News and updates on the sick, the sad and the scared

What happened to the sick Rottweiler?

When a labrador goes on the attack it can be very serious - what will happen to the one brought in because he put a member of the public in hospital - will the authorities say he has to be destroyed?

Will it be last call for the boxer brought in with a huge tumour on his leg?

Where are the puppies?   A thin terrier is brought in running with milk.

Will the totally traumatised tiny brindle bitza pull round  - 'just a bag of bones' and too scared to eat.  

A female staffi was brought in to us yesterday after being abandoned on a busy road.  Members of the public saw a van slow down and the passenger pushed two dogs out and then the vehicle drove off at high speed leaving two very bewildered and frightened animals.  One ran off straight away, the other was caught fairly  easily.   She is in good condition and  a lovely personality.   The dog wardens are searching for her pal and will bring him to us when they find him.   Unfortunately, it all happened so quickly that no one managed to get the van number plate. 

Our latest dog rescues have been varied to say the least. Some of the dogs we fetch in are very sick or badly injured and it can be quite emotional.  Others are aggressive and it's 'watch your fingers'.    The worst of the cases inevitably stand out in the mind.   Recently we had both in one day - sad and scary.   The sad case first - a poor Rottweiler, wandering about, bewildered and not knowing where he was.  He's still young, a handsome chap but with no future.  Because he's a rottweiler?   Not at all.  He has a wonderful nature but he's in shocking condition and we know already that this one won't respond to our feeding and nurturing and t.l.c.   The dog is extremeley thin and with a huge tumour on his leg.  He's a lovely good natured chap but we know what the vet will say. 

Old Friends and latest rescues

Happy New Year and sorry it's a day or two late but...... you can guess what's been happening in the sanctuary and that life, once again, has gone in a blur of dogs.   Our volunteers are great but they have their lives to live and like to celebrate so it puts more pressure on the rest of us.  We have had some happy endings, thanks folks to everyone who's adopted one of our lovely sanctuary 'soulmates'.   It's a time consuming process though - which dog?  A Yorkie?   Or a Great Dane?   Most folk want to fetch other members of the family back to help decide, bring their own dog to see if everyone is going to get on, then there are vet checks and home checks - it's not a quick process.

Let's wish for an end to cruelty to animals and that animal exploitation will cease.   Let's send a prayer on the wind - that people will respect all creatures and show kindness to animals and their friends everywhere.

Another dog left out all night in minus zero temperatures - tied up and left to freeze to death.

A lovely black and white collie female this time - and saved only just in time.  A motorist on his way home from work noticed this lovely dog tied up to a post in a layby but it was dark and he was in a hurry and the significance didn't register.

Next morning as he was going to work he saw that she was still there, collapsed and stiff as a board.  It was an absolutely freezing night - minus zero temperatures and the poor thing was barely alive.   She could barely walk when she was brought in to us and although we've thawed her out and she's nice and warm now - she's still shivering.   It's from shock now though.   What a terrible thing to do to such a lovely dog - she's affectionate, gentle and good as gold.

Whoever could dump two tiny puppies in a cardboard box and leave them to freeze on one of the coldest nights of the year?  Well, somebody did and a group of children found them shivering in a cardboard box in a local park.

The puppies are about five to six weeks old - not ready to leave mum even.  When they were brought in to us our first thought was to raise their body temperature and give them a warm drink of puppy milk.  They're a super pair of little girl dogs, mostly fawn in colour and with a fluffy coat - which is probably what saved their lives.   A couple of days of intensive feeding, small meals and often and lots of warmth and t.l.c. - and they're pulling round from their ordeal.    They have super temperaments although, understandbly a bit clingy still - 'you won't leave me, will you?'

Definitely not.   We'll be looking for good homes for them when they are old enough.  And what are we to call them?   Well, it's Christmas so how about Jingle and Belle?

Calling all sculptors, artists and animal lovers

There are plenty of commemorative memorials for people - but at St.Bernard's we think that pets and other animals should be remembered also.    Wouldn't it be comforting to have a place of memorial for a much loved animal friend - it would provide an outlet for the grief many of us feel when they die.   Our pets are part of our lives, they're members of our family.  In this ever more turbulent world, animals play an increasing part in our lives....

Our animal friends provide us with companionship support and friendship.  Their affection is unconditional.  But apart from saving a few snapshots we have no lasting way to mark their lives.

At St.Bernard's we know the desperate plight and sad end of so many animal lives. They are soon forgotten.  We believe that animals should have more appreciation and regard.   They share this beautiful planet with us and have as much right to be remembered as humans.

Dogs are brought in and sometimes, despite our best efforts, they can't be saved.  Cats are abandoned, injured, beyond all help on occasions.  Goats are ritually slaughtered, horses are still transported for meat.

We'd like to provide a commemorative area for the lives of all animals, our friends, pets and all breeds and species and we have a site marked out for this purpose.   It's a field that was once used for grazing sanctuary horses and is a tranquil area with trees and a pond.   We'd like to encourage more wildlife, especially waterfowl and we'd like to plant more trees.

It would be the perfect area for animal sculptures and so we've come up with the idea of a competition.  We're open to ideas for the exhibitis - they could be metal, wood, living memorials, stone, recycled materials - we're sure all the artists and sculptures out there have many more ideas.   The main concept is that the exhibits would encapsulate the spirit of the animal and show our respect and admiration for the wonderful creatures who share this planet with us.

Members of the public would also be able to commemorate the life of their pet, with a tree or flowers or a suitable memorial.   All memorials would be designed to fit in with the environment.  

We realise that it's an ambitious scheme!   It's only with your help that we can make it happen.   If any sculptors, artists and animal lovers are interested in submitting a design or would like further information, please get in touch with us - via the website or phone 01246 456177

Isn't it the wrong time of year for kittens? Normally, yes but this year we have had so many late arrivals, it seems as though kittening will go on all year round.

These little beauties were born to a cat that was left at the gate in a box.   At least she was actually brought in to us, sometimes cats are left by the side of the road or put out with the rubbish.  Three pure white and one a tiger striped tabby!

If you'd like to come and meet these super little character cats please get in touch.   We don't like kits to go off to their new homes until they are at least nine weeks old but we'd be happy to reserve the kitten of your dreams for you.