NWESSR

Hello
Thought it was time to let you know how Buster is doing he was re-homed with me in May 2009. He has a lot of problems exhibited by his lack of fur. After many examinations by various vets they are still no wiser as to what it is and how to cure him. When I first met him he was a sorry sight with very little fur and many spots and ulcers. I am now pleased to report that his fur is growing albeit very slowly and his spots are less although he still has a major problem with them. He has very strange nail growth so they need cutting once a month which he is not happy about.

He was a very nervous and wary dog with lots of teeth baring, showing and snapping and despite being my constant shadow it wasn't until December that I first saw a tail wag, now it rarely stops.

He was very nervous of other dogs and with good reason as he was regularly attacked, only by female dogs but to the point that he was bitten twice and I was bitten once by a ridgeback as I threw myself on top of him to protect him. His two good friends are huge mastiffs that no other dogs can even approach...i think he was just looking for minders!

The attacks have stopped now and he plays with the occasional dog still staying away from the crowd, he prefers humans and Otis and Sasso who he picks on mercilessly. He came to me at a difficult time since a week after he arrived my mums illness was declared terminal and I then spent the next month caring for her with an ever patient Buster at my side to cuddle.

Buster is a wonderful boy, he is out 3 times a day on the local meadows and is my shadow the rest of the time. He is well behaved except for his obsession with my underwear oh and the lovely habit of eating poo. He's had a few beach holidays and although he doesn't like to swim he fell in the North sea chasing a seagull and seemed none the worse despite my panic. He chases birds regularly, only once managing to get close to a pheasant, my screams took his eye off the game and the lucky bird ended up only minus its tail feathers, the rabbit he and my brothers dog chased wasn't so fortunate sadly. Luckily in Chorlton the squirrels are far too clever for him.

The cold winter was a bit of a problem, he had to have jumpers, difficult for a dog his size and so not to rub his skin but after much trial and error and embarrassment on his part we cracked it, he now has an extensive designer wardrobe. He was also so cold each morning i relented and let him sleep with me, he hasn't yet accepted that springtime means return to his basket!

He has a great social life, he is famous where we live and constantly stopped and fussed by people questioning his odd looks or seeking progress reports, he certainly makes the most of the sympathy vote! He even gets a free Danish pastry every Saturday when we stop for coffee on our long walk around the lake. Mind you the vendor is getting less impressed as Otis the beagle has stolen his own from the coffee cart twice now!
He spends each Sunday watching my son play football in his adapted jumper of their team colours, indeed he likes to kick a ball around himself. He is also a regular at our local dog friendly pub with his friend Otis each Friday evening when they share a burger over a bottle of chianti! So all in all i can report, despite his problems, that he is a very happy boy, he is adored and from his photo i strongly suspect he knows it. I also apologize for any spelling mistakes in this letter as he is currently stretched across the keyboard!
Lorraine, Dom and Buster ( aka buzz, buzzy bee, buster rhymes and smelly!)

[Webmaster- If you notice any *extra* spelling mistakes its because Tess (a Rescue) is stretching across my keyboard ;)   ps Your email address does not exist/work]

Dear All,
 
Its just over one year now since Denver joined our family - like I've mentioned before he really is truly remarkable, not a day goes by where he doesn't amaze us. Despite being blind he remains in very good health, although we recently had a little hiccup regarding his right eye, and have just returned from the vets.
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One tea time we noticed his eye was causing him some discomfort- approximately 4 weeks ago now, as he was trying to close it all the time. We managed to get him in at the vets, when we told them his symptoms they stayed open for us. Fortunately for us one of the vets where we take him specialises in
Opthalmy, so we see her each time he needs to go. It was discovered that he has developed Glaucoma  just in one eye and the pressure that evening was dangerously high, if we hadn't taken him when we did , the story may have been very different the next day ! The pressure measured 66 ! - it is preferred to be under 20, his good eye was 15. He was in a lot of pain, so we came away with various drops and painkillers. We now have the pressure under control and the vet reassures us he wont be in pain. However today it measured 22, a little higher than normal, so we have some steroid drops also now as it appears  inflamed. He's getting used to having his drops in now, just sits as good as gold waiting, same at the vets, lets her prod and poke about without any aggression whatsoever. The vet has said as long as we're happy to keep administering the drops etc and his pressure stays low, then he should not need his eye removing - which is what we are hoping. Should there come a stage where we can't control any pain, then we may have to consider that option. So fingers crossed for him !
 
Despite all this he's his lively self, enjoying his walks, and freedom they provide as, he can run free , where we take him - his obedience being second to none!! He carry's a plastic bottle on his walk now - one of his  favourite toys- won't entertain any of the more expensive ones  when it comes to walks. This is what he likes to chase about and retrieve constantly whilst out and about!
 
At home we allow him to go where he feels he wants to, which maybe on the rug in the lounge soaking up the sun as it shines through the window, or if he wants a longer snooze, he takes himself up to bed - our bed to be precise!! which we don't mind at all, he loves it. When its night time though he know the difference and doesn't even venture up stairs, he stays down stairs all  night. When one of us get up the next morning, he has his little routine of  joining who ever is still in bed!!!
 
Denver and Cassie (our other dog, 15years now) still get on famously, she sleeps most of the time now as she suffers with arthritis. Occasionally she tries to compete and have a little run about, then retires to her bed pretty quickly as he continues!
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He is very much into times and routines, I think we could set our clock by him for a lot of things. At ten past 8 on a school day our youngest daughter - pictured with Denver - sets off to school with friends. When they call for her, they all make a fuss of our dogs, and Denver laps it up. So at 8am he's at the  front door crying waiting to see his friends, before they've even come down the street, then as soon as he's had his fuss, he's off to have his breakfast. It's funny because on a weekend he doesn't wait at the
front door at all ! The school she goes to all know of Denver- as they all had to do a presentation on something they were interested in and could stand and talk about for 5-10 mins to the whole class. Megan chose Denver, handing out photos, telling them all about NWESSR, about his blindness and how well he copes, which they all seemed very impressed by. Megan was very proud!
 
We are all extremely proud of him and how well he copes, we don't see him as blind anymore, just a very special, loving, loyal and affectionate dog enjoying life to the full and we are enjoying sharing it with him! We could not  imagine our family without him.
 
I've attached a couple of photo's, please feel free to use them as you please.
 
LOVE TO YOU ALL
 
Janet , Paul , Family - and of course Denver xxxxxx

Hi NWESSR

Rooney has settled in well, you would think he's been here for years. All four of us absolutely adore him, he has 3 to 4 long walks a day, plays ball in the garden at various times of the day. We've now found 14 tennis balls in our garden that we never knew we had.

We sometimes hide them around the garden for Rooney to find the next day. He loves to play. He even manages to get grandad to play ball, hes a real tonic. We've been away twice and Rooney loves our holiday home, the minute we get to the beach he heads straight to the water. He loves swimming and fetching a toy back to shore. He would stay there all day if he could, a quick shower when he gets back on the verranda, some arden grange, and he's becoming quite a regular in the beer garden. Rooney loves going in the car and he is travelling well, he has had no problems getting on with the 5 guinea pigs but he gives the parrot a wide birth.

He came into our lives at a very sad time and has given us all so much joy. He's having his first hair cut on Tuesday that will spruce him up, that is until he spots the sea again on friday. We all love his wagging tail when he see's you, in a morning or if you've been out. He loves the garden in among the trees or playing on the lawn and he knows his own way when we go to the woods everyday. Please give a big thank you to Rooneys family that gave him up for us to have and thus allowing us to be apart of this very special dogs life. Will try to send pictures, we have loads and will keep in touch.

Thanks, Thomas Powell

Here are some pics of Benny (the Bomb!) who we took on last month. Pictures of Benny; the day he was collected and in the Forest of Dean. As you can see, he does relax sometimes too and enjoys a good book!   Andrew Simpson, Simpson Ready Foods Ltd

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Since Breck was recently rehomed we've had some photos through - he seems to be settling in well with his new friend Dobbie (seen here in the Snow of 2009) The two of them have also had a nice Haircut :) 

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