Vinnie McAvoy

GOODBYE TO OUR SPECIAL MR VINNIE (2007- 22.6.2021)

Far too soon after saying “goodbye” to his beloved Connie, Terry has now also lost his very special boy, Vinnie.

He was loving and kind to humans and other dogs alike and didn’t have a single bad bone in his body. Many tears are being shed for him, for sure, as everyone who knew him simply fell in love with him as soon as they met him.

Vinnie was a real character who loved to be involved in any mischief that was going on but it was impossible to ever be cross with him. He will be very much missed by one and all when the meetings in Gizzie’s field happen again.

A devastated Terry told Pauline “Mr Vinnie has gone to join all the girls at the Bridge. He was really struggling to get up and had just been diagnosed with Hypothyroidism which meant a whole lot more meds for him to take. The awful decision was definitely the kindest thing for him and he is out of pain and running free now”.

Terry is extremely grateful to everyone who has sent their condolences and messages of support. The outpourings of love for him and Vinnie have really helped Terry to struggle through a very sad and difficult time.

Pauline said “I remember my first meeting with Vinnie so well. Terry and Belinda walked around the field with their other dogs but poor Vinnie was too terrified to move so I sat with him at the gate just cuddling him and reassuring him.

Vinnie needn’t have worried as he had fallen on his paws well and truly and he soon became the apple of his Dad’s eye quickly becoming Terry’s right-hand man in a household full of females including their female cat and the hens.

Of course, Vinnie also adored his beloved Mum, Belinda, so the reunion at Rainbow Bridge with her and all his sisters, his foster friends and his ever so many other IRR best mates will have been wonderful to see”.

Fly high with all the other angels, darling Vinnie. You will be in our hearts forever xxx.

UPDATE ON A LOVELY BOY (December 2019)

Over the years, Vinnie has seen many foster dogs come and go and his lovely nature has always shone through.

He was a fantastic support to Belinda during her long battle against cancer and he has been a rock to Terry since her passing in April 2019.

Sadly, he has also seen many of his sisters departing to Rainbow Bridge over the years. The first was Stella in 2016, then both Ellie May and Millie in 2017 and then Cassie, Abi and Bunty in 2019. All will, for sure, now be reunited with their beloved Mum.

THE McAVOY CLAN in 2015

Vinnie has always been a big hit at the Get Togethers in Gizzie’s field although, again, 2019 has seen the passing of many of his friends … Lola, Rocky, Leo, Murphy, Bentley, Gunner, Megan, Bizzi, Alfie, Rosie and, of course, there was the very tragic passing of the gorgeous young Shamrock.

He is just one of several disabled IRR dogs who all regularly mingle happily together. Being blind, deaf or having 3 good legs has never been a problem to IRR and all it’s wonderful adopters.

SOME OF OUR DISABLED DOGS IN 2015

Vinnie is a fantastic, loving dog who has never been too proud to beg and is rarely seen without a huge grin on his handsome face.

HISTORY

When Vinnie arrived in 2013, he was 6 years old. He had been surrendered to IRR because his owner could no longer afford to keep him. He was fostered in Somerset with Belinda and Terry.

They found Vinnie to be a beautiful, gentle and quiet boy. Sadly, through trauma or birth defect, he only had one functioning eye. IRR took on the responsibility of paying for the bad one to have removal surgery.

After just a few days in foster care he was already coming out of his shell and Belinda and Terry felt certain that he would make a wonderful pet for someone. His dream home was with an adoptive family who would be patient, gentle and encouraging with him.

As Vinnie was really good with all other dogs, it became clear he would need to be rehomed with other calm dogs so that he could learn how good life could really be as a cherished family member.

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2013

Well, the inevitable happened, as we all knew it would, and Vinnie was going to be staying with Belinda, Terry and all their girls in Somerset. But, then, how could anyone resist the charms of this handsome, gentle, very special boy?

The extremely close relationship with Terry, in particular, was evident from the start so this adoption was never in any doubt. After all, Terry needed to have some back-up in an all-girl household of 5 IRR rescue dogs, Purdey the cat and the 2 ultra-friendly ex-battery chickens (Poppy and Daisy).

Vinnie started off as a very troubled soul who spent his entire first visit to the girls’ favourite exercise field just laying near the entrance being cuddled by Pauline (one of his new Aunties) while the family all went off for a leg stretch. He also needed lifting in and out of the car as he seemed to be too terrified to walk, bless him.

It’s possible that the pain and confusing images caused by his eye may have had a bearing on his sad demeanour but that is now a thing of the past as the operation to remove his eye was a great success. There is still a lot of doubt as to how much vision he actually has in his “good” eye but, whatever that may be, he manages very well.

It was at the vet’s, whilst having his check-up examination, where Vinnie’s remarkable capacity for chilling first came to the fore.

His zoning out first alarmed then amazed his vet as Vinnie managed to fall fast asleep on the table!! The vets and vet nurses, who spoilt him rotten, were quick to join his very long queue of admirers (how could anyone not fall in love with him?) so they were as delighted as everyone else to know he was going nowhere.

After just a short time, the changes in Vinnie were remarkable and he really began to come out of his shell thanks to not only his lovely humans but also because of the attentions of his canine companions – especially Elllie May who, clearly, had been giving him hints and tips on how to get your feet under the table. Once she had made her mind up she was staying, everyone knew it was just a question of time before the adoption was a done deal as from day one, Belinda, had been her focal point and the object of her adoration as, in turn, Terry had become Vinnie’s extra special person..

We knew, for sure, that Vinnie would continue to go from strength to strength and was assured of as much love and happiness as any dog could ever want.

Sometimes, things are simply meant to be.