Honey Cummings

SADLY, HONEY WENT TO RAINBOW BRIDGE (November 6th 2009)

Hannah said. “Honey was the loveliest dog who always loved a hug and her walks. She was there all the time but was a little bit sneaky. She stole grampy’s Belgium chocolates and ham when we took her camping but I never told her off because I thought it was funny. Honey was different from our last and first rescue dog but was part of the family and always will be. When we found out she had cancer it was really upsetting for all of us but she was in no pain so we left her and carried on like normal.

Unfortunately it got worse and she became really ill and we all agreed it was time to let Honey go so on November 6th 2009, on my birthday, Honey went to Rainbow Bridge. The hardest thing was saying goodbye to her but it was the best decision for Honey.”

Charli said. “When dad and Hannah brought Honey in to the house for the first time I was so scared she was so big and I have always been wary of dogs!

She was like part of the family, she was warm and cuddly and always looked at me for a cuddle when I walked into the room.

Every now and again we used to share a packet of crisps, her favourite being salt and vinegar.

If it wasn’t for Honey we wouldn’t have got Roxy and I’m just so glad that my family persuaded me to have a dog because you couldn’t get a better dog than Honey.”      

From the first moment I met Honey I knew she would fit in with our family and we really enjoyed the short time we had together, she was just a perfect family dog. We got huge satisfaction from giving her a great time in her life which she deserved after all she had been put through. The hardest part was letting go but the time was right and we would never have let her suffer again as she had done in the past.

Honey had a growth on her snout that was identified by our vet, after the biopsy, as cancer and they operated to remove it. After a lot of heartache we decided on 3 monthly body scans, unfortunately after the first 3 months it had spread to her body and it was a case of making her as comfortable as possible. Honey was put on steroids and for a week or so was really lively and happy until the Thursday night when I noticed a rapid deterioration.

After staying down stairs for the night, I watched her struggle to get up and then she had a fit. the cancer had started to spread to her brain. It was an awful day that I will never forget, when Hannah said Honey was going to be going to Rainbow Bridge on her birthday, it was very emotional.

Nicky took Hannah out for the day and I had to ring Charli at work to tell her what was happening. Charli was home in a flash and wanted to say her goodbyes to Honey, she was extremely upset and still misses her now (I think Honey was the perfect dog to get Charli used to dogs) and after meeting Honey a few months ago, Charlie’s boyfriend’s parents now have a Golden Retriever puppy called Harvey.

If it wasn’t for Honey……………… Harvey…………….Bella (ROXY) …what can I say?

Steve and Nic

FROM SANDIE

I was absolutely devastated to read of Honey’s passing.  OMG, what a lovely little girl she was and how brave.  I always remember the day I rescued her and Bunny from the flea-ridden, poo filled stable after their owner had died.  God knows how long they’d been in there.  Thank God she experienced love, happiness and warmth if only towards the end of her life.

Golden girl, we loved you so
All too soon you had to go
Your time on earth was not all good
But you braved it out as best you could

Your final year was so much better
Full of warmth and love and laughter
Fun and games filled every day
You smiled and wagged and led the way

Your legacy will linger on
Although your time on earth is done
Go fly with angels to the sun
Your journey has now just begun

IT WAS SUCH SAD NEWS

After having a wonderful year in Bristol with her new family, where Honey couldn’t have been more happy, she suddenly became ill again and passed over to Rainbow Bridge on 6 November 2009.

We can’t thank Steve and family enough for giving our special girl such a brilliant, loving home.

HISTORY OF TWO SISTERS

In 2008, HONEY and her sister BUNNY were already 10years old. They were two beautiful golden ladies whose owner had died in November.

Their non-malignant lumps and bumps were removed whilst in Ireland. It was found that Honey (sitting) bossed Bunny around a lot so we thought it best to split them, which worked very well

Despite her apparent dominance to her sister (mounting and straddling) Honey was an angel with the other dogs when she was taken to the vets on each occasion and she behaved impeccably.

A MOVE INTO FOSTER

Having arrived from Ireland, she was transported to her foster home in Yorkshire by Jon, who said, “She was good with the other two Tamworth drop off dogs when they were wee’d and watered before moving on – she had to be lifted into the car but made not a murmur. She barked a couple of times as we moved off but then she settled and was great all the way. I stopped a couple of times to make sure she was OK – again had to lift her in and out of the car – she grumbled once, but not aggressively, more a case of ‘oh my aching limbs’. Overall, Honey travelled very well and seemed happy to both sit and watch the world go by and also to lie down. She doesn’t seem to understand basic commands like sit, no, etc and I don’t think she has been on a lead much but she will walk if encouraged and jollied along a bit.

When we got to Marie and Kevin’s, she didn’t seem to want to go in at all – not sure if it was the three steps into the house, or if she has never been in a house – but I carried her in and, once in, she was OK. She took about 15 mins to actually move but was very very placid, without showing any sign of tailwagging or emotion that was until the 9yr old daughter stopped stroking her – then she moved closer and wagged her tail. She seemed to settle in well and was happy to be stroked.

Honey met with the resident Golden Retriever male TJ, a big 11yr old GR (lovely lovely handsome dog) and there were tail wags from both sides, Honey seemed to be really happy to see another dog. When I left, both dogs were lying together side by side in the dining room looking like an old married couple who had been together for donkey’s years.”

DAYS ONE & TWO FROM MARIE

Marie says, “What you can’t tell from the photos is how small and light she is. She is, so far, doing well after initially being a bit hesitant, she then checked everywhere out. First contact with T.J. went really well (Jon was still here at that point) and she seemed pleased to see another dog. We separated them for a bit but they seem happy enough around each other. She does keep trying to mount him, the signs are her ears go up and she stares at him, then she attempts the dominance – TJ has growled at her once and we have kept stepping in and she went and laid down. But she lies down for a while and then it’s almost like she forgets and then remembers and starts the process all over again. We will not leave them on their own yet and see how it goes.

After her arrival, we were going to leave her to rest but she was looking out from the garden at the grass and trees outside so we gave her a small portion of food (which she wolved down) and her tablet and took her out for a short 15/20 mins walk on the nature reserve where she was happy sniffing everything – did lots of small wees and a poo. We had one accident in the house but near the backdoor – with the backdoor open and then she went out to do the rest, so she does seem to know where to go.

She has a sock on so she can’t scratch her staples – we just took it off when we walked her and then put it back on.

She seems to love the girls and wags her tail at them and keeps going over to them, she loves their attention. If they stop stroking her she moves herself in closer.

Honey (although she doesn’t respond to her name at all) is doing well – she went to bed last night about 11.30pm and we didn’t hear from her until she started barking at 5.30am. She went out to toilet and then we left her again until she barked again at 6.30am and 7.30am and then finally gave up on the weekend lie in….

She enjoyed a 45 mins walk this morning but she does pull on the lead (not really badly but you can tell she finds the lead strange). She behaves more like a much younger dog, in comparison to TJ who did the shortcut walk and was still tired – Honey had no problems at all. We walked past some traffic and she was fine with the cars but when a bus went past she cowered down.

She is still trying to be dominant with TJ and it has been worse this morning when he lies down she is straddling over his head – he has growled but we have been there to move her off. She doesn’t appear to get the message and she goes off and then tries it again and again.

She has eaten her food fine. She is a food opportunist and is quite pushy at trying to get to what you are eating.

Besides all that, on a positive note, she has a lovely nature and is a really gorgeous retriever. She loves being around the girls more than me and Kevin – there is much tail wagging when they walk in the room.”

HONEY IS DOING REALLY WELL

Honey is doing fantastic she has settled in brilliantly. She is not trying to be dominant with TJ at all now. They are usually not too far away from each other. On walks she has been lovely with every dog she has met (and there has been lots – all sizes, breeds) she just wags her tail and has a friendly sniff. She goes on the school run twice a day and now jumps in and out of car. She waits at the school gates and loves a stroke from all the primary school children as they are passing by. She loves it – not a sign of anxiety or agression – she has a lovely gentle nature. She doesn’t attempt to jump up.

Her toilet training is excellent she is clean all through the night and doesn’t bark on a morning now, she waits until we come down about 7am. She has a bed in the dining room but prefers sleeping on the laminate flooring . We have left her twice (seperated from TJ) for an hour and then an hour and half and she just stays in the room without any problems, she is just asleep when we get back and appears really content – no sign of seperation anxiety at all. Her only quirkism is to wee in the room after she has eaten her dinner, but we are working on this and she didn’t do it this morning.

Her lead work is better and we have had her on a long line out on the playing fields and she stayed next to us the majority of the time, she watches to see where you are, she does like to have a good sniff in the grass but soon catches back up. I think she would be good off the lead, although she still doesn’t respond to her name, which would need work to ensure she would recall.

She hasn’t chewed or damaged anything when left – the only thing she did was rip up my electricity bill, which had fallen onto the floor (I still think I have to pay it unfortunately) and when we played a board game on the floor she was really intent on getting the playing cards (so paper items would definitely need to be filed)!!

Not too sure about cats she saw next doors in the garden, she did bark at him but backed away from him, so looks promising. She is interested in the rabbits on the nature reserve but hasn’t attempt to chase them (although not sure if she was off the lead).

She has been a perfect house guest and a pleasure to have around, she seldom barks and sleeps a lot during the day. I don’t think she has ever played with toys as she just ignores everything we have tried. She now watches the ball when we throw it but doesn’t attempt to pick it up. Really strange having a retriever around who doesn’t ‘collect’ items.

A VERY UPSETTING TIME

Honey suddenly became unwell and she had to be admitted to the vets and was put on a drip. She later went for an emergency spay operation when a pyometra was discovered and then she had to spend another worrying night at the vets on a drip. Fortunately, the next morning she was able to come off her drip and a little later she ate food and was able to walk around. By the afternoon, she was well enough to be allowed home again. To say we were all relieved would be an understatement but Marie, Kevin and TJ were particularly delighted to have her home.

Sadly, the happiness was short-lived as although Honey was doing really well and her recovery was coming on leaps and bounds, TJ had to be put to sleep a couple of days later. Needless to say, Marie and Kevin are absolutely devastated. The vets said it was his heart that had given out – it was really weak and irregular and there was nothing they could do for him – he was just an old dog who was very tired.

They said, “He was just the greatest dog in the whole world and we are all struggling to cope at the moment.

We have received so much love and support from everyone it is overwhelming. TJ was the most loyal and loving King of dogs – right from first seeing him with his big sad eyes in kennels. We went in for a small, non hairy dog – but fell in love with the dignified big chap who was head and shoulders above everyone else.

Everyone who ever came into contact with him – loved and adored him also. Our love of him led us to you and your organisation and having Honey is definitely a comfort at this time.”

Our hearts go out to you all at this very sad time. Fly with the angels, TJ.

HONEY’S CAMPING TRIP

Marie says, “We enjoyed our camping trip – although the weather wasn’t kind we did manage to get a trip down to the beach and thought you might like to see some photos of Honey enjoying her first trip away. She travelled well in the car to go camping and we took her mattress with us and she liked laying in the tent on it, just coming out to investigate from time to time to see what everyone was doing. She does like being in the house and even with back door open she will come inside.

As always she behaved brilliantly – she wasn’t quite sure about the sea and sand but she certainly enjoyed her ice-cream afterwards…
She seems quieter without TJ and she obviously misses him as well. She is starting to identify with her name but would need some help with recall. Even on a long line she doesn’t always respond. She picks up every piece of paper/cardboard when you are out and have to watch her for trying to eat it. So off lead she would be very interested in acquiring anything in sight.

She is doing great after her operation and you wouldn’t know what she had been through as she is so good natured”.

ANOTHER CAMPING TRIP

We have just been camping again and she was an absolute delight, she took everything and everyone in her stride. Dogs, kids, traffic, busy town centre, fireworks, thunder, donkeys on the beach. There is nothing that worried her she is confident and happy; her tail wags from side to side all the time she is walking. She had so many admirers and everyone commented on how well behaved she was. There were some other not so well behaved dogs on the camp site!!

Since her operation she is up to full health and her shaved hair is growing back a little. She is a lively lady who loves her walks and is very active – she goes three times a day and is very energetic, like a very much younger dog. She is very nimble and agile and likes climbing the banking on the nature reserve with no sign of trouble with her back end or legs. She always starts with a good grass roll and then she’s off. She is great on her lead and although she could walk faster she is happy to walk to heel with no pulling. We still wouldn’t trust her off the lead yet, we have tried a couple of times in enclosed spaces but she finds everything else too interesting – especially rabbits…. She is starting to associate with her name, I thought she wasn’t but the kids called her yesterday and today and she pricked her ears up and responded – so that’s me proved wrong… She knows her basic commands like sit, down, stay and the kids have now taught her to give her paw for a treat – who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks!!

She travels well in the car on her camping trips. She is absolutely house-trained and has been left on her own for four hours on a couple of occasions with no problems. Our neighbours were listening out and they never heard a sound. She also settles on a night with no problems and has no separation anxiety at all. She has a big long embarrassingly scruffy cushion that she loves to lie on now, at first she only liked the floor, but if she’s happy with it that’s what counts. She still likes to chew up paper if she can get it but hasn’t bothered with anything else (except a pair of ear plugs she must have swallowed whole – which appeared the following day)!

She would be an easy dog for someone to own as food, affection and walks are all that she seems to need.

HONEY HAS GONE TO HER FOREVER HOME

Marie and Kevin said. “It was really lovely to be able to see Honey leave with her new owners at the IRR Reunion. We will of course all miss her enormously but are proud to see her move onto the next stage of her life with people who obviously love her to bits. Have fun Honey you are a special beautiful girl who deserves the best….”

FIRST UPDATE FROM HER FOREVER HOME

Steve said. “Honey has settled in brilliantly. She slept most of Saturday afternoon before going out for an evening walk and slept all night without any problems, we have been taking her for hour walks in the morning and evening and she has been fine off the lead. Credit must go to Marie and Kevin – after all she has been through you have done an excellent job of rehabilitating her, she is absolutely gorgeous and everybody has been making a fuss of her. Once again thanks for what you have done as we feel we have inherited a diamond.

SECOND UPDATE OCTOBER 2008

Honey is doing really well, the vets are pleased with her as she is putting on weight (I’m losing it with all the exercise). She barks up the stairs every morning for her walks and her personality is starting to show now. We’ve had a few escapades of her sprawling out on the river Avon bank and getting covered in mud, me having to climb over a gate to get her out of a horses field she sneaked into and her trying to pull the treat bag out of the cupboard!!

ONE OF THE HONORARY SPONSOR DOGS FOR A SPECIAL WEDDING

Honey very kindly agreed to be one of the five honorary Sponsor Dogs needed for the wedding of Hilary Cassidy and Eric Wilson when the went for something a bit different to the normal wedding favours and, instead, adopted 20 Sponsor Dogs, one for each table at the wedding.