News 2010

January 19th

Best Bar None Awards

ESSW were delighted to be contacted by the Avon and Somerset police who informed us that we had been chosen as the recipient charity for their fundraising efforts at the Best Bar None awards dinner being held by this constabulary for the first time. Selina Clarke with partner Rob, Robert and Celia Woodbridge and local co-ordinators Hilary and Martin Ritchie represented ESSW at the dinner.

The Best Bar None award scheme is dedicated to the promotion of responsible drinking on licensed premises. It works closely nationwide with regional councils and the police to encourage licensees to take part. Chairman of the scheme, Lord Reesedale, gave a speech at the dinner which was also attended by the deputy chief constable of Somerset and Avon.

 We were asked to sponsor and present an award for the ‘Most Dog Friendly Premises’. Celia made a short speech about ESSW generally and mentioned just some of the many dogs that have gone via us to be trained as sniffer dogs. This included ‘Max’ who went on to Avon and Somerset and in whose memory the award was offered. Linda Ralph commissioned a glass trophy which went to the landlords of the Gardeners Arms in Cheddar Somerset. Special thanks go to Mike Ashwin of Avon and Somerset who organised the entire event and who arranged for ESSW to benefit from all the proceeds of the silent auction.

CELIA WOODBRIDGE

  'Photo courtesy Somerset County Gazette'
  of Gladys helping to present the award
  with owner Anne on behalf of ESSW.

10th February
On going medical support given by English Springer Spaniel Welfare

English Springer Spaniel Welfare are now supporting the medical needs of several dogs adopted from us and in our care with pre-exisiting conditions, and without this support some of them wouldn't be here today. These dogs are why we need the support from you guys out there as much as possible, because without your help, whether that be assessing for us, fundraising or spreading the word to others that we are here, we would not be able to support to these dogs.

Meggie has both Diabetes and Cushings Disease. She has been adopted by our area co-ordinator Sandy Waldon and husband Paul. The Cushings Disease is continually throwing Meggie's diabetes blood glucose results up and down which means she needs constant monitoring and her medical treatment altered accordingly. Meggie takes tablets for her Cushings and twice-daily insulin injections for her Diabetes. She also needs regular blood tests for both conditions and we have supplied Sandy with a veterinary glucometer to help her with the routine tests, all with the support of her vet. Without this strict amount of care and attention Meggie would most likely not have survived for this long. Sandy's vet, Jonathon Smallwood, has now classed Meggie as a "brittle diabetic" which means her results will always be irregular, placing her life at risk from a sudden diabetes crash. We shall be forever grateful to Johathon for his care and attention to Meggie, and for keeping his costs to the minimum.

Regardless of her illnesses, Meggie lives life to the full, doesn't appear to be poorly and has a wonderful quality of life with Sandy, Paul and their other canine companions which is the best anyone could wish for such a sweet dog.

  MEGGIE DIABETIC AND CUSHINOID     MITCH AND JADE

    12 YEAR OLD BARNEY

Mitch and Jade are two elderly dogs that were devoted to each other when their owner had to surrender them into the care of The Oldies Club. It was plain to see that they couldn't be separated as they were two peas in a pod. We were made aware of the struggle to get them rehomed together as they were both in need of pain medication for arthritis so we offered medical support to help keep them together. So the problem of finding an adopter who could afford to take on both was solved and they are together, just like they should be.

Barney's owner very sadly passed away with the wish that his family would take care of Barney. However, due to a rather horrid twist of fate it turned out that a family member was allergic to dogs and this was triggering severe asthma attacks which meant they had to rehome Barney. We placed him in one of our foster homes where they fell in love with him immediately and asked to adopt him, which they did. Due to his age it would be impossible to get insurance for Barney and so we are happy to provide medical support for his pre-existing conditions.

Woody had been on our rehoming list for almost a year without much attention, the reason being he had broken both his front legs in seperate incidents and needs pain medication to be able to live the life of a normal Springer. No-one wanted to take on a dog with such a pre-exisitng condition, so we agreed to cover the cost of his pain relief and his new owners can insure him for all other conditions. We will continue to support Woody for as long as he needs it.

Albert is currently looking for a home and is in ESSW foster care in Essex. He has hip dysplasia and needs an operation to remove some of the bone to allow his hip to move freely and relieve the pain this causes. The cost of the operation is around £700 plus after care and pain medication, etc, which we have agreed to pay for in full. It would be most beneficial for Albert to be settled in a new home before having the operation, rather than perhaps becoming too attached to his foster carers if they were to nurse him through the aftercare. He is crate trained and is having some obedience training daily in preparation for his operation. If you think you might be able to help us help Albert please take a look at our Dogs for Rehoming page.
 
   

  Woody now rehomed

  Milo after his surgery Albert in his new home
 

Milo is currently in foster care, after ESSW was contacted by a vet in Cornwall saying he had been signed into their care by the owner and he needed a complicated surgery to repair a bone that had broken in several places in his leg. He is only nine months old and the only other option was to have him put to sleep. A £1,000 operation later and he is recovering in foster care. He isn't out of the woods yet and as you can imagine trying to keep a puppy on crate rest is not an easy task! The metal external fixator is very hard to keep clean and free from infection which means he has to have regular trips back to Sam at the vets for antibiotics and surgical cleaning of the pins.

Another well deserved thank you to the vets in question for keeping our costs to a minimum. Were it not for them ringing around to find a rescue who would take on the mammoth task of looking after him, Milo would not be here today. A huge thank you to his foster carers as well who are dedicating so much of their time to taking such good care of Milo .

Milo continued - 11 March 2010

Milo has sucessfully had his second operation today to remove part of his metal fixator. His third and hopefully last operation will be in two weeks and then he will be going to his new forever home who have dutifully kept in touch with Milo's fosterers right throughout his recovery.

  Milo in the care of Vet Sam Pawson
  and his wonderful team at
  Truro Veterinary Centre

March 2nd
Discover Dogs

Last year we had the privilege of being invited to Discover Dogs. Watch the video HERE of Linda and ESS Poppy promoting Springers as a breed, and doing a very good job indeed.