Laura and her mum went over to Huyton today to visit Amy, the dog they sponsor. On the way they stopped at the pet store and bought her a couple of tennis balls and a big, roasted marrow bone.
There are only 2 sponsor dogs at the Huyton kennels, Amy and Zak. The other dogs in the place are to be rehomed but with Amy and Zak it's not possible because of their temperaments. Both, it seems likely, have been ill-treated in the past and both can be snappy but the Dog's Trust won't put a healthy animal to sleep.
Amy was in her cage, which is a run outside her very comfortable kennel. There was a sign on the cage saying, "Do not put your hand inside this cage". Of course, Laura's mum didn't see the sign until after she'dput her hand in to stroke Amy and been nipped for her trouble. That out of the way, Amy wagged her tail and barked with delight when she was given the tennis balls.
She's a "difficult" dog, only 3 of the people who work at the kennels can deal with her. There were 4 but, for reasons known only to herself, Amy suddenly took against the 4th one and went for her. It makes you wonder what went on in her previous life to make her that way because dogs aren't born bad-tempered. Laura loved her, none the less, and was gratified that Amy settled down to chew, contentedly, on her marrow bone.
The rest of the dogs in the "home" were, by all accounts, delightful and loving. One had a sign on it's cage which read,
"I am 14. If you're still reading this - congratulations - most people move on when they see my age. I need a home, just somewhere I can live out my last few years and be loved".
Needless to say, my daughter was sorely tempted but as we only went through the trauma of losing our beloved 16 year old Jet last year she restrained herself.
One young dog, named Kenzie, was there because his mistress is ill with terminal cancer and the family won't take him in. Laura and her mum both fell in love with him but they reckon it won't be too long before he's homed.
It won't be long before they go for a second visit with more tennis balls and bones for Amy and, next time, with lots of chewy treats for the other dogs. I think I'll go, too, next time.
There are only 2 sponsor dogs at the Huyton kennels, Amy and Zak. The other dogs in the place are to be rehomed but with Amy and Zak it's not possible because of their temperaments. Both, it seems likely, have been ill-treated in the past and both can be snappy but the Dog's Trust won't put a healthy animal to sleep.
Amy was in her cage, which is a run outside her very comfortable kennel. There was a sign on the cage saying, "Do not put your hand inside this cage". Of course, Laura's mum didn't see the sign until after she'dput her hand in to stroke Amy and been nipped for her trouble. That out of the way, Amy wagged her tail and barked with delight when she was given the tennis balls.
She's a "difficult" dog, only 3 of the people who work at the kennels can deal with her. There were 4 but, for reasons known only to herself, Amy suddenly took against the 4th one and went for her. It makes you wonder what went on in her previous life to make her that way because dogs aren't born bad-tempered. Laura loved her, none the less, and was gratified that Amy settled down to chew, contentedly, on her marrow bone.
The rest of the dogs in the "home" were, by all accounts, delightful and loving. One had a sign on it's cage which read,
"I am 14. If you're still reading this - congratulations - most people move on when they see my age. I need a home, just somewhere I can live out my last few years and be loved".
Needless to say, my daughter was sorely tempted but as we only went through the trauma of losing our beloved 16 year old Jet last year she restrained herself.
One young dog, named Kenzie, was there because his mistress is ill with terminal cancer and the family won't take him in. Laura and her mum both fell in love with him but they reckon it won't be too long before he's homed.
It won't be long before they go for a second visit with more tennis balls and bones for Amy and, next time, with lots of chewy treats for the other dogs. I think I'll go, too, next time.