case stories

Letters from Pet-Adopters

Hello FAITH,

This is Ziggi (the dog formerly known as Hattie). Ziggi is a bitzer. Bits of this and bits of that!!!

My wife and I rescued Ziggi in September 2006 and she has settled into our home very quickly. Ziggi was a stray and came from Yorkshire where she was in a dog pound. She was going to be put to sleep. Thankfully FAITH rescued her just in time.

She was quite skinny when we first met her and at first we didn’t think she was the type of dog we wanted. However, we took Ziggi for a walk and it was quite apparent that she had a good temperament. We gave it some consideration and she was in our thoughts most of the time so decided to take her for another walk. We then decided that we would like to rescue her.

Ziggi is really friendly with people and other dogs. We set some rules for her and she learned very quickly not to go upstairs. However she likes to get on the couch when we are not looking. She also likes to rummage through the bin. Naughty dog!!

When Boss came from F.A.I.T.H. about 8 years ago he was quite aggressive but has changed completely. He is happiest now when he's playing with a bunch of children. Here he is - helping to baby-sit a friend's baby.

F.A.I.T.H.

I have had dogs virtually all my life and worked Obedience Competitions for many years. The house felt empty when I had lost my last dog “Small”, and so last November I visited F.A.I.T.H. I spotted “Weasel”, or more probably she spotted me.

It was love at first sight and that feeling was mutual. Large incredibly strong, very boisterous and full of fun. Brindle and white she looks like a giant Staffie, though her origins and history are likely to be a mystery forever. She was on “Death Row” in Leeds when F.A.I.T.H saved her life, I am from Leeds originally so that seemed a bit of an omen - I had no idea that dogs from many miles away were rescued in this way. In May last year, at approximately six months old, she was taken to Hickling along with several others. A family adopted her but rejected her and she returned to F.A.I.T.H. I was told that she chews, could not be left alone, she likes people and dogs but not cats—thus, we came home to Great Yarmouth for a new life and she became “Basle”. She did not know how to play with toys—grabbing them, refusing to give back, then destroying as quickly as possible, those are the only things she now chews!

On New Years Day, just as we were getting to know each other, and “Bas” was starting to trust me, I was admitted to hospital as an emergency, and was kept in for a week. I was very ill but felt distraught at leaving “Bas.” Two friends saved us, looking after her and visiting me whilst working and being ill themselves. They are rewarded by total devotion and adoration from Basle, she is besotted by them; feelings that are reciprocated.

When I arrived home I expected parts of my home to be destroyed—it was not, just a tiny bit of chewed carpet and chair in the kitchen, and a dog who greeted me as if she had spent a week looking forward to my homecoming. At that squealing, cuddling, writhing, kissing, laughing moment our relationship was cemented.

We started going to my old Dog Training Club in February, I wanted socialisation for “Bas” as she is very boisterous and expected to be allowed to play with any dog we met. Basle is as bright as a Collie and has been promoted through 3 classes; last week she gained her Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Bronze Award—our first obedience rosette! I had not done any proper dog training for over ten years, we have both learned an awful lot and thoroughly enjoy going to the Club—I recommend it to everyone who has a dog. There is always an experienced trainer to help with any problem, give advice, encouragement and support.

Basle is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed about - beautiful, funny, intelligent, the most wonderful companion any human could ever find. It is excruciatingly painful when I imagine things that happened to her before F.A.I.T.H. rescued her from “Death Row”. I am privileged to be her human. We owe many thanks: To my friends who are kind to us, to the trainers at Broadland Dog Training Club who are all amazing, and to Judy, Leigh and everyone that helps and supports F.A.I.T.H. making this story possible. Thank you all very much!

Yours sincerely,

Pamela Pynegar

5 Days in the Cat House

Carol returned from Gt Yarmouth with 4 kittens, disappointed that she had failed to capture the feral mother and a tabby kitten of about 12 weeks from a previous litter. Their home was some old sheds that were due to be demolished in a few days. She went back with 2 traps but it wasn't until the next day that we caught the mum and kitten.

Carol had nursed the kittens through the night, they were only days old so she hadn't had much sleep. We tried throughout the day to get the mum to accept her kittens but she was so frightened - feral cats hate being shut in and so she was very stressed. We fed the kittens through the day, trying not to disturb them too often in the hope that the mum would start feeding them.

That evening as I fed them, I hoped I wasn't going to be up all night (I had had so much of hand-rearing last year and it really takes it out of you when you've so much else to do). I fed them again at midnight then went to bed.

At 4.45am I was up again to check on the kittens, and I found myself coming back from the cat cabins with four tiny kittens tucked inside my dressing gown. After they were fed and cozily asleep on a heated bed I went back out to start the days' chores, popping back to feed the kittens as necessary.

By early afternoon the kittens seemed quite strong, so we tried again leaving them with their mother. Later on that day - and to our great relief - the kitten were suckling off their resting mother.

A pregnant tortoiseshell who came in a week earlier still had not given birth though she seemed to have started earlier that day. It was Saturday afternoon as I spoke to the vet on call from Norwich - it seemed a cesarean might be called for.

At the vets an injection was given to start the contractions which eventually produced a still-born kitten. We waited and waited before the next - and live - kitten was born. 'It should be OK now', said the vet, so I thanked her and set off home - it was now gone 7pm. Back at home in my house I set up a cage for the little family so I could see if she was producing alright. Only 1 more kitten was born. I slept on the floor so I could keep a close watch on her as I could feel more kittens inside her.

On Sunday morning we were back at the vets - another injection - and hours later 2 more kittens. At last her family was complete.

That afternoon there was a call from a lady that was moving house in a couple of days and had some cats and kittens. She couldn't take them with her, and had no transport to get them to us. It makes me so angry when people let cats breed and then expect other people to solve the problem.

We were very full but an emergency move around found a space. Bernadette our fundraiser said that she would collect the cats on Monday - as we were worried that they would just be left behind to fend for themselves.

Bernadette arrived with the 3 adult cats and 5 four-week old kittens.

Late that afternoon the RSPCA clinic rang. Another cat and a kitten were found in a battered box in the road. The clinic couldn't take them in as they can't hold animals there. The situation was urgent and we agreed to take them and put them 'we didn't know where.'

We found a temporary space for these hungry frightened animals who didn't seem to mind their tiny enclosure - they were safe at least.

Charlotte and I went into Yarmouth to save 2 tortie 5-month old kittens locked in a bike shed.

It was a strange call - from a lady complaining that she couldn't get her bike out because of these kittens that had been in there for a week. She said that none of the other 'animal places' would help her and she couldn't catch them as they were wild and spat.

It turned out that she had bought the kittens from a pet shop when they were 8 weeks old - for her 5 year old daughter. For some reason the kittens were terrified of them, and they ran and hid or spat at them. The daughter became allergic to the kittens and so after weeks of trying to catch them they managed to put them into this bike shed - a brick and tile building in the middle of a terrace of four - no windows, no ventilation.

As the man unlocked the shed door, we got ready to grab the kittens. The shed was full - no clear floor space - and there was cat mess everywhere. The warm, foul dry air from the shed was nauseating.

The kittens made their way to the light and were easily caught. The poor things were thin and running alive with fleas. As we left, the woman said: "It's sad to see them go, but you can look after them better. I couldn't leave them in that shed much longer, it was cruel them being shut in there."

Yes it was. So why do it? Poor things, and they turned out to be such sweet friendly little cats. If we hadn't collected them the woman said that she would just let them go - after a week in darkness, and weak and hungry. If they did survive they'd have become feral and would have mated within weeks. Most probably they would have been too young and weak to fend for themselves and cope with a litter of kittens, so a sad end foreseen if we didn't respond immediately.

We don't own an animal ambulance and out time is very well accounted for animals already in our care and the general running of the Rescue centre. So all this running around takes a big chunk our of our precious time, and has to be made up for by working even later in the evening. Hopefully you can forgive us if we sometimes seem stressed out.

Brought to the 'home' one wintry night

Two little bodies both shaking with fright.

Saucer-like eyes look around in dismay

Just who do we trust of these humans today?

We've looked at a smile, and thought it meant 'kind'

But when they moved house and left us behind

The hunger, the cold, the boot that said 'kick them'

The limbs that were whole now are wounds that say 'lick them'.

Will you hold me gently? Will you heal the pain?

Will you find a home that gives life back again?

We've looked at a smile, and thought it meant 'kind'

So, if we don't trust you we hope you don't mind.

	Dog stories		Ziggi
			George
			Megan
			Sam, Jilly and Sally
			Sasha & Shane
			Lucy
			Boss

		Letters from Pet-Adopters

		Ziggi

		Hello FAITH, This is Ziggi (the dog formerly known as Hattie). Ziggi is a bitzer. Bits of this and bits of that!!! My wife and I rescued Ziggi in September 2006 and she has settled into our home very quickly. Ziggi was a stray and came from Yorkshire where she was in a dog pound. She was going to be put to sleep. Thankfully FAITH rescued her just in time. She was quite skinny when we first met her and at first we didn’t think she was the type of dog we wanted. However, we took Ziggi for a walk and it was quite apparent that she had a good temperament. We gave it some consideration and she was in our thoughts most of the time so decided to take her for another walk. We then decided that we would like to rescue her. Ziggi is really friendly with people and other dogs. We set some rules for her and she learned very quickly not to go upstairs. However she likes to get on the couch when we are not looking. She also likes to rummage through the bin. Naughty dog!!	ZIGGI
		Considering we did not have any of her history we have been really lucky. She is house trained and other than having a good chew on her toys she has not destroyed anything in the house. Good dog!! She loves a walk and plays with other dogs, she also loves chasing a ball or anything you like to throw for her. The first time we took her to the sea was very funny. Ziggi kept chasing breaking waves and didn’t know which way to go. She will go in the water but not swim. At the end of October I went in the sea with her and swam to see if she would follow. NO CHANCE. Stupid man! Clever dog! We also have a cat and it took a little time for the cat to accept the dog. Ziggi just wants to lick her all the time, something the cat is not too keen on. They now get on fine and we leave them in the same room together. They sleep in each other’s bed and even sleep together from time to time. I have worked quite hard at training Ziggi and this is going very well. I hope to keep developing this. She will sit, lie down and roll over especially for food. She even obeys off –lead, most of the time. She is a great pet and we both love her very much. She is now very much part of our family. Thank you FAITH for what you do. Please keep up the great work. Alan Russell.

		George

		Sasha & Shane


		Megan


		Lucy


		Sam, Jilly and Sally


		Boss
		When Boss came from F.A.I.T.H. about 8 years ago he was quite aggressive but has changed completely. He is happiest now when he's playing with a bunch of children. Here he is - helping to baby-sit a friend's baby.




		Basle


		F.A.I.T.H. I have had dogs virtually all my life and worked Obedience Competitions for many years. The house felt empty when I had lost my last dog “Small”, and so last November I visited F.A.I.T.H. I spotted “Weasel”, or more probably she spotted me. It was love at first sight and that feeling was mutual. Large incredibly strong, very boisterous and full of fun. Brindle and white she looks like a giant Staffie, though her origins and history are likely to be a mystery forever. She was on “Death Row” in Leeds when F.A.I.T.H saved her life, I am from Leeds originally so that seemed a bit of an omen - I had no idea that dogs from many miles away were rescued in this way. In May last year, at approximately six months old, she was taken to Hickling along with several others. A family adopted her but rejected her and she returned to F.A.I.T.H. I was told that she chews, could not be left alone, she likes people and dogs but not cats—thus, we came home to Great Yarmouth for a new life and she became “Basle”. She did not know how to play with toys—grabbing them, refusing to give back, then destroying as quickly as possible, those are the only things she now chews! On New Years Day, just as we were getting to know each other, and “Bas” was starting to trust me, I was admitted to hospital as an emergency, and was kept in for a week. I was very ill but felt distraught at leaving “Bas.” Two friends saved us, looking after her and visiting me whilst working and being ill themselves. They are rewarded by total devotion and adoration from Basle, she is besotted by them; feelings that are reciprocated. When I arrived home I expected parts of my home to be destroyed—it was not, just a tiny bit of chewed carpet and chair in the kitchen, and a dog who greeted me as if she had spent a week looking forward to my homecoming. At that squealing, cuddling, writhing, kissing, laughing moment our relationship was cemented. We started going to my old Dog Training Club in February, I wanted socialisation for “Bas” as she is very boisterous and expected to be allowed to play with any dog we met. Basle is as bright as a Collie and has been promoted through 3 classes; last week she gained her Kennel Club Good Citizen Dog Bronze Award—our first obedience rosette! I had not done any proper dog training for over ten years, we have both learned an awful lot and thoroughly enjoy going to the Club—I recommend it to everyone who has a dog. There is always an experienced trainer to help with any problem, give advice, encouragement and support. Basle is beyond anything I could have ever dreamed about - beautiful, funny, intelligent, the most wonderful companion any human could ever find. It is excruciatingly painful when I imagine things that happened to her before F.A.I.T.H. rescued her from “Death Row”. I am privileged to be her human. We owe many thanks: To my friends who are kind to us, to the trainers at Broadland Dog Training Club who are all amazing, and to Judy, Leigh and everyone that helps and supports F.A.I.T.H. making this story possible. Thank you all very much! Yours sincerely, Pamela Pynegar

		5 Days in the Cat House

		Friday
		Carol returned from Gt Yarmouth with 4 kittens, disappointed that she had failed to capture the feral mother and a tabby kitten of about 12 weeks from a previous litter. Their home was some old sheds that were due to be demolished in a few days. She went back with 2 traps but it wasn't until the next day that we caught the mum and kitten.

		Carol had nursed the kittens through the night, they were only days old so she hadn't had much sleep. We tried throughout the day to get the mum to accept her kittens but she was so frightened - feral cats hate being shut in and so she was very stressed. We fed the kittens through the day, trying not to disturb them too often in the hope that the mum would start feeding them.

		That evening as I fed them, I hoped I wasn't going to be up all night (I had had so much of hand-rearing last year and it really takes it out of you when you've so much else to do). I fed them again at midnight then went to bed.

		Saturday
		At 4.45am I was up again to check on the kittens, and I found myself coming back from the cat cabins with four tiny kittens tucked inside my dressing gown. After they were fed and cozily asleep on a heated bed I went back out to start the days' chores, popping back to feed the kittens as necessary.

		By early afternoon the kittens seemed quite strong, so we tried again leaving them with their mother. Later on that day - and to our great relief - the kitten were suckling off their resting mother.

		A pregnant tortoiseshell who came in a week earlier still had not given birth though she seemed to have started earlier that day. It was Saturday afternoon as I spoke to the vet on call from Norwich - it seemed a cesarean might be called for.

		At the vets an injection was given to start the contractions which eventually produced a still-born kitten. We waited and waited before the next - and live - kitten was born. 'It should be OK now', said the vet, so I thanked her and set off home - it was now gone 7pm. Back at home in my house I set up a cage for the little family so I could see if she was producing alright. Only 1 more kitten was born. I slept on the floor so I could keep a close watch on her as I could feel more kittens inside her.

		Sunday
		On Sunday morning we were back at the vets - another injection - and hours later 2 more kittens. At last her family was complete.

		That afternoon there was a call from a lady that was moving house in a couple of days and had some cats and kittens. She couldn't take them with her, and had no transport to get them to us. It makes me so angry when people let cats breed and then expect other people to solve the problem.

		We were very full but an emergency move around found a space. Bernadette our fundraiser said that she would collect the cats on Monday - as we were worried that they would just be left behind to fend for themselves.

		Monday
		Bernadette arrived with the 3 adult cats and 5 four-week old kittens.

		Late that afternoon the RSPCA clinic rang. Another cat and a kitten were found in a battered box in the road. The clinic couldn't take them in as they can't hold animals there. The situation was urgent and we agreed to take them and put them 'we didn't know where.'

		We found a temporary space for these hungry frightened animals who didn't seem to mind their tiny enclosure - they were safe at least.

		Tuesday
		Charlotte and I went into Yarmouth to save 2 tortie 5-month old kittens locked in a bike shed.

		It was a strange call - from a lady complaining that she couldn't get her bike out because of these kittens that had been in there for a week. She said that none of the other 'animal places' would help her and she couldn't catch them as they were wild and spat.

		It turned out that she had bought the kittens from a pet shop when they were 8 weeks old - for her 5 year old daughter. For some reason the kittens were terrified of them, and they ran and hid or spat at them. The daughter became allergic to the kittens and so after weeks of trying to catch them they managed to put them into this bike shed - a brick and tile building in the middle of a terrace of four - no windows, no ventilation.

		As the man unlocked the shed door, we got ready to grab the kittens. The shed was full - no clear floor space - and there was cat mess everywhere. The warm, foul dry air from the shed was nauseating.

		The kittens made their way to the light and were easily caught. The poor things were thin and running alive with fleas. As we left, the woman said: "It's sad to see them go, but you can look after them better. I couldn't leave them in that shed much longer, it was cruel them being shut in there."

		Yes it was. So why do it? Poor things, and they turned out to be such sweet friendly little cats. If we hadn't collected them the woman said that she would just let them go - after a week in darkness, and weak and hungry. If they did survive they'd have become feral and would have mated within weeks. Most probably they would have been too young and weak to fend for themselves and cope with a litter of kittens, so a sad end foreseen if we didn't respond immediately.

		We don't own an animal ambulance and out time is very well accounted for animals already in our care and the general running of the Rescue centre. So all this running around takes a big chunk our of our precious time, and has to be made up for by working even later in the evening. Hopefully you can forgive us if we sometimes seem stressed out.


		What's in a Smile?
		Brought to the 'home' one wintry night
		Two little bodies both shaking with fright.
		Saucer-like eyes look around in dismay
		Just who do we trust of these humans today?

		We've looked at a smile, and thought it meant 'kind'
		But when they moved house and left us behind
		The hunger, the cold, the boot that said 'kick them'
		The limbs that were whole now are wounds that say 'lick them'.

		Will you hold me gently? Will you heal the pain?
		Will you find a home that gives life back again?
		We've looked at a smile, and thought it meant 'kind'
		So, if we don't trust you we hope you don't mind.

		Adrienne Hurdus