling, head exploding, limb aching cold started to attack on Christmas Eve and blossomed on Christmas Day. So whilst Ernst, his nephew Sebastian and Sebastian’s mum all went off for fun, food and festivities at our friend Lesley’s, I stayed in bed clutching a hot water bottle and menthol soaked hankies watching the lovely Hugh Grant in the dvd of Love Actually. (Hmm. Thinks. Not such a bad Christmas after all !!).
Luckily New Year’s Eve was lovely !
On the doggies front we had a flurry of adoptions to end the year. Quite a few puppies have been reserved ( still many left though !), Lassie has found happiness in a lovely new home, Poodle Ben is getting a second chance (hopefully he doesn’t blow it this time !), Freddy has been rehomed (that caused the tissues to be brought out for obvious reasons) and, joy of joy, not only did Rocky go to a new home but he took a pal from the Carcassonne refuge with him !
Now I seem to remember quite a few months ago that I explained that I would no longer be taking in any more dogs as we have so many that will never be adopted. In future dogs needing homes would go to my SPA Inspector friend and I would keep the website going. Yeah right. Poor Danielle is bursting at the seams so we had to open our doors again. Caline and Lola are here at Poorpaws as are three black LabX pups who will be old enough to go to new homes in about three weeks.
I promised another piece of advice for training your dog. A lot of people have problems when leaving dogs at home. The dogs bark or cry and sometimes destroy things. This is caused by anxiety but not, as is often thought, because the dog is left behind, it is because the dog thinks he is responsible for you and is worried about you. You have to teach your dog that it is perfectly ok for you to go out whenever you like. You can do this, starting when you first get your new dog, by, several times a day, just walking out of the house and, if possible, walk back in through a different door. Stay out for a very short time at first, just a minute or so, making the time out longer and longer. The most important thing is to NEVER talk to the dog before you go, no “bye bye darling, I’ll be back soon” and VERY IMPORTANT when you come back in, completely ignore your dog for at least five minutes. Then you can call him and fuss him. He has to get used to you just going and coming whenever you like and he doesn’t have to worry.
If that sounds muddly buy The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell who explains it much better than I do !
Going to Limoges this week to collect two Chinese Crested Bald (yes, bald !) dogs ! Look out for them on the website !
Have a lovely January
Sue x
Well, would you believe it, December has crept up behind me so quietly I didn’t realise we are already in THAT month, the ‘C’ month !
Personally I would love to spend Christmas day curled up with a good book in front of he fire with a bottle of champagne to keep me company, but we always spend the day with friends and, of course, have a a lovely time. I remember once when I lived down south Ernst had the opportunity to go skiing with his family over Christmas but I couldn’t go because of work commitments. I waved him off quite happily and had a lovely meal with girlfriends on the 24th. On Christmas Day I opened presents and a bottle of bubbly in the morning and thought how nice it was to do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. The second glass of fizz confirmed that I was happy on my own. The third and I thought it would have been nicer had Ernst been there, the fourth went down and by the fifth it was “how COULD he leave me alone on Christmas Day ??!!” Poor Ernst chose that moment to ring to wish me Happy Christmas – he didn’t ring again before he came home !!!
Anyway that’s all very boring, you want to know how dog adoptions have been going. The answer to that is good !! Juno will soon be off to a new home, we have our fingers crossed for Rocky, Gracie has been adopted (by the receptionist at our vets !), the black Labrador has been homed and Girly has gone off down to the Cote d’Azur.
Please look at Freddy, a lovely dog and by giving him a home you permit his owner to die in peace.
We still have puppies who would make your household much more fun. However, we do not let pups go to new homes over the Christmas period where people tend to be either stressed or hyper or excited. Best they come to you when all the celebrations are over and your home has been restored to calm.
Recently I homed a very dominant poodle with a very gentle lady who was anxious about the dog taking over. Dogs are only dominant over humans when they think they are in charge and it is their responsibility to look after the human. Our job is to show the dog that WE are there to look after them and all they have to do is to relax and have a good life. Dogs who bark and cry when left alone don’t do it to be a pain or ‘get’ at you. They do it because they are anxious that ‘their’ baby is out alone. Imagine if your young child went out and you didn’t know where they were or when they would be back. Dogs don’t destroy things to ‘get revenge’ they do it because anxiety activates their saliva glands and chewing relieves them.
Here are a few points to show your dog that you are the alpha and he doesn’t have to worry about you.
1) Never go to your dog to make a fuss of him (thereby showing subservience). Always call your dog to you to be stroked. You can do this as much as you like.
2) If your dog comes to you when you haven’t called him and paws at you to be fussed or ‘leans’ against you, this is not ‘cute’ the dog is showing dominance. Turn round and walk away. You can then call him to you.
3) A good way of showing who is in charge is at feeding time. Put a biscuit for yourself in the dog’s bowl and stand so that your dog can see you but don’t talk to, or look at him. Then eat your biscuit out of the bowl (still not looking at him). When you have finished, just put the bowl down (still ignoring your dog) and walk away (you can stay in the same room if you want to.) This shows the dog that you are ‘alpha’, you eat first and the dog gets your leftovers. When your dog has finished eating, or has walked away from his dish, pick the dish up and don’t put food down again until next meal time. This shows your dog that he eats when you decide and not when he does. Never, ever take a food dish away from a dog whilst he is still eating to ‘test for aggression’. Wouldn’t you get rather peeved if someone took your plate away whilst you were still eating ??!!
More tips to help your dog to be stressfree and happy next month. If you can’t wait I recommend The Dog Listener by Jan Fennell.
Have a wonderful Christmas, I’ll be back in 2012 !!!
Sue x
And an angel came unto Poorpaws and the angel’s name was Sophie. And Sophie looked at all the dogs and laid eyes on Gumbo. And Sophie saw that Gumbo was good (despite his broken leg and damaged hip). And Sophie picked up Gumbo (and his veterinary bills) and took him home. And Sophie was happy and Gumbo was very happy and repaid Sophie by peeing and crapping all over her home. BUT Jean-Francois was NOT happy and said unto Sophie “either the dog goeth or I goeth”. Silly Jean-Francois. And Sophie helped Jean-Francois pack his bags and move into the shed.
Ahhh, I love a happy ending !!
Other lucky October dogs were Bouba, Leyla, Roux and Biscuit, thank you so very, very much.
I’ve just had a wonderful birthday (62 eek !) and my friend Sue gave me a wonderful suprise by coming over for a few girlie days so forgive me if this month’s news is a bit short – things to do and places to go !
Have a great November despite the shorter and shorter days – how horrid it is going to work in the dark.
Sue
ps Gumbo is now clean and Jean-Francois is back in the family home !!!
The October update is a bit early because………..on the 1st October……………….I’m going for a week……….ON HOLIDAY !!!!!! I can’t wait, our annual week with friends at Ernst’s sister’s house on the Cote d’Azur spent playing cards, reading, sleeping, eating, drinking and generally putting the world to rights. Don’t worry about our dogs they will all be tied to trees for safety with enough food and water (hopefully !) for one week. Nah, only kidding, some will be going on their hols to friend Danielle and the rest will stay here to be cared for by friend Virginie and spoilt, treated and cuddled by June.
October has been a topsy turvey month for Poorpaws. On the plus side Leyla’s pups have all found homes as have Gus, Blacky, Muppet and the kittens. On the down side poor Gumbo managed to sneak out and got hit by a car. I feel terrible, it was due to a moment’s inattention on my part when I shut the gate sure that he was inside and he wasn’t. He now has pins in one leg and a damaged hip and expect, has blown his chances of adoption. This is a dreadful shame as he really is the most lovable dog being one hundred per cent love and not an aggressive bone in his body. He is great with other dogs and cats backing down immediately when he gets too annoying and gets told off by the older dogs here. His one fault was that he jumped up all the time – doesn’t do that now !!
I cannot sign off without mentioning our friend Pam Evans who sadly died suddenly the weekend of the 17th September. Pam was a great Poorpaws fan supporting every fundraising event and making Christmas cards for me to sell. She also made the most fantastic theme birthday cakes which you could order, then wouldn’t take payment for. Her funeral day was lovely (if I can say that) the church was full and husband Ken wrote a wonderful eulogy which was read out. Tender and amusing there wasn’t a dry eye when he ended by saying “give me time to get my breath back and I’ll carry on”. The world is a sadder place without you Pam.
Bummer, I’m crying again !
OK I’m off on ‘me’ hols. Be good, take care and I’ll be back soon.
Sue x
A very weird month August has been – 40° one day and boots and brolly the next ! It is much easier to keep dogs warm in the cold than it is to keep them cool in the heat. Here we have kiddies’ plastic sandpits filled with cold water in the garden and in dog parks but have to say that they seem to drink the water rather than paddle, except for Rik the ancient huge German Shepherd who wallows like a hippo just keeping his nose above water. Our old Brittany Spaniel, Max, suffers in the hot weather so I make sure he has a comfy bed on a cotton sheet in the shade of a tree with water close by. But is he thankful ? Nope ! He drags himself back into the mobile home where the temperature is unbearable and lays panting !!
Adoption wise August was a scorcher too !! Loulou, Benno, Albert, Little Ted, the Setter pups, Fredy, Milou, Fifi and Gina all went to new homes or have homes to go to. Thank you SO much !!!!
I was lucky enough to be able to take a day and go up to visit the lovely Leeanne and Mike at Twilight Retirement Home for Dogs.
Twilight
Twilight
Now I hasten to say that Leeanne and Mike run the home, they’re not inmates !!! What a wonderful place, to see all those elderly dogs who most certainly would have had a very unpleasant future had it not been for Twilight. Leeanne and Mike do a tremendous job on a very limited budget but there is nothing limited about the love and care they dish out in dollops. Please visit their website www.twilightchiens and see for yourselves.
Sadly, I was having such a good time that I didn’t notice that whilst I was there, someone picked up France and turned it around, at the same time wiping the N21 completely off the planet !! It took me forever to find my way out of Perigieux and I hope I never have to go there again. I feel so sorry for people living there, they must leave home in the morning wondering if they will ever find their way back at hometime !! However, worth every kilometer to get to Twilight and I fully intend to book myself in when I get old and doddery…….alright, more old and doddery !
August was also the month of the annual second hand clothes stall at the Montcuq vide grenier.
Vide Grenier
Once again it was a great success We arrived with 35 sacks of clothes and left with 8 !! Friends Danielle and Lesley were by my side from beginning to end – 7am to 6 pm – friendship indeed. Thanks to all who donated and/or bought clothes, we raised a fabulous 645.45 euros. Every cent will go to animal rescue and will be shared between Poorpaws, the SPA, Twilight and the Refuge Canin at Cahors.
The kindness of people never ceases to amaze me and I must give a huge thank you to Brian and Angela who, despite being sad and distraught having had to put their two dogs to sleep in a very short pace of time, thought of Poorpaws when packing their car to come down to their house near here and put in three HUGE bags of a very expensive dog food to give to us. Plus a large dog bed. The dogs loved the food and were not happy about going back to the usual brand even though they loved it before !!! A bit like going back to fizzy white wine having tasted champagne !! Thanks Brian and Angela, you are very special.
Well that’s about it, have a look at the updated adoption page and if you don’t see what you are looking for, give me a call, there are new dogs looking for homes all the time.
love,
Sue x
For those of you who may be rather confused, that was July, honestly, not March or November, but what a stinker ! August seems to be better but shhhh, don’t say it too loud !!
We are happy to tell you that Titou has now left his lonely life at the farmhouse, is living the life of Riley with Jill in Montcuq and, as I speak, is packing his case ready for a holiday in Switzerland. Fifi has been rehomed and Sissi will be on her way up North at the end of a month. So, all in all July was a good month for the oldies !
Someone (Mark Twain ?) once said “news of my death is premature”, well for those of you who have heard the rumours, news of my retirement is premature. It is partly true though. We have 15 dogs here at Poorpaws who because of age and/or behaviour problems will never be adopted and I have decided that I really cannot take any more in.
I work long busy hours at the hotel to fund the dogs (and 25 cats) and am finding it all very tiring now – can it be that I am getting old ?!!! Also the hotel is up for sale and if it is not sold by November will be closing anyway so I may well be without a job very soon. However, I will continue to be heavily involved in dog rehoming, the website will stay as an adoption board to put dogs and adopters in contact with each other and the Poorpaws news will continue. Fund raising events will continue in aid of other rescue centres as will the card stall at Montaigu market and the English library, and I hope that the name Poorpaws will still be a focal point for helping dogs in need.
One bit of great news is that the UK is coming into line with other european countries and as from the 1st January 2012 dogs will no longer require passports to go back to Great Britain. No more blood tests or 24/48 hour tick and flea treatments. Your dogs only need to have a valid rabies vaccination of at least three weeks. We are so hoping this will reduce the number of dogs abandoned by Brits leaving France.
On 28th August Poorpaws will be manning its’ usual second hand clothes store at the Montcuq Vide Grenier, so if you have any little numbers you don’t wear any more or any Manola Blahniks that are soooooo passé, send them our way ! Seriously all good condition clothes gratefully accepted.
That’s about it for now – don’t even get me going on the couple of Brits going back to UK but leaving their cat, who they have stopped feeding, behind so that she can “learn to fend for herself”.
Sue x
Oh, by the way, it’s that time of year again, fetes, festivals, vide greniers and marchés. Go and have a great time, but PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, leave your dogs at home in the cool. Fun for humans, those festivities are pure misery for dogs being dragged around the crowds in the heat. Much better to go alone and be free knowing that your faithful friend is happy at home dozing in the cool. Under no circumstances leave them in the car even with windows open, the sun moves round surprisingly quickly.
Phew, well that’s over for another year ! The TV has had its’ annual airing, has now been unplugged and I’m trying to get back to normal life after trying to fit in work and ‘playing’ every match at Wimbledon that I could. I feel quite bereft now !
Fabus
June was a sad little month for us here, two of our beautiful puppies caught a ghastly gastro virus and sadly didn’t make it. Then two of our oldest residents had to be put to sleep. Fabus, one of the very first dogs taken in, was a scruffy little so and so. He came to us after his owner died and after he had run away from two new homes – to go and sit in front of the café where he used to go with his master ! He ran away from us once but couldn’t find a bar so came back and never left us after that. Every morning he would branch off from our walk and go to our lovely neighbours Pat and Tony. He would walk in the back door, eat the breakfast kindly given to him, then out the front door without so much as a thank you ! Pat and Tony miss him but our Max is taking over – happily he is more polite and at least permits a pat and stroke before he comes home. Fabus came to us at 12 years and was 17 when a series of nasty fits eventually left him in a very sad state and the decision had to be taken for him to be at peace.
Nicky
Then our Nicky. We took Nicky from the refuge at Figeac after we learned she had been there for ELEVEN years !!!! We couldn’t bear the thought of her eventually dying there not ever having felt grass beneath her paws or knowing the pleasure of lying in the shade of a tree on a sunny day. (Gosh, sounds so good I think I’ll adopt myself !). She got a tumour on her leg a month ago which was removed, but then it came back bigger and rampant moving up to her body so that it would have been useless to amputate the leg which we had discussed but which I wasn’t keen on. Sleep well Nicky and remember the sunny days here.
Well, it wasn’t all sad news ! Folie will be off to a new family in the UK, the elderly German Shepherd is off the streets, is living and loved by a wonderful couple, Willow went to a new home as has Fausto. So many, many thanks to all you lovely people.
We don’t normally take in cats any more (having about 15) but we have recently had dumped on us a cat and eight kittens. Six ginger and white, one tortoiseshell and one tabby. All adorable obviously and we would be very, very grateful for homes for them all – especially as the mother is VERY protective and has made a very definite no-go area near our front door for all our other cats and dogs !!!
The adoption page will be updated just as soon as I find where puppy Gina has hidden my camera !!!
Have a wonderful July !
A very, very dear, sadly departed, friend always said “no good deed goes unpunished”. Sadly I often find this to be true but never more so than last Sunday ! Following the death of someone in the village we felt duty bound to take on his elderly German Shepherd dog. Uncastrated and normally I would have got him ‘done’ but due to his age and possible heart condition I didn’t. Then I had a call from a lady saying she had gone on holiday, left her little dog tied up in the garden and would I go and get him and look after him until she came home ! I was in fact in UK for the weekend so the poor thing was tied up for two days. At first all went well, the GS was fine with all the other dogs and cats, then he took against the other little dog (also not castrated). To cut a long (boring) story short the GS finally went for the little one in a nasty way. He had him in his mouth and was shaking and shaking him. I was screaming and trying to get the poor thing free but as old as he is the GS is very strong. The little dog had his head thrown back, also screaming, then he saw something to bite. And he bit. Don’t blame him. Only thing was, what he saw was my leg. Luckily Ernst heard all the noise, ran over and delivered a swift hard punch to the GS’s nose. Little Caramel was dropped and scurried away, thank goodness only bruised. He has since spent most of his time in our bedroom coming out cautiously to pee. The GS is in solitary until the guy’s family find a solution. As for me, well I have the mother and father of bruises plus a nice little row of teeth marks. It was flipping Mothers’ Day too, so no chance of staying off work – in fact I had to do a 12 hour shift ! Got to the Doctor, finally, who said that the leg won’t have to be amputated (bummer, could have given up work !).
So, think twice before doing good deeds !!
A mini soapbox moment. All you walkers and hikers out there, if, when you are on your trails, a dog starts to follow you PLEASE chase it away. Every year many dogs end up in the dog pound because they follow walkers then can’t find their way home and few French dogs are identified.
Now for Good News. The best is that Buzz has been homed !!! We are just so, so delighted. Of course the Coton de Tulear pups went like hot cakes, one Scruffbag has been homed and the other has a home to go to just as soon as we are sure she is not pregnant. Flora went quickly too, Matthew has a home in view and all the Border Colley pups are happily with their new families. Thank you to all you lovely adopters.
Go to the adoptions page for this months selection, lots of cat prevention dogs urgently needing homes !!!
May already and only a month to go before I can leave my socks and vest off !! Mum always said “cast ne’er a clout ’til May is out”, but I can tell you with the weather we’ve been having I’m tempted to dare to disobey !!
Many of you have asked how little Gypsey is. Well, she is just great ! She recovered fully, is now Lola and is happily eating her way through her new home when not at art classes !!!
Toto went to a great new home and has slotted herself into the pecking order – near the top ! – of her new four-legged pals. Her adoption also gave me another opportunity to go up to the Vienne so I was very happy ! Geordie had lots of enquiries all of a sudden and has gone to Albi where he has six, yes SIX, children to play with.
Soapbox time again ! I have said time and time again that shit happens, we all know that and when I get people calling desperate for help rehoming dogs because they “have to go back to UK and never thought we would” or seeking kennelling facilities for a couple of months, I will do what I can to help even if I can’t understand why the problem has not been faced earlier instead of leaving things to the last minute. However, I’m soon going to stop trying to help. Time after time, Danielle (the voluntary SPA Inspector I work very closely with) puts herself out and reserves places for such dogs only to find, that despite promises made, no dog arrives and when we make enquiries we are told that “other arrangements have been made”. OK, but why are we not told, surely it is just common courtesy. Another increasingly regular problem is people leaving dogs and never coming back for them. One horrid snivelling confidence trickster swore to me several times during the course of calls to UK (at my expense !) that ” a friend was on his way from Paris with backdated kennel fees and a large donation”. Well, even if the friend was crawling backwards blindfolded from Paris he would have been here by now. Then there was Mrs. G who was desperate for us to look after Vinny – or was it Bonny, she couldn’t remember ! She even said she couldn’t understand how people messed us about when I was cautious about agreeing to help. Guess what, the time for Vinny (or Bonny, who gives a toss now ?!) to arrive and……………..silence ! Not even the good manners to get in touch.
Now it has happened again ! A lady desperate for us to take lovely Archie (see adoptions page) for the winter, promised she would be back in April. She didn’t have a French chequebook (should have been a clue Susan, should have been a clue !) so it was arranged that Poorpaws would pay the monthly kennel and feed bill and the ‘lady’ would pay the equivalent in Sterling into a Building Society account in England. All went well at first then the emails stopped. I recently checked my account and, surprise, surprise, no payment has been made since January and all emails are ignored. I work in a restaurant to fund Poorpaws and 100 euros a month is not peanuts for me ! So Mrs. P where are you ?! What is so difficult about emailing me to say there is a problem ?
It’s just pigging rude. Do you know it is illegal to abandon a dog in France ?
Now then, lets get on to happy news ! The Book Sale went well. In a way I think the rainy weather helped as you weren’t able to lounge or work in your gardens !! Don’t forget the Saturday Night Fever evening on June 11th and get in touch to reserve places – it’s getting closer !
Anyone looking to adopt a cat, take a look at Matthew – please !!
Have a wonderful Maytime, see you in June by which time I will have been to my first ever class reunion – we’re all over 60 now, how did that happen ??!!
PS. Since the above newsletter ‘went to press’ I have heard from Mrs. G. Apparently the email cancelling the kennel booking must have got lost and is floating around in cyberspace somewhere, together with my emails asking for news. So that’s one puzzle solved and apologies offered. (Sometimes I think I’d like to float around in cyberspace for a while – and if I keep upsetting people like I am at the moment, the floating may start sooner than anticipated !) Still waiting for the chap from Paris though …………………….. !
Gypsy
OK get your kleenex out because I’m going to tell you a sad story ! See this little angel here, Gypsy ? Well she and her brother, both barely two months old, were found at the bottom of a ditch. They came to Poorpaws and were immediately taken to the vet for a pre-distemper prevention vaccination. Galpin, the little boy (who is now Ozzie) was fine and is growing well and healthily in his new home. Sadly little Gypsy must have already had distemper in her and has been so, so poorly. She spent a week in the vets on a drip and I was convinced she would die. I had to go away for a couple of days and took her with me so that she wouldn’t die alone. She had a horrible fit one afternoon and I was convinced that was it and begged her to just ‘go to sleep’. I even considered looking for a vet in the area to help her on her way. However, she obviously had other ideas and hung on in there. She started to eat again and perked up ……….a bit. One week on she is eating normally but is still weak and instead of running around like any other puppy, she walks like an old lady. The vet thinks the virus has caused brain damage so she will probably never be ‘normal’ but hey, she’s here, she’s a darling and one more nutter in the madhouse makes no difference !!
Other Poorpaws babes have been luckier ! Toby’s owners decided they couldn’t part with him after all (phew), Sultan went off to a great home with Libby and Craig and instantly acquired four new brothers and sisters – last news was that Sultan is the best behaved of them all !
Gerry and Foscoe (the Aussie shepherd pup) went off together to the same new home and are doing just great, George went off happily to a French family who have declared him “trés intelligent” ! Beakie also found happiness despite practically ignoring his new owners when they came to see him, preferring to wind up the dog in the next park by running up and down and barking at him !
AND (!) our lovely big boy Saxo suddenly got such a huge flurry of fan mail that he was almost embarrassed ! John and Judith were first in line and despite Saxo being rather larger than they had imagined, it was love at first sight on both sides and all is well there.
I must give a mention to little Fidgi who never made it on to the website before being chosen. However, he too got distemper and caused us many many sleepless nights. Gold stars to the Robson family, especially young Aisling who never gave up on him and were delighted after a very anxious two weeks to welcome him to join their gang.
So, a successful month here and let’s hope April will bring happiness to more of our dogs – Geordie for example just can’t imagine why no-one wants him !
Another reminder of our Barn Book Sale, Easter Saturday 10am to 4pm at Beliben just next to Sauzet here in the Lot. Hundreds of books at 1 euro plus teas and yummy home made (not by me !) cakes. Please help make this a success for Poorpaws and Cancer Research.
Another date for your diary – from the team who brought you the Blues Train evening in 2009 and The Pink Ball in 2010, we are happy to bring you a Saturday Night Fever evening on June 11th. 70′s style supper and music. 25 euros for a great evening at the Salle de Fete Sauzet. Email me for more details and to book your places.
Ok, so now lets get down to doing what I am supposed to be doing – finding you your dream dog ! Flip over to adoptions to find your new pal !!
Gypsy
Well February was a Very Busy Month !! So much so that I’m wondering how I ever had time to go to work before my accident. I’m very soon going to find out as I start back tomorrow and it’s going to be very difficult after three months of being with the dogs all the time.
This month Mimi had a haircut and found a great new home, Moss found another person to love, Xena struck lucky and Mia is now at Poorpaws where she is fast losing her timidity and enjoying her new life to the full.
I was lucky enough to spend a couple of days in the Vienne – I love that department – when I took Babouchka and Titi to new homes. I stayed with my penpal from 300 years ago and we talked the hind legs off very many donkeys. Babouchka said thank you to her new owner by presenting him with a neighbour’s chicken on the first morning ! Neither Babouchka’s new owner nor the chicken’s owner seemed very put out by the event but I told them that if it happened again they should tie the dead chick round Babouchka’s neck for a day. That should make her think twice before doing it again.
As for Titi, well, I was an absolute mess ! This boy had come to Poorpaws a nervous wreck and very quickly became my little loving shadow. As his lovely new owner led him away he turned and gave me such a look, then they drove by with his little face pressed up against the window as if to say “why ? what have I done ?” I blubbed all the way home and yet again wondered why I put myself through this !!!
On the way home I stopped off at Bellac where I picked up another Mimi and made new friends. Mimi was adopted within two days and went off for a week to her new owners. She came back yesterday as they were going on holiday. We went for a walk and the moo-bag ran off. Can you imagine telling people that you have lost their dog ??!!! I didn’t sleep and was rehearsing my “I don’t know how to tell you this….” speech when I got a call to say she had been found three kilometres away (nb., ALWAYS put your telephone number on your dog’s collar !). Great relief, but she cost me a bottle of champagne ! She is now handcuffed and shackled to a post in the garden ! No, not really, but she probably wishes she was as I haven’t let her out of my sight since, even taking her to a charity committee meeting this afternoon !!
Don’t forget the Barn Book Sale on Easter Saturday at Beliben. Let me know if you have books to donate or bring them along on the day.
Now, have a look for your new friend and if you don’t find him/her check out the other adoption centres under Links.
February already and we are having some wonderful, wonderful weather, really makes one believe that Spring will actually arrive. (Sorry if it’s not the same where you are !)
‘Adoptions are doing quite well, Danielle’s girls and puppies have gone to new homes and after being at Poorpaws for several months Fulham has immediately followed his brother, going to a new home very soon. Coincidentally, also to camping car fanatics! Luckily Fulham doesn’t seem to have the car sickness problem that Fuller had.
Great news that Poppy the spaniel has been found. The poor thing had been living rough and was very happy to get back to comfort and love.
Our next Barn Book Sale will be on Easter Saturday at the same barn venue in Beliben (just down the road from Sauzet in the Lot). So, can I ask you to start reading as fast as you can and let us know if you have books to donate. Please come along on the day to buy your summer reading and enjoy tea, coffee and delicious cakes – none made by me, promise
We also would love audio books, dvd’s and cd’s, but no videos, sorry, they just don’t sell.
Thank you to those who have enquired about my wrist ! The pins are out thank goodness, it was getting very ‘ouch’ as they had started to travel up the back of my hand ! It’s now down to physio in order to be able to go back to work in March. Shame, I enjoy being at home and spending more time with the dogs.
Now, take a look at the adoptions page, there are some real sweeties, oh, and if any of you know the English guy who just dropped his dog off at the SPA Carcassonne on his way to the airport to leave to live back in the UK, WITHOUT leaving the agreed donation, me and ‘de boyz’ would like to get in touch with him in a “hands round the neck” sort of way.
2011 and Poorpaws is up and running into the New Year !
We hope you all had an enjoyable festive season and that 2011 will be good to you. Thank you very much to all of you who sent us good wishes and thanks especially to the ex Poorpaws who sent their pocket money to buy treats for the less lucky dogs, you really are a super bunch !
Well that’s enough about you – how about me ……….?! It was very kind of many of you to enquire after my broken wrist. I can report that it’s a real bummer !! You don’t realise how many things you need two hands for – luckily one of them is washing up ! I go back to hospital on the 14th to have an operation to have the pins taken out and I was praying for another overnight stay but apparently I’ll be out in the afternoon ! Hopefully I’ll be able to go back to work quickly but as I work as a chambermaid / waitress it may be another month. One-handed hotel workers are not much in demand !
So that’s enough about me too, lets talk dogs. You will see that beautiful Pumpkin has found happiness, so has Filly (sniff, sniff) and Frannie is due to go to her new owner next week – God help him !! All the others are keeping their paws crossed.
Don’t worry if you don’t live nearby, transport can be arranged where necessary.
More from me next month when, hopefully, I’ll be back to typing with both hands !
Regular visitors to this website will notice little changes to the set up. This is because my friend Joke (pronounced Yoca) is off on her travels so friend Colin is taking over. Thank you soooooooo much Joke for all your hard work over the years and prepare yourself Colin for taking on a computer ignoramus !!
So there I was, dear reader, lying on the operating table just about to go under the anesthetic when the nurse whipped the oxygen mask off my face and asked if I had a Berenese Mountain dog !! Honestly, I promise you ! [click to continue…]
