Mon 3rd July: Jinks has a wonderful life now

 I want to start today's post with a wonderful photo, one which will - I think - make a lot of you smile. It shows little Jinks as clearly a very happy and integrated family member, even though his front legs will never get better.  He doesn't care because he's more than content with his situation, and he's just enjoying every minute of it.  I want to thank the person who made this possible, not only for offering Jinks a place in her home, but giving him back a life that we weren't sure he would ever be able to experience again.  He has wheels when he needs them, and he also enjoys going out and about in a backpack.  At home he can still get around pretty fast apparently, so life is good for Jinks. 

Sweet Sharlene 

I was reminded that it's not only potential adopters and foster parents that go away for their summer holidays, but vets too.  The CT scan results came back for sharpei-type Sharlene, and the only option that may possibly help with her jaw problem is surgery, and even then there's no guarantee that it will be successful and that Sharlene will be able to open her mouth afterwards.  We obviously want to try anything and everything that will mean Sharlene can eat properly rather than lick soft food from a bowl, but we need a vet who's experienced enough to be able to perform such surgery otherwise it will mean waiting.  

Sometimes the dogs that come to us can be helped by veterinary treatment, whether surgical or medicinal, while others might be physically healthy but have emotional or behaviourial issues.  A few months ago we took in a group of small-medium dogs, who I suspect might be related or at least came from the same place, and they were all very shy.  It's taken quite a long time to see changes, but one by one the "E" dogs are starting to open up, and are even going out for walks.  Eliza was the first to break out, and she's doing really well these days, while the others are following her lead one by one.  This is thanks to the volunteers who come every day to help out at our North Street Kennedy Town Centre, and who have been slowly building the dogs' confidence.  

Eliza is a normal happy girl now