Bella Dracup

A VERY CUTE LITTLE ROMMIE LADY

Carmen is a tiny Crossbreed who was about 1yr old. She had a Pet Passport so was spayed, vaccinated, microchipped and de-fleaded. She arrived with her sister, Roxy, who went to be fostered by Kerry for ROLDA in the Somerset area. Both girls needed to be cat and child tested.

We were looking for a home for her where there was already a resident dog as Carmen, like her sister, enjoyed the company of other little hounds!

FIRST REPORT FROM DI

Rob transported Carmen from Chrissy to Alicia’s house. Di said “Carmen is a really sweet, gentle little soul. Unfortunately the man bringing them from Romania was delayed by several hours so it wasn’t until 7.30pm that Rob went to Chrissy’s to collect Carmen.

Once he got her he realised that the harnesses and collars he had in the car were all far too big for her so he had to carry her to the car.He said that she snuggled up to him and clearly loved the contact. She settled well in the crate in the back of the car but she didn’t lay down properly the whole way. Rob came back here on the way to Alicia’s so I got to say “hello”.

Carmen was cowering in the back of the crate, so terrified by the whole experience. I wanted to kidnap her! By the time Rob got to Alicia’s it was after 9.30pm.

She really is tiny – certainly no bigger than a small whippet – she’s also very thin. Still, she’s in a good place now – Alicia is a great fosterer and her own dogs are really sweet so Carmen will soon feel safe and comfortable”

FIRST FOSTER REPORT FROM ALICIA

Carmen came late last night, so didn’t have much time to settle before bed. She had a few treats, but needs to learn how to take a treat, which she’s better about today. She was quiet all night in the crate and stood up all night because she seemed scared to lie down. She waited till she went into the garden to ‘go’. Today we did house training, which is coming on well. She goes out into the garden with my 3 dogs and is getting on well with them. She doesn’t know what a toy is, but enjoyed a rawhide chew. I don’t have any cats here to test her with, but will try her with children once she’s a bit more settled.

Carmen is desperate for a fuss, but doesn’t know how to ask,so just stands next to me. She follows me everywhere. I’ve put a rug next to my chair, she lies on there, at last she’s closing her eyes, but she’s soon awake when I move.

This is only her first day, she has changed so much already, coming out of her shell. Carmen now wags her tail, and is becoming more confident. She will be a lovely little girl for someone. Here she is looking much more relaxed and at peace with herself.

Carmen, now Bella, has gone off happily to her new home in Somerset with Belinda and Nigel.

Alicia said “She’s gone! She barked at them, Lissie barked at them, Freddie joined in but they still absolutely loved her”

FIRST REPORT FROM SOMERSET

Bella had a really good journey back to Somerset with her new friend Cleo. She is now settling in with her other new friend, Molly, who was 16 yrs old yesterday (15/5/10).

Nigel and Belinda are over the moon with this gentle little girl and we all agree that Gilly definitely had a paw in this adoption.

GOOD AND BAD NEWS 30.5.2010

Nigel says: “Bella has settled in fantastically and is getting more confident by the day. She enjoyed her caravanning holiday and was a really good girl. She walks on the lead really well, comes back to her name and will do a ‘sit’ and a ‘down’. We have been walking her off the lead on the moors, she trots along quite happily and comes back when we call. She met a rabbit for the first time the other day so came and hid behind her dad. She really is a beautiful little girl and has settled in to our family so fantastically well.

We are a little concerned that she may be unsettled for a while because we have suddenly lost Cleo today. Bella had become quite attached to her and was using Cleo to build her confidence with so many things. She still has Molly to help and, of course, we will give her all the love and guidance to see her through this difficult stage as she is also doing for us. Cleo, sadly, became unwell during her walk this morning. We rushed her to the vet and an X-Ray showed that she had cancer in her lungs so she had to go to sleep straight away. We are devastated and spilling even more tears so soon after Gilly. Cleo had had a good long life and was a wonderful girl. We loved her so very much and it hurts so bad.”

Our hearts go out to Nigel and Belinda. Losing dear old Cleo so soon after Gilly is devastating but, at least, they are reunited now at Rainbow Bridge.

GILLY’S PLAN FOR THE FUTURE

Bella was feeling a wee bit lonely without her special friend Cleo and was really too boisterous for dear old Molly so, much to everyone at IRR’s delight, and, clearly the last part of clever Gilly’s cunning plan, Bella has been reunited with her little sister, Roxy (now Maisie). They have played and played ever since.

UPDATE 30.6.2010

Nigel says “All is fine. The girls are absolutely brilliant. They walk with me every morning off the lead and recall great, they sit and wait for bike and birdwatchers to pass without barking (usually), they play and play all day, enjoy their toys and settle down beautifully in the evenings with us in the front room watching telly. We are using the crates at night and they are perfectly content in them and sleep through to 6.30 to 7.00am.

They are wonderful girls with a huge amount of love to give us and have settled in fantastically well, beyond our wildest dreams really. We all adore them and they have also helped us through a very difficult and emotional time in our lives. We will give them all our love in return forever.”

MORE SAD TIMES

Nigel says ” We feel very fortunate that Gilly “set up” this adoption, as we have now had to say goodbye to our beautiful Golden Retriever, Molly, who was 16 yrs and finding every day more difficult. She had been struggling more and more each day and we felt it was becoming cruel to keep her going as we were having to pick her up so many times every day and she was so stressed by it all. Molly had a good long life at 16 even surviving an adder bite at 12 years old.

We had to have her put to sleep on Monday morning (20.8.2010). She had a good day on Sunday. We went to the beach, her favourite place, and she walked as far as she could manage and really enjoyed it although the light wind was nearly knocking her over. She came home to some rump steak in her meal and she slept well on Sunday night. Our vets are wonderful and made her passing really dignified and peaceful. She went to sleep so quietly. She, like Gilly and Cleo, will be so sorely missed. They were such important members of the family. Our three wonderful girls are all reunited at Rainbow Bridge.

We are emotionally a bit shattered at the moment but, fortunately, we have our two wonderful little girls to help us and they are being brilliant. Here are the girls with Molly on her last day.”

Bella and Maisie have settled in quite wonderfully, they have adjusted to our routines, love their walks and caravan trips and are getting better all the time with their reactions to bikes and horses cattle etc. They sometimes forget and bark a bit, usually Maisie gets spooked and tells Bella to protect her, but we are working our way round the solutions. All in all, they are absolutely brilliant and we love them both so very much.

FUN IN THE SNOW

Here are photos of Bella (snow fox) and Maisie (snow squirrel) enjoying the winter weather. They are doing famously – smashing little girls.