Alice Houghton

RUN FREE FOREVER NOW, ALICE (2000? – 3.1.2014)

It was with great sorrow, Brenda said “Alice went for her last sleep yesterday at 11.30am.  She went very peacefully in my arms and is now without all the pain.  

We hope they will last forever but that does not happen.

Both Kevin and I are devastated, me especially as she was always with me.”

Our hearts really go out to Brenda and Kevin and also to Sandra who fostered Lisa and Alice, saw her babies enter the world and carefully nurtured them for her. After some initial struggles and with the help of Lisa and Sandra, Alice became a lovely mum so there was an extremely strong bond between Lisa, Alice, her (now 8yr old) puppies and all the humans who cared so much which continued right to the end. It is a great tribute to Brenda that this once poor pathetic, abused little soul became such a well adjusted, happy, healthy and wonderful natured girl who was loved by everybody that knew her. 

Run free forever now Alice with your special brother Sammy, with Carrie and with Sandra’s Buddy

Alice had not been well for a few weeks. She was keeping one leg up and was walking on three legs. Brenda thought it was arthritis in her back leg and their vet (who was excellent) tried various things but nothing seemed to help. She saw the vet again on 21st Decenber and it was decided to X-Ray the leg on 27th December.  Brenda was hoping against hope that it was nothing sinister because there was no way she would have her in pain but, apart from this, Alice was perky and bright-eyed and didn’t cry when the leg or hip was moved. On the down side, of course, she was also well aware that Alice was now an “old lady”. 

Alice had her X-rays on the 27th and it was discovered it wasn’t arthritis in her leg but the problem was at the bottom of her spine and that was why she could not raise her leg.  She was having tablets which seemed to be improving it so much so she was managing to put her leg down a bit so the vet wanted her to continue with these and see her again in another 2 weeks.  Unfortunately, Alice hated taking pills and it was taking Brenda ages to get them down her as, if they were put in her dinner or in a bit of meat, she always managed to find them and spit them out. In the end, Brenda managed to get her pills down with the aid of Piccalilli chutney on a bit of meat. She seemed quite happy and especially so when Kevin went home for the week-end which gave her boost and also when Jackson,  a lovely Hungarian Visla, arrived to stay for a few days.

Sadly, the improvement was short-lived and, despite the vet trying everything, it wasn’t to be with age against her.

ALICE’S AMAZING STORY IN VERSE

Thanks to the ISPCA, three Golden girls arrived one day
Intent on keeping them from harm, they’d raided a cruel puppy farm.
Ringing to recount their hell. they knew that Sandie’d get them well
We had people, good and kind, to foster till good homes we’d find.

Three of six, they crossed the sea then Colin drove them miles till we
Met in Oxford, still at night. They really were a tragic sight.
The three poor girls together cuddled, in a corner, frightened, huddled.
Five humans tried to coax them out but they lacked trust & filled with doubt

When fellow rescue Poppy led then one by one they left their bed
Lisa, Alice and then Carrie but in view they didn’t tarry
They all shot under nearest bush, quart in pint pot at a push
The garden’s safe we go inside. They slowly creep out from their hide

We knew of pain they'd now be free and watch them sniffing round a tree
We re-emerge and back they'd shoot. Eyes wary, every sense acute
Gently lifted, they still froze, in Pauline’s van and off she goes.
Arrived in London, filled with doubt, they’re very gently lifted out

  Indoors, as soon as they are able, they dive beneath the kitchen table
Filled with fear and huddled tight, that’s where they choose to spend the night.
We hide and watch, it makes us bawl, to see them on their bellies crawl
They ate a bit when we weren’t there.  Much more then that they didn’t dare.

  What horrors for these girls befell? For sure, a life of living hell.
 Maybe they’re sisters and a mum? We note the size of one girl’s tum
 Who knew two unexpected nans would very soon be making plans?    
Amazingly, we were grandmothers!!!!!  Alice had produced three brothers

The tiny babies clung to Mum, for days it’s touch and go
The humans staying close at hand until, for sure, they know
That all is going to be well and all three boys will thrive
With extra feeds for Rupert, all determined he’ll survive.

Assisted feeding, little sleep but Nature at it’s best
Was quite enough reward. Time, once they’re safe, to rest.
Whispered words to Alice “your babes will be quite fine”
“Your pups will not be snatched this time, no reason here to pine”

“You can relax, we’ll help you and Lisa will do too”
With that, she sighed and understood bad times behind she knew
Days of feeding, cleaning, weighing there’s not the time to moan
It’s not too long before our Mum can safely cope alone.

Alice now the perfect Mum, friend Lisa doing less,
She fed them and adored them and licked away their mess.
The days were turning into weeks, all still grew and grew.
Rory middling, Teddy biggest, Rupert gaining too
 
 For eight years now year our special boys have had a birthday party
With family and their doggy friends, our “pups” all hale and hearty.
They'd all meet up at Brenda’s home where dogs could run and play
And humans all recall that special mad October day.

  But now it's time to say "goodbye"
In tears, we softly mourn
God speed sweet Alice off you fly
Another doggy angel's born.

IT WAS THE VERY WORST NEWS  

Alice went to Rainbow Bridge on Friday, 3 January.2014 at 11.30am.  She went very peacefully in Brenda’s arms and is now free from pain and young again. 

Run free Alice, now back with your lovely Spaniel brother, Sammy, who was so missed by you, with Sandra’s Buddy, who you were so gentle with, and Carrie who shared the very worst of your life but who is waiting to be reunited with you so you can have the fun you missed out on as youngsters. 

A huge thank you from IRR to Brenda and Kevin and also to Sandra, who fostered Alice with Lisa, for all you did giving the perfect life to this once pathetic little soul who had become the wonderful natured girl, loved by all who knew her.

I'M STILL HERE

Mum, please don't mourn for me
I'm still here, though you don't see.
I'm right by your side each night and day
and within your heart I long to stay.

My body is gone but I'm always near.
I'm everything you feel, see or hear.
My spirit is free, but I'll never depart
as long as you keep me alive in your heart.

I'll never wander out of your sight-
I'm the brightest star on a summer night.
I'll never be beyond your reach-
I'm the warm moist sand when you're at the beach.

I'm the colourful leaves when fall comes around
and the pure white snow that blankets the ground.
I'm the beautiful flowers of which you're so fond,
The clear cool water in a quiet pond.

I'm the first bright blossom you'll see in the spring,
The first warm raindrop that April will bring.
I'm the first ray of light when the sun starts to shine,
and you'll see that the face in the moon is mine.

When you start thinking there's no one to love you,
you can talk to me through the Lord above you.
I'll whisper my answer through the leaves on the trees, 
and you'll feel my presence in the soft summer breeze.

I'm the hot salty tears that flow when you weep
and the beautiful dreams that come while you sleep
I'm the smile you see on a baby's face.
Just look for me, Mum, I'm in every place!

Author Unknown

ALICE HIGHLY VALUED AND MUCH LOVED SPONSOR DOG

Alice was one of the original Sponsor Dogs when the scheme was brought in during 2007

As an extensively used breeding bitch from an Irish puppy farm, her story was horrendous but not uncommon. She had been so terrified that she just crawled on her belly which, again, wasn’t unusual.

What was unique was Alice giving birth to puppies the day after she landed on UK soil . Thank goodness for Sandra, her fosterer, who acted as mid-wife then nanny and gradually nursed Alice and her best friend, Lisa, back to almost normality.

Alice went to the most wonderful Forever Home where she learnt not only to walk like a normal dog again but to run and run free.

She is was more than happy to be a Sponsor Dog on behalf of all the other poor unfortunate bitches, who are bred from again and again until they are worn out physically and mentally just as she had been.

Alice and her lovely Mum, Brenda, knew that money she raised would help pay for other breeding bitches like her to be rescued and brought to safety.

She was a much loved and highly valued Sponsor Dog

Many thanks must go to everyone who kindly sponsored her:-

ALICE IN HER FOREVER HOME

Alice, what a joy and privilege it was to see her become the perfect Mum, whilst still showing the scars of abuse on her face, when she gave birth.

How wonderful was it, with all her babies gone, that Alice went to her perfect home in Portsmouth to live with Brenda and her son Kevin. She also shared her life with a lovely, friendly Springer Spaniel called Sammy, who was lonely and needed a companion.

How well they got on with each other and how good they were for each other. Sam was able to teach Alice how to play, something she had never done before.

Brenda, who had fostered many times, was the perfect mum for Alice who needed gentle guidance and love to heal further.

UPDATE 21st January 2006

We are delighted with Alice – she seems to get better every day. We keep tackling new things for her to do. She adores Sam – if you see one of them the other one is not far behind. She also loves my daughter’s Lurcher George, who is also very gentle and is a rescue dog too.

UPDATE 7th February 2006

Alice is really at home here now and keeps trying to mother Sam by trying to lick his ears. He does not really appreciate it!!!! She is doing very well and her coat has started to grow again and is getting curly down her back.

UPDATE 6th April 2006

Brenda said “I felt I must write and tell you that my lovely Alice went over a main road into the park for the first time today and loved it. Her tail was right up.

She is still scared of the noise of cars etc. but we really have made a breakthrough.

I had been getting to feel she would spend the rest of her days in the garden as she was, initially, even afraid of going up our quiet crescent.

UPDATE 13th April 2006

Alice is of course lovely as ever, I love her to bits. Her latest trick is, because I haven’t got her new swimming pool yet, she tries to get into her water bowl, with absolutely disastrous results! Especially to the kitchen floor. It has never been so clean!

THE FIRST BIRTHDAY PARTY (October 2006)

It was the “puppies” first birthday and everyone gathered at Brenda’s including Lisa who was delighted to be reunited with her dear friend.

UPDATE 3rd January 2007

Alice enjoyed her Christmas with great gusto. It doesn’t seem possible I have only had her for just over a year. I can’t remember being without her. She follows me everywhere when I am at home, except for upstairs where she never goes. Her idea, not ours!

THE ANNUAL REUNION OCTOBER 2007

THE SECOND BIRTHDAY PARTY FAMILY PIC (Oct 2007)

Those two years have gone by in a flash and, now, the boys are growing up

THE FAMILY PIC AT THE THIRD BIRTHDAY PARTY (Oct 2008)

The three boys looked very handsome as always and Rory and Rupert wowed in their dicky bows whilst Jumble sported a very posh blue collar.

Sandra brought Buddy (her lovely blind rescue dog) all the way from London on the train to join in the fun. Sammy, complete with toy got in the pic with Brenda’s young grand-daughter whilst Alice kept watch and Finn insisted on being carried.

THE SEVENTH BIRTHDAY PARTY (Oct 2012)

Flying solo for this pic, Jumble and Rory posed nicely but Jumble kept his mum company by stretching out.