Dogs Trust Leeds Update: Ronnie

Remember Ronnie from our Leeds centre, the loveable pup with megaoesophagus? Well, we have an update for you!

Ronnie the 8 month old cross breed is still looking for his forever home, but he now has a stylish new feeding station specially designed and built for him by the dedicated Leeds team.

Megaoesophagus is a condition that means he can’t swallow; Ronnie has to eat standing on his hind legs allowing gravity to take food and water – which is made into a jelly so he can digest it – into his stomach.

Ronnie needs to eat three times a day and each meal lasts 20 minutes because staff feed him slowly from a spoon to ensure it all settles, so having the special feeding station has made the process much easier. If he were left to eat and drink in a normal way from a bowl on the floor, he would be sick and could eventually starve.

Ronnie is healthy in every other way and is a lovely, playful pup but because of his feeding requirements, will need to be the only dog in the home. He also needs an active family and would be more suitable with older children.

Due to his condition, Ronnie will be a part of our foster scheme and his new owners will receive financial support for any veterinary treatment required throughout his life.

If you are interested in rehoming Ronnie, please contact our Leeds centre on 0113 281 4920.

Ronnie also currently features on our media centre and you can read more about him here.

Remember Jack? How could you forget?!

Remember the loveable long-term resident of Dogs Trust Leeds, Jack? Well, we have great news! Kind-hearted Selby couple Emma Carley and Jamie Johnson (pictured left with Jack) have rehomed the sweet boy.

Despite appeals in local newspapers, TV and radio Jack had been overlooked by the public for 16 months, and until last week was still being cared for at the Rehoming Centre on York Road.

Emma, who works at the John Smiths Brewery in Tadcaster, originally visited Dogs Trust Leeds to ask about being a volunteer dog walker. She explains:

“I was on a tour of the Rehoming Centre and my heart melted when I saw Jack in his kennel. My partner Jamie visited a few days later and totally fell for him too; we were both convinced he belonged with us. We’ve only had Jack for a week but can’t imagine him not being here. We don’t understand why he’d been at the centre so long because he’s perfect!

He has been getting lots of cuddles and we’ve even made the garden shed into a little lounge for him where he can get out of the sun. We adore him and he’s being spoiled rotten!”

The team at Dogs Trust Leeds had been flummoxed as to why no-one wanted Jack. Sadly many people don’t consider middle aged dogs, even though they’re often already housetrained and can settle into home life quicker than a younger dog.

Amanda Sands, Manager of Dogs Trust Leeds explains:

“The team and I couldn’t be happier that Jack has finally found a loving family. We’ve always known he’d make a great addition to the right home and we’re overjoyed that Emma and Jamie think he’s their perfect canine companion.

On average dogs stay with us for six weeks before they are rehomed. However Dogs Trust has a non destruction policy and we will look after a dog for as long as it takes to find them the right home – whether this is five weeks or five years.”

Anyone interested in rehoming a resident of Dogs Trust Leeds should call the centre on 0113 281 4920.

The Ballad of Patsy and Jack

Update 28th June 2010: Patsy has now been rehomed! She's settled in extremely well and her new owners report that she's an 'angel'. Jack has also been reserved, so fingers crossed he'll be settling in to his new home very soon!

Update 9th July 2010: Jack's been rehomed too! Read the story on this recent blog post.

Well, not so much a ballad, more a plaintive cry.

These two dogs have just one thing in common: despite mucho media attention they’re still hanging out with their pals at Dogs Trust rehoming centres.

Patsy has appeared on GMTV and in the Daily Record, yet she’s still waiting for Mr or Ms Right to show their face at Dogs Trust West Calder. Honestly, what’s a gal got to do to get your attention?

Jack has appeared on Look North and the Yorkshire Evening Post, but he’s still chilling with his buds at Dogs Trust Leeds. Staff are scratching their collective heads as to why Jack’s not been snapped up by some big dog-loving, large garden-owning son or daughter of a gun.

PATSY



You’d be crazy to let Patsy slip through your fingers. She’s the sensitive brown-eyed girl who could be absolutely fabulous – if only she’s given the chance to come home with you. She’s 8 years old and has been at West Calder for over a year, making her their longest standing resident.

JACK



Don’t leave him on his Jack Jones – this boy seriously needs somebody to love. He’s been a real favourite of Dogs Trust Leeds staff since 2009. This 8 year old chunky crossbreed LOVES people and is the friendliest chap you could wish to meet. He really doesn’t get on with other dogs or cats, so you’ll need to have a good sized garden where he can be sure to get his exercise without meeting any other four legged “frenemies.”

Dial 01506 873 459 for Patsy – West Calder
Dial 0113 281 4920 for Jack - Leeds

A happy ending for Hubble

When Hubble came to us for rehoming, his unusual looks caused a lot of comment. Between his appearance on GMTV and supporters seeing his story online, he fast became one of our most memorable residents. I had the honour of meeting the gorgeous little chappie and he stuck in my mind as one of the friendliest, most trusting dogs I'd ever met, in spite of his unfortunate start in life.

Hubble is now living with devoted owners, who sent us this fantastic update on everything the so-called 'world's ugliest dog' (now surely one of the world's luckiest?) is getting up to.

Hubble has settled into his new life beautifully; he has become so relaxed and content with his surroundings. He lives in a village with the countryside just outside of the front door so there are plenty of interesting walks. Having said that he loves to travel in the car and does enjoy days out at the beach, or further in land where he can mess in slow moving water or ponds. Hubble doesn’t worry too much about the location he is just happy to be included in what ever is going on.

People do look at Hubble and the reaction is mixed, mostly it is positive. He does look cute and I have heard several people say that he looks as though he is smiling.

Hubble is quite deaf although he can hear some sounds such as clapping, to communicate we have developed a few simple hand signals which he recognises easily and is happy with. He is also unable to bark he has no voice at all so he is very quiet. He does love his food and has no trouble eating at all, especially his little treats of gravy bones or chewy sticks.

Hubble enjoys playing with his toys, they have to be soft toys though as his mouth can be a little delicate and we try to avoid any 'normal' dog toys. We have just bought him a little pink princess ball and he seems to love dashing around the garden to retrieve it, the only problem with this game is that as soon as he gets it he takes it straight to his bed for safety! It becomes a very slow game. Hubble has his own chair beside the window with his red tartan blanket for comfort; he does let you sit on his chair sometimes, as long as he is sitting on your knee! Hubble loves his cuddles -he is a very loyal affectionate dog.

Hubble came into our lives at the right time as we were missing Hector who was a larger than life 14 year old Yorkshire terrier who died 3 months before Hubble came to stay. It was a chain of events which brought Hubble to us, It was not planned, I saw him on the internet when some one at work had the Dogs trust web page open and I just knew he needed a home and we needed him to come and live with us. It was as simple as that. He has a huge personality and a special way about him, he is silent but he has an amazing presence about him. It was a happy day when the people at Dogs Trust decided that we could adopt him.

Hubble spends a typical day enjoying his walks, eating his food, snoozing in the garden, when the mower is on he likes to be close by, always ready to work, a sign of his past I feel. These days life is a lot easier for Hubble and he enjoys pottering in the green house as this year’s plants are being grown. When he walks around the village there is one gentleman in particular called Steve who Hubble loves to see as he carries little dog biscuits and Hubble can spot him from a long distance and waits with quiet anticipation for the biscuits Steve has in his pockets.

There is loads to say about Hubble and I'm not sure this does him justice. We just all live in the same house and get along just fine doing ordinary things, just as i think Hubble likes it.

Dogs Trust Leeds seeks special home for Murphy the Mastiff pup

Update: I've just heard that Murphy found his home on Saturday after a family saw his video on our Leeds centre's web page and came to visit! We're all keeping our fingers crossed that everything goes smoothly and he's found his home for life.

===

I was lucky enough to have a day at our Leeds centre recently, popping in to talk websites with the lovely Supporter Relations Officer Sarah.

Sarah sadly ended up getting only 99% of my attention, after she introduced me to her gorgeous pal, a 16-month-old Neapolitan Mastiff called Murphy. This is him with one of his favourite canine carers, Joy:



This is also him, dozing in the office shared by Sarah and some other colleagues, where he's lucky enough to spend some time hanging out (he's not the biggest fan of kennels):



Murphy is a very, very friendly - and drooly! - soul and good with other dogs, too. He has had a home briefly but due to unforeseen circumstances had to come back to Dogs Trust. I've noticed that he appears to be reserved on the website, so there's a possibility a home might be on offer for him, but he's still worth enquiring about as not every rehoming is successful.

So why hasn't he found a home yet? Well, Murphy is a bit of a special case. As a youngster, he broke a leg (back right hand side), which took some time to heal. As a result, he overused his left leg to compensate, and now that has some ligament damage. He's incredibly bouncy, but has to be carefully monitored to make sure he doesn't jump too much or overuse his weakened legs. For this reason, he'll probably need to be an only pet as playing too much can put undue strain on his legs.

Unfortunately for Murphy, it's possible his life might be quite considerably shortened by his condition, as it's not clear how long he'll be able to continue without his legs giving way. The centre staff can tell you more about this if you're interested in offering him a home, but I was told that he's on the 'full foster' scheme, which means Dogs Trust will take care of the vet bills related to his condition for life.

To find out more about Murphy, call Dogs Trust Leeds on 0113 2814920.

Video: 'Britain's Ugliest Dog' Hubble has a star turn on GMTV

The lovely folks at GMTV were kind enough to give the dog labelled 'Britain's ugliest' a chance at finding a new home. Hubble was featured on television and on GMTV's website this morning, along with carer and Supporter Relations Officer Sarah Powell from Dogs Trust Leeds.

Hubble, an eight year old black terrier with a lifelong injury that means his missing a chunk of nose and upper lip, practiced preening on camera in the green room in this exclusive backstage clip!



Hubble loves attention, so he'd prefer to be the only pet in a home. If you have room for him or any of the other dogs at Dogs Trust Leeds in your life please call the centre directly on 0113 281 4920.

Update: Hubble just popped into Dogs Trust HQ in London and I got to meet him - I can confirm he is the friendliest and loveliest of dogs!

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs: Maisy

Last week, Maisy's brother Dennis got his say. Today it's time for her to tell all about life with Dogs Trust Education Officer Donna Sayce in Leeds.

Name: Maisy Sayce

Breed: Wire haired Jack Russell cross

Colour: Tri colour

Age: 9

Who's your favourite two-legged friend at Dogs Trust? The one with the comfiest knee!

Who's your favourite four-legged friend at Dogs Trust? My ‘brother’ Dennis

What's your favourite toy? Tennis balls

What's your favourite treat? Anything that’s going……

What do you dream about? I dream a lot, and sleep bark! But never remember them in the morning.

Where's the best place to take a walk? The seaside. I love running on sand.

What are you favourite activities? Sleeping, cuddles.

What's the one thing you can't stand? The rain!

What do your humans like best about you? My most excellent eyebrows. [Ed's note: Definitely! Love 'em]

How did you meet your humans? I had a couple of homes before I met my new mum. An old lady bought me as a puppy but found me too much hard work. She then sold me via a newspaper ad to a young couple who soon found out they were expecting a baby and could no longer care for me. Luckily, mum heard of my plight and took me in. I have lived with her 8 years and am now very happy.


If you're a teacher interested in hosting a workshop with Donna, Dennis and Maisy or a student who wants to learn more about dogs, you can find out more on our website.

Previous Dogs Trust Dogs: Dennis | Megan

Meet Dogs Trust's Dogs: Dennis

Dennis' 'mum', Donna, is quite new to Dogs Trust, having taken on the role of Education Officer in Leeds recently. As she spends her days giving workshops, helping teachers and pupils access resources and promoting Dogs Trust's message of responsible dog ownership, she has Dennis and Maisy at her side. This week Dennis takes centre stage, but check back next Monday for Maisy's profile!

Name: Dennis Sayce

Breed: Wire haired Jack Russell cross

Colour: White and brindle

Age: 6

Who's your favourite two-legged friend at Dogs Trust? Anyone who will play fetch with me!

Who's your favourite four-legged friend at Dogs Trust? My ‘sister’ Maisy

What's your favourite toy? Squeaky balls, tugger toys, footballs, rugby balls, Frisbee……. The list is endless!

What's your favourite treat? CHEESE!

What do you dream about? Running along the beach playing with the rugby ball!

Where's the best place to take a walk? Definitely the local woods….. all those smells and sticks!

What are you favourite activities? I am a keen swimmer! And love to run and play all day with my doggy friends

What's the one thing you can't stand? Having my coat brushed!

What do your humans like best about you? My handsome face, and curly tail!

How did you meet your humans? I was found as a stray when I was five months old. My mum saw me and took me home for the night as I looked so sad. That was 5 ½ years ago!

Previous Dogs Trust Dogs: Megan | Liniker

If you're a teacher interested in hosting a workshop with Donna or a student who wants to learn more about dogs, you can find out more on our website.

Dog of the Week: Madge @ Dogs Trust Leeds

Introducing... Madge!

Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Age: 2

Likes: I am a pretty typical Staffy - full of enthusiasm and always ready for a cuddle, fuss and attention. I'm also very keen on my food and treats, will get on well with other dogs and have mastered the art of walking well on the lead.

Dislikes: I'm happy to get on with other dogs but I would much rather live alone with my owners.

Needs: If you have a lot of love and attention to spare, I'm the dog for you! I'm full of energy and will make a loyal and loving pet.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Leeds on 0113 281 4920 or visit Madge's page on the Dogs Trust website.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Ryan @ Dogs Trust Darlington | Tyzer @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Arnie, Barney and Kurt join Dogs Trust as new sponsor dogs!

Three new sponsor dogs have been named at Darlington, Glasgow and Leeds Rehoming Centres; supporters can now help Dogs Trust offer a safe and happy home to three more dogs who might otherwise never be rehomed.

Dogs like Arnie (Glasgow), Barney (Darlington) and Kurt (Leeds), pictured left to right above, might have great difficulty finding a home due to a difficult past or the need for specialist medical treatment. Just £1 a week from a sponsor will mean that Dogs Trust can give them a comfortable life for the rest of their days.

Introducing the new dogs:

Arnie

Age: 4
Breed: Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Brindle & White)

Brown-eyed Arnie has a penchant for carrying big sticks and he loves to paddle in the pond near the Centre, although he hates having to come out of the water again.

Barney

Age: 5
Breed: Springer Spaniel (Liver & white with extremely droopy jowls!)

Found as a stray in Ireland before coming to Dogs Trust. He's a typical Springer; this hyperactive fellow loves his walks, toys and food!

Kurt

Age: 7
Breed: Crossbreed (Brindle)

Kurt - or Kurty - is a nervous dog; he was found wandering the streets as a stray. However, he loves his carers and is learning to trust again thanks to their attention.

To learn more about our sponsor dogs, or to sign up to the scheme, just visit our website.

Dog of the Week: Bouncer @ Dogs Trust Leeds

Introducing... Bouncer!

Breed: German Shepherd Cross (female)

Age: Around four and a half months

Likes: Gentle care and attention. I was thrown out of a van onto a busy road and need lots of TLC but I am quite friendly and happy.

Dislikes: Sudden, strange situations; I'm a little nervous.

Needs: Amazingly, I sustained no physical injuries - hence my name! - but I will need a little help building up my confidence with people. I'm ready for a loving family!

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Leeds on 0113 281 4920 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.

Proof that microchipping pets works: dog reunited with owners within 24 hours!

When a group of students found an adorable Collie cross wandering around Leeds' Hyde Park on her own, they took note of the Dogs Trust collar around her neck and called us. John, the Assistant Manager at Dogs Trust Leeds collected her and, knowing we microchip every dog in our care, scanned her for a microchip.

Amelia, as the dog's name turned out to be, had indeed been adopted from us by a Mrs. Swallow, though in Snetterton, not Leeds! Mrs. Swallow's son had set off to visit his brother in Leeds with Amelia, who escaped from the student house and promptly got lost.

The next morning, when the centre managed to track down Mrs. Swallow, she was already in Leeds frantically searching for the beloved family pet. Thanks to a microchip and the fact that Mrs. Swallow kept the details updated, Amelia was reunited with her overjoyed and relieved family just one day after first going missing.

A great story to celebrate National Microchipping Month, don't you think?