Connie McAvoy

FAREWELL TO BEAUTIFUL CONNIE (16.3.2021)

A very sad Terry told us “Our beautiful Connie went to the Bridge this morning. She had been struggling more and more so today was the right time. Kim was with me and we watched her go very peacefully. We are hoping that B will be waiting to give her a cuddle.

We think Vinnie is trying to work out what is happening, especially as he didn’t have Connie’s bowl to lick out tonight, but I’m sure he will get there soon”.

NINE DAYS ON

“It still feels very strange without Connie. I keep imagining she will come in from the garden or ask to go out. Vinnie seems to have accepted there is no more Connie and he has even taken over her bed!”

For sure, Connie will now be re-united with her beloved Mum and all her IRR siblings.

HISTORY

CONNIE HAS BEEN A WONDERFUL SPONSOR DOG

Connie had always been very happy to be a Sponsor Dog to help other dogs who find themselves homeless through no fault of their own.

She says, “It is with a lot of sadness that I have to say “goodbye” to you, my very loyal followers. Many of you have supported IRR by sponsoring me for over 10 years and that is a very, very long time in a dog’s life.

When we started out, I was quite a young lass fresh over from Ireland, disgraced and with my two tiny black babies in tow. My owner believed that, by producing cross breed puppies, I was “ruined” as a breeding bitch forever. There are those who said I had had a lucky escape! Being black and crossbreeds, the pups were of no value to him either”.

Connie was surrendered to the pound and possible instant death, with her two lovely babies in 2007 when she was only about a year old. Fortunately, all three were rescued and were fostered in Ireland before coming to the UK. Amazingly, mum and pups were all in good condition and all had superb temperaments.

Thanks to IRR, they not only all survived but all went to wonderful homes.

They were all part of an “M” batch taken from the Pound so Connie was Maisie and the kids were Merlin and Minstrel. The fourth member of the little group was Maeve (named after a famous Queen of Ireland.). She was older than and helped Connie loads as a young Mum.

In 2007, Maisie was no more than 2yrs old whilst Maeve was, at least, 3yrs old. She had been used as a breeding bitch and had, clearly, been an excellent mum as she adored Merlin and Minstrel and was very gentle with them. That was unlike poor Connie who really didn’t have a clue about motherhood. For that reason, it was Maeve and the boys who went for foster with Pauline and Belinda and Terry took Maisie. The idea was for her to just be a foster dog. Well that was their intention. Pauline was hoping for more and, sure enough, quick as a flash, she was delighted to hear Maeve was going to become Connie MvAvoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maeve, who had come through the ISPCA as a cruelty case, was scared of most strangers, both male and female, and was absolutely terrified of men but she was still desperate for love. She bore the horrible scars of abuse on her lovely but very sad face and her coat was greasy and horrible. After a professional grooming session with Tina, she looked, and must have felt, much better. She smelled a lot better too, bless her.

After a few days of helping Pauline with the kids, who were extremely lively, she went off happily to her forever home which happened to be in the next village. So, like Connie, she had become a West Country lady too and her new Mum, Ann, called her Cassie. Sadly, after a very happy life despite such a terrible start, she peacefully crossed Rainbow Bridge in 2017.

Having spent a few days together with Pauline, they were split so their training could begin in earnest. Merlin went up for foster in the West Midlands with Andy and Val and was adopted from there by Sandra and Owen. He went to live in Badfordshie with them and their 4 other dogs. He was destined to be an Agility dog and was renamed Brian. They said he was exactly what they were looking for in a puppy and he had fitted in nicely. Apparently, he liked nothing better than watching the others doing agility, which fascinated him.

Minstrel, who stayed in foster in Somerset with Pauline, loved all the other dogs and they loved him too. He was such an adorable little chap, despite being a Crossbreed, he was quickly reserved and, subsequently, adopted by Helen. He too was destined for a “working home” with other resident dogs. His bag, though, was going to be Heelwork to Music and he, too, was fascinated by all the goings on so much so, in the very first class he attended, after watching with interest, he had a go at a few moves himself.

Drake was KC registered and was officially known as “The Travlin Irish Minstrel”. By this time, Connie had become one of the very first Sponsor Dogs and Drake, as he was called at home, followed in his Mum’s pawsteps to be a Sponsor Dog too, for a while Everyone went to the 2008 Annual Reunion in Somerset and it was wonderful seeing all the dogs when they got to meet up again.

BOWING OUT (A PERSONAL MESSAGE FROM CONNIE)

Connie said, “It has been great communicating with you all but my Mummy is quite poorly and, as I love her to bits, I am, naturally, doing all I can to help her. We know you will understand. Thank you again for caring for about rescued dogs and, especially, for sponsoring me. Sending you hugs and kisses, woofs and licks love from Connie xxxxxxxxx”  

MANY THANKS TO MY AMAZING SPONSORS

AN UPDATE ON CONNIE (December 2019)

Connie is now about 14yrs old but she is still very happy and extremely lively just as she always has been. We believe the strong will carried through her very traumatic early days has, no doubt, kept her going all her life.

Like her two, now grown up, sons she is very fit and active and always bright and cheerful no matter what. For that reason, although always a “Mummy’s girl” she has supported her Dad, Terry, through a very difficult year when they saw the passing of Belinda and three of her sisters, Cassie, Abi and Bunty.

Now, only she and Vinnie remain in their much depleted household and long may they go on. They still have people who adore them, they eat very well and they love their daily walks so what more could any Retriever want from life?

HER EARLY HISTORY

In 2007, Connie (originally Maisie) was about 2yrs old and was surrendered to the pound, and possible death, by her owner, She was accompanied by her 2 lovely babies. She was, no doubt, got rid of because of the outdated belief that she was “ruined for life” by producing crossbreed puppies.

She is very friendly towards people and dogs alike but lacked general training. The pups, both boys, looked exactly like black Labs except for a bit of white under their chins. They are both as friendly as their mum.

The plan was to foster them all together for a couple of weeks and to home the babies from there but they were totally weaned and showed little interest in their mum and she in them so they stayed in a different foster home.

The plan with Connie was that, as long as she proved to be as friendly towards the resident cat as she was to everything else, she would then be adopted by her fosterers. This did, fortunately, prove to be the case and she became McAvoy no: 2.

CONNIE’S BABY BOYS

AN EARLY UPDATE FROM HER FOREVER HOME

Connie has settled in really well and we absolutely love her. For the first couple of days she would rush up to the car and we thought that she wanted to go to her puppies, but this has passed. Also, we had to feed her from our hands to begin with, but now, most of the time,she doesn’t need any encouragement to eat.

She pulls a bit on the lead, so we will have to work at that and she is becoming very playful – Millie gets quite cross with her and tells her off which has absolutely no effect at all! She is teaching Millie how to play which is lovely. We took her for a walk across some fields today and although we didn’t let her off the lead, she had a wonderful time running around with Millie.

She has shown an interest in the cat (and its food which is obviously much more interesting and very tasty!) but when I called her off she stopped immediately. Connie is incredibly loving, very waggy and absolutely beautiful. All in all, we consider ourselves incredibly lucky to have both Connie and Millie (all in the space of about 6 weeks!). We couldn’t have wished for two more wonderful, loving companions.

Connie has helped Millie with her dislike of travelling in cars – they jump into the back together and you wouldn’t know they were there. A huge thank you IRR (and especially Pauline) for enabling us to give Millie and Connie their forever home.

FURTHER UPDATE FROM BELINDA

Connie has just become lovelier by the day. She is absolutely gorgeous, wonderful temperament, very quick to learn and beautiful (not that I am biased or anything!). She is very pale in colour though we have noticed a slightly darker band of colour on her back and head. She certainly is not vocal, never barks unless she wants to come in, but Millie makes up for it! Whatever she is doing, Connie never stops wagging her tail.

Her coat has grown back, after having her litter, and is lovely and long and soft. She has the most wonderful temperament and loves going to training and learning new things. She now walks to heel on the lead, waits at doorways and never stops wagging her tail. She and Millie adore each other and curl up together when they sleep. Their playing together around the house can get a bit boisterous though.

Connie is very proud of her sons, especially Drake, and hopes to meet up with both of them at the Reunion. Thank you once again IRR, for our lovely goldie girls.