Some of our Rescues
​Bella the Labrador was brought to us one evening. Her owner, a farmer, had ignored her symptoms of dropping half her body weight and being sick for 5 days.
Luckily for Bella a visitor to the farm was so concerned for her that he put her in his car and brought her to us. We went out to the car to find the poor girl dying on the back seat, she was badly dehydrated and going into fits, she was fighting for her life. We got her to the vets who put her straight onto a drip, but told us she was extremely ill and they did not hold out much hope for her.
Bella remained on the drip that Thursday night, and was still alive the next morning. She had an ultrasound and blood tests, the vet suspected either poisoning, womb infection or leptospirosis. It was decided that she would remain on the drip and that if and when she was strong enough to survive an operation then they would go ahead. At 7 PM on the Friday night her condition deteriorated and she started fitting again. The vet decided the operation would have to go ahead because otherwise she would die anyway. Again her life hung in the balance. The vet rang at 9 PM to say she had survived the operation and a large chunk of wood had been found inside her bowel. Her intestines were damaged, and it was still touch and go for her. But good old Bella wanted to live.
She remained on the drip Saturday and on Sunday morning she took her first bit of food. By Monday morning she was feeling a lot better and on Tuesday evening we could all stop holding our breath she was discharged.
Bella went straight to a foster home to be nursed back to health.
The vet bill for saving Bella’s life was £893.00 and surprise surprise the farmer
didn’t want to pay it. He would rather breed puppies from his dogs and profit
from them than take responsibility for them if they become ill and need
veterinary treatment. He had tried to breed from Bella 3 weeks before she
became ill “but she didn’t take” good old Bella.
​Not only was Sky physically beautiful, but her sweet and gentle nature shone out to all. For this reason we decided she would be ideal to meet the Public at our fundraising events in Stafford town centre “Sky became a Star”. Adored by everyone and in turn thriving on all the attention given, Sky’s enjoyment of life seemed to be improving daily. Although she was underweight we did not have any reason for concern, until unexpectedly Rosie rang concerned that Sky was vomiting and passing blood. Sky spent the weekend in the vets under investigation, on the Monday Sky had an explorative operation when it was discovered she had cancer with a 10% survival chance. With this diagnosis and our trusted vets advice we reached the difficult decision to allow her to go peacefully whilst she was still under the anaesthetic.
We were all heartbroken, Sky had only been with us for a short while, but her beautiful gentle spirit had made a great impression. None of us at Pet Welfare could foresee the future for Sky, but when she came into our care we all had hope and this we will take as an inspiration for carrying on the rescue work we do, and that Sky at least knew what kindness was at last, and she passed from this world in the hands of people who loved her, and although there is a lot of sadness at Sky’s passing, we cherish happy memories too.
Our animal friends may leave us all too soon……but their footprints will dance gently on in our hearts forever.
​In July, a Pet Welfare volunteer, stepped in to save the life of a badly neglected dog. Harry, as he is now known, was spotted dodging the traffic in a busy road.
When he was captured the volunteer realised what a terrible condition he was in. Not only was he under nourished, but he was suffering from an untreated allergy, that had caused him to loose much of his fur, he had several sores and cuts and the bottom of his feet were very badly damaged.
Pet Welfare volunteers began nursing Harry back to health. With appropriate medication his allergy was brought under control, his fur began to grow back and his cuts and sores started to heal. Harry was put on a healthy diet and soon gained weight In order to help Harry walk on his damaged feet he had to wear socks, and although in pain he managed to get about. Despite the ordeal Harry had been through he remained a very loving and trusting dog.
Harry then
Harry now
​This was the weekend of our hen rescue of ex battery chickens.
Each year millions of hens are sent for slaughter at only 18 months old and replaced with young, all in the name of cheap food. Once the hen lays less than 5 eggs a week she becomes un-economic for the farmer. Battery hens live an awful, short and miserable life. When they first come to us they are almost featherless and they display none of their natural behaviours, but given a few weeks they start to recover.
We rescue as many as we can and find them loving homes where they can live out a happy natural life which they deserve.
Our next battery hen rescue was due to take place mid-November. Unfortunately it has been postponed until after Xmas. Due to consumer demand for cheap food, these poor hens will be spending Xmas in battery cages.
Remember battery hens don’t have a choice but you do.
If you would like to adopt some of our rescue hens please contact us.
​This week, sadly, Mandy’s duck Duckman died. This is how he will be remembered.
“DUCKMAN” 2002 ~ 2012~ My hearts best favourite~
Duckman came to live with us after a narrow escape on route to Penkridge market via his rescuer Brian the postman. He arrived in a tall cardboard box, he was black and tall an Indian Runner duck…I didn’t know about ducks or even want one, but I was soon to learn and Duckman was to teach me. I had a spotty dress on that day he came and had been sewing in the garden when he walked up to me and started trying to peck the spots off my dress. I went into the house …he followed, I went upstairs……he followed and watched me. We soon realized he wasn’t a duck, he had imprinted on the man who had hatched him. He thought he was a man, hence “Duckman”. He very quickly decided he wanted to live in the house. By day he would roam the garden bossing the chickens and rabbits about. His favourite place was by the garden gate where he would lurk waiting for potential victims, and if anyone came through the gate he would escort them up the garden path to the front door by holding onto their trouser leg or shoe laces. But by night he lay by the log burner which he used to guard viciously from us all, where he would unfold and lift up his wings so the heat warmed his little body, whilst he quietly quacked happily to himself, such a contented little noise…all was well in Duckman’s world. Our dogs, even huge ex police german shepherd Joey all obeyed him. Even the guest foster dogs soon got the idea we saw many a dog run round the garden with Duckman on its back. Our friend Jon Goatman would look after him when we were away; he would ring us in Cornwall to say he had taken Duckman home with him for a sleepover. But most of all he loved my husband Alex, wherever he was in the garden he would hear Alex van drive past and he would stretch his neck up with his head to one side and listen, then run to the gate to his beloved Alex, attach himself to his trouser leg and trip him up all the way into the house. Such a little earnest thing with a HUGE personality he touched the hearts of many even though really he was quite hateful. Alex nicknamed him Satan because he was black and shiny with an evil glint in his beady little eye as he stared into your soul. Sometimes we just called him an evil little shit. I miss you Duckman, tugging at my pyjamas when I’m making porridge, and you want shredded lettuce and bread in a bowl of water, and your earnest little footsteps following wherever I go. We remember Duckman at Christmas in his white collar and tie being the bouncer at the gate, we miss you following us on the dog walks up the lane, or dancing on the top step quacking at the neighbours, you trapping a 5 year old Oscar in the shed who used to go out of the house with a dustbin lid as a shield, wrapping your neck around ours and cuddling in, flapping delighted in your pond. And how you had to have a stretch and flap your wings after a cuddle. We remember you Duckman in the garden eating slugs which glued your beak together, and how you would wait for worms but not the little red ones, nearly getting your head chopped off when Alex dug the garden, and how Ben dog made your head bleed when you attacked him trying to pinch his dog food. It’s a wonder you lived as long as you did because you took the piss every day. We will miss him forever…..and his footsteps following behind us.
Love you xxxxxxxxxxxxx Duckman xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
