A new addition to our family

In August we lost our beloved dog Tilly, she was 13 years old. It was very sudden all in the space of an hour and a half. When she tried to stand up she suddenly fell down and was unable to get up again, we took her straight to the vets and he checked her thoroughly and told us he was very sorry but she had a tumour and it had ruptured and there was nothing he could do. Prior to this she showed no signs whatsoever of any illness, I actually felt my heart break, but I'm thankful that myself and my family were around her and we got to say our goodbyes and to tell her how much we loved her and held her until she passed away. The vet told us she was in no pain and she didn't seem distressed at all, I just couldn't believe it.

A few months passed by and I packed Tilly's food (we had unopened 6kg bags of biscuits) and other things and we decided to donate then to Furness Animal Rescue, which was where we adopted Tilly from. I went onto the Facebook site and left a message with Anita, the lady who does a wonderful job and runs the refuge to arrange a date and time, when I noticed she had put some photographs of dogs that were up for adoption and noticed a very small Staffie called Dottie, she looked so cute, I remember thinking she will soon be adopted. A few days later we went to York for a little break away but after a couple of days I kept going back to the Facebook site and looking at the photograph, I couldn't believe she had not been adopted yet. I spoke to my husband and we decided to make an appointment to see her, I contacted Anita and she passed me the details of Dottie's foster parents, Linda and Keith, over the next few days we talked and we made an appointment to see Dottie the day after we got back from York.

When we arrived at Linda and Keith's house, we walked in and they introduced us to Dottie, my heart melted there and then. She is such a happy dog, her tail never stopped wagging, she loves having cuddles. We stayed with Linda and Keith for most of the day and they told us as much as they could about Dottie, I remember looking across at my husband and we both knew there and then that we wanted to adopt her.

Linda and Keith have fostered many dogs over the years and they have such big hearts, I am in complete awe of everything they do to help these dogs. When we took Dottie home I remember looking back and seeing their faces, they looked happy but upset as well, which was completely understandable, I don't know how they find the strength not just physical but mental strength to be able to go through this each time, I think it's takes special people to be able to foster and find appropriate homes for dogs.

Dottie is settling in very well, she is such a character, she is very vocal a typical Staffie, she doesn't bark but she does talk away. She smiles all day long and loves snuggling down and having cuddles. She also sounds like a little piglet as she snorts away quite regularly lol.

If you decide you want a dog in your life, then please contact your local refuge centres, there are so many dogs out there that are in desperate need of a loving forever home. Adopting a dog is a big responsibility and should be the result of careful planning and consideration, remember you are adding another member to your family and you need to look after them through the sickness and health, the decision should never be taken lightly, talk to the people who run the refuge centres they will help you with any questions you may have.

 

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