Tarn - Arrived @ Tailends 21st January 2006

Tarn arrived at Tailends on Saturday 21st January 2006, brought by Mandy of Northants Greyhound rescue. He was very bewildered after his journey from Northampton to Croyde and was at first alarmed by the presence of the other dogs. He had been through so much before arriving here and must have wondered what was going to happen to him next. I put him in a bedroom on his own to have a sleep and recuperate after the long car journey. After a few hours he was much happier and keen to have something to eat and then look around his new home. We understand that he lived in the northeast and had been left in a house for eight weeks when his owner was served with an injunction preventing him from returning. It was a very worrying situation although someone went every day with food for him and another dog also left in the house. Eventually he was signed over into rescue and was fostered until arrangements could be made for him to be brought here.

Tarn was examined by our vet soon after arrival. He was suffering from muscle wastage and nerve damage in the back legs. However his heart and teeth were in a good condition. Tarn has suffered spinal damage at some stage in his past life. This seriously affects his mobility and there is substantial loss of feeling in his back legs. We also noticed a swelling between his toes on the front right foot. We put a dressing on to prevent further chafing as he walked. However the toe continued to swell very quickly and our vet thought that x-rays should be done to find out what was going on. The results were inconclusive and it was decided to go ahead and remove the toe as it was not responding to any treatment and there could well be a bone tumour causing the problem. Then followed a long three weeks while we waited for the results of the biopsy on the toe.

Poor Tarn desperately wanted to lick and bite at the wound left by the removal of his toe. However we could not allow this as it could become infected although he was having a course of antibiotics.

We used dressings for a few days and then improvised with socks and especially little boots made in waterproof material by Judy. Eventually the foot was almost healed and Tarn had lost interest in licking it. We could then leave it open to finish healing. The call eventually came to say that the toe showed no sign of malignancy and the problems had been caused by a longstanding infection in the foot. It was such a relief. Poor Tarn had been through so much, but now at last we could look to his future with optimism.

Tarn is now fully adjusted to his new routine. He sleeps very well during the night and only wakes when I call him from his slumbers on the sofa for his first walk of the day. He cannot get to the door quick enough as he loves his walks. Tarn is fascinated by the presence of so many rabbits here. They play in the fields around the house and also come into the garden seeking out tasty plants from the rockery.

He cannot walk very far and needs to stop frequently (when he can watch the rabbits and have a rest) so has to be walked alone. The first walk is for the fitter ones who can cope with the walk through the dunes to the beach. Then Bluebell and Arfa (the two more senile folk) go out together for their leisurely stroll and sniff along the lanes and hedgerows.

Tarn’s walk is next! He can actually run though you would never think it to look at his legs. The sight of a rabbit sitting in his path makes him forget about his limited mobility and off he goes! He also likes to stick his head down the large rabbit and fox holes calling to the occupants to come out and play. Tarn is the most sociable boy you could ever find. He loves everyone including older people, children and other dogs - big or small. He cannot understand why everyone is not as friendly as he is. He just loves to say hello in a very civilised way. He stares in disbelief at dogs who bark or growl at him but he would never respond with anything other than good humour.

Tarn likes his food. He eats up his breakfast (which I place on a towel to cut down on the spillage mess) and then he neatly folds the towel around the bowl in a neat little parcel for me to collect. He is such a tidy, good mannered chap. (I cannot imagine any of the others being so thoughtful. Usually the food ends up everywhere – not their faults really, as when they have few or no teeth, eating can be a very messy business.)
Tarn has really made himself at home here now and will sometimes lie in the conservatory with Poppy and on other occasions lies in the hall watching through the open front door in case he sees any of the wildlife which is abundant here. Tarn knows that after his afternoon walk he has his dinner and then he gets up onto the sofa and makes himself comfortable with his legs sticking up in the air. Then he drifts off into dreamland for a few hours until it is time to go out for the last time before bed.

Tarn’s coat was rough and coarse when he arrived here. Now, after a few months of daily vitamins and fish oil capsules, his coat is very different and is starting to feel soft and silky. It no longer stands up in an unruly tangle of hair. He has also put on weight and his muscles are in much better condition. He is a happy relaxed boy who enjoys his life. His favourite treats are tripe sticks and hide chews. He has a good set of teeth, unlike the greyhounds, so can really enjoy the benefits of a good gnawing session.

We really hope that Tarn will be at Tailends for years to come. He is now in his twelfth year and apart from the spinal injuries, he is otherwise in remarkably good health. We give him Previcox to ensure that he does not suffer from any pain in his back or legs which would prevent him from enjoying his life to the full.

Sadly Updated 3 December 2006...

My big gentle lurcher boy has left us, and everyone at Tailends is grieving for this affectionate, friendly dog. He loved everyone - both humans and other dogs. The highlight of his walks would be a meeting with anyone who would say hello to him. His cheerful nature had so much to teach us about overcoming adversity and making the most of life - enjoying every minute and not ever feeling sorry for himself. He had a poor deal in his past, having suffered considerable spinal damage leaving him unable to enjoy runs and games in the fields which I am sure he would have loved. However he was always cheerful and came in the car whenever anyone was going to the vet and always greeted everyone who visited with an endlessly waggy tail and cuddles and kisses. He even got on with our poor disturbed Poppy dog. He loved the sofa and spent all his spare time lying upside down with his head on a cushion and his four legs sticking up into the air. He would gaze in astonishment at the rabbits which played on the path in front of him or even came into his garden right before his eyes.

On 22nd November I took Tarn to the vet as he was wheezy and seemed to be breathless particularly during the evening. He was given antibiotics and the vet said that his heart was very enlarged. He was already on vetmedin so if he did not improve we planned to take him back for x-rays. He did not get better but lost his appetite despite me trying to tempt him with everything I could think of. He had blood tests which showed early kidney failure but still did not account for the changes which I was observing in his condition. I took him to the veterinary hospital on Friday December 1st for x-rays and more thorough examinations. At about 2pm I had the call that I dreaded but had not really expected. Tarn's x-ray had revealed that there was blood in the pericardium surrounding the heart and the heart itself contained a malignant tumour. One of the lungs also had secondary masses present. The vet said that Tarn's condition was like a time bomb. He could, at any time, suffer great pain when the whole pericardium filled with blood. I could not let this happen and for the first time ever I had to let one of my dear children die in my absence. It would not have been right to revive him from the anaesthetic just so that I could say goodbye. I had to do what was right for him even though it has broken my heart. He had turned to look at me as I left him with the vet taking him off to the hospital cages and I left and shut the Door. If only I had returned to give him one last kiss and reassuring cuddle.

My dear Tarn, I hope you understand that I could not be with you at the end. You will never be forgotten by anyone who ever met you and particularly by your mum here at Tailends. Maybe you will be there each morning running beside us on the beach with your back now straight and your legs free of the arthritis and nerve damage which you had in life. Wait for me dear as I will see you again one day.

Somehow I must carry on - as tomorrow another sad old homeless dog called Rufus will be brought to Tailends. I had hoped you would be a friend to him but it was not to be. Night night dear Tarn. We love you very much.