Leaving RAIN Rescue and Coming Home...

I waited and waited for the four sleeps to be over.  It felt like weeks and weeks and not just days.

Jacquie, who was looking after me while I was RAIN Rescue, wanted to go and rescue more dogs from those horrible pounds.  Apparently they are always full of animals these days, and as I know only too well, if you are in there for any length of time, you can be put on the "list" and that really isn't a good place to be.  Jacquie wanted to make more room so she shuffled around the other dogs in the kennels.  She moved me from the outside kennel I was in, to a more inside-y kind of one.  She tried to make it comfortable for me, but I still don't like beds!

There were a lot of people who came to see me, including a lovely couple of people who were looking for a dog to help their autistic son.  I would have liked to have helped them, but I already had a Mummy and Daddy!

Then, finally, I noticed that a blue car had pulled up by the gate to the kennels.  That wasn't the car that I remembered, so I thought it must be for someone else.  Jacquie came to open it, the car drove in, and then, suddenly, I heard my Mummy's voice.  Oh, I can't tell you how excited I was!  It was time!  My Mummy had come for me!

There were a lot of things to be done before I could go back home with her.   There were forms to fill in, and I had medicine which Mummy had to get to make me better, and all sorts of things.  I was a little nervous about going with her.  I am not sure I like cars.  I don't mind the journey, and I like getting out the other end, but the getting in isn't very nice.  It does have some very unpleasant associations for me.  So when Mummy wanted me to get into the car, I went to hide behind Jacquie's legs.  Jacquie told me that she would not let me go to a home that wasn't nice and kind to me, and I know she meant it.  I think I was just nervous.

Eventually I got in the car.  Here is a picture for you.

I must say that I was rather impressed at how well appointed it was.  There were two blankets on the seat, and a harness in the seat belt thingy, and there were two toys as well!  TWO TOYS!!  WOW!  And they both squeaked!!  This was lovely!

The journey did not take too long, and Mummy talked to me soothingly all the way.  I licked her hand once when she was moving the gear stick and she giggled!  And then she fussed my nose.  That felt nice.

I was really excited when we got to my new house.  I really wanted to get out and explore a little bit.  Mummy didn't take me right into the house.  She took me for a walk in a park first.  Oh it was exciting.  There were new smells that I hadn't smelled before, and I got so over excited that I started to play with my lead.  Mummy asked me not to, and then eventually, she got me to stop very gently and nicely.  I walked very nicely all the way around the park and then it was time to go into the house.

Apparently there are other animals in the house called Cats.  I like cats.  I don't want to chase them especially, but I do want to see them.  They are very small dogs.  I want to make sure they are okay and are nice to Mummy and Daddy.  Unfortunately, they do not seem to feel the same.  I walked into the house and they vanished upstairs.  Oh dear.

Mummy let me wander around the house and explore and snuffle around the house.

 I went upstairs and downstairs, and all around the place!

I found somewhere really comfortable to sleep, but apparently, I am not allowed to sleep there.  Shame.  It was very comfortable!

It was such an exciting day!

I have found a nice place to sleep though.

Until my next post!

Lots of love

Dotty xx

Playing with my new Mummy and Daddy

Last time I was typing to you, with my paws, on this laptop thingy, I had just got to the bit where some lovely people had come to see me and take me for a walk.

The people at the place where I am staying at the moment take us out to play and walk in a field that is quite close to the kennels.  They suggested that my lovely new friends take me up there and throw a ball about and see if we all got on together.  Once we left the gate, the nice lady took my lead and I could tell she had walked dogs before.  I walked to heel right away because I wanted to impress them.

We got to the field, and it was so nice to be left with just the nice people.  I  feel the sun on my back, and I hear the nice lady's voice.  I think life might get a little bit better soon.  We play a little bit of tug of war with a toy that was lying there, I was very gentle, just in case the nice lady was scared of me... but she was tugging harder than me!  I am timid and to be honest, not feeling very well either.  Kennel cough is no fun you know.

The nice lady found the ball thrower and she got me to run up and down a little bit, always telling me nice things.  I get tired very quickly because I am a little bit ill.  I lie down next to a hay bale and I had a chance to watch the nice people talking.

"She is just gorgeous" says the nice lady.

"She is, isn't she!" says the nice man.

"So, when can we take her home then?"

"Well, I am not sure..."

"How about now?"

"I don't think we can.  How about just before Easter?"

"I am not waiting that long, and neither should she."  I agree with the nice lady!

This goes back and forth a bit.  I kind of turn off, because they aren't making much sense to me.  Until I hear..

"Well, we are definitely having her, it is just a matter of when!"  I like the nice man!  He gives great ear fusses!

We walk back to the kennel.  I am very careful to walk exactly between the nice lady and the nice man.  I am a bit nervous when the nice lady goes a bit in front of me, but it is okay, because she sees I am nervous and backs away a bit.

We get back to the kennel and I am still on the lead with the nice lady, and she begins to talk.  Oh, I like the way this is sounding!

"We are in Love.  We want to take her".

YAY!  I have a Mummy and Daddy!!

While they sort out the details, I get ear fusses and head fusses and all sorts of things.  I am so excited.  My ears are back, and my tail is wagging.  It makes everything better, to know that I have a home to go to!!

Wait though... I have to WAIT?!  Until THURSDAY?!

Mummy and Daddy get into their car and they go away... wait... Daddy has the window open... I am straining to hear what he is saying.

"Now, Dotty... only four more sleeps until we come and take you home."

I can count to four.  I can manage 4 sleeps!

Next time:  I will tell you all about the exciting journey and my first afternoon!

My name is Dotty. And I am a Dog.

Yesterday was an incredible day for me.  I was adopted by a new Mummy and Daddy.


I am only 9 months old and have had a really hard time in my short life so far.  Through no fault of my own, I ended up in a dreadful dog pound, and it was so awful.  People were talking about my number being on a "destruction list", and although I don't know what that means exactly, I knew it didn't sound good.  I couldn't do anything about it though.  I just hoped someone would come and help me.

Then, a lovely lady called Jacquie came and rescued me from that dog pound.  She took me out to the countryside near Rotherham and tried to make me as comfortable as possible.  I was very confused, and not really very happy.  She had put something called a bed in a fenced off area for me, but I don't know what that is.  I think I would prefer to sleep on the floor, until I am a bit more sure of whether Jacquie can be trusted.  She put down food for me too, but I am not sure if it is okay, so I haven't eaten any of that yet either.  I am awfully hungry, but I am awfully scared at the same time.

I heard Jacquie and some of the other people around here talking about people coming to see some dogs.  I didn't think they meant me.  I haven't been here for as long as some of the other dogs, so I wasn't expecting much.  Well, one of the people who comes to look after me in this fenced place came up and put on a walking harness.  This is a good sign!  I am going to go and have a walk and smell some smells and maybe even chase a ball.  Oh, but wait a second, there is someone else here.  I don't know her, but her voice is gentle and she is looking at me from the other side of the fence.  So I go over to her, and I lick her hand, and then she tickles me under the chin.  Oh, that felt so nice!  I am wagging my tail, and I really want to spend some more time with her.   

So, I trot out quite happily. I am walking down the side of the fence, and I see the nice lady properly.  Oooh, yes, I think I like her.  I am wagging my tail, but I am really scared and I am not sure if the lady will like me.  We walk down to the main gate and I notice there is a man there too.  He is leaning down and smiling broadly and so I go and lick his hand.  He fusses my head, and he is really, really good at it!  I really like them!

The nice lady offers me some food.  I take it very gently from her fingers but it tastes yucky to me, so I very gently let it fall to the floor.  She doesn't yell at me or get cross with me.  She tries something else.  But I don't like that either.  I spit that out ever so delicately.  She still isn't cross with me!

After the people chat for a while, I am taken for a walk.  I am very excited to be with them, but because I have kennel cough, I can't walk too fast or too far.

My paws are getting tired.  I think this will be the end of my first post.  Next time I will tell you about the walk and what happened after that!

Stay tuned!!

Lots of love,

Dotty the Dog xx