Tonight I left the refuge in tears for the first time in a long time. They were not tears of joy either (although our last dog adoption seems so long ago that I have forgotten that feeling in any case). These were tears of frustration; frustration and sadness. Frustration at the selfishness and stupidity of some people, and sadness at the state of the world and man’s relationship with the animals he shares it with.
First up was the abandonment of Tayson. He had been adopted on June 21st after over a year in the refuge. Photos of him followed, gaily posted onto our Facebook page, Tayson at the beach, wearing sunglasses, “best dog in the world” etc etc. Then a phone call on Saturday telling us that he had become over-protective with his mistress, and our strategies for coping with this seemed a bit like hard work, so back he came. They gave us his documents and we were shocked to see that their vet had put this lovely dog on Prozac. Maybe it is just as well he is back in that case, but the look of bewilderment on his face was clear. He was just being a dog. What should he do differently next time?
Next came a phone call from a well-wisher. Had we sanctioned the dodgy-looking calendars that were on sale at La Cite, Carcassonne’s most famous tourist attraction. The answer was no, and so the police went to arrest the people, who were swindling the public.
I won’t go into what is going on politically/financially, as the story has only just begun, but all I can say if that if you think we are taking this lying down, you better think again. And no, I am not talking about the calendars here! That is chicken feed in comparison to what I am referring to.
And to end a perfect afternoon, the SPA was once again treated as a dustbin by someone who had had an unwanted litter and who simply couldn’t keep the puppies due to their child’s allergy to dogs. Yeah, pull the other one, it has got bells on it.
I don’t know where to go from here. I am going to concentrate on organising a dog delivery that I am making next week (hopefully with a friend) and see if that distracts me from the misery that seems to surround me and the SPA right now.
Tayson. “But what did I do wrong?”
I can understand how upset you can get over these terrible things! But, please take heart that without people like you and others with the same caring attitude towards dogs like Tyson, their lives and futures would be so much worse! Thank you for all that you do for all poor dogs that are in your care because without people like you they wouldnt have a future!
I am so sad for you and for the frustration you must feel. I feel it so much too when I see beautiful dogs like Tyson cast aside like yesterdays broken toys. Without you how much worse would it be. Without people like you fighting their corner they would have nothing and nobody. You are the people on the front line in this, the only ones who can make a difference. And believe me you do.
XXX