Carrie Carbin
Poor Carrie spent her first night in the UK under Sandra’s table in London with Lisa and Alice. On arrival at her fosterer, Carols, she immediately took up residence under Carol’s table. We wondered if she, too, maybe pregnant.
26th October 2005
Carrie is getting braver and coming out from under the table when we’re not around. Each time I go out now, on my return I’m greeted by a smile and wagging tail but she runs off then under the table. Still the wagging is getting longer by seconds each time. I am upstairs now and I can hear Carrie crying for me to go down. Last time I looked she was peering out of the dining room door. I will be glad when she can come upstairs because my legs are knackered!
She is eating better, weeing twice a day on paper beside the table and looks brighter. She still will not go outside or anywhere else in the house.
Last night Sandra and I had a conversation on what we think might have happened to these three poor dogs and it does not make for pleasant reading. Suffice to say we think someone teased them with food, beat them for just about everything including weeing in their kennel or where ever they were kept (it certainly was not indoors) and clearly burned them with cigarettes (especially poor Alice). It does not bear thinking about as you are unable to foster traumatised dogs if you continually think about what they have been through.
Carol
29th October 2005
For the last few days Carrie has been whining and barking when I disappear into the lounge or upstairs and I wondered if she might have thought she was not allowed anywhere but the dining room. So yesterday afternoon I put Travis harness on her and gently but firmly took her out to the garden. She was not too bad a bit like a puppy on his first walk where they realise that you are going to take them so they may as well walk! She was ok and looked around her in wonder. The only other time she had been in the garden was the first night in the dark. I was able to lead her around the garden a bit. I dared not let the lead go in case she parked her not insubstantial frame under a bush where I would have no hope of getting her back in by myself. I have told Pauline that Carrie is not in pup so she can stop asking :-). She is just a lot fat! To be on the safe side I will give it another two weeks then it is out with the fitness videos!
Anyway back to the garden, as it was a wee bit overwhelming we did not stay out longer than 10 minutes and Carrie walked back in pretty well. As it was going so well I took her [with a bit of coaxing] into the lounge and heaved her onto the couch. I quickly lay beside her and gave her a cuddle. When I sat up she was fine and when I left the room to get the phone to ring Chris she stayed on the couch. Molly (chocolate Labrador) was really nice to her and put a paw on Carrie for reassurance. Molly has stopped being jealous and obnoxious – we had a little chat the other day! I gathered together book, cup of tea, etc as Carrie looked quite settled (and then she fell asleep).
After about 30 minutes she woke up got off the couch and came over to me. That was more of a shock than everything else put together. I twigged that she had had enough so she walked sedately back into the dining room and shot under the table!! At least now she knows she can go in there. Last night she kept appearing at the lounge door but would not come right in. I am sure she will soon.
When we got out to the garden and she plonked down beside the garden seat I plonked down myself with a huge lump in my throat. The look of wonder on her face was thanks enough for me!!! Geez I had better stop before I flood the keyboard 🙂
Carol and family all fell in love with Carrie and decide to adopt her. She now lives happily with gentle Travis (GSD) and Molly (chocolate labrador) who was also an ex breeding bitch and so she has a wonderful doggy understanding of Carrie’s pain.
7th April 2008
I have been hoping I would be able to send this photo eventually and here it is – Carrie out for a walk!
She has only been out twice in the past four weeks but it’s a start and hopefully she will get to the IRR reunion in September. It was a bit of a tussle getting the harnesses on – one on each end for safety – but she really did want to come, so I persisted. She was as happy as Larry and kept looking up at me and smiling. The first time we went about 1/2 mile up the riverbank but second time was just around the field opposite. I leave it to Carrie to decide if she wants to come – she runs upstairs if she doesn’t!
You have no idea how happy Chris and I were and luckily the second time I took my camera.
Devastating News
After being so happy and starting to become a “normal” dog, at last, Carrie suddenly became unwell and the awful decision had to be made to give her peace. Thanks to Carol, she found happiness and knew love for the first time in her life. She passed away gently cradled in loving arms. Fly with the angels, Carrie.