Some good news....

I went to the travellers today and managed to get the three terrier pups, the lurcher puppy Aimee, and her mother Molly. Aimee really started to come out of her shell and I'd say she will be such a character. She's very thin at the moment but I've never seen such an unusually beautiful lurcher pup. She won't be a very big sized lurcher either. Molly, her mum, jumped into my car as much as to say, "please get me out of here". She is a real sweetheart but looks much older than her years due to the hard, sad life she has had to endure with these terrible gypsies. I took these photos at the vet's.

Aimee

Molly

The little pup Sindy, tied to the bin, they refuse to part with. They say she is valuable and want to breed from her. They want lots of money for her; I can't stop thinking of her. I will go back again tomorrow.

Once again thanks for your help,

niamh

Jacko....

I came across this dog today. He is a 10-month old lurcher. His name is Jacko. He is with the gypsies. He is the thinnest and saddest dog I have ever come across. He is a skeleton. He is chained up and he was eating dirty bones. His owner is very cruel. He wouldn't give me the dog; he said he is too valuable. I don't think he will live. I have asked Marion to go down to the gypsies tonight and see if she can try and buy him.Will you put him up on the site?

niamh

Jacko

Jacko has been rescued!

An update from Marion..............

Hi Louise,

Jacko is safe at the Vet clinic in Castletroy. He does not even weigh 15 kg. He is so thin that it is frightening. I think his bones may come through his flesh. He is such a nice boy and just licked my hands. He does not have any mange. He is just suffering from severe malnutrition. He is being fed on Sensitivity Diet, and being kept under observation. We cannot do anything with him at present just rest and try and feed him. He is drinking water and does not need a drip.

I also got a small beautiful black lurcher bitch in terrible condition. She had been badly bitten on the front shoulder and it is infected. I managed to get another bitch in for treatment but they would not give her up at present. However, she has Demodex Mange and is in a terrible state. I think it is very bad but the Vet agreed to treat her and see what can be done. She is also in season and running a temperature and has swollen glands. She will be seen again to-morrow.

I could not look at any more after that. It is just so hopeless. Each one is more needy than the one before.

Many thanks,

Marion.

Update on Jacko....8 July 2005

Hi Nancy,

Marion and I went to the kennels to see Jacko today. I am glad to say that he is looking so much better. He is rested and relaxed and it even looks like he has put on a bit of weight. We think he is going to be a real character. When he was in the veterinary hospital the nurses loved him. As he began to feel better he started to play like a puppy. Despite having a very cruel owner and such a horrible life until now, Jacko is just full of affection. It's amazing he can be so forgiving. He is now starting to look so handsome; give him another few weeks and he will turn heads. It was hard to get his photo as he kept jumping around the place. What a change from the gypsies where he was chained up. Jacko would like to thank everyone that has wished him well and there have been many, and for all those who have donated money for him, it's money well spent!

talk soon

Niamh

Colin....

Hi Nancy,

Marion was at home late last night. We had a very busy day and she was just sitting down when there was terrible banging at her door. It was the local gypsies; they shouted to her to come quickly as they had an injured lurcher in the car.

The gypsies said that the dog had been running in a field where there is construction going on and he fell down a huge hole. There was a big stake in the hole which went through his leg. Marion looked in the car and was shocked at what she saw. A beautiful, very small male lurcher, who we have called Colin, (which means little boy), was lying on the floor of the car. When Marion looked in all she could see was blood pouring from Colin's leg and a bone protruding from a huge wound. The dog was very shocked and howling in pain.

Marion rushed Colin to the vet. He got emergency treatment; we did not know whether Colin would live. Marion and I visited Colin today in the clinic. His condition has stabilized. His leg was splinted and he hobbled over to us. What a sweet gentle dog. He just wanted to be stroked and wanted to be cared for.

Marion and Colin

Marion and Colin

Colin with his splinted leg

Colin with his splinted leg

Our vet explained that Colin has fractured two bones in his lower left leg, the ulna and the radius. He had a big wound above the site of the fracture. The wound has been stitched. The bones have been aligned with a splint. Colin's leg will be splinted for 10 days. After 10 days his stitches will be removed and the fracture will be checked to see if it is healing in the correct alignment. We are hoping that it will. This would be the cheapest treatment.

We are in severe financial difficulty. Colin's emergency treatment has already cost €200. However, if Colin's leg is not setting properly he will need to have it fixed with an external fixator. He cannot have plates inserted as the plates would have to go over the open wound and could lead to huge problems with infection. With the external fixator the fracture will be stabilised with screws above and below the site of the fracture away from the open wound. This surgery would cost €600 +.

We do not know how we will afford this but we will do our best for Colin. He is 2 years old and has a wonderful nature. He must of had a very hard life as he is very thin and his coat is poor. He has a raised toe on his right foot. This is due to lax ligaments caused by malnutrition. The next ten days Colin will be nursed with his splint in place. In 10 days time we will know his fate.

Jacko is doing great and we all love him. What a character! Colin has come from the same gypsies as Jacko.

Best wishes,

niamh

Cara

Cara

Hi Nancy

Hope all is well. I don't think you will believe me when I tell you that we have rescued another small lurcher with a badly broken leg. We have called her Cara (this means friend) and she has come from the same gypsies as Colin and Jacko.

Cara has broken her shin bone. It is a bad break; the bone is broken in many places. Cara has spent the last two days in the veterinary hospital. Her leg was very swollen initially. She was in severe pain and received treatment for the pain and also had drugs to reduce the swelling.

Despite being so ill Cara manages to give lots of kisses to all the nurses. They have told us that she is one of the nicest dogs ever that they have taken care of. She is so gentle and thankful for everything that is done for her. Her little tail wags when she sees people coming. When she gets an injection she just licks the nurses hand.

I went to see Cara yesterday and she wagged her tail and had a huge sloppy kiss for me. Cara is very thin and her coat is very poor she has had a very cruel owner yet she is so forgiving. She is such a special girl.

The swelling went down in Cara's leg today and the vet put a splint on it. Cara is receiving the same treatment as Colin. She will have a check x-ray in two weeks time and if the leg is healing correctly she will need an external fixator. We hope the conservative treatment with the splint will work; we do not have the funds to pay for more operations.

We do not know how we will keep going. Two beautiful dogs in so many days with such horrific injuries, it is heartbreaking.

Sorry for bringing you more bad news

best wishes

Niamh

Cara's leg

Annie - Warning: the pictures below the text of Annie's horribly injured leg are quite graphic.

Hi Louise

This am early I got a call from a lady who lives just down the road from
Marion. A lurcher had collapsed underneath some bushes in her garden.
Catherine, Jackie and I rushed over. We were shocked and so upset poor
Annie,as we have called her, was lying down. Her leg was swollen to at least three times the amount and the smell of rotten tissue and flesh was nauseating.

The pain Annie must have been in.... It was so cold here last night. Annie
is just a bag of bones; she has no body fat whatsoever. She is just about a
year old. Whoever tried to splint her leg had used pieces of timber and
twine. The timber had pushed its way through her flesh and the twine had
done the same. It was the  saddest sight I have ever seen.

I don't know how I picked her up but I did and put her in my car; she showed no signs of being aggressive whatsoever despite being terrified and being in pain. We took her to the vet and as we expected the news is very bad. Annie must have her leg amputated to save her life; it will have to be done tonight or in the morning at the latest. She is on iv fluids, pain relief, antibiotics and sedation. I noticed she was very frightened of men in the vets.

The vets were shocked. Everyone who saw Annie cried. Words just won't describe the state poor Annie is it and do you know the very sad thing is if her leg hadn't been splinted she wouldn't be having her leg amputated as its the splint that has caused all the damage.
 

Kate, our little greyhound pup was due to go to Mary but she is ill today.

We're not having a good day here

Niamh