Archived Documents 4th Quarter 2009

Update 21 December 2009...

A Personal Message from Angela - I would like to thank those wonderful people out there who have supported Tailends during the past year. It has been a very difficult one as many of you will know, and now I am facing a final personal crisis regarding my health. I would like to reassure everyone that Tailends will go on as it always has, with George and Suzie taking a more prominent role - George with the care of the dogs here and Suzie with the administrative side, including sponsorships and ordering etc. We are quite full at present, but in time, as space permits, we will be taking in elderly abused dogs as we always have. Your kind words and prayers for me at this time have meant so much and helped me cope with and accept those things which I cannot change. I feel privileged to have such wonderful friends. I hope everyone has a peaceful and happy Christmas. I am aware that this time is going to be difficult for so many and I share your need for the strength to come through this and thereby grow in compassion for others, including our non human brothers and sisters who also suffer, through no fault of their own. If every one of us can make a small difference during our lives then there is a point to our existence.

I hope you will feel able to continue supporting Tailends in the future by helping George and Suzie in their work on behalf of these dogs. We cannot take phone calls at present at Tailends unless really urgent and do ask emails should be kept to a minimum or directed to Suzie. Thank you so much. With love, Angela

Tailends Calendars - Our calendar has sold amazingly well this year and seems to be the most popular one ever. We do have a few left though they are going out fast. Please let me know by email if you would like to purchase one or more and we will get them to you as soon as possible.

Thank You - would like to thank Suzie Scott for all she has done since taking over the sponsorship scheme for Tailends and also for the hard work involved in making biscuits and the recipe card packs and posting out the Christmas Stockings and Crackers. All this in addition to her normal tasks of renewals and mailings in connection with the sponsor scheme. I would also like to thank Annie Aitken for her work in making the Christmas Stockings and getting them to Suzie to fill and post out.

Todd - has been giving me cause for concern following his diagnosis of another chest infection. He has just completed his course of antibiotics and seems a little better. I feel that years of living outside with no warmth during harsh winters has taken its toll on this poor lad. He still enjoys little walks and loves his food.

Tweenie - is doing fine in spite of her great age. She sleeps a lot now but still enjoys her walks twice a day. Her mammary tumours do not seem to be growing or to bother her.

Poppy - has had a bit of a cough but the antibiotics have now settled things down. She now has a nice warm coat to wear indoors during day when the weather is colder. She is such a lovely affectionate girl.

Denise - is getting increasingly confused – though she always was a little “strange” though loveable. She does seem to enjoy her life and still goes to the beach each morning but on the second slower walk.

Cindy - continues to amaze everyone with her great exuberance and love for people despite her past experiences and her serious health issues. She is a bouncy happy girl which belies her age of 14 years.

Lizzie - needs more pain relief now to cope with the arthritis in her back and neck. However she seems happy enough and goes off to the beach each morning in great excitement.

Wilfred - seems to be getting a bit confused lately. I have put him on vivitonin which should help with the blood supply to his brain. He is not a winter boy and longs for sunny days when he can have his sun bed back out!

Nancy - is another amazing success story. She has put on weight here and lives life to the full. Her cancer does not seem to be aggressive or affect her in any way. She went up to the vet last week to have some large tumours and uterus removed, but again had to come home again when the vet found that her false pregnancy was not yet completely over. We will try again after Christmas.

Nellie - is such a dear old girl. She cannot walk as far as the beach boys and girls but loves to go for a slower stroll over the fields to see the rabbits twice a day. She is very affectionate and loves a cuddle but is content to curl up in her bed where she sleeps soundly all night.

Evie - is another unassuming but affectionate girl. She is still very playful and spent this morning pulling the recyclable cardboard out of its sack and tearing it up around the garden with Bertie as her accomplice.

Alfonso - has now joined the naughty club of Tailends! He shouts if someone is on his sofa and there is no room for him and when he wants a walk or food. Today he ate a big bowl of Nature Diet for his breakfast and then came back a few minutes later pretending he had not had anything. I told him that he was not a hobbit and we did not do second breakfast here. He thinks the kitchen is a source of lots of goodies so if he waits outside the door in the lounge, he will get given extras.

Mollie - had a glucose curve last week and the results showed that her blood sugar levels are quite stable. She is another amazing old girl who lives life to the full and is not in the least affected by her health problems. She does now go on the second slower beach walk which seems to suit her better.

Bertie - is getting cheekier by the day. He loves Nancy best of all and wants her to play all the time, so when she is tired she just ignores him and then he goes to lie down dreaming up another scheme to get attention. He is not a bad lad though and will settle down when he is told to be good. There is no aggression in him – he just wants to play. He loves tug-of-war and ball games best!

Update 15 December 2009...

Boris - Our cheeky charismatic terrier boy finally lost his battle with kidney disease on Tuesday 8th December 2009. He had finished his last treatment to clean his blood just 10 days earlier but did not seem as well as he had been in the past after the three days on an intra-venous drip. He was eating and going for his walks but his eyes had lost their sparkle and I knew things were not right. He was taken to the vet for a blood test on the 8th and the results were grim. His creatinine level was 520, much higher than it had ever been before. There was nothing to be done and no further treatment available. It seemed cruel to take him back home and call the vet out at a later time so sadly George sat with him as Alison helped him to a peaceful end to his life. He slipped away very quickly and quietly while we are left to grieve for our dear old boy. Life here will never be the same without Boris’ antics. He was a lot of work but he was worth everything. He came here just 16 months ago in a dreadful state – both physically and mentally. He had been so neglected and was left to suffer alone out on the streets and unable to find enough food for himself. We are so grateful to Rochdale Dog Rescue for saving Boris and bringing him to our attention. They do such wonderful work helping these desperate creatures who have nowhere else to turn. Boris was so happy here and loved his walks, food and all the attention which had been sadly lacking from his life in the past.

Fly free Boris wherever you are. I know the angels will care for you now that we can no longer. Maybe you are on the beach here at Croyde, foraging for mussels as you loved to do in life, but now hidden from our sight. You are now free from the bonds of that diseased worn-out old body. We love you very much. Sweet dreams dear Boris.

Update 3 December 2009...

Xmas Deadline - 14 December 2009 There is the threat of more postal strikes and as all our Xmas Crackers Merchandise (stockings, crackers and the DIY Dog Biscuit Recipe Pack) are hand-made to order, would you please place your orders before the deadline above to ensure delivery by Xmas. Sponsoring one of the Tailenders makes a great Xmas gift for your friends and family but could we ask you to get your sponsorship requests to us as soon as possible to ensure these can all be completed and Sponsorship Packs sent out before Xmas. We are happy to gift-wrap merchandise and Sponsorship Packs for free and put a Do Not Open Until Xmas' label on the back of the parcel if you'd like these sent directly to the recipient. Thank you for your co-operation - we just want to ensure that everyone gets the Xmas goodies they want in time for Xmas Day.

Boris - was taken to the vet last Tuesday (24th November) and blood tests revealed very high levels again of urea (33.8) and creatine (451). He was again put on a saline drip for 3 days and this reduced the levels to normal so back home he came on Friday evening. He does not like staying at the vet hospital although he receives lots of loving care there. He even bit through his drip lead twice as he must regard it as a restraining cord. However this treatment does buy him about 6 weeks of normal quality time so we think it is worth doing - though sadly realise it will not be a long term solution. He is now bouncing around on his walks and being his usual naughty self!

Alfonso - We are delighted to say that Alfonso's blood tests were completely normal. The x-rays have shown that the gun shot pellets are surrounded by thickened tissue and my vet advises that they are best left alone as they are not causing any pain or discomfort. He is really enjoying himself here and loves his walks when he gets very excited at the sight of the rabbits. He spent most of yesterday on my bed wrapped in a fleecy blanket but is still trying out all the various beds. Today we can see a bit of sun for a change so hopefully his afternoon walk will be more pleasant than the usual wind and rain.

Nancy - will hopefully be having her surgery (to remove tumours and uterus) in a few weeks time following the delay caused by her false pregnancy. She seems to think Bertie is her puppy and they play and roll around together all the time.

Calendars - We have managed to get a few more calendars printed so if you would like to order please email me asap.

Update 24 November 2009...

Alfonso - was driven to Alicante airport on Friday 20th November by Diane Hughes from Paws Patas who had been caring for him in her home for the two weeks while he awaited his flight to the UK. He was put into the large vari kennel which we had bought for him to travel in. Diane had put a comfortable duvet in the bottom or the kennel and she had put his new PJs on him for the journey. (He had been used to sleeping and travelling in the kennel for a few days and he loved it and felt quite safe and secure in it.)

He landed at 8.45pm and was examined by a vet at the animal reception centre before being handed to Sharon Mackenzie who made him comfortable on a nice duvet in her van for the journey down to the West Country. Sharon stopped at her parents’ home in Dorchester where they had a few hours sleep, food and rest, before setting off for the last stage of the journey to North Devon. Alfonso and Sharon arrived at 9am on Saturday morning (21st November). Alfonso was adored by everyone who met him on his journey and Sharon shed a few tears when it came to saying goodbye. We are so very grateful to Sharon and Denise – not forgetting Valerie Wood who liaised with me throughout Alfonso’s stay at Paws Patas. Alfonso has settled in brilliantly and has already been to the beach (during a short break for the torrential rain and wind). He has been trying out all the beds - including mine - but really prefers the settee to the other options. He was examined by our vet on Tuesday 24th November. Heart and lungs fine and now await blood results.

The vet will examine the x rays which were taken in Spain before any decision is taken on surgery. He has quite severe CDRM which may improve with regular exercise - frequent fairly short walks only. He has very bad arthritis in his right wrist - no movement at all. This may be an old ligament injury. Possibly nothing to be done for that except Previcox. The vet said gun shot pellets which have been there some time just get surrounded by scar tissue and may not cause any problems or pain but again she will need to see x ray to be certain.

Our boy was thrilled to be back home again and rushed in and jumped on my bed. He travelled to the vet in his big box in the van and was quite happy - but may have thought he was going somewhere else, so was relieved to be back here. He really is the most amazing old lad who you could not help falling in love with.

Update 13 November 2009...

Bertie - is doing very well since arriving at Tailends. He is very thin and weighed only 8 Kg when he arrived but he loves his food and today he weighed 9.7Kg. Hopefully he will soon be up to his right weight - which should be around 14Kg. Bertie loves it here and has made Cindy his special friend. He has tried out all the beds, chairs and sofa and seems thrilled with everything. He goes for a little walk twice a day but although he enjoys going out, I think he prefers to be indoors really. We were told that he was known to have been a stray on the streets for years, so it is hardly surprising that he loves his home comforts now. I would like to thank Nina, Caroline, Elaine, Graham and Ronnie for all their help in getting Bertie to Tailends.

Alfonso - is coming over from Spain next Friday night. It has been a long wait and we have had a worrying time recently as we decided that the long journey overland would be too much for him. His X-rays showed that he had three gun shot pellets embedded in his leg and there is quite a bit of swelling and a tumour present. We are so grateful to Valerie and Diane from Paws Patas for all their help and research to enable me to book his flight. Diane has kindly taken him into her home for his last two weeks in Spain so he is now out of his concrete kennel and enjoying some home comforts as the weather becomes colder - particularly at night. Diane took Alfonso to the government vet this week and his passport was stamped, so his papers are now in order for him to travel on 20th November. He had to negotiate shiny floors and a journey in the lift but he was loved by everyone who met him. Diane will take him to Alicante airport and he will arrive at Gatwick after a short flight of about 90 minutes. Sharon Mackenzie will meet him at Gatwick and bring him down to North Devon. I am so grateful to everyone who is helping in any way with Alfonso's journey. We have ordered a giant vari kennel for him to travel in so he should have plenty of room and be as comfortable as possible during his flight. Sharon will then make him nice and cosy for the last part of his journey down to Tailends. Alfonso is quite a frail old lad now but he has improved while staying with Diane and we are hoping that he will have a long and happy retirement with us. We will take our vet's advice as to future management of his health issues. We would also like to thank Alison Blair, Diane, Catherine and Jeanette for their help and support for Alfonso.

Mollie - went to the vet last Thursday for a dental. We are glad to report that she coped with the anaesthetic very well in spite of her diabetes, and came home the same night, having had seven teeth extracted. This did not prevent her tucking into her dinner that evening and she has made a complete recovery since. Mollie will have another glucose curve done in December though she does seem remarkably stable and happy.

Cindy - was taken to the vet last week when she was observed to be continually licking her abdomen and a slight discharge was noticed. She had been running on the beach that morning and showed no sign of illness. However she was scanned and found to have a pyometria. She was put on a drip and operated on the following day to remove the infected uterus. She has been amazingly well throughout and has been happy and relaxed since coming home. She really is a remarkable girl in spite of the cancer and the presence of a number of tumours in addition to those which have been removed. She was x rayed prior to surgery and thankfully it has not spread to her lungs. Cindy is determined to enjoy every minute of her life whatever her health problems might be.

Lizzie - has gone to the vet today (Thursday 12th November) for a dental. She does suffer from very bad teeth as do so many greyhounds. It is only six months since she last had them done but again they need attention. Her blood will also be checked again to ensure there is no recurrence of the kidney failure which she had on arrival at Tailends just over a year ago.

Tweenie - has now recovered from a period of disorientation when I feared that she might be deteriorating - especially in view of her great age. She is now completely back to normal and feisty as ever, in spite of being blind and deaf. She sniffs the air to find out what is going on and confidently feels her way around. She still loves her walks and has no sign of arthritis or mobility problems.

Update 5 November 2009...

Bertie - is a dear old terrier boy who is coming here in the next few days when we can arrange transport. He was picked up from the streets by a dog warden a few weeks ago in the northeast and had apparently been known to have been a stray for several years. We arranged for him to be x rayed and this showed that the poor chap has been in an accident some time ago and suffered a broken pelvis which was apparently not treated. He also has cruciate problems which we will get our vet to review to see if anything can be done for him. He is however a happy soul and just wants some love and care. He is very thin and has obviously been very neglected. We would like to thank Nina and Caroline for all they have done to help this little boy.

Alfonso - has become very frail over the last few weeks and we now think he should not travel the long distance from Almeria by road. We are now trying to arrange for him to be brought over by air but sadly he cannot travel until his papers are in order which will not be until 19th November so we have to wait a bit longer. A lump has come up on his leg and we have arranged for him to have an x ray today. Please keep this poor old chap in your thoughts as he has waited so long for a home of his own and we are desperate to get him here and give him all the comforts and love which he deserves. We do not yet know which airport he will be coming into but hope it can be Bristol or Exeter though this will depend on the Defra rules. Apparently few airlines will carry dogs and only a small number of airports can process pet passports.

Cindy - has gone up to the vet for an ultra-sound scan today (Tuesday 3rd Nov). She has been fine but licking her rear end which was obviously irritating her. The vet fears she may have an infection in the uterus so we are now waiting for news......... Cindy has been doing so well here since she arrived in July 2008 with malignant tumours and a very poor outlook. I hope her strong character and love of life will give her the strength to conquer this latest set back.

Denise - had to go to the vet last Thursday when she damaged her left hind leg jumping off the dunes onto the beach and was unable to walk. She also has damage to the lower back. She has not been allowed any exercise since then and has had strong pain relief. Denise is making excellent progress and hopefully if she is sensible she will be able to go to the beach again soon - but hopefully she will be a little more careful in future.

Boris - is doing very well. It is now four weeks since he last needed his blood cleaned by spending 3 days at the hospital on a drip but at present he is not showing any sign of the kidney failure which he suffers from. He is eating his special diet food and is just as naughty as ever - demanding to go out in the sun lounge all the time and having his apples (which have to be Coxs as he spits out the cheaper french ones) or pulling his nappies off and ripping the pads to shreds all over the room! He will need further treatment to keep his blood clean, but hopefully not for a few more weeks.

Wilfred - has made a good recovery since he spent time recently at the vets having strong pain relief. However he is often reluctant to go for his morning walks and is now showing more signs of his age. Also he cannot lie outside on his sunbed as he likes due to the colder weather and rain. He spends much of his time curled up in his armchair but seems happy enough and goes for an afternoon stroll around the fields.

Update 27 October 2009...

Judy - I am so very sorry to have to write to tell you that our dear old Judy fell asleep forever on Saturday 24th October 2009. She had recovered very well from the surgery to remove a back molar tooth where an abscess had developed requiring urgent attention. However she had begun to struggle with her mobility towards the end of last week and was unable to go through the back gate onto the footpath so just went outside to answer the call of nature. She was drinking excessive volumes of water and then, on Friday, she refused to eat. This was very unusual for her as she generally loved her food, like all Labradors. I gave her some spam, which she seemed to be able to eat, but by Saturday morning she refused all food and her eyes told me that she had had enough and now needed help to leave her old worn-out body. So I telephoned my vet and Harriet kindly came out to help her. She went so quickly and without any fuss or movement. I watched as her eyes closed for the last time while I gently stroked her head to reassure her. She was ready to go and passed away so peacefully as she lay, in her own home and lying on her favourite memory bed surrounded by her friends who all lay quietly as she left. Judy had such a big personality and is missed by everyone. Every morning she would go into the front garden after her breakfast and wait for the postman to arrive with biscuits in his pocket. Her squeaky toys lie silent next to her favourite tiny low fat treats. Judy had been at Tailends for 21/2 years and had become a real character - so different from the depressed overweight neglected old girl who arrived here from a Yorkshire dog pound in April 2007.

We are so glad we shared your last months and gave you some happiness and comfort. How you enjoyed going for trips in the van to accompany other dogs when they went to the vet, where there might even be a donkey in the fields waiting for treatment. (Judy loved donkeys and liked to lick their faces.) I know Gloria will be waiting to show you the way and now you will be having long chats with dear Jack and all the other souls you knew here. I am sure we will all be together again one day. Until then, run free with the others in the buttercup meadows where the warm sun always shines.

Update 21 October 2009...

Bargains from the TRPD Project Raising Money for Rescues.

The TRPD Project need to try and reduce their amount of stock, materials etc., before they move their storage to a new location so are going to be auctioning loads off on the forum. Some sighthound coats are currently receiving bids for as little as £2 - £5 and including the ones with closed fronts and high collars, which is much less than the materials cost to buy!!! Do take a look if you are thinking of treating your own dog or indeed any Tailends residents for Christmas. TRPD do some wonderful work in helping the smaller rescues so do try to support them if you can - and get a bargain in the process. Their items are beautifully made and we can highly recommmend them.

Update 18 October 2009...

Boris - was put on a drip last week to clean his blood again. Unfortunately he also became infected with a tummy bug, which did not help, but thankfully he is now completely recovered and enjoying his walks again. He is eating his special K/D diet food and also has an apple each day instead of treats, which could be harmful in his condition. He is always ready to come home after three days at the veterinary hospital - though he gets excellent care while he is there.

Lizzie - is much better and completely back to normal. I will continue to monitor her but there is currently no cause for concern. She is sleeping better during the night and is enjoying her food again.

Judy - gave us concern last week when her face suddenly swelled up so that she resembled a bull terrier rather than a labrador! The vet found that she had broken one of her back molars and there was an abscess deep in the roots of the tooth. She was put on a course of antibiotics but the following day the abscess burst through her cheek so surgery was inevitable. This was quite worrying for such an old frail girl - even one with such character as Judy - but in the event she was fine and was able to come home that evening. She only needed a tiny amount of anaesthetic (less than for a small Jack Russell) and went very flat with the pre med. Happily she is back to normal and eating normally. She is a bit more reluctant to go out in the van now as she is suspicious she will be taken into the vet again instead of just accompanying others.

Nancy - had her chest x-rayed again last week. The good news is that there is considerable improvement in the appearance of her lungs. The cancer has not gone but it looks much better than in August. Our vet is now prepared to remove the large mammary tumour. I have decided not to get her spayed but to use delvosteron injections to prevent seasons. The cancer has already spread from the primary tumour but it may prevent further problems if it is removed while this is still possible. I am very optimistic about Nancy's progress. She is now capable of going to the beach every day for a good hours walk. She has put on nearly 10 kg and is so much stronger and healthier than when she arrived here.

Nellie - is great friends with Nancy and they are virtually inseparable - going for walks together and sharing the bed or sofa. The have become known here as "The Manchester Two". They both go to the beach each morning with Poppy and are thrilled with everything they see. It is lovely to see them enjoying life together after all they have been through in the past.

Evie - continues to do well here. She is still a bit nervous with people she does not know and runs away if any strange dog shows aggression or is boisterous when she is out. Thankfully she is totally confident here and gets on very well with all the other dogs as she knows they will not harm her.

Autumn Newsletters - are being sent out over the next few days in an effort to get them delivered before the threatened postal strike. We are also sending out the new sponsorship pack and the merchandise sheet with the new Christmas items on the reverse of the sheet. We have Christmas cards, Calendars, Doggie Christmas Crackers, Doggie Christmas Stockings and the smart Recipe Pack for Doggie Treats. If you have not received the newsletter within the next few days, please email me and I can either email the PDF to you (though it is quite bulky with lots of photos) or put one in the post if you prefer.

Alfonso - will be on his way in just a few weeks now. We have asked Al at the TRPD project to send him one of her lovely warm weatherproof outdoor coats and a cosy kennel coat so that he will be kept nice and warm for his journey. More details as soon as we have them.

Sponsored Paraglide - I am delighted to report that we have found a noble volunteer for this event which will take place next Spring. Stephanie Blake has kindly agreed to make the trip and details of sponsorship will be available in due course.

Update 4 October 2009...

Wham Show - September 27th 2009. Well it was a lovely sunny day at Hylands Park for the WHAM Dog Show and there were lots of people there as well as 17 other stalls many of which were for animal charities.

The atmosphere was what one would expect with everyone having a smile on their face. However we met supporters of Tailends and others who were interested in learning what Tailends set out to do and I wouldn't say the smiles disappeared completely but as we all know discussing elderly dogs and those with illnesses is a serious matter, many not getting the attention they deserve. It was Hazel and myself's first attempt at running a stall which although we'd prepared ourselves as much as we could we still learnt some lessons. The best part from our point of view was chatting to people and passing out information and picking up on other charities' aims.

The number of greyhounds at the show was about 40% of the total so we met many hounds and ours met many other greys and people. We left our 16 year old lurcher at home as it promised to be very warm, Sophie (11) who recently had some of her lower jaw removed spent the day in the back of the car, the other three in the fishing shelter... sorry Dog Shelter. Leo (6) our other lurcher had to get in the photo of course whilst Wes (11) and Jacko (11) made good use of the shade in the shelter.

From the photo it looks as though we were alone in a field with Hazel keeping an eye on the stall with Leo looking on but we were on an outside corner with all the activities in front.

I'd like to thank those who helped with advice and those that supplied goods for sale; Alison and Bernard, Annie Aitkin, Alison Blair, Suzie of K9Cookies, Judy Zatonski and Natalie, if I've forgotten anyone I do apologise, it's age you know.

Best Wishes Frank & the Gang
Advocating Retired Greyhounds as Companion Dogs

A Big Thank You to Frank and Hazel Brown for giving up so much of their time to organise and run the Tailends stall for us at the popular Wham Show this year. We were delighted with the £120 raised for treatment for our oldies. We are so pleased that the weather was good after the continual rain in August.

Boris - went to the vet for a further blood test on 2nd October, four weeks after having his blood cleaned through three days on an intravenous drip. Urea and creatine levels were raised again but not as high as before. However the vet feels that he should have this treatment again next week as it was so successful last time. He has been just as naughty and full of beans as before and eating his strict K/D diet food which most dogs find very boring without any variety. So long as Boris is happy and going for his walks etc., we will continue the treatment every few weeks.

Lizzie - has been giving me cause for concern over the last couple of days. She is not eating properly and is a bit lethargic - though still goes for her walks twice a day. In view of her previous kidney problems I will get her blood tested this week. A blood test in April was completely normal. She is such a sweet affectionate girl and has bonded very closely with me. I do hope there is nothing seriously wrong but I do need to find out.

Cindy - went to the vet this week after coughing during the night and vomiting. Fortunately there is no sign that this is due to her cancer but she has been put on a course of antibiotics for a chest infection for a week. If there is no improvement she will be x-rayed but she does seem a lot better today.

Nancy - went to see the vet again on 2nd October, two months after coming to Tailends. The vet was delighted with the improvement in her condition. She now weighs 26.55kg. We had her weighed last at the end of July when she was 23.3kg. We were told that she weighed just 17kg in the dog pound when she arrived! Her coat shines and she is happy and full of life. The vet examined her eyes which were affected by sclerosis and eyelid problems when she last saw the vet. Miraculously there is 100% improvement in these conditions and she no longer needs any surgery to her eyes. She is booked in for another x-ray on each lung on October 14th. IF there is no sign of the previous cancer (and it is a big IF) she will then have the tumour removed and also will be spayed. However if there is any sign at all of the previous tumours she will just be allowed to live out the rest of her life here with every comfort that she currently enjoys so much..

Denise - is fine again now after treatment for an abscess on her right eye.

 

Please note: All previous news items, are to be found on the Archive pages.