EVENTS

Toto, in his blog April 2020, says

I didn’t know Suzie, but mum often speaks of her and her memory is alive with the hospice “Save Another Suzie (SAS) scheme. Let me tell you what mum has told me.

Suzie made a dramatic and ever lasting impression when she arrived in March 2013 at the age of 14. It wasn’t just her looks and unusual eyes (one blue & one brown) that made an impression, it was her aggression! She livened up the car journey by continuously trying to bite the other dog that had been picked up at the same time but both were, thankfully, contained in separate crates.

Suzie was a terrier x collie and both breed characteristics were strong in her. She was brave and determined like a terrier, and intelligent & energetic like a collie. She was loyal & affectionate with my mum but she bit strangers and other dogs.

As always, “Give them Time” (GTT) and Suzie settled down & was lucky enough to be offered a forever sofa home. However, she had formed such a strong bond with my mum that she howled and howled for days in her new home! The lovely family tried their best to GTT but Suzie had other ideas – escape. Sure enough, she ran away and was later found making her own way back to the hospice. After that, mum said Suzie could stay at the hospice and she went on to become the PJ Ambassadog where she learnt to meet and greet every human or cat arrival at the hospice with a smile – but woe betide any dogs that came her way!

The Save Another Suzie scheme was set up in memory of the wonderful little Suzie to raise money to help other dogs who are suffering in horrendous conditions abroad. For a donation of £50, you will receive a certificate and photo of the rescued dog that your money has helped save and you can follow them on their journey from a living hell to a new life. The donation will go towards the travel costs and all the necessary medical treatment and paperwork required to bring a fit and healthy dog over to the UK. We need £250 for the transport of each dog (5 x SAS).

Please consider giving a donation to this fantastic scheme and be the person to help save a dogs life. Perhaps you could make this a wonderful caring gift for a special person and then sit and watch what a difference your donation can make to Save Another Suzie. Please contact us if you would like to contribute or select Save Another Suzie from the sponshorship & shop section of this website. Thank you.

Email: pennyjonesanimalhospice@hotmail.co.uk or use the contact form below.

It was early November 2015 and I had a phone call from a stranger asking if I would like a lot of collars, leads, bedding etc for my dogs as, if not, it was going to go to Romania although, as we were local, we had first chance.

I asked the question "Why Romania?"

And the answer changed my life "Because the dogs in the shelters need them"

I was curious as to why, and which shelters - and more questions opened up a world I didn`t know existed. I was given references on the internet to look up about the shelters, and that day was the start of a way of rescue I couldn`t imagine.

I was introduced to two ladies in Romania who work tirelessly to help the stray dogs in shelters where time stood still. The first little dog I came upon was called "a poor little maus" and she had suffered from a broken back 5 months previous and couldn`t walk on her back legs - she held them up in the air in front of her. She was living in a crate in the shelter as other dogs (200 +) would kill her. Her bed was an old cloth jacket. She was terrified and tried to bite anyone who went close to her and she peed herself with fear. This poor little maus was only 9 months old and would stay in that crate until someone could help her and adopt her, but clearly her chances were slim.

I never slept that night with this little dog in my mind and next morning I knew what I had to do. I called the poor little maus "Mouse" and paid the due veterinary costs and the transport fee and in mid December 2015, my Mouse set off on an epic journey across Europe. Meanwhile, I was ill with stress wondering what on earth I had done! Could I help her? Would she ever be tamed? Would she even survive?

Half way through the epic journey from Romania to the UK, the German officials arrested the transport team and held them for a few days as, at that time, they didn't like disabled pets. I was terrified that little Mouse would never arrive.

But, eventually, my Mouse did arrive. She was petrified and was sitting on her bum with her back legs stretched out in front of her. She managed to run to escape from me, using the strength in her front legs to balance and propel herself forwards, with her back legs suspended in the air under and in front of her.

I kept her in the cat chalet which was small and warm enough for a young smaller dog. I could barely touch her as she tried to bite me, and she weed and pood with fear - but, on the second day, I caught her. Even though it broke my heart to catch and hold her as she struggled and tried to bite me, I instinctively knew I had to do it. I carried her outside to the garden and sat on a chair, talking gently all the time, using a language and words that she had no idea of what they meant. Then the most wonderful thing happened. Mouse was held tight on my knee when Bill, one of my resident cats, jumped up and sat on us both. He purred and purred and I stroked him the best I could. Mouse changed in that instant and from that day she blossomed into my wonderful happy, cheeky companion.

It took quite a few weeks of me supporting her body with an old cardigan and helping her to use her legs again but she made it. I always say other animals help traumatised animals more than we ever can.

So from first reading about Mouse and adopting her, a whole new world was opened to me and, since then, over 200 dogs have followed so far (March 2020).

I must go and search for my family. Where have they gone? I’m so hungry and my legs so painful on these hard Macedonian streets.

Oh hello - nice humans with food – Yes I’ll come with you. Am I staying in this place with food and a bed and lots of company? Ok cool. I’ll have a rest and now my belly is full I feel much better.

How many sleeps have I had in this place? I am not sure but it is getting boring now.

Hey you! Black hairy dog. Do you want to be a free spirit again? Blondy - you want to as well! Yes - bring your best friends and follow me. Listen – we get through the fence here and then run run run. Come on don’t loiter. Oh – friendly humans with food again. What do you mean – you want to go back in! Oh ok I’m hungry again too.

Now I am on a long journey inside a smelly hard box. I will put up with it for now. On and on and on. So tired! Oh I am being lifted out and passed onto a human with long yellow hair only on her head. How strange. A nice new bed and food. Cool. Now its dark I will get over this little gate and then climb over this fence and sleep safely under this metal box. Who is that boy human shouting at me and the nice human with yellow hair is taking me to a different bed with a taller fence. Oh well I will stay here then.

It’s a lovely sunny day and I am off to live my new forever family and it is such fun – I am so happy.

Now we are visiting humans in white coats. Life can be very strange. Ouch that hurt. Why did she stick something sharp in my leg? Never mind – I feel all happy and relaxed and very sleepy. I had a very long sleep in this place and now I can go home. Hello family but I think you need to carry me now. Mrs Human is a weakling. Why can’t she carry me over her shoulder on our little walks like He-Man does? It is very comfortable. I love having servants. I am so lucky to have servants for all my 6 operations and I am so happy that now I can run fast again – even though something seems to be missing. Now I can play rough again and go on holidays and sleep on the humans bed every night. I am so happy and I love everybody.

Thank you supporters, from the bottom of my big heart, for saving my life and giving me a life.

If there's one thing life has taught me is that life keeps going even when you wish the ground would open up and take you - and that is because even at your lowest point there's always a little heart and sad eyes that need you.

I watched Dolly and Sugar from a distance and went to see Smokie when I believed they had found their places already - boy am I glad I did because this boy is such a good lad and we are a blessed family to have him here - our Teddy Boo!

Lots of people watched out for him and helped him come to us and knowing he's loved by many and laying at our fire safe and well is a miracle beyond words.

Hi there, I am Harrys new Mum and the hardest thing will be keeping Harrys story to 400 words (failed miserably), my brave boy has been through so much! Anyway, here goes, my attempt to do him justice.

We will never know the full extent of the horrors that Harry faced but I have pieced the bits together that I know of his life in Turkey. Harry was found by the side of the road, approximately 5½ years ago, in a dreadful state and brought to a local rescue shelter. He had been poisoned and was not expected to survive. Harry also had an obvious problem with his mouth that looked deformed.

Life in the Turkish shelter was hard. Over 450 dogs cared for with little help and little funding. Harry was kept on a metal chain “for his own safety” by his rough wooden kennel. Harry was intermittently unwell although details are very patchy.

Days, weeks, years were long and nights longer…. But staff and volunteers at the shelter loved him as he was a big gentle boy who loved people. They thought no one would want this odd looking drooly boy and expected him to spend the rest of his life there.

Around 1 yr ago Harry was sponsored and was taken to the vets for some dental treatment. It was then that it was discovered that Harrys odd looking face was the result of fractures to his jaw! Harry was posted on the Turkish shelters website for dogs needing rehoming. This is when I first saw him and he looked a poorly sad boy. I didn’t know it then but he had started to steal my heart. And, by a stroke of luck, the wonderful Elizabeth at PJAH spotted Harry and offered him a place at the hospice. The Turkish rehoming site put out an appeal for someone to do a home check for Harry and I volunteered. I had never heard of the Penny Jones Animal Hospice but discovered I lived only about 10 miles away and went to meet Elizabeth. I was bowled over by the care, dedication and work that Elizabeth did at PJAH.

After a very long wait of several months and then a long 5 day journey over Europe, Harry arrived at the beginning of October 2019. He had been well cared for on the journey, but it had taken a lot out of him. Harry was obviously unwell and collapsed when Elizabeth took him to stretch his legs. By a huge will of strength Elizabeth managed to pick Harry up and carry him back to his bed. If you ever meet Harry, you will understand that this is no mean feat! The emergency vet was called and Harry was given antibiotics for a severe chest infection.

Harry had only been at PJAH for a couple of days when I went to meet him. The result was almost inevitable and it was love at first sight. As Harry was so poorly, we agreed he would be better in a home environment than at the PJAH and I willingly fostered him with a view to adopting him in the future. For a dog that was ? 7-9yrs old and had never been in house before, Harry immediately made himself at home and, after a quick wander round, he headed straight for the sofa! Welcome Home Harry!

That night Harry didn’t appear to be able to sleep. Every time he tried to close his eyes and sleep he lifted his head up and panted. We, (Hubby & me), took it in turns and sat up all night to reassure him and to monitor him. The next night was the same and his breathing and secretions were worse. At midnight we brought Harry to see the emergency vet. The vet was wonderful, and we were at the surgery for over an hour. He had developed pneumonia and was very poorly. The vet thoroughly examined Harry and discovered he had holes in the roof of his mouth – oral nasal fistulas. The vet thought these were the reason Harry could not sleep and when he relaxed he stopped using his usual compensation measures and a negative pressure would form, meaning he could not breathe. Harry had an adorable nose twitch, but I was horrified to discover this was due to a fracture across his snout. His bottom jaw was also wobbly and obviously fractured.

My heart nearly broke. I could not stop crying for this dog who had had untreated fractures for over 5 years, and holes in the roof of his mouth that meant that he could not eat safely without risking pneumonia, a painful chronic sinus infection, and could not breathe when asleep. How many years had Harry been without sleep?!

Several vet trips and sleepless nights later and Harry had his 1st surgery and x rays 2wks later. The full extent of Harrys problems was now apparent - Harry had multiple oral fistulas consistent with his lower teeth being driven up into his top jaw. The largest fistula was at the back and was a massive 5cm x 2cm. X rays confirmed multiple upper and lower jaw fractures in a pattern not consistent with a road traffic accident. I can only begin to imagine what abuse Harry endured -someone had clearly wanted him dead. Why? We will never know but Harry is a survivor. During this 1st surgery the smaller oral fistulas were closed using tissue from his gums. A 2nd surgery a few weeks later to attempt to repair the larger 5cm x 2cm fistula was more difficult and complex. Unfortunately this failed and the tissue graft did not take.

Meanwhile, Harry was a star. Despite the pain and discomfort, he remained his gentle stoic self. He was enjoying gentle walks and was slowly building up his muscles and stamina. He was learning to live a different life and bonding with us and my other 2 dogs. His personality seemed to be developing by the day. A stubborn streak was becoming obvious that makes me smile and admire him all the more.

Picture this – Harry wearing his coat out for a stroll. We go through the gate across a field, but Harry continues to walk in his predetermined line so walks under the barbed wire fence instead. His coat gets hooked on the wire. I rush to free him, but Harry keeps walking! I frantically try unhooking his coat, but Harry just keeps going. Rip…!! Harry does not even look round and keeps on going at the same steady slow but determined pace. This is how Harry has survived and I think it is a brilliant strategy. Whatever life throws at you – Be Like Harry and Carry On Regardless!

A 3rd surgery before Christmas, to again attempt the repair of the large fistula, was made using a mesh graft to plug the hole. This was a very long complex procedure and Harry really struggled afterwards. About a month after this the mesh started to fail, was infected and was coming away. Harry was in obvious discomfort and antibiotics were not helping. But this boy was still wagging his tail and he was not ready to give up! Very hard decisions had to be made and we were given some difficult choices by the vets. After many tears and long discussions with Elizabeth, I was even more determined not to give up on Harry. He was not ready to give up and we could not let him down!

A 4th surgery was performed to remove as much as possible of the infected mesh graft. Some was too deep and remains. Harry is now left with an open fistula albeit smaller than he started with. The effect was immediate – the next day he was brighter and appeared in less pain.

Harry now has a nebuliser to help manage his secretions and chronic sinus infection. After a lot of experimentation, we have found the best feeding technique and food for him. He is hand feed and it is an art, but it seems to be working.

He loves his food, has put on weight, and the problem now is telling him “No more” . He is sleeping for longer periods and although his breathing at night is still noisy, he doesn’t struggle as much. His drooling is less and anyway what is a bit of drool between friends!

Harry is a happy loveable bear of a dog and he is now learning to play and to be a dog! He has brought us so much and is teaching us such a lot. I am a better person for having Harry in my life and I am so looking forward to sharing the summer with him.

When times get tough - Be Like Harry and Carry On Regardless!

The following is an article written by Colin Betts. It is an astute account of his observations of the differences between British and 'foreign' rescue dogs. Anyone who adopts a dog from us will be able to relate to this article.

The Difference between British and “Foreign” Rescue Dogs by Colin Betts

There have been 15 dogs in this life – all but one, an ageing UK or Romanian rescue. They have much in common but also some important differences – mostly regarding environmental factors on the streets of Eastern Europe, where hunger, fear, cruelty and suffering happen every day of their short lives.

Two extremes have been Sunny and Sara, from Romania. Sunny stayed outside for the 6 months before the end, free to roam, run away or chase other animals. Sunny spent most of his days guarding the track to the house but never strayed as far as the road, half a mile away. He lived in a cosy shed in the garden, popping in and out for meals, but never getting trapped indoors. By contrast, Linda’s Sara hates to leave the kitchen, lounge and garden. She regards the neighbours as threats and barks at them and will tolerate only certain people on her territory.

And yet both these elderly refugee pups craved and needed security (once their biological needs were met) in their own way. The absence of predators, canine and human, will be a great relief. To survive on the streets they’ve had to work at night as well as all day, scavenging for food, dodging lethal traffic, running from the dog catchers and their dreadful kill shelters. And the smaller, weaker dogs would have done barking duties, sounding as fierce as they could to deter other packs. And at night they’d bark while the leaders slept.

After a spell in living hell (public shelter) they endure days in a van before being able to relax at last at Penny Jones Animal Hospice, or a foster home, until they are ready for some kind of family life. But PJAH saves older dogs, disabled or blind dogs, ones that may not have so very long left to live, which makes every moment more precious and it is how it works for us.

At any rate, we can expect our refugees to bring along a whole bunch of history, trauma, baggage and veterinary issues. He or she may be very happy to have a bed, couple of bowls and a cuddly toy - but they arrive without instructions, and we have to watch, listen and learn about their pasts and various problems. It’s both a steep and lengthy learning curve that will engender compassion, empathy and selfless love. And the rewards to all concerned will be heart warming.

These dogs have another bridge to cross before they can fully appreciate their forever home - fear of being caught and sent back from this heaven, to the pain and darkness of a living hell. A few weeks ago they couldn’t dream of a new life like this; it was beyond their hopes or even imagination. No wonder they are afraid it was all a beautiful dream. This will take time but, like all else, must pass. But it cannot be rushed. At first they need their own safe place and territory. Adventurous walks and outings can wait until they can depend on home, bed and bowl, bit of a brush and a cuddle.

Too many pets (rescued or not) may have to hold their bodily functions back for long periods which cannot be good for them. If they get a regular walk, it will be short and in a park or place devoid of grazing, browsing and self medicating potential. The grass will be sprayed with all sorts of chemical rubbish and they won’t find herbs and wild plants in such locations. A small garden left to grow a little will do them more good than a dose of herbicide or pesticide.

The dogs will let us know how they feel about the car, rides, visiting people, other dogs and animals. Their behaviour will have been dictated by the hard times they’ve had, and we can deduce a lot from their reactions. And then we can make sure that happy things keep happening and sad ones rarely darken our door.

Even so, they may be afraid of certain people (e.g. men in hats) or objects, such as vacuum cleaners or broomsticks. Sashi had a ruckus with a pheasant once and has never forgiven the species - even the popping of Rice Crispies ‘rattles his cage!’

As well as a secure and safe, forever home, they will enjoy freedom from noise and stress as much as is possible. They will already have a lot to take in and learn from. Some will require house–training but this is rare, and Golden Oldies learn fast. You certainly can teach an old dog new tricks! With love, affection and compassion, miracles can happen. And the rewards will be profound and enduring.

Of course, British rescue dogs will share many, or at least some, of these considerations. They too may have been neglected, abused or worse. Sashi spent his first 6 months with us preferring to live out in the barns and bushes, until one day deciding to join the pack. When they are ready, they will relax and be a happy teddy bear, enjoying the puppyhood they never knew before.

But something special can happen with these poor old and unwanted pups in a really short time. Sunny was riddled with cancer when he came but never showed discomfort – only joy and fun in the sun. He was always in a hurry, rarely let anyone stroke him, and yet more friends visited Sunny than me.

The value of the PJAH support network and social media are priceless. We can obtain and share information, ideas, tips, sympathy and empathetic joy with people who know what we are talking about.

Above all, when they leave us, our PJAH friends remember our pups and their stories and help us by talking about them. Our refugee rescues have friends on line and in real life, which can be a real comfort to us.

Start with bed, bowls, cuddly toy, food, sleep, peace and quiet, and a space of their own where they can relax and not have to move. After that, they can almost pass as “ordinary” dogs but will always retain a certain reservation or shyness that makes them a bit different, and a bit special.