Latest Updates from Tailends...

TALES FROM TAILENDS JUNE 2007

The last few months have been the most difficult we have ever known at Tailends. We have had to say goodbye to six beloved dogs since February, and this has been a very traumatic experience. Meanwhile we have also welcomed six new old dogs, all of which came from really bad situations and have needed a considerable amount of veterinary care and reassurance. In addition we have rehomed a little terrier who came to us from a dog pound as a very pathetic little scrap with all sorts of health issues. Once she had recovered and regained some strength, it was apparent that she was going to need a different type of home to what we could provide here. She was too active and bouncy for our frail old folk. We were very lucky to find a wonderful home for her in Somerset with very experienced and sensible people who are now completely devoted to her. We will continue to keep in touch with our Gracie and provide support whenever it is needed throughout her life.

HOLLY arrived here on Saturday March 10th and came for a nice walk on the dunes after her long journey. She had been rescued from a dog pound in Staffs having originally been picked up by a dog warden in Wales. She has been very badly neglected in her past and had probably been kept outside. Holly is around thirteen years old, is totally deaf and suffers from Pannus so will need eye treatment for the rest of her life. She now really enjoys her walks and eats everything put in front of her. She loves the beach and does a little hop and skip when she feels the sand beneath her feet. Holly is a sweet little girl who has improved greatly since coming to Tailends. She is slightly senile but is happy and contented. She has recently been spayed and had a dental.

JUDY arrived at Tailends on Saturday 7th April from a Rotherham Dog Rescue. She is an elderly Labrador who has come from a grim situation on death row in Huddersfield dog pound. She was seriously overweight and has large calluses on her legs and sore patches on her tail. Her ears were very mucky but this was soon sorted. It would seem that she has been kept outside in kennels during her life and has had little exercise, but she is now very appreciative of some home comforts. It is a joy to see her stretched out relaxed and happy on a nice thick duvet. On Friday May 25th Judy had the tumour on her left elbow removed and her ruptured anterior cruciate ligament was treated with a d'angelis nylon implant. She was kept in the veterinary hospital overnight on a morphine drip and came home on Saturday morning. She is eating well and seems fine. We are optimistic that Judy will eventually be able to enjoy longer walks and play with her ball in the field. Recent tests have revealed that Judy is suffering from Thyroid insufficiency, just like Daisy May. She is now on treatment for this.

AMOS arrived at Tailends on Sunday 22nd April 2007 after a long journey from Ireland. He was one of a number of dogs rescued from a house in Ireland where they had been left to starve. He is a small underweight black greyhound-type boy with a lovely character. He has a very large hole in the side of his mouth through to the nasal passage. This caused him much distress with mucus continually blocking his nose and making it sore. Blood tests and a veterinary examination have shown he is in general good health apart from this. We are hoping that Amos can eventually have surgery to close this hole and prevent food continually entering his nose. He deserves the best available care after years of neglect. He has had several teeth removed as their roots were hanging loose in his nasal cavity and some suspicious mouth tissue was sent off for biopsy. We now have to be patient and hope that this dear boy will have some quality time here and be able to look forward to spending happy hours running on the beach and watching the rabbits. Amos is a delightful affectionate boy. We will do everything to give him the best life possible after the suffering he has endured.

SMITHERS. (TAILENDS 26.04.07 – 15.05.07) Dear little Smithers arrived at Tailends on Thursday 26th April. He was rescued from death in a dog pound in Rochdale. Smithers was a tan coloured long-bodied terrier type of dog. He was very elderly and was found wandering the streets by the dog warden in Blackburn. We saw indications that he had brain damage. Poor little Smithers. He was deaf and had cataracts on both eyes though did have some sight. He enjoyed his meals and going for long rambles around the garden followed by deep sleeps in his cosy bed. There was little treatment we could give to this poor boy except to ensure that he was loved and cared for during his final days. Dear Smithers died peacefully on 15th May. He had been here for just 19 days but at least he was surrounded with loving care at the end of his life and did not die unloved and unwanted in a concrete dog pound. How did he come to be wandering the streets in his condition? We will never know how this poor chap came to be homeless in the dog pound. Sleep well little Smithers. We are glad we could give you a few comforts and we are sorry you could not stay longer.

FRODO This large dark brown/black greyhound arrived at Tailends on Sunday 27th May. He was rescued by Mandy (along with two other dogs) from a shed where they had been living in terrible conditions. One of the other dogs was in such a bad state that he had to be put to sleep on veterinary advice. The third dog is younger and will hopefully find a home in the normal way soon. Frodo is such a gentle old boy and has had such a grim life. He has never lived in a house before and is learning about all the comforts and freedom which will now be his. It is such a joy to watch him looking around and going in and out of the garden. This boy has never been for walks but was shut up day and night in an unheated dirty shed. His coat was in a very poor condition - hardly surprising considering how he has lived. He has now been castrated, which removed the tumour in his left testicle. He has had an urgent dental as did the other dog. Their mouths were in such a disgusting state when they were rescued that many teeth had to be removed. The grey putrefying matter in their mouths smelled foul and needed immediate attention. Frodo is a delightful boy and is so very affectionate in spite of the way humans have treated him. We are very grateful to Mark for transporting Frodo to Tailends in atrocious weather.

LUCAS (TAILENDS 03.12.06 – 10.03.07)

This dear old chap arrived at Tailends on Sunday 3rd December 2006. He was a large 13 yr old white and black greyhound with various health problems. He had no teeth, limited eyesight and poor hearing but he was a dear old boy who loved his walks and was very happy to be in a loving home after all he had been through in recent weeks. Our dear friend Mark kindly drove to Worcester to collect him from the kennels where he was being kept. We were asked to take Lucas by a lady who had been involved in his care since he became homeless. Sadly his elderly owner had become unable to cope with looking after a dog. Lucas had been kept in a flat and was never taken out to relieve himself so the situation was very bad for both dog and owner. Eventually the council became involved and Lucas was put into kennels while the flat was sorted out and his future was decided. We were worried as we had been informed that Lucas had slipped on his own urine on the concrete floor of the kennel and sprained his hock just a week previously. He was then put into a crate for his own safety, though it was only big enough for him to stand up and not ideal for him to be contained in for long periods. Following arrival at Tailends we took Lucas for a vet check and blood tests. Sadly it was found that Lucas had very advanced kidney failure. We fed him a special renal support diet and hoped that he would be at Tailends for many months to come. We would, of course, continue to monitor the situation with blood tests every few months. Lucas became breathless on March 10th and I rang the vet and arranged to take him to the hospital for X-rays to find out what was going on in his chest. There were two possibilities - either he had a chest infection which could be dealt with by putting him on a drip and giving him treatment, or something nastier was going on. Alison rang me later to advise that his chest was full of fluid and the heart could not even be seen on the X-ray. She had extracted a sample of the fluid and it was full of Leucocytes which indicated that he had a malignant tumour. There was nothing I could do but let her help our dear old chap leave his diseased body. Lucas was only here for three short months but he was the kindest, most gentle greyhound who was very much loved. Farewell my dear old boy - until we meet again. We are so grateful and privileged that we shared some time together when you needed us.

ALISON (Tailends 24.08.06 – 23.03.07)

Alison arrived at Tailends on 24th August 2006. She was a thin frail 13 year old white and blue girl, who has spent her entire life in a very bleak kennel. Blood tests revealed that she probably had inflamatory bowel disease and she was put on a course of steroids, antibiotics and Tramadol. A scan revealed that the lining of her bladder was markedly thickened in an irregular way, indicating the presence of cancerous cells. My vet suggested that we try Piroxicam which is a human drug that has had some success in reducing the thickening of the bladder lining. Alison enjoyed her life here going for walks on the beach and eating well. She was a very different girl to the traumatised dog who arrived here in August. She became confident and very affectionate. She had made good friends with Daisy May, our very nervous little girl, and Bluebell, who was such an old lady but still enjoying herself. All three girls shared a room at night where they slept soundly in the comfort of their donut beds and fleeces. Alison went to the Veterinary Hospital for another scan on February 2nd and we were delighted to find that her bladder was almost back to normal. Our vet was amazed that she was doing so well and we could only hope that her progress would continue.

Our dear Alison left us on Friday 23rd March. Recent blood tests had shown that her kidneys were failing and another scan revealed that the bladder lining was thickening again. Alison died peacefully in her own bed without any distress or pain. She had just seven short months at Tailends though this was better than the seven short weeks which her friend Hazel had. Alison loved the beach and did have some real quality time here until she finally became so ill that she could not stay with us any longer. We miss her so very much. I am so glad that we were able to help this poor old girl who had languished in miserable kennels for so many years. Farewell my sweet Alison until we meet again in a better world.

DUDLEY. (TAILENDS 12.05.06 – 02.04.07)

I received a call on Wednesday 10th May from Rochdale Dog Rescue concerning an elderly dog at the pound who was due to be put to sleep on the Friday morning and there was really nowhere else for him to go. Apparently he had been picked up by the police who then took him to the vet as they thought he had been involved in a road accident. In fact Dudley had CDRM which is a degenerative disease affecting mobility in the back and hind limbs. Dudley was transported to Tailends with the help of five people who shared the 300mile drive between them. Dudley was so very happy to be here. His tail wagged so much it looked as if it would come off. I have never seen a dog’s eyes light up so much as when he went out for a walk. He had a big grin all over his face. He had probably roamed the streets begging chips or snack foods where he could. Poor old chap. Dudley slept on a large thick memory bed in the hall at night. He was so affectionate and loved attention. Dudley was kindly loaned a cart by Jim Colla who very kindly gave up his time to travel down to Devon to help Dudley get mobile. We also took Dudley to an aquatherapy pool but sadly the disease progressed. On 2nd April I saw a change in Dudley. He was not in pain but the look in his eyes told me the time had come to say goodbye. I spent the morning sitting with Dudley and stroking his long coat with a grooming mitt which had been so kindly donated by one of the winners in the weekly TRPD quizzes. Dudley loved this and his eyes closed in pleasure at the feel of the soft glove. He had a breakfast of freshly cooked lamb and some chicken breast which he demolished very quickly. The vet arrived at around 1pm. It was time for our boy to start his last journey. I told him that Tarn, Lucas, Alison and all the departed friends he had made here would be waiting for him to show him the way. I gave him a last cuddle and then let George hold his head as he left so that the last thing he saw was the person he cared for most. When he had gone we wept buckets and are still doing so every time something happens to remind us. It is the little things like laying out the tablets or preparing their individual meals that it hits hardest as there is a space where Dudley’s tablets or food would have been. We love all our dogs equally and do not have favourites but I think it is more painful when a dog has needed as much care as Dudley as they leave such a big hole in your life. Dudley will live on in our hearts forever. We are so glad that we had his company for nearly eleven months when others had said he was not worth saving.

BLUEBELL. (Tailends 18.02.04 - 09.04.07)

Bluebell has been at Tailends since February 2004 when she was taken to her vet in London to be put to sleep as her owner had got a new dog – a Bull Mastiff - who kept attacking her. Thankfully the vet got in touch with Greyhound Rescue and she was then brought to Tailends. Bluebell has always loved her walks and was very soon able to run off lead through the dunes and round the beach. Bluebell, in recent months, could no longer run and play on the dunes and beach as she did during her first months at Tailends. Her arthritis had been stabilised by giving Prednoleucotropin tablets and she managed very well, though the loss of her right eye seriously affected her confidence. She could only manage short walks to the fields where she spent her time munching rabbit droppings and pottering around. Bluebell had gradually become frailer and a little senile. She sometimes forgot that she had eaten her meal and came back into the kitchen looking for it again. I gave her Vivitonin tablets to help the blood supply to her brain and nervous system. She also had daily vitamins, fish oil and glucosamine/chondroitin for her joints. Our lovely blue girl was the sweetest, most affectionate little greyhound you could ever find. She slept very deeply and went off into her bedroom and cuddled up in her bed as soon as she had finished her breakfast. However she was very fussy about her sleeping arrangements and spent some time getting everything in the right position. This did mean that she often got carried away and ended up with all the dog beds and vetbed in a large heap in the corner and her fast asleep on the carpet! Then she did not stir again until it was time for the afternoon walk, and even then you had to go and get her. She was always pleased to get up for a walk especially if the sun was shining and there were rabbits around. Bluebell was extremely gentle and kind to all the other dogs. The little ones were often found snuggled up to her in her bed. Our dear sweet little girl left us on April 9th. She lived at Tailends for 3 years and two months. On Easter Sunday she went out as usual and ate her dinner. There was nothing to indicate that she was so near the end. At around 3am on the Monday morning she started to become agitated. I immediately went to see what was wrong but she seemed to be unaware of her surroundings. I sat with her until dawn and then rang my vet who came out to see her. Sadly as we walked up to her I realised that her breathing had stopped. She had slipped away just before the vet arrived. I am sure she knew nothing after the seizure, which I think must have been a stroke. She is very much missed by everyone and I cannot get used to seeing her empty bed where she should be. We are so glad that we were able to share her final years and give her some joy. I hope there are some rabbits where she has gone as she loved to watch them but would never attempt to harm one.

BARNIE RUBBLE (Tailends 24.03.05 – 23.04.07)

Barnie Rubble (formerly known as Arnie) was brought to Tailends by Mandy on April 24th 2005. He was a thirteen year old white and brindle entire male. Barnie had quite a hard past before he was brought into the care of Northants Greyhound Rescue. He lost a toe on his front left foot at some stage and then instead of treating and resting him, he was raced with the injury. This had resulted in the foot being splayed out at 90degrees to the norm and made it look like a flipper instead of a foot. Barnie also had severe arthritis in his back legs in association with nerve damage. He was a very happy courageous chap and did not let any of this hold him back. He was so happy to be here and bounced around the garden and just loved his walks. He had a very bad heart condition for which he was treated with Vetmedin. The main problem with Barnie was stopping him from overdoing it! He was so fascinated with everything he saw when he was out. He literally laughed in glee at the ducks and geese on the lakes and the seagulls screaming over his head. Then he gazed at the rabbits quietly nibbling the grass in the next field or the cows grazing on the hillside. He stared in disbelief at the sea and listened to the thunderous noise of the waves as he stood on the highest dunes looking down at the bay. Barnie was very fond of digging holes. His bad legs did not seem to hinder this activity. I often found him out in the garden with clouds of sand wafting across the grass as yet another digging operation was in progress. I thought he had collapsed once when I found him lying in the hole he had just dug on top of what we call the “viewing platform” (a raised area where they can stand and look at the rabbits in the field next door). However when he saw me he sprang up and I realised he was just having a rest from his labours. He was such a character. He was a big bouncy clown who loved to act silly and pretend he did not want to go out or have his dinner when he really did. He would lie quietly and shut his eyes and when you thought he was asleep, he would bounce up and charge towards the door asking why you were not ready! Then you quickly put your coat on and got his harness and you found he had gone to lie down and was pretending to be asleep again. Everything had to be a game with Barnie! He was quite amazing when you consider that he was a very old dog. Barnie had always suffered from intestinal problems. We have had all sorts of tests done and tried various drugs, diets etc but still his faeces remained liquid. Eventually we found how to manage this with a very strict diet.

On 23rd April Barnie did not try to get up and was not interested in eating so I had no choice but to ring our vet and ask if we could have a home visit. Alison arrived shortly afterwards and agreed that Barnie had come to the end of his very long life. He would have been sixteen on August 3rd 2007 and had been at Tailends for over two years. He made no complaint as Alison gave him the injection which was to help him leave his worn-out old body. He just closed his eyes and left us forever. Dear Barney you were the clown of Tailends. You were never aggressive to anyone and put up with Charlie moaning at you when you stretched a leg out and touched him in the night. (Charlie always chose to lie right next to Barney though there were plenty of beds in the room.) He was such a happy lad and we miss him so much. Barnie died just a few days after our little Bluebell. These two lovely dogs were always sleeping side by side with their heads on a cushion between them. This gave me the idea for the Tailends logo and now Barney and Bluebell will live on forever representing Tailends to the world. I hope they are now together forever. They are both missed so very much.

DAISY MAY had surgery on Friday 26th May to investigate and possibly remove the affected adrenal gland causing her Cushing’s disease. After preliminary x-rays, blood tests, scans etc the delicate procedure was successfully carried out by Simon Thompson at the new Charter veterinary hospital at Roundswell. She was then kept in overnight on a morphine drip and came home with Judy on Saturday. Daisy is already showing positive signs of improvement. She no longer drinks excessively and now eats more normally. This surgery was necessary to save her life. Recent tests have shown that the Cushing's is now completely gone but that Daisy has Thyroid insufficiency for which she is now being treated. Recovery will be slow but we must be patient and hope that eventually Daisy May will be restored to good health.

ARFA's Update...

Arfa (AKA “Little Boy”) arrived at Tailends on December 17th 2005. He had been rescued from death row at Huddersfield dog pound and taken to Northants Greyhound Rescue and from there to Devon and Tailends. Arfa is a small blue lurcher boy and had a number of health issues when he arrived. He was extremely thin and wobbly on his legs. His mouth was in a dreadful state and he needed to have nearly all his teeth removed, leaving him just three remaining. His heart was enlarged and he had muscle wastage in the hip area. He also had cataracts in both eyes. A scan revealed that his kidneys were very knobbly and abnormal in appearance and a urine test revealed high levels of infection. His prostate was enlarged and basically things did not look to good for this boy.

However, now that Arfa has received the best of veterinary care, he is very much improved. His prostate has been treated successfully with regular Tardac injections. He is stable on Vetmedin heart tablets and all infection has cleared from his urinary tract following a long course of antibiotics. Regular good quality food has got rid of that thin emaciated look and suitable exercise has improved his muscles. Arfa now weighs over 20 kilograms and his last urine test on 6th April was clear of problems so we are very pleased.

Arfa is slightly senile and probably has little hearing. However he does enjoy his life here and is always keen to go off on his walks. He absolutely adores George and shouts in delight when he returns from work. Arfa cannot manage long walks, but likes to go with Bluebell for a leisurely saunter around the fields and lanes. Then he has his breakfast or dinner and off to sleep until the next walk. Arfa has three coats now. He has a warm winter coat which is blue with a red trim and also a summer Mac in the same colours for rainy days. Arfa was sent a lovely fleecy indoor coat by the Coldies and Oldies Project (run by the TRDP organisation) to wear on cold winter days and nights. We are very grateful to the Sighthounds On Line website for putting us in touch with these lovely people, who do so much to help with the care of dogs in Arfa’s situation. Arfa also loves to be wrapped up at night even if it is not particularly cold. It probably makes him feel more secure. We would like to thank Pat Powell for the lovely soft but light duvets which she made. Arfa loves his and goes straight to sleep when we cover him up with it. Arfa is frightened of the dark, so we use a nightlight to give him more confidence when he wakes and gets worried as all his former nightmares return to haunt him. Thank you to Judy for sending us the nightlights for Arfa. He sleeps securely and easily now.

We will never know exactly what Arfa’s life was like before he was taken to the dog pound but I am sure he was sadly neglected and never knew much comfort. Now he is safe and will get all the care he needs for the rest of his life. His dementia is progressing but he is a happy little chap and we will do everything to make sure that he continues to enjoy his life here for as long as possible.

BARNIE's Update...

Barnie Rubble arrived at Tailends on the 24th March 2005. He is a big bouncy clown who loves to act silly and pretend he does not want to go out or have his dinner when he really does. He will lie quietly and shut his eyes and when you think he is asleep; he will bounce up and charge towards the door asking why you are not ready! Then you quickly put your coat on and get his harness and you find he has gone to lie down and is pretending to be asleep again. Everything has to be a game with Barnie! He is quite amazing when you consider that he will be 15 years old in August 2006.

Barnie’s new summer Mac arrived last week – which is just as well considering the continual rain we have had since. It is orange with a black trim and he looks very smart in it as he saunters along the lanes sniffing for rabbity smells. He cannot walk too far as his arthritis affects his mobility. He also has an enlarged heart and laryngeal paralysis – though not as bad as Papa had when he arrived. The vet feels that Barnie should not have the operation on his larynx as it is not so urgent as to be life threatening. He does have to take quite a lot of tablets, but he seems to be stable and happy at the moment. Obviously we keep a close eye on all our oldies and there is someone with them 24 hours a day so any changes can be picked up immediately.
In February this year Barnie needed surgery to remove a number of adenomas around his anus. They had started to bleed and were not going to heal, so drastic action had to be taken. The procedure was successful and Barnie was soon back to normal.

Barnie has always suffered from intestinal problems. We have had all sorts of tests done and tried various drugs, diets etc but still his faeces remained liquid. Recently I decided to try once more with a Sensitivity Control diet food. This is horribly expensive but I thought it worth a try so we started with a small bag. There has been a big improvement and now Barnie’ poo is virtually normal for the majority of the time. It does mean being very strict with his diet, and so to give a bit of variation he now has the canned as well as the dry diet food. He seems to like it, so all is well at present. (It apparently contains tapioca and Capelin fish.)

Barnie is content and seems to be getting the most out of his life at Tailends. He is a very old boy who had suffered much in his past life but we hope there will be many more good times ahead for our big chunky lad.

BLUEBELL's Update...

Bluebell is now in her fifteenth year and getting quite frail. She has been at Tailends since January 2004 when she was taken to her vet to be put to sleep as her owner had got a new dog – a Bull Mastiff - who kept attacking her. Thankfully the vet got in touch with the RGT and Bluebell was then brought to Tailends.

Bluebell can no longer run and play on the dunes and beach as she did during her first months at Tailends. Her arthritis has been stabilised by giving Prednoleucotropin tablets and she manages very well, though the loss of her right eye seriously affected her confidence. She can now only manage short walks to the fields where she spends her time munching rabbit droppings. I have tried in vain to deter her from this rather unsavoury habit but she persists in spite of my efforts. Thankfully it never seems to have done her any harm or affected her digestion in any way. Occasionally she will have a little run when she sees a rabbit dash across the path in front of her. Mostly she just potters around sniffing the grass and hedgerows.

In recent months Bluebell has become quite senile and confused. She sometimes forgets that she has had her meal and comes back into the kitchen looking for it again. We give her Vivitonin tablets to help the blood supply to her brain and nervous system. She also has daily vitamins, fish oil and glucosamine/chondroitin for her joints. We were very worried about her in March when she became ill with severe diarrhoea. However after a visit to the vet and a course of treatment, she quickly improved and made a full recovery.

Our lovely blue girl is the sweetest, most affectionate little greyhound you could ever find. She sleeps very deeply and goes off into her bedroom and cuddles up in her bed as soon as she has had her breakfast. However she is very fussy about her sleeping arrangements and spends some time getting everything in the right position. However this does mean that she often gets carried away and ends up with all the dog beds and vetbed in a large heap in the corner and her fast asleep on the carpet! Then she does not stir again until it is time for the afternoon walk, and even then you have to go and get her. She is always pleased to get up for a walk especially if the sun is shining and there are rabbits around. Bluebell is extremely gentle and kind to all the other dogs. The little ones are often found snuggled up to her in her bed. She never complains and seems to quite enjoy their company. I am confident that Bluebell is happy and not suffering any pain. She eats well and is simply a very old lady enjoying the twilight of her life and the comforts we give her.

CHARLIE's Update...

Charlie arrived at Tailends on 23rd December 2005. He had lived his life in a grim kennel in Scotland until he was brought down to Devon. He had to have nearly all his teeth out so has only three left. This means he cannot cope with hard foods, chews etc. though he does manage the odd tripe stick even if it takes him a long time to eat it. Charlie had x-rays earlier this year following signs of pain in his back and legs. They revealed three areas of damage to his vertebral column. He has been given several types of pain relief and is now on Previcox which seems to be the best thing at present.

Charlie has been badly attacked in the past and the scars on his body reveal that he did not receive proper treatment for his injuries at the time. Poor Charlie is very traumatised by his past life and is a very nervous highly-strung lad. He is also not very bright though I think this may be due to the effect of years of boredom and neglect. We have had some success in calming him down and making him feel more relaxed - especially with other dogs. Charlie enjoys his walks and his home comforts. He does need special care and is happier when he can stretch out in the conservatory on his own.

Charlie has fallen for a new girl called Daisy May who arrived at Tailends on 6th May 2006. She is obviously smitten with him and follows him around. She would like to play with him but he lacks confidence. They both suffer with arthritis in the hips so have something in common. Hopefully she will help him to relate better to the other dogs. He is in continual fear that another dog will attack him, though nobody here has ever shown any aggression towards him. Charlie is a real worrier and has lots of imagined fears which need to be allayed.

Charlie is currently going to the beach every morning on the longer walk including returning through the dunes - which only a few of our dogs are capable of doing. He does enjoy this, but I feel that at some point soon he will be joining the second walk along the paths to the fields which is less strenuous.

Charlie loves affection and is very good with other dogs and people who he meets when out on his walks. He needs lots of reassurance but is in no way an aggressive dog.

We think that Charlie probably suffered physically and mentally while in kennels. He was obviously put with dogs who attacked him continually and the invisible scars may remain forever. However we are doing our best to make the old chap happy and he loves his home comforts and his nice memory bed to stretch out on.

DAISY MAY's Update...

Daisy was brought over from Ireland, where she had been living in a field shelter on a farm with a number of other dogs. Many of the dogs were considered to be in such a poor state that they were put to sleep. However four greyhounds were rescued and taken to Northants Greyhound Rescue, run by Mandy Hooker. They arrived in a filthy state, covered in excreta. The elderly brindle bitch, now known as Daisy, was so terrified of people that she could not be bathed at the time, so she was cleaned up as best as they could while trying to reassure her. The dogs had lived in miserable conditions and now needed good homes as soon as possible. However Daisy was so frightened of people that it was not going to be easy, especially as she was an old girl. She needed the company of a number of other dogs where she could feel secure and learn to adjust to living in a home.

Mandy brought Daisy down to Tailends on Saturday 6th May. We knew she was absolutely terrified and we had to make sure everywhere was secure and that she was not frightened any more than she was already. Thankfully she got on well with the other residents and gradually became friends with a large fawn chap called Charlie. He is a little simple but likes to have the attention. Now she plays with him, especially first thing in the morning while they are both waiting to go for their first walk together.

Daisy May was taken to the vet on 9th May where she was checked over and weighed. Her general health is fine, though her hips are affected by arthritis. Her coat was very thin in places and scurfy. However we knew that with good food, vitamins, fish oil and glucosamine and chondroitin supplements, she would soon have a nice shiny coat and hopefully some relief for the arthritis.

I am writing this on 28th May and she is already showing signs of great improvement. She is learning to relax and has good solid relationships with the other dogs here. She is, however, very frightened of sudden noises, bangs or raised voices and is particularly wary of men.

Daisy enjoys her food and her walks. She sleeps in a bedroom with Bluebell at night and when she wakes in the morning she is full of beans and dances around looking forward to her walk. It will be a very long time before I can let her off the lead as I have to be absolutely certain that she would return to me and not run off in a panic. I do hope she will be able to run free on the beach one day. We will have to see how she progresses. Every day I see her growing in confidence but we still have some way to go yet. I find it best to let her have some space to be on her own if she wants to and let her gradually join in as she chooses.

DUDLEY's Update...

I received a telephone call on Wednesday 10th May from Rochdale Dog Rescue concerning an elderly dog at the pound who was due to be put to sleep on the Friday morning if no home was forthcoming. Apparently the dog had been picked up by the police who took him to the vet as they thought he had been involved in a road accident. In fact Dudley has CDRM which is a degenerative disease affecting mobility in the back and hind limbs. The vet kept him for 5 days though did not treat Dudley – not even cutting back the dew claw nail which was growing into his pad - and then sent him to the Rochdale Dog Pound where he was only due to live for a further two days to complete the statutory seven days.

Of course I agreed to take Dudley as I could just about fit him in – though at the time did not realise what a big chap he is. The only proviso was that he must be able to live happily alongside the other residents here. I was assured that Dudley was a friendly chap and had shown no aggression towards other dogs, large or small. I felt that I was meant to help Dudley as the call for help came just hours after my dear little Sugarlump had died in my arms following a massive heart attack. The following day, Thursday 11th May was very stressful for members of Rochdale Dog Rescue as they had to somehow arrange for Dudley to be removed from the Dog Pound before 10am the next day (when he was going to be put to sleep if he was still there) and transport him 300 miles to North Devon. This was all done through various websites. Five wonderful people agreed to give up their time and petrol to help Dudley. He finally arrived here at Tailends at around 5pm on Friday 12th May. He was very tired and a bit bewildered but showed no sign of aggresssion towards the other dogs as he was gradually introduced to them all. Then he was brought indoors to have a good rest on a nice “Memory” bed and a meal. He was very hungry and made light work of his meal. I realised that he would have to be put on a strict diet if we were going to have any chance of helping him become more mobile.

He is now on Royal Canin Obesity Control dry food mixed with a little of the canned variety to make it a bit more palatable for him. He does have a little scambled egg mixed in with his breakfst and a little fresh chicken with his dinner. The food is weighed carefully to ensure that he does not eat too much.

Dudley is so very happy to be here. I have no idea what his previous life was like but I doubt he was cared for very much. No doubt he roamed the streets begging chips or snack foods where he could. Poor old chap. He deserved better than that.

Dudley went off to the vet the following week for a check and blood test. We decided to have his damaged dew claws removed and also to get him castrated. We are so glad we did as when the hair was shaved off it revealed a large area of microbiological skin infection around the scrotum. He has now been treated with antibiotics to clear up this problem which he had probably had for some time. The blood test revealed some kidney failure though this is not too serious at present. Dudley has CDRM and also arthritis in his hips. He is now on Previcox tablets in addition to fish oil, vitamins and glucosamine and chondroitin. I have purchased a rear harness to assist him if he gets into difficulties and also a pair of boots for his rear feet to prevent damage to the back of his feet. He does manage very well and has probably had to do the best he can for some time with no help.

Dudley goes out for two walks every day – usually with Tarn, a lurcher who came here at the end of January from the northeast and has serious spinal problems. He loves to go out of the back gate and head off at speed down the footpath in pursuit of the rabbits which sit around in the sunshine. His tail wags so much it looks as if it will come off. I have never seen a dog’s eyes light up so much as when he goes out for a walk. He has a big grin all over his face.

Dudley sleeps on a large thick duvet in the hall at night. He can see me as we never shut the doors and he often looks up to make sure I am still there. When I get up in the night to attend to any of the other dogs, he always looks up and enjoys a pat as I go past. During the day he sleeps in a variety of places. Recently he likes to get up onto the sofa (with a little help) and lie up there looking around at everyone. He is so affectionate and loves attention. He manages to get in and out of the door and potter around the garden with the other dogs. He drinks a lot so I always make sure he has a bowl of water nearby. This is obviously related to the kidney problem.

I have no idea how old Dudley is or what the future holds for him but we adore him and will do our very best to make sure that the rest of his life is as stimulating and enjoyable as possible. We hope he will be here for years to come.

Thank you to Clare, Coryn and Lindsey from Rochdale Dog Rescue, The Refuge Website, Labrador Rescue and all the kind folk who drove Dudley on his long journey. A big cheer to you all from Dudley! (We will say little about those who thought Dudley should be put to sleep - except to say that you were so wrong! There is plenty of life left in this old dog. He is a real character and is enjoying his life.)

Dudley has already been sponsored by four people and he has touched the hearts of everyone who has met him. We will put updates on his progress and his latest photographs on the Tailends website.

GLORIA's Update...

Gloria is probably the biggest success story of the last year here at Tailends. She arrived on Saturday 11th June 2005, brought by Mandy (of Northants Greyhound Rescue) who had collected her from the quarantine kennels the previous day. She was pathetically thin and her coat was coarse and full of scurf. (Six weeks later she had gained an amazing eight kilograms!) She had suffered unspeakable horrors in Spain and had spent the last year scavenging and evading capture and rescue by a lady called Laura, who was aware of her plight and wanted to help her. Eventually Laura found her huddled up by the side of the road and immediately thought that she was dead as she was very cold and the temperature was below freezing. However Gloria was revived and cared for at the shelter in Andujar, which is run by a group of dedicated people who care about the plight of the Galgos and try to do what they can to help them.

Gloria was brought to the UK, along with a number of other galgos, in December 2004 by Greyhounds In Need and she was then placed in quarantine for the statutory six months. She was very old and weak and we were worried as to whether she would survive the ordeal.

Gloria is now a very different girl! She is highly intelligent and seems to understand everything. She put on weight very quickly and is now a healthy lively lady who tries hard to speak English, but if all else fails she can put her front paw up and poke you in the leg to get your attention. (It certainly does, as this is not a very pleasant experience as the scratches on my legs will confirm.) She has a very posh winter coat, an indoor coat and a raincoat for wet summer days. Judy made her a lovely coat in a patterned beige material which is very warm but makes her look like the cleaner – especially when Mark pushed a duster under her belt! Since then she has been known as Mrs Overall! She is very concerned when one of the dogs is poorly or has had surgery. I am sure she would like a nurse’s uniform too!

Gloria is particularly lucky as she is trusted to be off lead on all her walks over the dunes and beach. She stayed on the lead for the first six months but then I gradually let her off for short periods. I soon realised that she could be trusted to stay within earshot and loves her home so much that she would never get lost. She is very clever and knows exactly where she lives and runs on ahead to the back gate. Some of our oldies are not too bright and would be completely confused if let off the lead. She has an hours run off lead in the early morning and then another walk later in the afternoon. Then she gets onto my bed and curls up with a nice duvet over her if it is a bit chilly. Judy made her a nice warm snood for cold winter days and she looked very smart running around with her red coat and matching snood keeping her ears warm.

We were worried that Gloria might be suffering from Leishmaniasis as it is so common in Spain and she did have a few suspicious skin lesions. She also became very lethargic. However the result was negative, though we know that the test is not always conclusive, as our experience with Dopey proved. We are optimistic that Gloria will not be affected by this horrible disease but we never know what the future holds. We are very pleased that she is so happy and contented after the miserable life she had in Spain. We are haunted by the thought of how many Galgos are continually suffering in a European country which many British people seem to find so attractive as a holiday destination.

Gloria now thinks she is in heaven with every comfort and her favourite foods. She has quite good teeth and so can enjoy hide chews, tripe sticks and other treats. We do have to be careful though as sometimes imported chews with lots of additives and colourings can affect their tummies. We therefore only give good quality treats to those who are allowed to have them and can cope with eating them. Gloria loves to go rummaging around to see if anybody has dropped a hide stick and forgotten about it. She will then take it into the bedroom and sit on the bed eating her spoils like the Queen of Sheba! It is hard to remember that just a short time ago she was hours from death – a frozen bundle curled up by the side of a Spanish road.

PAPA's Update...

Papa had a few health problems during the winter which gave us a few worries. He had an anal gland infection and, more seriously, an oedema on his lungs. Papa was in some distress when he arrived at Tailends in September 2004 and needed an operation to pin his larynx open so that he could breathe freely. This was a great success but we do have to be careful that he does not have any food which might go down the wrong way. However Papa has come through all his problems and after successful treatment with antibiotics, he is probably in better health than for years. He does have his own ideas about routines and insists on having breakfast at any time he chooses to get up - whether it is 8am or midday! One minute he is sleeping soundly, the next he charges out of my bedroom at high speed to do the longest wee imaginable just outside the door! Then he is off to the kitchen for food and immediately afterwards his bowels move into action so a hasty dash to the garden is advisable. Papa is such a funny old chap. A huge gentle boy who pretends to be the “Alpha Male” but has never shown any aggression to anyone. He demonstrates this when he goes out for a walk as he likes nothing better that barking and jumping around in delight if he meets another dog – just to show who is the real Papa! His walk is no fun unless he sees at least one other dog to show off to. In reality he is a bit of a softie, and when poor old dysfunctional Poppy barks at him he shoots off in the opposite direction.

Papa insists on going out for a wee at 9pm sharp and is then off to bed - getting most annoyed if everyone else does not follow suit immediately. He starts to bark in annoyance - but because of his operation he cannot bark like other dogs and a funny squeaky noise is all that comes out. He likes things to happen exactly to his plan every day – except breakfast of course. He makes a horrible mess when he eats but he says it is not his fault. He takes far too much into his mouth and so bits of his dinner end up all over the floor. When the weather is fine he has his dinner in the garden with his bowl raised up on a few small paving slabs. There is always a gathering of seagulls, crows, magpies and robins sitting on the roof and fence waiting to see what he has dropped around the bowl.

Papa is a very old chap and we never know what the future holds with our dear old friends but at present he is bright and active and thoroughly enjoying his life. His arthritis, heart failure and breathing are all being kept stabilised by the drugs he takes and he is enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather. We hope he will have many more happy months at Tailends.

POPPY's Update...

Poppy is such a sweet affectionate girl, though if she were human she would be considered as “special needs”. Poor Poppy cannot make decisions and panics when she does not know what to do. Her previous owners were very cruel to her and her condition was not helped by their treatment of her. However Poppy was probably born with lots of problems and although we have sought advice from several behaviourists, she cannot really ever improve as she has no ability to learn or make decisions. This is sad but we do everything to make sure Poppy has a good life and lots of runs on the dunes. She loves to chase the rabbits up and down the hills but it is funny to watch her as the rabbit runs one way and she goes tearing off in the opposite direction. She could never harm any of them as she is too confused about it all, but she does have a good time anyway. She also loves digging on the beach and will spend ages trying to dig up a special pebble or something which she has found, and then want to take it home.

Poppy spends a lot of time in the sun lounge as she has a nice comfortable arm chair in there where she can watch the other dogs through the big glass patio doors but at the same time feel safe and protected. There is a large indoor kennel where she sometimes goes to have a sleep if it is not in use. Poppy loves chewy slippers and tripe sticks.

I take Poppy out very early in the morning before anyone else gets out, so when I open the back gate she can race away at top speed down the lane to chase all the rabbits back down their holes or into the hedge where they can all sit and shout rude things at her. She threatens to catch them tomorrow, but of course she never does. Poppy loves to have a bath in the stream which comes out onto the beach about half way along the sands. It is lovely cool fresh water and she can have a nice drink and a really good wash. I tell her she is a very lucky girl to be able to run on the sand dunes, play on the beach and then cool down in a nice stream every morning. In the late afternoon, she goes for a run in the dunes with her friend, Gloria. They race around together and have great fun. Gloria knows to keep a bit of distance from Poppy as she is aware that she is a bit unpredictable, but fortunately Gloria is a very intelligent girl and knows how to behave with our crazy girl. When Gloria first arrived Poppy showed her all the best rabbit holes and the larger fox holes and where the badgers lived so that now they can both stick their heads down the holes and shout at the occupants.

Poppy has a large growth on her right side but the vet has said that it is not likely to be malignant and it does not seem to be affecting her at all.

It is such a pity that Poppy cannot relate to people or other dogs very well, as her life would then be so much better, but it is not her fault and there are some people with whom she instantly feels relaxed for some reason. However, she regards most people as dangerous and thinks they are likely to harm her. She has never tried to bite anyone – she would be far too frightened to get that close to strangers but instead she barks at them to tell them not to hurt her. She just finds it very hard to trust anyone. Yet at the same time she is a very sensitive girl and is very concerned if anyone is hurt or upset. She also loves to be cuddled by her own trusted friends. Poppy needs to be managed carefully but in spite of all that she is really the most loyal best friend I could ever have .
TARN's Update...

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. Thank you for sponsoring Tarn. He is a highly intelligent, loyal, friendly lad.

TWEENIE's Update...

Tweenie came to Tailends after being rescued from a Puppy Farm where she was too old to continue breeding productively for the owners. She had been living in one of a number of caravans which were overcrowded and filthy. Tweenie was totally blind in both eyes when she arrived. We had to have one eye removed when it became painful. She is not in the least fazed by having no sight. She runs around on her walks and does not seem to mind if she bumps into anything. She trots along behind the greyhounds, stopping to enjoy a particularly interesting scent, and then dashing to catch up with the others. She has a specially made “miniature greyhound-type” coat in a smart plum colour with a snug hood which keeps her neck warm in cold weather.

Tweenie is now about 15 years old though you would never know it by her behaviour. She is totally devoted to me which can be a problem as she insists on following me around whatever I am doing. She comes along on Tarn’s walk in the morning if the weather is good. She runs around the fields and loves to meet other people and dogs though this can confuse her and she ends up heading off in the wrong direction.

Tweenie needs the company of other dogs and would be lost in a home on her own, however kind the humans were to her. She insists on sleeping in my bed against all my better intentions. This would not be such a problem if she curled up and went to sleep - but she loves to stretch out her legs and dig her nails into your back/front or any nearby part of your anatomy. This is really not comfortable especially as she likes to continually wriggle and alter her position. Sometimes her legs are stretched out to such an extent that I end up hanging precariously over the edge of the bed to avoid being scratched.

Tweenie was always a very fussy eater but caused me real anxiety following the tragic sudden death of her friend Sugarlump (following a heart attack) when she simply refused to eat - regardless of what I tried to tempt her with. This continued for several days until I managed to get her to eat a bit of digestive biscuit and some corned beef.

Tweenie misses her little Jack Russell friend very much. Sugarlump acted as the eyes for this little girl and she followed her around in the garden and they could often be seen cuddled up together in the armchair which they had chosen for themselves. Now Tweenie is the only little girl at Tailends though she has started to cuddle up to Bluebell who is very sweet and gentle towards her.