Josie Thompson

JOSIE WENT PEACEFULLY TO THE BRIDGE ON 21.1.2011

A TRIBUTE FROM DI AND ROB

Two years ago, Josie came into our lives like a huge blazing sun, lighting up everything in her path. The first time I saw her photo, I knew that for me she was one of those extra special dogs and that her place would be with us for however long she had left. Pauline and Jackie were happy to try to get her out of the Dogs’ Home and we agreed to foster her. Pauline just laughed and suggested that we might fail quite quickly. As usual, Pauline, you were right – I think we’d failed before Josie even arrived.

From the first day it was obvious that Josie was the most beautiful, gentle girl you could wish for. 14 years old, she was a Labrador/beagle cross who had been picked up as a stray from the streets of Manchester. From the start it was clear that she had an irrepressible sense of fun and she bounded through life always on the lookout for a chance to make us laugh. She and Bella loved each other from the moment they met and together they provided an ideal environment for the foster dogs who came and went (or stayed – like Holly). Bella was the steady, placid matriarch and Josie was the irresponsible sister who would invite them to play, show them the ropes and get them into mischief.

Josie’s health was poor when she arrived and she soon had to have her first tumour removed. She bounced back with renewed vigour but a year later another had appeared and again was successfully vanquished. Sadly, the third couldn’t be beaten. She went rapidly downhill one day and tests showed that she had an inoperable tumour extending across her whole liver. She was about to go into liver failure so we made the decision to let her go peacefully and with dignity.

Now, it’s as though a light has been turned out and the world is a duller place. The house is so quiet without our little ginger dynamo charging around on those stiff, arthritic legs. We all miss you so much, Josie pickle. You’ll always have a very special place in our hearts and we’ll never forget you. Run free now with the rest of our mob at Rainbow Bridge.

A POEM FROM WENDY

You rescued me and gave me so much love,
you were my Guardian Angels with help from above.

I thought nobody would want an elderly lady like me,
but when you saw me it was really meant to be.

I have had a lumps and bumps and tumours too,
but that didn’t put you off loving me too.

You and Rob fostered so many ‘Senior Dogs’ and took them into our home,
everyone was so happy they would never ever roam.

I had a sense of fun and I was mischievous too,
I tried to encourage anyone to join me too.

I will miss Bella and Holly and you both more than words can say,
but I will think of you each and every day.

We haven’t known each other for very long,
but the love I feel for you both is very strong.

God has just chosen me to be one of his Angels too,
he knew I was so pretty and would know just what to do.

Think of me as the sun that shines so bright,
or the stars that sparkle in the sky at night.

I am now just like a puppy again,
I run and play and feel no pain.

Thank you again for all you have done,
to me you were such a Wonderful Mum.

Lots of Love from your ‘Josie Pickle’ xxxxxxxx

JOSIE’S HISTORY

Little Josie has had a really busy week. Seven days ago she was in the care of Manchester Dogs’ Home but staff were worried about her because of her age (over 12) and ill health. They sent her details to the Oldies Club hoping to find a new forever home for her quickly. Almost at once, Irish Retriever Rescue became aware of Josie’s plight and swung into action. Manchester Dogs’ Home agreed to release Josie to IRR where there was a foster home with Di and Rob ready and waiting.

The day after Josie’s details appeared on the Oldies Club website, she was on her way to her new foster home courtesy of Irish Retriever Rescue’s network of volunteer transporters. Maria collected her from the Dogs’ Home as soon as they opened that day and, thanks to Sally’s efficient organisation, the 220 mile journey went without a hitch. After three changes of car she arrived in Essex and met her new family including her new companion, Bella.

Josie has a number of health problems but a trip to the vet plus Pauline’s advice on homeopathic remedies soon put her on the road to recovery and made her more comfortable. Unfortunately she then had to have urgent surgery to remove a tumour which was causing her serious hormonal problems. She is now back at home and recovering well but had it not been for IRR’s quick action, the outcome might not have been positive.

Her period as a foster dog was extremely short as her new family immediately fell in love with her and decided to join the illustrious ranks of IRR failed fosterers and adopt her. So now Josie has a wonderful new life to look forward to.

Josie and her family would like to thank Manchester Dogs Home, the Oldies Club and especially Irish Retriever Rescue and those amazing transporters, Maria, Sally, Linda and Diane – also Pauline and Jackie for their constant support. Without them, Josie’s story might not have had a happy ending.

UPDATE APRIL 2009

Di said,“Josie is developing into quite a little pickle. Gone is the slow, depressed, ill old girl who arrived three weeks ago. She is now a typical lab. She runs and jumps, plays ball, steals things to tease us, takes paper out of wastebins and shreds it across the floor and grumbles at boy dogs if they show an interest in her hormones!! She bounces around in the garden occasionally trying to get Bella to play……Bella can’t understand that and just stands there. She’s also a heat seeking missile just like Bella – they trot round the house together following the sunlight – except that for Josie, sunlight in armchairs or on sofas is preferable.

The vet has signed her off now with a clean bill of health – he says it will take a while for the hormones to settle down though. Eyes are fine although cataracts are quite well advanced, nose is now like a real nose and not like a dried up river bed, cough has gone thanks to Jackie’s cough bomb, surgery scar is all healed, tummy is sorted and coat is getting darker and glossy. All in all, she’s a healthy, lively little soul and all the family adore her :-)))

Our new foster dog Argyle has arrived. Bit of retriever there maybe but he’s mainly collie and he behaves like a collie as well. He seems very placid and gentle – he gets on well with the girls. When he first arrived Josie the trollop thought all her Christmases had come at once. She spent about half an hour hassling him – pushing into him and rubbing herself all over him. He soldiered on for a while, trying to turn away from her. We left them because we wanted him to tell her off. Eventually he did, in a fairly gentlemanly way – then she did stop and now she’s behaving normally. Poor boy – he must have wondered where he’d landed up.”

The two pics below are Josie’s pin up and her and Argie playing. She’s 12, he’s 16 but what’s age when you’re having fun :-)))

JOSIE’S ANNIVERSARY UPDATE

I know some of you, especially Maria, will know exactly who I am but for anyone who wonders, cast your mind back to exactly a year ago when you helped me to move from Manchester Dogs’ Home into my forever home with Di and Rob in Essex. I’m Josie, the little ginger coloured lab and my mum told me that lots of lovely IRR people were involved over a couple of days organising, collecting and transporting me and I just wanted to let you all know how I am getting on.

I love my home and my big sister, Bella and we have loads of good times together. We sleep in the sun, amble round the garden and play with our furry toys. We also have what mum calls foster dogs who come and go – that’s always good fun and I love meeting new friends. I’ve had a couple of operations at the vet’s but I always bounce back and the vet says I’m such a sweet, happy little thing. My life is great and without you all I wouldn’t be here at all so thank you loads and loads for putting all that effort into rescuing one funny little dog.

My mum and dad take loads of photos and videos of me and as today is a special day, there’s a new video. If you want to have a look to remind yourself who I am, it’s here

Lots of love and kisses to you all Josie xxxxxxxxx

PS I don’t know the email addresses of some the lovely people who transported me so perhaps someone can pass my love and thanks on to them. xx

VERY SAD NEWS

We were all saddened to hear that Josie went to Rainbow Bridge on 21st January 2011.

She was much loved and is very much missed by Di and Rob and her sisters Bella and Holly.

Fly with the angels sweet girl.