14/11/2024
14-11-24 Sylvia's Diary - A Very Busy Week at the Rescue!
**WARNING: GRAPHIC SURGICAL CONTENT
No sooner than one busy memorable and sad week passes another one starts. Bill and I had a really nasty bug for three days. Both of us must have lost a fair bit of weight and neither of us could touch food for days. Hopefully by the time you read this we will have recovered. My back has been unbearable, I guess because I could not hold fluids down, and muscles need hydrating, so I felt it more.
The Farm down the road is empty now. The poor farmer had a heart attack on the road chasing a cow that was out and he died in the lane. This was months ago, but the tenants are gone, and I guess the place will go on the market very soon. The poor farm cats are a feral bunch and they have no one. So we have started feeding, trapping, neutering, spaying, releasing and repeating. This means someone has to go up and down to the farm constantly to check the trap. If we catch any tameable ones we are hoping to try and tame them to find them a home, but they seem to be a pretty wild bunch.
If you remember from my diary last week, we rescued 50 dogs from a hoarding home. I have finally got someone to take notice, and go around to check on the one remaining dog that still has not been picked up by their son - who they told us was due back Thursday from his holiday. People from the road are saying the dog is in the garden barking all day and I feel so sad for it. Let's hope when the home is inspected something will be done for this poor dog, and any future dogs she may try to obtain.
Lux, the dog with the liver shunt had a CT scan and unfortunately, the shunt is inside of his liver and not outside. This has now become very complicated and the survival rate on an operation of this calibre is poor. So now the referrals have sent the scan to another to look at, and we are awaiting their opinion. This is a very worrying time, as some days Lux does well and others he suffers. It's possible the ending may not be happy, but for now he has many more good days than bad. A few days after his CT, we received a lengthy complicated report on our little fighter, Lux. He clearly has not given up the fight for life, and though it is not a sure thing that the operation is going to work… the only other option we would have is to put him to sleep, and how can you do that to this quivery delight? Who on good days loves life more than you can imagine. So I thought and thought, and tonight I will buy a lottery ticket for him, and he will get his chance of the gift of life, as he is so deserving.
The vet surgery makeover went well, and I was so pleased with the outcome. Us humans, including me, are a funny lot - we know when we have done well, but just want someone to tell us. Yesterday a vet nurse did just that and I was elated that someone else appreciated the time and effort I have put in, and must remember and praise my staff as they work so so hard.
It’s 4 in the morning as I am writing this and my head is buzzing. We drove late into the night once we were on the ferry, and I was then supposed to sleep. Instead, my head buzzed with ideas for the rescue, with thoughts of those I have come to pick up, of emails of desperate dogs needing to be saved, of the equines at the centre, the staff, our vans. Just one whole load of random things I can do nothing about at this time of the day but cannot let go of. This happens a lot to me, sleep is precious and rare for me. I honestly cannot remember a time I slept all through the night without waking up worrying. I try to change my focus to the positive - the happy 50 dogs that were rescued last week from one house, the amazingly sweet Sian - the 25-year-old horse who has come to spend the rest of her life with us, the adopters of both Cypriot and Ukraine dogs, it’s been one hell of a week! Now it’s just too late to bother going to sleep, or try to, as I need to get up soon and start the epic trip to pick up the dogs that are starting their new beginning with us.
This week when I got my migraine again, or the ‘Irish Migraine’ as I call it, the one I get before all of the trips I was working out the logistics of our trip. The paperwork and timing of picking up the dogs must be absolutely precise, amongst other necessities the trip requires. The Irish customs have treated us so badly in the past that Joyce and I dread going through now. After a very long travel day, then to go to customs at night, it’s a lot to get through. The migraine is worrying about any paperwork that may be wrong and potentially having to leave a dog if something is incorrect. This month’s list of passports and waiting dogs has ranged from a 6-month old St. Bernard puppy, to tiny Maltese's, Collies, Springers and all sorts of Poodle Crosses. The list included cross breeds, pure breeds, all special and all desperate for a new start.
Initially, when I pick up the dogs, all have to be scanned for their microchip numbers. The number is then cross referenced on the information I received pre-trip that includes health certificates and passports. If any number is wrong in the comparison of the chip and the paperwork, I cannot take the dog and have to leave it. That is where my heart is torn in half. This has unfortunately happened twice on two separate trips, and both times the poor dog had to stay until the issue was sorted, instead of being delighted by joining all on board. I often dwell on those that I have had to leave or have seen and so wanted to come back with me but couldn't take them.
Whilst I was out picking up dogs, Chelsea was at the rescue trying to ensure a little dachshund was able to have her pups safely. She had come to us enormous and while being scanned, we could see lots of live wiggling pups awaiting to be born. She eventually had 7 in total, but only 5 have survived so far, and on the night returning from Ireland, one more was to die. Life for these newborns is very fragile, the mums can roll on the pups, tread on them, they can be deformed or simply fade and die. We have whelping bars, so the pups are less likely to be squashed, but they are not 100% successful. In the last few years, we have learnt a lot about whelping bi***es as we have had so many dogs come to us already pregnant. We have been able to save many that may not have made it but for the ones lost, mine and Chelsea’s hearts break just a little bit more each time.
A very sweet Frenchie was scanned this week and was found to be in need of bladder surgery. On opening her bladder, three polyps were found blocking the access for her to be able to urinate with ease. We were all amazed that she had been able to go on with the amount of pain and discomfort she must have had. The polyps have been sent off for testing and we await the results. Please God, all will be well now.
Winnie, the little disabled Cav has managed to ease her way into all’s hearts. She is going for X-Rays this week to see if she can be helped to move properly, or just how she can be helped - perhaps with physio? She is a darling, and if anyone out there wants to and could afford to take on her care, they are welcome to apply.
One of my responsibilities each day is to keep up with the mass amounts of emails we receive. The general emails received are sent directly to one of the offices, but the pleas for help, specialist vet quotes, and things like that come directly to mine and Bill’s computer. I think that’s even more so why I am so aware of the great sadness in this world, and it weighs on me so heavily. This week there was a lady with 13 dogs being made homeless. She is requesting a corner of a field to live a quiet life with her dogs. This is something the council would not allow, so unfortunately I could not help. She said in her long and sad letter that if no one helped her, the only other thing to do was to end her life. I believe someone offered her a space in England, but she wants to be in Wales as she is the primary caregiver of a family member. I really cannot help her but am so worried about what she may do, we are hopeful she will find a home for herself and her dogs soon. We are an animal rescue, not a human rescue, however the way this rescue works - the people help the dogs who intern help the people, one big circle of love, help and hope.
Another of the emails desperate for help was for King. He is in Sarajevo and was found almost dead on a mountain side. He had a bad accident, and his leg had been broken and had reset itself badly. He was so thin and starving and covered in scars. Despite all this, a lovely man carried him to safety. Although, the man who saved King is not from that country, he has been sponsoring him for four years trying to find him a rescue willing to take him. The dog is called King, he is not a special eye candy type of dog, and he has no claims to fame. He is what some would call just a street mut, but he so wants to be more. His human finder goes once a year to visit him and is desperate for UK rescue space. Photos and a video of King were sent to me and I looked and thought about him all night. He really doesn’t have much of a chance, and probably never did. I just can't help but think that WE could change that for this dog, and though so many every week need help, I will try to find out more about King.
Now to talk about our rescue horse, Sian. She had been in the same home for 17 years, and I believe she is now aged 25. Her owner was not well enough to have her any longer as she could not care for her. She came in sad, uninterested in life, and with a dull look in her eye. This obviously was a bother to the equine lovers and the passers-by, and just anyone with a love for animals. The dog lovers and work men all reached out a hand to this big noble, shut-down horse, and we all loved her as we could. Days passed and as we hoped, she bonded well with our horse Quarrel. As that happened, she changed and her coat started to shine, her eyes lost their dullness, she started to wicker to us in the mornings. Now she cannot go for a walk without staff and visitors swarming around her to say hi, give her a scratch, or a full-blown cuddle. Even if you’re not a horse person, you can visibly see this once poor old dying horse change to a happy, enthusiastic, kind and loving animal looking forward to each day. The other day a supporter wrote to me, I asked if I could share her words, and she agreed:
''Dear Sylvia Van Atta,
I come weekly if I can with blankets and towels that I am given for your dogs from locals around the estate I live in. I often see your horse staff with children or adults with ponies going for walks. This reminds me of my younger days growing up on our farm, and the horses we had. I love that you allow others to share your animals, especially the horses, that are such wonderful beasts. This time when I came, I met an old horse called Sian. A very sweet lady and a visitor were walking her. I heard the visitor say, "this horse is my sister." I asked her what she meant. She said I have no sister like me, and so Sian’s my sister. This person lives in a special home I believe, I think your horse may have been just the medicine she needs to help her. Thank you for rescuing Sian, as she may have needed rescuing, but I think you may find she may just rescue some herself. Sent with kindness, along the carrots, that of course are for Sian, left on the bench this am. Dorethy.''
These words made me smile. I know the horses help so many, and I know the equine staff don’t get the recognition they deserve. Their job is filled with hard work and love every day, the same with everyone here - with their therapy groups, homeschool groups, schools and homes coming to help, so many, both man and beast. Please feel free if you wish to be a part of this, or you know a child or grandchild, Granny or Grandpa or anyone who would love a special experience with our rescued horses and ponies, just book in or e-mail and come. You could make it a special birthday gift, if you wanted. All this is free, though donations really help.
Lastly I must talk about Orpheus, the gentle hound who was literally saved, days away from death, by an amazing rescue in Cyprus called Sirius, who is under a great strain. Their work saved this dog from death's door. He is a great mixture of loving and a little shy. He would love a VERY special home with a female confident dog that would help him learn about good old home comforts, wonderful humans and all we can offer. He is the dog I would adopt if only I did not have so many. So I am reaching out to you all to help me find him the home he needs. He is truly special.
Well, that’s my week, very busy with complicated highs and lows. I am so grateful we have been blessed to help so many, for every one who gives me strength to carry on, and for Bill, for looking after me whether I am cheerful, or so very often so sad.
Please enjoy this picture of a very smiley pup, reminding you to think of him and all of his rescue friends throughout the week!
Thank you for all your support. Sylvia x
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