Sally's Story...

Sally was the first dog we took in through an appeal on the Internet. Just before Christmas 1999, we received a request for help regarding a farming family who were being evicted in Anglesey. They had four dogs who were due to be destroyed the following week, as the family could not take them to their new temporary accommodation. We managed to find homes for the other dogs but nobody wanted the 13yr old Jack Russell bitch. Some people are reluctant to take on this breed because of its reputation for aggression and tenacity. It is also quite difficult to find a home for an older dog. People are sometimes wary of potential veterinary costs. They are also hesitant to take on a dog for what may be a short time - followed by inevitable grief and heartache. This attitude, though understandable, does nothing to help older dogs find a home when they really need a chance. They are usually so grateful to their new friends and are desperate to do the right thing. They may suffer with arthritis or other diseases of old age just like us but there are no guarantees with a dog of any age that health problems will not arise. Dogs can live until eighteen or even into their twenties and an older dog can make such a wonderful companion.

I spent many hours ringing rescues all along the M4 corridor and surrounding area trying to find someone to take Sally. The only firm offer I had was from someone who offered her a place in their kennels for her remaining days. I did not want this for Sally.
I already had our maximum (?) number of older dogs and was not keen to take another because the situation could easily become unmanageable if we took on too many, especially with the costs involved in looking after them all properly.

However, as all else had failed and time was running out I decided to take Sally and then try to find a good home for her later.

Sally was brought from Anglesey by a number of kind people who each drove her part of the way. A friend of mine drove to collect her from a lady who had driven from Birmingham bringing Sally and another younger dog who had been found a home in East Anglia.

Sally was such a delightful girl and settled in straight away. She had never been spayed and it was apparent that she had had puppies in recent months despite her 13 years. She immediately began to mother a little old Jack Russell who had been rescued at the Stow-on-the-Wold horse fair some years previously. They bonded like mother and daughter.

We took Sally over to the CHAT clinic, which I assist by doing a rehoming list for them on a monthly basis. The vet there said Sally had a growth and would need an operation. This was done with no ill effects and she was spayed at the same time.

Over the next year, we became extremely fond of little Sally. She was such a loveable and sensible girl. She could often be seen looking after the larger old dogs and cleaning them as if they were all her puppies. She loved everyone and never wanted to chase cats or have any aggression towards anything. At night she would climb up into our bed and snuggle up to George to whom she had a very special affinity.

She came with us to Croyde during April and October 2000 and it was then that we realised how much she loved and missed her Anglesay beach. She would climb up onto the rocks and paddle happily in the pools watching the crabs moving through the water. She would delight in digging big holes in the sand or playing with one of her balls. It was about this time when we made the decision to move to the area that we had come to know so well over the previous 17 years. Sadly one of Sally’s greatest friends, Billy – a golden retriever cross collie aged 15 years was not to make the journey with us. He became very ill following a series of severe fits and died peacefully in January 2001.

On April 12th 2001 we all moved down to Croyde to live in a bungalow near the dunes which we thought would be ideal as a retirement home for both us and the elderly canine friends which we take. Sally was accompanied by her friends Sugarlump (Jack Russell), greyhounds Danny and Phoebe, Amy an elderly Springer Spaniel and our brain damaged Labrador cross girl - Poppy.

Tragedy struck just one month later when we lost our beloved Phoebe. She died so cruelly while having an anaesthetic for dental treatment. We were devastated by the shock of this loss.

Sally enjoyed her months living near the sea and being able to play on the beach every day. Sadly time was also running out for our dear old lady though we had no idea how soon the blow would fall.

One Saturday in July, we took the dogs over to Woolacombe beach. Sally suddenly seemed unwell and reluctant to go down the path through the dunes to the beach. We rushed her straight to the vet where she was examined and given antibiotics. She continued to be unwell and when there was no improvement on Monday, we returned to the vet where we left her so that X-rays and tests could be carried out. We were informed on Monday evening of a mass on her liver. We decided that we both wanted Sally to have the operation to try to remove this tumour. We knew there would be a great risk but felt that we had nothing to lose, as if we did not act she would die anyway. Fate was to take that decision away from us as by Tuesday morning Sally had deteriorated to the extent where she could not even lift her head. We had no choice but to do the right thing for Sally. With heavy hearts we drove to the vet where she was being cared for and said goodbye to our darling girl. George could not stay in the room when her life had ebbed away. He was very distressed. She was his special little girl who always looked for him and sat on his knee.

We have built a rockery in the garden adjacent to the dunes area. We were building it when Sally became ill. She had lain in the sun watching us working on it. We have now called it the Sally Bank in memory of a really special girl who will never be forgotten no matter how many old dogs we take into our care.