Adopt a shelter dog month

The Lonesome Road Studio reminded me in her blog that October is 'Adopt a shelter dog month'

It is also 1 year ago this month that my little pound dog Mia came to live with me.

Its been quite a steep learning curve with Mia learning how to deal with a dog with 'issues' But she is smart and loving and once I realised that she is like Scrappy Doo - all shouting because she is v scared of strange dogs. She is actually a gentle soul and has never attacked another dog (except settling in scuffles with Ben)

Ben is also a rescue dog from the Dogs Trust

I urge anyone considering a new dog to think about a rescue. It is so difficult to find a decent breeder these days with so many people churning out thousands of puppies just for money with no thought for the poor breeding dogs, the temperament or health of the puppies or the poor new owners who they fleece for thousands of £'s to buy their poorly bred 'designer crossbreeds' (read mutts) or 'pedigrees with papers' (papers can be anything - and a pedigree is no proof of good breeding)

Rescues can have puppies, they can have older mature dogs whos temperament has been assessed and you can KNOW if the dog will fit into your lifestyle. Rescues can compete successfully in the highest levels of dog sports or can be great family companions.

Before you buy that cute puppy (and encourage the breeder to churn out the next litter of puppies into an overcrowded world) take a while to look around a rescue.

and if you cannot take on another dog at the moment how about a little donation to one of the great charities that help look after and rehome these poor guys who need a chance to find a loving home??

To make it even easier I have a listing in my shop, for only $3 (all of which goes to the charity that rescued Mia) you receive a collage of lots of rescued dogs happy in their new home and a lovely poem of thanks.

Or if you are looking for a lovely Greyhound in Scotland - have a look here

The walk for the Irish rescue doggies

Just back from the walk.
It was a really lovely day - after the weathermen telling us it was going to rain we had a totaly lovely time.

Mia had a little trouble at the start as we were on a narrow windy path where she didnt have much warning of dogs coming, but then after a couple of miles it opend out and she calmed down lots

When we set off walking we had about £700 pledged and that rose quite a bit by the end of the walk. Currently the total stands at just over £1000!!
Which is just fantastic
I will post the final result when we get it - of course we are still collecting - if you want to sponsor Mia and Ben please paypal me at pamduthie @ hotmail.com - even 50p will help the doggies lots

Here is the group after the walk - Mia is right on the end - but I never would have thought she could be so calm with so many dogs!!


I think about 6 of the dogs on the walk were Irish pound doggies, all happy in their new life and most training to be the agility stars of the future



The girl who organised it for us gave us theses cute certificates at the end


The bottom bit says (and beware - I was blubbing like a girl)

The reason

I would’ve died that day if not for you. I would’ve
given up on life if not for your kind eyes.
I would’ve used my teeth in fear
if not for your gentle hands. I would have left this life believing that all
humans don’t care
Believing there is no such thing as fur that isn’t matted,
skin that isn’t flea bitten,
Good food and enough of it, beds to sleep on,
someone to love me, to show me I deserve love just because I exist.
Your kind
eyes, your loving smile, your gentle hands Your big heart saved me…..
You
saved me from the terror of the pound. Soothing away the memories of my old
life.
You have taught me what it means to be loved. I have seen you do the
same for other dogs like me.
I have heard you ask yourself in times of
despair why you do it when there is no more money, no more room, no more
homes
You open your heart a little bigger, stretch the money a little
tighter, make just a little more room…
To save one more like me. I tell you
with the gratitude and love that shines in my eyes
In the best way I know how
Reminding you why you go on trying.
I am the reason. The dogs before me are
the reason as are the ones who come after.
Our lives would’ve been wasted,
our love never given
We would die if not for you

Sorry there are not more fotos of the walk but working a camera and keeping 2 dogs calm onlead just wasnt easy today

Moon bix, treats to help a rescue dog

Just read the tail of poor moon who is about to start his new life in the UK

His new owners are creating yummy pet treats to sell to help pay for his rescue from viatnam and his kenneling in the UK
They have nearly raised all the funds but just need a little more

So there is only a month left to get these yummy homemade pet treats

Moon bix

Back again and Mia has found fame

Sorry it has been so long!!
After Mia eating my camera my computer decided to die - just at the end of the tax year!!
So now I am up and running with a new camera and a (hopefully) happier computer

Our little Mia has found fame!! Origonal article here

A Scottish woman ended up taking care of a Louth dog that was saved by Dundalk Dog
Rescue.
Mia, a collie, was found stray in Drogheda in October and thanks to
the links that Ann Moore's Dundalk rescue charity has around Ireland and the UK,
there is a happy ending to this 'tail'.
The dog has been fostered by
kind-hearted Paisley woman Pamela Duthie, who fell in love with the tricoloured
collie and has even included her in an online dog blog.
Now Pamela is
calling for all dog lovers in Dundalk to support Ann's charity.
Pamela, a
driving instructor, told the Argus how she ended up taking Mia in. She said:
'The agility club I train with have contact with Ann at Dundalk Dog Rescue.
'We often run auctions to raise money to help them and to make it more real
they pick a dog that needs saved for us to raise money for.
'Mia's face came
up on the forum and I just couldn't get her sad eyes out of my head. She looks
so much like my own little dog Ben.
'I was not really ready to become a two
dog household but I offered that if she needed a foster home then I would take
her in.'
The Scottish woman wants to highlight the remarkable work of
Dundalk Dog Rescue.
She said: 'Dundalk has a huge problem with stray and
abandoned dogs, these are lovely animals who deserve a chance to know a loving
home.
'I would say if you are going to get a dog then rescuing is the best
way to go. It is possible to get a puppy from a rescue and you can do anything
with a rescue dog that you could with any other dog; many just make loving
pets.'
And the dog blog benmcfuzzylugs.blogspot.com is attracting plenty of
attention. Pam said: 'I actually started the blog to talk about my craft work
and to follow my dog Ben as he took his first steps in agility.
'People have
taken an interest in Mia's story and asked for ways to donate to help her and
dogs like her.'
For more information on Dundalk Dog Rescue go to www.
freewebs. com/ dundalkdogs
- Anne Campbell

Mia's 3rd training class

I just got the foto of Ben just after he had his big win the other week

He looks really bored, I am so chuffed and a little shellshocked

Today Mia went to her 3rd ever training class.

Week one, she lunged and went mental every time a dog came close, she also attacked my trousers

But she did sit and lie down, heelwork was rubbish - lunging at dogs

This week so much better, lots of small dogs in class and she sniffed and said hello to them like a nice calm dog. A couple of lunges, one when I gave a friends dog a treat and another at a big collie she dosent like. Really so much better tho

I didnt have to shovel treats in all the time and she hardly barked at all

Got a nice stay from her and she walked quite nicely to a kind of heel. We also did a trick where she had to come then stop and sit, the trainer let us do that out in the corridor away from the other dogs and she was really getting it

and her 'leave it' is fantastic, I had a treat on my knee and then one in my hand and she just sat wagging her tail not even looking at them

She really is a smart girl

Still can be a bit agressive on the lead but getting better and bullies Ben sometimes and trys to stop him getting on the sofa

But she is improving