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Post by suethejam on Oct 12, 2016 18:11:22 GMT
Please welcome Alex, a new (foster) addition to our family... Poor Alex is only 17 months old and has had a rotten start in life. He was bred in Ireland, trialled for racing, where he broke four bones in his foot; they were badly treated and have not healed properly, he is terrified, with an awful fear of humans - he flinches whenever a hand is extended to him, which makes me weep with pity and anger. However, he has already shown some signs of progress (in the four hours he's been here!) - he is now voluntarily sitting in the same room as us and is happy to eat in our presence. However, he is hypervigilant and although he's very tired he can't quite let himself go - the moment he feels he can trust us enough to sleep in our presence will be priceless. I fear we have a long road ahead.... He is a foster because we simply don't know whether we can build his confidence enough to take to the travelling life that we have in the summer. Either way he can't lose - we've commited to fostering him for 6 months - by the end of March he'll either be confident enough for a quiet home or, and this is our (indigo) dream - he'll be confident enough to be a boating hound and be ours forever....  |
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Post by sallyannh on Oct 12, 2016 19:14:00 GMT
Hi Alex, and well done Sue and Richard. Just the one then? When Pat told me you were going to Stortford I imagined you coming back with a carload!
I'm sure if anyone can bring him round you two can, best of luck and I hope to meet him one day. Perhaps Darcy can come and give him some confidence lessons:)
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Post by suethejam on Oct 12, 2016 20:30:49 GMT
If we thought he'd already bonded to another of Elaine's girls we would have brought her home too :-)
We'll get him settled first then we'll see :-)
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greyhoundgran
Full Member
Location Bulmer Tye, Sudbury, Suffolk
Posts: 194
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Post by greyhoundgran on Oct 13, 2016 11:27:12 GMT
Hi Sue, a huge welcome to your new baby he has a really sweet little face, I do hope he has had a good sleep. If anyone can give him confidence I know it will be you. Love goes without saying. Let us know how he is getting on please. Fred
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Post by sueb on Oct 14, 2016 7:44:47 GMT
Hi Sue
I was wondering what took you so long!!
Congratulations and well done on fostering Alex, he looks so incredibly sweet! I'm sure with all the tlc from your & Richard he will gradually blossom and gain confidence, please keep us updated.
Sending you all a warm hug
Xx
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Post by dawnsteve on Oct 14, 2016 7:49:15 GMT
Welcome Alex, I'm so please to hear that another lovely hound has got a lovely future in front of them and I'm sure Sue you will be the right person to gain his confidence, trust and of course his love.
Good luck Alex and I hope you settle happily in whatever future you have.
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Post by suethejam on Oct 14, 2016 20:23:41 GMT
Alex had his first visit to our vet this evening - we're waiting for his xrays to catch up with him then we'll get him referred to an orthopaedic specialist to see if anything can be done for his poorly foot. In the meantime, he's on anti-inflammatories and the vet trimmed/smoothed a toenail that had rubbed a pressure sore on one of his crooked toes.
Alex seems much more relaxed this evening - he's fallen asleep just a few feet away from where I'm sitting and he's taken some food from our fingers for the first time. Progress is progress - even if it is slow - maybe he's just decided that home is nicer than the vet - cant argue with that :-)
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Post by sueb on Oct 15, 2016 7:18:39 GMT
Wow, that's really good progress, Sue for such a nervous boy, well done! They are such trusting hounds, I'm sure in no time he will realise that he's a very lucky boy.
Look forward to hearing all about him and hope the specialist will be able to make his foot more comfortable.
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caz
Junior Member
Posts: 87 
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Post by caz on Oct 15, 2016 7:57:38 GMT
Aww that is lovely. Glad he is in such safe hands with you. Xxx
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Post by jofisher on Oct 16, 2016 13:47:06 GMT
I am just so happy that Alex is clearly in a safe, loving, foster home.
I so hope that all turns out well for all of you. He has clearly made progress as he is now sleeping. It just seems the poor little mite just needs love and time.
Please do keep us updated on how he is doing. What did the vet say about his leg, and do you think Alex may need another operation to reset it, how bad is it? I hope you don't mind me asking, it's just that I look everyday at the website and feel total love for these wonderful dogs, and I, like you just want the best for them.
I so hope the vet can do something for him, but I am so thrilled that he has made a big step already, and well done to you for taking him on, and I so hope he will be boating with you soon.
Much love
Jo and Ollie (Pickapocketortwo)
xxx
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Post by suethejam on Oct 16, 2016 18:04:45 GMT
Hi Jo and Ollie Alex is making slow progress and is now sleeping better than ever; we've just had a bit of excitement as he's just done his first roach! He has established a "safe place" for himself, which, fortunately, is in our front room so he gets to spend a lot of time in our presence, though we are not pushing contact with him. He's not approaching us voluntarily yet, but seems to be more comfortable with our moving around. There is a long way to go, but every little sign, no matter how tiny, that suggest he's peeping out from his shell of fear, makes us very happy :-) He has trained me to feed him in bed, and he has trained our dog-sitter to give him sardines for lunch - he says we're progressing nicely! We dont know about his foot yet - we're waiting for his x-rays to be sent to our local vet so that he can make a referral to an orthopaeic specialist (one that we'e seen before with Lou - he's very good). We're hoping that there will be whizzy surgical fix, in the meantime, he's really benefitting from anti-inflammatory painkillers.  |
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Post by sallyannh on Oct 16, 2016 21:29:03 GMT
Hi Jo and Ollie He has trained me to feed him in bed, and he has trained our dog-sitter to give him sardines for lunch - he says we're progressing nicely! When we first got Darcy, we were advised to start as we meant to go on. Alex has obviously had the same advice from someone! Roaching is a great sign, he must feel pretty relaxed around you. Carry on with the updates, hopefully will see you soon. |
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Post by jofisher on Oct 17, 2016 9:23:37 GMT
Thank you for updating me on the gorgeous Alex. I have to say it'a funny how the first few pictures I ever saw of him he was looking a little nervous and now the last few have shown him sleeping, clearly content and relaxed. It would appear you are turning him into a typical lazy greyhound! LOL
Please do let me know how he progresses with his foot and how he is settling, it would appear this cute little doggie has quite a fan club.
Yes, Ollie loves sardines too, I get him ones in sunflower oil and his coat is shiny and black. Mind you the greedy little monkey would eat anything, sometimes he even gets a cooked steak, whilst the husband gets a burger!
Much love
Jo and Ollie (pickapocketortwo)
xxx
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