Cyril Grove-Hemmings

HE WENT FROM PILLAR TO POST BEFORE FINDING HIS PERFECT FOREVER HOME

CYRIL once called STEEL is a handsome Golden Retriever who was 7yrs on 2nd May 2008 but, due to lack of exercise, he is rather overweight. He is fully housetrained, knows some basic commands and is excellent with children. He does pull a bit on the lead but is probably unused to being on one and he isn’t too keen on other un-neutered males although he does seem to be fine with females and neutered male dogs. He travels well in a car.

He was in foster with Jan, initially, where he was a huge hit and she,
reluctantly, allowed him to move on.

UPDATE ON STEEL

Steel was fostered with Denise and Phil in Rugby where he settled in well, having no problems with the dogs at all.

He has now paid Hugh, the vet, a visit, because we were concerned about his heavy panting, but, at the moment we are still none the wiser except that he has a lot of fluid on his lungs for which Steel has been given some pills. Apparently, his pulse rate was also a wee bit faster than normal. He is booked in for a chest xray and a camera down his throat to check out his voice box/larynx. Hugh said he could have any number of problems ,some quite rare, some quite serious, or even something very simple, but until he does some tests he doesn’t want to go into much detail. In the meantime, he has to be kept as quiet as possible, with minimal exercise. He will have a GA on Tuesday so, as long as he copes ok, whilst he has his tests, he will also be neutered at the same time.

Denise says, “Poor Steel is a lovely dog. I pray that it’s nothing too major for him.”

VET’S INITIAL REPORT ON STEEL

His main problem is he has partial paralysis of his throat so his left side doesn’t open when he swallows.

On its own Hugh, the vet, thinks this would be quite manageable for him if he is kept as stress free as possible and is not over exercised.

He still has his bronchial problems but they are now being treated with antibiotics and a tablet to open his bronchi. This was most likely bought on when he collapsed when over-exerted and some of his saliva went down the wrong way and into his chest.

Hugh has also tested him for heart worm, but is 90% sure that it isn’t this, as his heart looks normal and initial blood test are not indicating heartworm, but until they get the full results they will not know, so Steel has also had some Panicur to treat heart worm, just in case.

Hugh said the laryngeal paralysis may be left untreated if he can stabilise him, but later on there is an operation for it, although Hugh said he wasn’t ready to go down that route yet.

Steel wasn’t neutered as Hugh said he wasn’t stable enough to risk it.

Our only concern now is keeping Steel calm, as he suffers from separation anxiety.

FURTHER NEWS ON STEEL

Steel went to the vets yesterday and Hugh is really pleased with his progress. He still has a little bit of fluid and a rattling sound in his chest so he has to stay on his tablets for another three weeks then, after that, Hugh will look at the options of him having his operation.

He had a wonderful time while we were away last week and we had loads of dogs visiting which he took most in his stride. He did have a quick pop at Tammy’s Henry but they were fine afterwards (which is great as Henry can be a bit of a grumpy boy with entire males). We let him off lead and he was fantastic, his recall was 100%. He doesn’t run, he trots and would often take himself back to the caravan when he had had enough. We found a nice little lake for them to swim in but Steel doesn’t swim he just sits in the water.

He is madly in love with Fudge, our springer spaniel.

Steel’s separation anxiety problems are still there but slightly better. He will be left at night now, just not in the day, and he isn’t following us every time we move which is a huge improvement.

Yesterday was our first full day back and he did have a go at Ebony and Eddie so we are convinced it is black dogs he has problems with.

STEEL MOVED TO ANDY & VAL’S

Unfortunately, despite being the perfect house guest in so many ways, Steel couldn’t see eye to eye with the 2 black dogs, even though he was absolutely fine with all the rest, so Steel in now the only dog with Andy & Val in the West Midlands whilst awaiting the best possible home for him.

Andy says, “You’d be surprised if you could see him now, he’s lost his excess weight, and looks so much better for it. He really is such a lovely dog, very loving, and great fun to have around. He’s quite a character, when he thinks he wants a walk, he goes off and finds his lead, and brings it to you by way of a gentle hint. We took him out to the common today and let him have a run off the lead. I’m always nervous about letting them off and rarely feel confident enough to do it with fosters, but he was a star, staying relatively close, ignoring all the other dogs, and coming back when called. If he can crack his separation anxiety he’ll be the perfect dog for someone.”

A retired couple with a Fudge lookalike would be perfect but any gentle, non black female would probably make an ideal girlfriend for this handsome boy but, alternatively, he is more than happy to be an only dog where he has an owner who will be at home with him all day. We feel, once he feels more secure and as his health problems improve, that Steel’s anxieties will soon become a thing of the past.

He is a wonderful boy who really deserves a chance of a long and happy life.

Andy says, “Steel is almost like a different dog now. The overweight, gasping, drooling wreck that Jan knew, is nothing like the happy character that he is now. His breathing’s almost normal, only panting after running around, absolutely no drooling at all, and the biggest waggiest tail ever seen on a dog.”

The report from the vet was very good and it is almost certain now that Steel will not need surgery to correct his throat problem after all. He has to continue with his medication for a further month but the vet was very pleased with his progress and delighted with his weight loss and increased fitness level.

NOW ALL STEEL NEEDED WAS THE PERFECT FOREVER HOME THAT HE SO DESERVED. DUE TO LARGE NUMBERS OF DOGS NEEDING FOSTERING STEEL HAD TO MOVE YET AGAIN BUT WE FELT EACH CHANGE OF ADDRESS WAS POSITIVE FOR HIM.

REPORT ON STEEL FROM SALLY

Well, Steel has been here nearly 3 weeks now and is much, much calmer.
He is one chilled dog when he is settled 🙂

I can leave him for 1-2 hours in the company of the other dogs with no problem.

I ,personally, am finding he has no problem with black dogs. My brother visits with his Collie with no problems and we’ve had no problem on walks either. In the area where I walk there are quite a few stud Guide dogs and 2-3 of these are black labs.

Steel loves the company of other dogs so really needs a canine pal,
but I feel one other steady, calm, larger breed would be best.

He is happy in the company of the other dogs, but I am finding what bothers Steel is dogs that are “in his face”, irrelevant of colour, and he would rather play with humans or balls, than other dogs

He loves ANYONE who will play football with him too.

He is a very loving, loyal, obedient, well-mannered dog who would be a fantastic addition to any family who has someone around most of the time.

I personally, don’t think his separation anxiety is that bad. My own Pointer is much worse if she’s not settled properly before I leave her

He really is no trouble at all when he has settled in. He has good recall and is such a well-mannered dog. He eats well and settles well at night

I really can’t big him up enough. He just needs that forever home now.

FURTHER UPDATE ON STEEL

Steel is good, its soo frustrating, he’s such a nice dog . His lead walking is improving as before he prefered to walk you! He’s lost lots of weight and has a lovely waist now. His throat is so much better and the noisy breathing is now very rare.

He just needs a home now with someone around most of the time. He’s a real people dog so I hope his perfect owner comes along soon as the longer he is here, the harder it will be for him to leave us.

STEEL HAS FINALLY GONE TO HIS FOREVER HOME

Sally says: “Steel has had so much bad luck, and after the cruel let down last month I thought his luck would never turn.

Then along came Lucy and John, who have completely fallen in love with him, so I am delighted to say that this gorgeous boy has now gone to live with them and their 2 cats in his new forever home.
And boy does he deserve it :)”

I am absolutely delighted for him, and I don’t think we could have found a better family, though we will miss him very much.

AN ODE TO CYRIL

From when I was small they called me a Seal I think it’s my legs and the way they appear.
In foster I was Steel but I don’t have the stare and my surface is blonde and all covered in hair.
I’m not good on the lead, my new owners tried Seal but it gets a bit hard when they have to shout heal!
I’m nice to the cat and I’m told I’m a charmer, oh boy was he strange, but now he’s much calmer.
I do like the car and like to sit by the driver and when it does rain I go weird at the wiper.
I can sleep on my back with my legs in the air and sometimes you’d think that I just didn’t care.
But when they leave me, oh I do panic!! I’m compelled to lick windows and I dribble and dribble,
and I think they think they’re funny ‘cause they’ve gone and called me
Cyril!

UPDATE 16.11.09

Lucy says. “Cyril is fabulous, he makes me laugh daily. You can always catch up with him on his blog.

He does still have the odd panic but they are pretty rare now. Over the summer he we spend a day a week with 3 dogs one of which is a gangly lab puppy, the relationship the puppy has with one of the older dogs seems to have taught Cyril quite a lot about being a dog. It’s been interesting to see the penny dropping and if you see his blog he’s even been for a walk with them without me! Only once though.”