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Sounds good, we got a new camera lately and have been snapping away. I am getting some of them mounted on canvas through http://www.collectart.com, the quality is excellent and the prices are v reasonable.
Dave and I are thrilled with the update and photos guys!!! We adored Breezer and it was a pleasure meeting you on your home visit. If it wasn’t for Lorraine in Wexford fostering him for so long he would never have had the opportunity to meet you guys and find such a fabulous forever home.
Dobermans are the most amazing dogs but possible the hardest to rehome. They are the most loyal and loving of dogs and Breezer is a particularly lovely example. He is a lovely size and got on great with Lorraine’s dogs (and when we brought him down hardly looked at her cat!). He was excellent in the jeep on what was a long journey (our own Danu hates the car which is typical of a lot of dobies). I know fom Lorraine Breezer loved to sun bath like our own big man! Doberman are demandingly affectionate (I am trying to write this and protect the laptop!) and no dog will love you like a dobie!! They can be v strong on the lead and need a lot of exercise and some (Breezer and our own Danu adore people and other dogs) can be a little nervous of strangers. Dobies wear their huge hearts on their sleeves though and their temperments are always v obvious. We discovered last October 12 month what everyone in Germany knows – Great Danes and Dobies are best buddies and live together like no other dogs can!!! God bless you for giving Breezer and his sister such a lovely home and please keep us updated!!!Hi Sarah and thank you so much for all your excellent advise not only with my boys but with so many of the dogs that have come to DID and to many other charities in Ireland. We are all v lucky you chose to stay in Ireland so many years ago! You have worked with those in most need, those whom no one else would help and I know I speak for so many when I say you’ve have made a huge contribution to animal welfare internationally as well as nationally. I recently met Roger Mugford, one of the most respected figures in animal welfare, at Crufts and he raved about you and your excellent work.
You are so right about being careful around Kenny!! He is so young and exuberant and since he got full control of his limbs as he’s gotten older he can really move!! I could not manage the boys without my hubby Dave, not only on walks but for the car, vet visits etc. This is also why so many big/strong dogs end up in need of rescue as men get them and either won’t help or leave the family home and women are left struggling to manage them. I’ve had two bad falls walking Danu (broke my coxic bone when Dave was away for work last September wich took months to heal, and fell Good Friday damaging my knee and hitting my head). Training is ongoing, we use special harnesses, the boys get a lot of exercise etc. but they were never on leads before and we simply have to work through it with them. I should also add that without Dave I could not have carried out the fostering and transport etc I have done and he has always been such a huge support and help to me. I know we all rely on the help and support of our families too and a big thank you to them all.
Thrilled to say I recently met Lucy with Toto and her lovely new family! She looks amazing and is having a great time! Toto also completly stole my heart, he is absolutely adorable! Fair play to Karen and Andrew who are looking after them so well, and for all the wonderful work they have done with Toto. He had so many health requirements and had to have a v expensive operation. He now looks amazing and Lucy is very lucky to have found such a lovely home!
Please don ‘t be put off by mention of mange, one treatment for sarcoptic kills the mites and there is no risk to people, just a little tlc needed. Check with Gwen but even kept seperate for a few days from other dogs would suffice.
Apologies in advance to Dave and Kenny, but as I know they’ve guessed, Danu is the love of my life!! When I saw Danu on the site two years ago it was love at first site and although we had just had 5 puppies for 6 weeks and they had just gone the night before I had to take him home. He had won everyone over in the pound, he had trotted along with David while he cleaned out other kennels and was so quiet and good he was out playing with loads of other dogs before anyone realised! He was ginger covered all over from being left 24/7 out of doors and several of his teeth are worn flat from chewing on a gate or stones from boredom, he’d never been on a lead or in a house. However he got the hang of toilet training v quickly, adores people, especially men and loves other dogs. He is an absolute gentlemen despite he’s previous existence. He is excellent with other dogs, and even with difficult dogs he avoids confrontation and will walk away from any trouble. Like most dobies he will bark on the lead (they feel restricted and are "working" on lead and protecting you) but now sits for us when he sees other dogs in the park and rarely barks anymore. Like most dobies he does hate the car (whines all the way!) worships the sun (dobies must have a sunny spot) hates even a drop of water and must be on your lap all night being petted none stop all night!! We had another little chap when we got him, Rex a PBTX who was v domineering but Danu adored him and Rex was always the boss. Unfortunately Rex passed away last year and Danu was devastated. He has always been great with foster dogs but when we took Kenny the Dane they were instantly best buddies and Danu is so great with him-Kenny is a lot of dog and demands a lot of rough play! Unfortunately Danu will not accept the cats, he is v jealous of them (we’ve tried everything and even got Rex to live with them successfully) so the cats live mainly upstairs! He is exceptionally strong on the lead and we are always working on that. Doberman are arguably the most difficult dog to home bar none, they were heavily overbreed in the 70’s and 80’s (thanks to Magnum PI) and were the chosen breed of the scumbags and idiots who are now getting rotties and bull breeds. If not properly socialised they can be difficult with other dogs, are v strong on the lead and unless everyone in the households feeds and interacts with them they can attach to one person and become v jealous of others. I honestly think they are the most loyal and loving of all dogs and would literally do anything for their owner. They are also the most emotionally needy of all dogs and do need a lot of time, love and attention. You will be rewarded 1000 fold.
Thanks so much Suzi for putting up the photos of our babies!!
We fostered Kenny back in October (coincidentally my surname, named for the boxer by Pound staff) and could not part with him. He came into the pound appox 7 months old, followed by his sister Cinders a month later, emaciated and with dermodectic mange which took 6 weeks of weekly injections and washes to tackle, and by then we were all in love! Dave had helped a friend with their older Dane girl many years ago but we had a lot to learn. Of those who applied for him when he came in most wanted to feed him rubbish and put him out of doors, Danes are one of the hardest dogs to find a suitable home, though many like the idea. Hence the number of giant breeds coming in to rescue because "they got too big". Kenny is soft as butter, he does not know what it is to growl (had to have skin scrappings weekly for the mange and was a lamb for Malcolm Argyle our vet) and adores all other dogs. He is so happy all the time and full of fun and love (though some Danes if not socialised can have problems with other dogs). Sarah Egar was a great source of advice and tells me that in Germany (the Dane is actually a German breed and the national dog) Danes and Dobies are often kept together (both big soft playful himbos!). Kenny is over 60 kilos now and is stocky rather than tall for the breed (as required for the show ring which is why so many other Danes have skeletal problems) and his coat has finally shed all the nasty old fur. We feed him Royal Canin giant breed mixed with meat, fish, rice or fresh veg, Danes need a v good diet (and he is v fussy!). He is extremely lively in the house and over 60 kg of dog bouncing around your front room with a 45kg Dobie isn’t easy!! He is also v strong on the lead to say the least!!! We have three cats which he loves but would flatten! In the evenings after he’s walk he falls fast asleep always on his back on a two seater sofa and the snores can be heard next door! Himself and Danu are best buddies like I have never seen two dogs before and we feel so blessed to have them both!
Just dropped Marco to Carol, he is an angel and was getting on great with her other little foster girl! Whoever gets either of them would be very lucky!! A big thank you to Carol for fostering them and for all the work she does in her community promoting reponsible ownership
Little video of Marco in urgent action on the front of this website just heart breaking, hopefully he will pull through and find a well deserved forever home.
I’m afraid guys Marco is not doing very well. Reading the previous posts andtalking to Anne he is such a fab guys but today we found him very sick, listless, off his foood and smothering with a chest infection. Anne and myself took him up to Tracey having discussed his condition with Kim, Marie and Gwen and Tracey is very worried about him. This is one very special guy so please God he can fight his way through the night. He was in such pain (Tracey thinks something intestinial) but was so good and gentle both with us and the other dogs. He is truly stunning, so tiny and pretty. I will check with vets in morning and post any news.
Lovely to see the photos, Willie was a dote and a big thank you to yourself and Tony for looking after him to and from the train, organising refreshments and all the other things you guys did to make the day such a success! Roisin and Kelly absolutely stole the show and both could have professional modelling careers!! Marie’s interview on LMFM radio was very good the photographer and journalist from The Meath Chronicle were lovely and I’m sure the piece in the paper will be brillient. More excellent publicity for happy rescue dogs and responsible ownership – very well done Liz and Marie!!
God bless you Cathy, they look ten times better in your loving home already, I’m sure in your experienced hands they will steadily improve.
A HUUUGE THANK YOU to Liz and Suzie who drove to Galway in dreadful weather conditions on saturday to help these poor babies. As ever another big thank you to their fosterers without whom none of DID’s work would be possible
