The day started with good and bad news. Unfortunately the family who came yesterday hoping that the spaniel was their dog left disappointed. So Pinot (named for the French cyclist, because we are all glued to the Tour de France) is still with us. On the good news front, however, the little York, Daisy found her owner. This was a huge relief, as despite the fact that she was only 6 years old, she had trouble breathing and we certainly didn’t want her to be in the heat of the refuge for too long.
Last night just before closing a tiny little dog arrived having been found in a ditch. Melanie, one of the employees, could not bear to put her in a box, as she is old and nearly blind and mostly deaf. Luckily she was tattooed and with a bit of help from her friends, as they say, dog and owner were reunited. So there is one more dog who avoided a night at the refuge, which is great, bearing in mind the huge thunderstorms we had last night.
As far as thunder and lightning are concerned, my dogs take their lead from Scout, who is head of the pack and who rather strangely likes both storms and fireworks. However my thoughts were very much with the many other dogs, who panic during this type of weather, not least the dogs at the SPA, who have no humans to comfort them.
For those of you who haven’t visited the refuge ever, each “box” consists of a fairly large outside area, which in some cases has a roof (our Houdinis are placed in these enclosures). But each box also has a large inside living area, which is covered on three sides, leaving just a door. This means that the dogs who are scared of thunder and lightning need not even see it, unless they choose to!
That sadly is the best that we can do for them, and I know many of them will be terrified. However when the staff arrive in the morning the dogs realise that another day has dawned, and perhaps this day will be their lucky day, and the next time there is a storm, they may be able to watch it in the comforting arms of a loving owner.
For one dog this will be the case if there are storms tomorrow night, and I just cannot wait to tell you who the lucky boy is! Watch this space!
And thanks to Melanie, this oldie avoided the refuge completely.