I know alot about mine asI live in a small town. He was taken to the vets at 10 months old to be PTS by his owners as he ran a way all the time and wee'd and poos all over the house.
He was taken by the vet nurse who knew the people that breed him as they live in the same village, but they didn't want him back so he was taken to a boarding kennel that took in overflow rescues. The lady that runs the boarding kennel saw me walking mine (his litter mate) and asked me if I knew anyone that wanted a lucher as he was struggling in kennels, 4 hours later I had brought him home. The poor little thing was yellow and had burns from ciggarettes on his nose and face.
It was touch and go for the first week as they didn't get on, I was planning on having to take him back on the monday as they were fighting, On the saturday night I was in the bath and they had a big fight in the kitchen. From that moment on they never had a cross word again they are now 13 and wouldn't be apart. He is one of the best dog we have owned he is great all round never once wee'd or pooed he did run off a few times but once castrated he was fine. He is a very grateful dog you can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.

I find it soooo frustrating not knowing anything about Maggie's past. Have considered using a dog communicator to see if they could shed some light but don't know how you know who is genuine as I won't know whether what they say is true!
Anyone ever tried this route??????

Anyway, all we we know is that Maggie is from a pound in Ireland. Funny thing is that someone at some point cared enough to have her spayed as her scar is old, also she was quite over weight so somebody was feeding her a little too well!
Maybe she lived with older people who passed away or went into a home and could no longer look after her, but to me this doesn't sit right as why would they just dump her in a pound with no history or even a name? Maybe the relatives did it. She is so brilliant with other dogs, children, everyone. She really has no issues as such and I can't understand anyone ever dumping a dog like this.
My only other theory is that she may have escaped or run off as her prey drive is extraordinary, and got lost or picked up that way. But if that happened wouldn't you move heaven and earth to get your beloved dog back???

We'll never know, as seems to be the case with so many rescue dogs, especially the Irish ones it seems.
I'll be forever thankful she came into our lives though as she is everything to me.

Thank you everyone for taking the time to respond with your "rescue" stories! All the furbabies are so lucky that they have now found their forever homes!

It makes my blood boil the stupid reasons people give for "getting rid" of their animals and the lack of thought put into getting said animals in the first place.

I don't have a rescue story but just wanted to say how glad I am (a tear came to my eyes on some of these stories) that all your wonderful dogs have new loving homes!! - And well done to all of you for rescuing them!

I think this says it all. Every time I read it, it makes me cry!

"Baggage"
by Evelyn Colbath

Now that I'm home, bathed, settled and fed,
All nicely tucked in my warm new bed,
I'd like to open my baggage lest I forget,
There is so much to carry
So much to regret

Hmm…yes, there it is, right on top;
Let's unpack Loneliness, Heartache and Loss,
And there by my leash hides Fear and Shame.
As I look on these things I tried so hard to leave
I still have to unpack my baggage called Pain.

I loved them, the others, the ones who left me,
But I wasn't good enough for they didn't want me.
Will you add to my baggage?
Will you help me unpack?
Or will you just look at my things and take me right back?

Do you have the time to help me unpack?
To put away my baggage,
To never repack?
I pray that you do-I'm so tired you see,
But I do come with baggage
Will you still want me?

i got jake from the SSPCA when he was 7 weeks old so not much to really know about him... just that someone handed in the litter.

but we know nothing about my old boy sam. he was 6 months old when we got him, and had been found tied up, abandoned. so no history is known, he was extremely underweight but was house trained and knew basic commands, so someone had obviously taken the time to teach him... he was such a lovely, gentle boy and i just cannot understand how someone could abandon him... or any dog.

I know a little about where Jessie is from but I do wonder each day how her life was before I got her and how it compares to the life she has now.

I was told that she lived on a farm in Ireland with her brother. The farmers son (who apparantly looked after the dogs) died in a farming accident and for whatever reason, the dogs got sent to the County Omagh shelter. I was also told that the dogs were merely pets, they werent working sheepdogs. This ties in with the fact that Jessie seems afraid of larger livestock (though why she should be afraid rather than indifferent to them I dont know).

When she came to me she was a nervous wreck. I would pick up a stick to throw and she would immediately cower, I raised my voice and she went to pieces so I do believe she wasnt treated that well. She also used to trot behind me and if she forgot herself for a moment and happened to venture in front, she would shoot back behind me with a worried look on her face.

She has lightened up alot now as she's realised she has alot more freedom to enjoy herself and trusts that i'm not going to harm her. She does have her moments still when she worries but she has come along way in 18 months.

I also wonder what happened to her brother, Rex, who got shipped from Ireland with her to my local rescue. Also, neither dogs were neutered and Jessie does appear to have largish teats so I often wonder if she's had pups in the past.

With China, we got her from the RSPCA.

We had looked around after deciding to get a dog, decided on a border collie called Tiny.

She was beautiful, she had been removed from a farm with 7 other dogs as the RSPC said he had too many.

She had never been fed from a bowl, never had a collar on and had never lived indoors.

They came to see our flat and said although we obvioulsy could look after her very well she wouoldnt be suitable as as much as she would bond, she would get far too anxious and shred the place. They needed her to go somewhere with plenty of space around.

We went back a week later and it broke my heart seeing her in her kennel. She was so shy, but when i stroked her and cuddled her she looked so frightened but happy at the affection..(im actually crying as i type this because i wished i could have looked after her.)

Anyway,

we couldnt find any dogs that clicked with us and we went to leave. One of the ladies that volunteered there asked us if we had tried the stray section. We werent aware there were any other sections.

Anyway, there she was in the last kennel on the left. This bundle of tan fur aged 2-3yrs old. She jumped up and nuzzled my hand and used those big brown eyes to sell her self!!!
That was is ...i fell for her... Hubby agread she was fab.

They told us she had been picked up as a stray for the 3rd time, she was chipped but not spayed and we could tell she had had pups. They called the owners and they had said "we're not paying a third time for her..." She was from a rough area where there are plenty of staffys! she was in good shape, very lean and well built, good teeth ect so she was cared for. So a week later she came to a home that really wanted her! She was very clingy at first but settled right in! She had never been socialised, as every dog her hackles went up and she went for them. With a lot of training and gravy bones she now has some dog buddies i can trust her off lead with! In fact i was soooooo proud i started crying when Charlie the border cross managed to pin her down and she didnt kick off just carried on playing! His owner looked at me like i was crazy!

She is good with children and would give things up no problem, housetrained, and knew sit she wasnt hand shy and didnt show fear so she must have been treated ok, but her owners just mustnt have been bothered!

Alex
xx