Success Stories

April 28th, 2010

Zorro

Just to update you on Zorro who celebrated his 1st Birthday recently.

Zorro is now very firmly the man about the house and lets my boyfriend know. He has become the housing estate’s favourite resident particularly amoung children who all know him by name and want him to join in their fun and games. As this picture shows Zorro or should i say Snorro really enjoyed the snow of last winter.

Clara & Paul

Ben

In life you sometimes read a story that breaks your heart and in this case it was Ben’s story which did this to my family, while looking on the Roscommon SPCA’s website we logged into Ben’s story. Ben was wandering around and just lonely, cold and no food for days people just passing by not giving him a thought.

If Ben could talk we think he’d be saying this:

“I can’t think of anything I did to deserve being dumped by a busy road. I couldn’t help being a nuisance that Sunday morning, My problem is I am deaf and blind and passed my best years but I did not deserve this, but for once my luck was in when a family stopped their car and help me out and called the Spca in Roscommon who came out to pick me up and took me to the dogs pound. All the time I was thinking what have I done to deserve this? The person that dropped me off and left me to die should be in the pound too. I was then moved to a nice lady who ran a kennels which was to be my home while living in the hope that a new family would give me a home. My wish came true! A nice family rang about me and then asked if they could come out and see me. The lady in the kennels told me I was going to a new home. I was delighted that I finally had a home of my own. The family came and collected me one week before Christmas, my new home is warm and comfortable and I met a new friend called Guinness! I knew I would be loved again. I enjoy going for walks with my best mate Guinness. Christmas day was great because I had a Christmas dinner and I helped open the presents. For dinner I had roast lamb and potatoes and fell asleep in front of the fire.”

“Life is looking up for me and hopefully I will have more happy times with my family in Roscommon. I would like to thank the SPCA and the family who saved me from death and also my new family for adopting me, I am thankful for all of them helping me to get back on my feet. My new name is Ben Dibble.”

“If you cannot give a home to someone like me, when you see the nice people from the SPCA out collecting think of me – it saved my life.”

Duffy

Duffy has been with us for three weeks and we can’t imagine a life without him.
My son of 23 adores him and takes him for 2 hour walks most days and I have to walk him before breakfast as he is very persistent, running round your legs to make sure you take him!
Apart from that he has made the settees his home where he sleeps and cuddles next to you ready for the next walk.

Update: March 2010

duffy_in_sun We have had Duffy for just over 4 months and as it has just passed the anniversary of his coming to Roscommon, I thought I would send you a new photo of him enjoying the sun in the garden. He loves his walks and loves his sleeps on the sofa. In the morning he is very impatient until he has had his first walk, it is the only time he tends to bark. He has occasionally given us cause to worry as he is so little and when off the lead can occasionally stray for five or more minutes leaving us frantically calling him before he turns up with a grin on his face as if he has been there all the time. Usually it’s when he scents a fox, squirrel or rabbit.

On Sundays having dropped my son at work we go to a local football field and meet other dog owners there and have a natter whilst the dogs play. He has a great time meeting the others, running around with 4 beagles, a jack russell, great dane and golden retriever. He then returns home, muddy and happy for

a sleep before the next big walk. We couldn’t imagine life without him and bless the day we found him. Thank you so much for looking after him and sending him across the water to find us.

Allyson, Phil, Katie and Stephen Jordan plus Duffy.

Rosie

Rosie has been with us for almost two weeks now and has settled in very well. She is very fond of Dan, our dog who needed a friend after Brandy had died. Her confidence is ever growing (: and she will be taking puppy training classes starting in November. We will keep you updated with her progress.

Finn

Just a quick line to update you on Finn’s progress 1 week into his new life. He was very subdued all last weekend, but took to tentatively exploring his new environment nevertheless. He got a clean bill of health from the Vet on Monday, and was microchipped in the process. Tuesday saw him get a full makeover in the groomers. He was impecibly behaved on both occasions. While he was as quiet as a doormouse all week, he did begin to play with Busker, our cocker cross, and we’re starting to see him come out of his shell. He’s still nervous around people, but he is beginning to get his confidence back, and is holding his head high! Finn loves to run and does laps of the garden at full pelt when the mood takes him.

He’ll play tug-o-war with Busker, and the two of them get along fine. Finn now has his bed in the utility room alongside Busker’s. His house manners were excellent with ony two small slip ups on Thursday when we failed to catch him cocking his leg in the kitchen, but no harm done! He’s getting the hang of the basic commands, and we’re working on the boundary training as Finn goes for the gate every time it opens. He’s still hiding a lot of his character behind a nervy disposition but every day sees him gain more self confidence. He’s taken to our Conor and will follow him as he cycles on the paths around the house.

I’ve attached a couple of pictures, but he’s actually difficult to photograph as he is soo black it’s hard to make him out! Will keep ye posted on his progress as time goes on but he’s off to a good start.

Update: November 2009

Just a quick update on Finn’s progress over the past two months. Well he’s really made himself at home and settled in well. The nervous disposition is all but gone now. He’s actually a very loyal and obedient dog, although he still suffers from selective deafness sometimes! His house training has returned, and he’s making good progress in other areas including boundary training. He still dislikes going in the car, but he’s much better than he was with it. Finn is a real character, and loves attention. He knows just how to play up to
visitors and can really turn on the charm especially if there’s a reward involved. We’re delighted with his progress, the way he’s settled in and that gets on so well with Busker, our cocker cross.
He’s part of the family now!

Declan & Martina McGuire

Socky

We are the happy family who is taking care of Sox. He is so very kind and calm. He likes the company of other dogs and loves to play. He is our very first dog and we could not have a better one. You are all doing a great job
Love from Socky and his family.

Lottie

I went to help unload some food donated to Roscommon SPCA for the stray cats they feed and came across a young cat who had been rescued and was thought to possibly be in kitten. I was seduced over a cup of coffee when she decided to make herself at home on my lap and proceeded to boost my ego as a cat magnet! It was a big decision if she was in kitten but she had my heart. I have called her Lottie, and no she wasn’t in kitten just bloated from life on the street. I don’t know how she survived as Lottie still seems vulnerable – needing reassurance that she is cared for- she will be.

Monty and Merlin

I was told of a black cat who had been looked out for by a lady who had given it access to a large shed for several weeks, providing shelter and food. Her family had become attached to the cat but her dogs were completely anti-cat. Having recently lost a black cat, who was hit by a car, I wanted to give another a chance of a home. When Roscommon SPCA went to collect the cat they discovered there were actually two of them, one slightly smaller but clearly closely attached to each other – how could they be separated? The first I have named Monty – he seems to contemplate things a lot, the more elusive one is called Merlin. Both have settled well in their new home and are still inseparable. Monty is very much a home cat and is very affectionate, he prefers to only venture out for an hour or so, is always first to return home and seems to feel happiest sleeping in door ways, maybe he just needs to know the door can’t be shut on him. Merlin is a definite ‘on his terms’ cat who is also extremely affectionate and will snuggle up at the first opportunity but is a complete wriggle-bum if picked up! He also has the longest tail of any cat I’ve ever come across – and he knows it! They are part of my family now and a constant joy.

Scooby

Scooby has settled into our home and family very well I have also adopted a 2 year old red setter bitch to keep him company and put some manners on him. They get on very well and try to out run each other on their walks. He is well behaved at home and will sit and come on command now but out on the walks he goes deaf but he is starting to follow the setter. I’m sure in a while he will listen. Everybody I meet on the walks stop to admire him and my three daughters love him. They get three walks a day and Scooby gets a short run along side my bike which is what he is bred for to for fill his energy needs ( I have lost half of a stone since I met you). Here are a few photos which prove that your good work in saving Scooby has been worth while. I will keep in touch and thanks again.

Its hard enough trying to get kids to pose!

Typical girl “ Don’t take a picture of me just Scooby”

What is over there!

I don’t need a shower!

Ready for take off!

Are we done with this photo shoot?

Zak & Molly

Hello everyone in Roscommon! We were visiting the website and saw a picture of Zorro and wanted to update you on his family Tinkerbell and Snowball. We have changed their names to Molly & Zak and they seem to have settled into the family really well. Molly looks a lot like Zorro! We are so glad to have the two of them as they are great company for each other (most of the time, when they are not play fighting). They are growing fast and the vet is happy that they are doing so well.

As soon as we got them home (after not travelling well the whole 2hr journey back) they made their bed under the kitchen table and there is no moving them from there. Their favourite things are eating, playing with toys, lots of fuss and being out down the river. They are not so keen on taking a bath!! Seamus took some convincing at first to get another dog after his last collie died, but he is the most inseparable from them!! Our twins really love having them and we can’t imagine being without them now.

They are great exercise for us all as a family. Molly too has the longest legs like Zorro and was the first to be able to jump up on the settee. Zak is the rogue. He likes to get a toy in his mouth and throw it in the air then chase it. There has been some chewing on the chair legs, and the garden has had to be dog proofed but otherwise we can’t complain. They have been very quick to pick up basic obedience, but we are enrolling in a class that will help with this and socialising as well as some agility later.

I have attached a picture so that you can see how they are looking now. Thanks for your help when we were looking to rehome the dogs. Look forward to seeing you soon

Suzanne, Seamus, Nathan, Megan & of course Molly & Zak

Zorro

Just letting you know that Zorro has settled in brilliantly. He is now nearly 5 months old. He loves people, children in particular, and even playing with other dogs which is fantastic. He goes to the beach nearly every day and enjoys crunching on the odd crab or two. I think his daddy may have been a ‘giraffe’, his legs are so long. Can’t wait to see what he turns out like when he is fully grown. At least those long legs come in handy when he’s playing soccer, he’s better than Ronaldo!!

Leo

Hi there, my name is Jackie, myself and my boyfriend Shaun adopted Leo a couple of weeks ago. These are just some pictures to show how well he is doing. He is better on the lead now and enjoys his walks. He has made good friends with my god daughter who is six and they enjoy playing together. He is eating well and settling into live here well. Enjoy the pictures.

Bella

We are crazy about Diva, we now call her Bella! Bella is putting on some weight and her coat is improving, it seems longer now and soft. You can really see the difference in her coat.

I take Bella for a walk every morning for an hour and she loves it. I sometimes bring her to the beach after so she can run free and play fetch into the water. She loves the water but ain’t to keen on seaweed. She is like a race horse.

I take her then to the forest in the evening were she goes mad through the trees. She really loves the attention she is getting and she snuggles into us and licks us and sometimes demands my attention by putting her paws around my leg.

We are both tired at the end of the night and she is glad to settle into her basket.

Thank you so much for Bella, She is a wonderful dog and we cannot beleive our luck

Toby

Poor Toby was destined for being “put to sleep” at the vet when his owner took him there after he killed a neighbour’s chicken. The vet rang us to see if we could help as Toby was such a lovely little dog. He stayed in his foster home for a couple of months, until Uri, a Latvian national (with no chickens!!) decided to give him a home…

Now, he has a fabulous garden to run in, and he sleeps in Uri’s bed at night…

There isn’t much else to say, if only there were more people like Uri to give these dogs loving homes…

Finding Jonie

Jonie is a beautiful collie/spaniel cross. I got her as a pup – drove to Galway for her in April 2006. For two years she was my loyal companion and we went through a lot of ups and downs together. For this reason I was devastated when Jonie went missing in March of this year, just after her second birthday in February.

I enlisted the help of my family and friends to find her. Living on the outskirts of Longford I naturally contacted the Longford SPCA – Jonie was not to be found. We printed out posters with a picture of Jonie and contact details and posted them throughout the Longford/Roscommon area, putting the posters in local shops, supermarkets, petrol filling stations etc. Even the local Gardaí were alerted.

In October of this year, seven months after Jonie went missing, my dad passed away. Dad knew how much I missed Jonie, we were only talking about her the night before he died.

$Amber\'s Pups$ On the day my father died – his death was sudden and unexpected – my brother Alan stopped at Casey’s filling station in Roscommon for petrol and saw a poster with Jonie looking at him. This poster said “Rescued Dog needs a home”. When we rang the number, it transpired Jonie had been rescued by the Roscommon SPCA, having been found in Frenchpark, in pup and lost.

We learnt from the Roscommon SPCA that three weeks after they rescued her, Jonie had six pups, two of which died following a traumatic labour. Jonie could have also died, were it not for the intervention of the Vet.

A tearful reunion ensued when I collected Jonie from Kathleen. Kathleen and her daughter had been caring for Jonie, for all the time she had been missing. Had Jonie not been rescued by such caring people, I dread to think what might have happened.

I like to think it was my dad who sent Jonie back to look after us at this sad time, like she always did, but realistically I also know that because Jonie was rescued by the Roscommon SPCA she was one lucky dog.

Tynan

Tynan is an emigrant, travelling from Roscommon to the RSPCA in Brighton through a Waterford based charity that works at re-homing dogs in both Ireland and the UK. Margaret was a volunteer walker for the RSPCA and was given the ‘most wonderful dog’ one day. We immediately adopted him. He now lives in Lewes in East Sussex, enjoys walks on the Downs and playing with other dogs, including an Irish wolfhound from Cork! He is, indeed, the most wonderful dog.

Tom and Margaret Healy

Just by chance

A Love Story

Last September, a young male Collie cross made fleeting appearances almost like a ghost among the woodlands near Roscommon, Ireland. After two weeks of patience and persistence, a member of Roscommon Animal Rescue succeeded in tempting a lonely boy into the safety of animal rescue’s arms. Bedraggled, lonely and abandoned, his poor tail just a wisp of fur, he was taken in and given a foster home with one of the kind team of volunteers. His name is Frenchi.

While there, another little ‘Lady’ Collie x, rescued from the pound with only hours to live before being put down, became a constant companion to Frenchi. His surviving instinct had given him confidence and Lady found this a great strength and comfort. He kept her safe, a Love was forged.

As the months passed, the carer felt Frenchi was ready to re-home and should take the chance of finding that home. Lady was still too nervous and had to stay a while. They had wanted to home them together but it seemed not to be.

Frenchi arrived at RSPCA Patcham, Brighton, England. Chris and I had almost given up on our search for a dog. We have three cats so had to find a dog that would fit in with us. We thought we wanted a small female dog but we kept an open mind.

One last visit ‘just by chance’, we arrived, went in and walked along all the pens. We saw Frenchi, quiet and lonely, leaning against the cage door. I could just stroke his nose with my little finger through the holes in the bars on the door. We fell in love.

A few days later we took him home. His name is now ‘Fen’. From the moment we got him, I can honestly say he hasn’t put a paw wrong. He’s everything we wished and dreamed for, even our little cats, Madge and Willow kiss him sometimes. One of his greatest attributes is his smile. Yes he really smiles!

We went along to the RSPCA Brighton open day in July and met the ladies who found Frenchi. They told us his story and also about Lady. We said that we would be interested to give Lady a home too. A few weeks later she has now arrived; reunited with Fen and now part of our family. Fen and Lady remembered each other, she follows him everywhere. It’s a joy to see. In time, perhaps when Lady can relax and knows that she has a home and is loved ……. she may smile too.