Meara
Bonnie is lovely 2 years old, golden coloured Golden Retriever. Having received all the necessary inoculations and veterinary treatment, she has her Pet Passport for transport to the UK
HISTORY
Bonnie was relinquished after Kathryn, our Ireland Co-ordinator, received a phone call from her owner He had already contacted Meath Pound and they suggested speaking to Kathryn. He told her he was going to “put his Golden Retriever down”. Kathryn was horrified and, after talking with the owner for a while, she realised that IRR was the only option and told him she would collect her that afternoon. Bonnie was, apparently, ‘aggressive’ and nobody wanted her anymore.
When Kathryn went to collect her, she could see Bonnie wasn’t aggressive just frustrated and frightened. She was tied up outside with access to a shed. When she went out of the shed she was covered up to her legs in mucky sludge. In the beginning, she had been allowed inside but she didn’t want to go outside into the shed at night.
Kathryn was told she had ‘become aggressive’ after she had been spayed and now her time was up. It was explained that sometimes she would tear off down the field to lie down with the horses for company as no one wanted to be near her. The owner was called to help put her in the car as no one could get her in and Kathryn didn’t want to over stress her. ‘She’ll ruin your car’ was the quip but Kathryn retorted ‘don’t worry, my car has been ruined more than once and it won’t be the last time’.
Dogs are very intelligent, and none more so, than Bonnie. When they went to the vet, he brought Bonnie down with the nurse and was told not to worry everything would be fine but 40 minutes later Bonnie was locked in a room. Never again would Kathryn listen to someone ‘who thought they knew her rescues better’.
Poor Bonnie was scared witless. Kathryn went in and coaxed her out, she got down on her knees and explained that she was sorry and she would never leave her in that situation again. The next time would be different but she would have to take that leap of faith once more. Bonnie, after thinking on it for a while let Kathryn put on her harness and came over to say ‘it was ok’ and cuddled her. The following day, Bonnie went to our regular vet and Kathryn lay down the law. She brought lots of chicken and everything went very smoothly.
Clive, who is Paddy and Evelyn’s son, Kathryn can only describe as ‘magical’ with dogs. Within a very short time (48 hours) Bonnie was wagging her tail dying to make friends with everyone. She didn’t feel intimidated. She felt we were there to change her life and make it much better. ‘It is the one of the saddest and most rewarding rescues I have ever done’ Kathryn said, ‘primarily because I wasn’t going to let her down if she could only take a leap of faith and that leap of faith wasn’t just huge, it was enormous.
Bonnie was on her way. She had lost her fear and realised that she would never be alone. She would never again be left to her own devices. She was going to be showered with more love than she could handle. When Kathryn brought her over to England with Laura, it was a very difficult parting with tears galore and lots of chicken! Kathryn said “It is still hard when I think of what she went through and I often find myself thinking of her. Clive also felt sad but glad that she was ‘going home’. He had put a lot of work into that wonderful girl. He would call her a cracker!! and nothing could be more true. When putting Bonnie into the fosterer’s car I said ‘Be a good girl, be happy, because everyone who has met you has loved you.’ I still find myself in floods thinking of her. Rescue gets harder, not easier, as time goes on but the time that it doesn’t affect me this way, is the time to hang up my hat”. Bonnie was fostered in the UK with Christine.
PERSONALITY Christine describes Bonnie as a lovely character, very loving and sweet and with an excellent temperament but she just needs a little time to learn to trust.
She can be quite timid and lacks confidence but is getting more alert and inquisitive. Bonnie is a very playful dog so would appreciate a playmate of a similar age.
Bonnie is very loving in nature and likes to curl up on your lap and give you a bath. She gets on with people and dogs so would make an ideal family pet. Bonnie can be over excited for attention but she now is realising that love is always available and is learning to be calmer.
“We think she would make a great pet for someone with no young children who is, ideally, at home with a 2-8 year old female dog”.
HEALTH Bonnie is in good health. Her ears / eyes / mouth / teeth / skin / legs and feet are good and her bowel / bladder movements are good too.
Bonnie has a good appetite and does not appear to be underweight. She was a bit hesitant to sleep upon arrival but now she is relaxing more and sleeping better.
She is now happy to sleep various times of the day and sleeps a good 9-10 hours at night.
SOCIAL LEARNING TRAVEL: She is happy and content travelling in a vehicle. An excellent car traveller, she just goes to sleep with no panting or issues of stress.
HOUSETRAINING: She was very nervous about going out to the garden on her own but, after 4 days, she started going out on her own if you stood at the door and, after 10 days, she is happy to go out all by herself.
She sleeps for a good 9 hours at night with no issues and is always clean.
After 4 days, Bonnie was half house trained as she will do a wee outside when you stand with her in the garden and when she is on a walk but poos she seems to save for between 12.00 and 13.00 for the living room. We have noticed she paces before this so are still trying to catch her. It does make it harder with her been such a timid dog.
After 10 days, Bonnie is having less accidents but this is mostly due to us not noticing when she is pacing and taking her to the back garden after a walk. She will go out when the other dogs initiate it but does not ask to go out herself
BASIC TRAINING: Christine says “When she arrived Bonnie had no basic training but, already, she knows how to sit and understands “ No”. I am still working on “paw” but this is a slow process.
After 10 days, her training is improving and, as is normel with her breed, she is eager to learn. She sits at the kerb on a walk when asked and is understanding “no” and “paw” when you have a treat”.
LEAD WALKING This needs work. Bonnie is walked with a harness and double lead and it is clear she has not been lead walked before as she weaves across the pavement and sometimes into the road. She will pull some of the time but mostly she is becoming ok on the lead.
After 10 days, Bonnie is still walked with a harness and double lead. The first 1/2 Km she will pull a little but then she seems to settle down and can pass people and dogs with ease. She does get spooked with loud noises like motorbikes. RESOURCE GUARDING: Bonnie has shown no issues of resource guarding – she even shares her meal and drink with the resident dog, Rosie who is a 10 year old Golden Retriever.
She still has to be separated at human mealtimes as she will not respect what is your food and what is hers.
SEPARATION ANXIETY: Bonnie whinges slightly when placed in a separate room but she settles down after a short while.
ADULTS: Every adult she has met she has grown to love although, initially, she is fearful of people until she learns to trust them. They have to approach slowly with arms lowered or she panics.
CHILDREN: She is not suitable for young children
DOGS: Bonnie has no problem living with or meeting other dogs. She shares her home with Rosie and has had visits from two 9 month old Cocker Spaniels and has visited a 3 year old Cairn Terrier.
Some of the play with the male Cocker Spaniel was rough but not anything to be worried about. They just needed to be calmed down. Mostly she plays well but sometimes gets overexcited and has to be separated. She is no real danger to other dogs. It is just a bit rougher play than we would like especially with the male dog. She may be better in a home with a female.
CATS: She has not been cat tested
BONNIE’S DREAM HOME
Bonnie needs a loving home preferably with adults who are at home most of the time and who are willing to spend time building her confidence through positive training and love.
She really needs canine company to further help her to learn the ways of the world. In Clive’s words, “Bonnie is a smashing girl – a cracker!” Have a beautiful life Bonnie, you deserve it and that is exactly what IRR intend for you.
MARCH 2018
Meara has gone to live in her forever home.
