[Kitchen Cottage]

http://blinddogrescueuk.webs.com/apps/photos/photo?photoid=183148521

I had my homecheck for him on Saturday and got told I'd passed..... hopefully he will be here by Christmas

[in the hills]

Terry looks fab and a real good looking lad 


Good on you KC for giving him a place to call home 

[happygolucky]

    how nice, he will be well loved......I suppose he will need to get used to the surroundings though

[doganjo]

Well done you for taking on a completely blind dog, it is a big undertaking. I wish you a long happy companionship with him. Why was he dumped at 5 years old - had he become suddenly blind do you think?

[Berkshire Boy]

I don't get this, there are thousands of dogs needing homes in this country why on earth do we need to bring them in from abroad. Madness

[doganjo]

I agree and as a Club we only take UK Brittanys, but dogs in other countries are not treated as well as here so there are emotions abounding. - poor dog is blind, thrown out on the streets; poor puppy will be euthanised in 4 days. - its all over Facebook.  Spain is particularly bad.  I can understand people wanting to help these dogs, but I agree we have a huge problem in the UK. 

How do you suggest we get round this, BB, because I don't know - except to go into a legalised system of restricting breeding with a licence that is properly policed.  Less dogs bred = less dogs out on the streets.

[Greenerlife]

Terry looks gorgeous - well done on passing the test!


I've just come back from a holiday in Greece and was shocked to see how they treat their dogs out there.  We met a couple of ex-pats who have set up a rescue centre for a particular breed they love, and would love to do others, but there would be too many and they don't want the heartache!  Gut wrenching.

[Kitchen Cottage]

BB - because this is all I can do to help.  He has no hope of rehoming in Belgrade.  The idea that his life consisted of blindness, abandonment and then euthanasia is much worse to me than to think he can have some happiness whilst I try to make up for what humans have done to him.

I can't help every dog.... I can help Terry. 

[Berkshire Boy]

I understand what you mean KC but there are plenty of Terrys in this country we are not here to solve the problems of the world we have enough problems of out own.
I have no problem with dogs being put down in those circumstances, plenty are put down in UK kennels every year. I love my dogs but I'm not going to have sleepless night worrying about everyone elses
Doganjo I don't know the answer but I don't think the state has the right to tell people how many puppies they can breed. My friend breeds Bernese mountain dogs he has just had 2 litters 18 pups and they sell for £1200 he could have sold them twice over and didn't even advertise.

[Fleecewife]

BB - because this is all I can do to help.  He has no hope of rehoming in Belgrade.  The idea that his life consisted of blindness, abandonment and then euthanasia is much worse to me than to think he can have some happiness whilst I try to make up for what humans have done to him.

I can't help every dog.... I can help Terry.

Here here   
 
I keep thinking that dogs evolved from wolves specifically to be companions to humans, and some just get a kick in the teeth in return for their love .  Many humans are horrible.   Kitchen Cottage I back you all the way.  This is the dog you have found which needs rehoming and as you say, you can't help every dog but you can help Terry.  Good Luck to you and to Terry.  Please keep us updated 

[shygirl]

how much does it cost to bring a dog over like that?
i did read that book by that soldier, who brought the dogs home from gulf or somewhere. i cant mind his name now but it was interesting.
20 dogs a day are put to sleep in uk but when we tried to find a terrier we werent allowed as we had kids. big shame as we have loads of time and land.

i personally dont understand why someone would choose a blind dog rather than one of the fit and healthy ones who get put to sleep, british or not. i saw the julie goodyear interview the other day, and she proudly announced that her farm was home to cats who only had 3 legs and 1 eye. my kids are the same. we went to an animal sanctuary a while back and they were over the moon at the deformed/ disabled cats there. 

good luck as its obviously what you want and im sure it will be a happy partnership 

[doganjo]

I understand what you mean KC but there are plenty of Terrys in this country we are not here to solve the problems of the world we have enough problems of out own.
I have no problem with dogs being put down in those circumstances, plenty are put down in UK kennels every year. I love my dogs but I'm not going to have sleepless night worrying about everyone elses
Doganjo I don't know the answer but I don't think the state has the right to tell people how many puppies they can breed. My friend breeds Bernese mountain dogs he has just had 2 litters 18 pups and they sell for £1200 he could have sold them twice over and didn't even advertise.

So what does that make him?  A good breeder or a puppy farmer - I know my answer!  I have a friend with a Bernese and they are lovely dogs but they suffer in our summers and they have multiple health problems.  The ONLY answer is state intervention and when Scotland becomes independent i will be asking our MPs to consider this.

[Fleecewife]

...... cats who only had 3 legs and 1 eye. my kids are the same......

 
    Apologies for laughing shygirl if your kids truly do have three legs and one eye.  My humour has gone very sick tonight 

[Berkshire Boy]

Doganjo, how do you get puppy farm from 2 litters. The 2 litters are the only ones in the last couple of years, yes he is a good breeder all potential owners are vetted by him and if people can't cope with the dog he will happily have them back.
If Scotland gets independance [ big if] I think they will have a few more pressing problems than wether Fred Blogs can have 1 or 2 litters of pups a year.

[Kitchen Cottage]

It costs about £400 to bring a dog to the UK and the adopter pays £200. I will pay the full amount.  The upside is the veterinary care in romania, greece and bulgaria (where a lot of these dogs come from) is less and so your pounds go a long way.

I do understand the point about scarce resources and that they should be targetted.  However, Terry is blind but healthy and he has his sense of smell, he has quality of life.  There are two other blind dogs at mine in my granny annex and, because it is an enclosed plot, they can run freely and develop confidence.  I don't see that he is worth less than a dog in an English shelter (oops... or Scottish  !!) 

Doing something on a micro level doesn't prevent me doing something on a macro level and I don't think there is a geographical border to helping a dog.

He's what I can do.  I'm excited about him.  I'm looking forward to adapting to making his life as fulfilled as possible.  I have a lovely working cocker Misty.... whom I know will come to adore him and a 19 year old sprollie, who will just sleep next to him...

I'm happy about Terry and I don't see it as a problem in terms of what I have done, as against what other people think I "should" have done.

Trust me, there aren't a lot of adopters around for these dogs.