- Location
- Andorra and Spain
Lots of you will have seen the lovely Bella over on my shelter photography thread. On Sunday, we officially fostered her. Her story is rather confused. She is a three-year-old cocker spaniel whose elderly English owner died. She was then taken on by a French neighbour whilst waiting to see if the lady's daughter wanted her. Unfortunately then she had "an accident". The details around that are hazy and don't make much sense - essentially, her tail was pulled off whilst jumping through a wheel?! - so the administrators aren't sure what actually happened. In any event, she ended up being taken to the vet to be PTS, and the vet contacted the shelter. They took her on and paid for two extensive surgeries, which have left her with absolutely no tail at all.
Since then, she has been in the shelter, but there is an issue with her now suffering from faecal incontinence. It's unclear how much of this is due to the trauma of her injuries and surgery, and how much because of the chronic diarrhoea she is suffering with, and in the shelter environment, it's impossible to get that cleared up. With the possibility of further surgery - which of course is very dangerous with it being on her spine - the shelter is unwilling to place her up for adoption until they know where that all stands. Enter us, as we can hopefully help to get her tummy sorted and see what happens at that stage.
In the meantime, she's having lots of bottom washes with sensitive doggy shampoo and bamboo cloths, and is otherwise enjoying her new life. She wants to be with humans all the time, although she's not clingy when we're with her - she will take herself away to settle down. She just needs to know that there is someone near. I think we can work on that in time.
She's smart as a button but has no training, and I've started teaching her a few little skills which will help her going forwards. She's also typically working cocker bonkers, spins with excitement whenever there's the hint of food, and runs around like a hooligan. She and Squidge have had a good play together, and we're working on walks with Shadow so she can be brought properly into the fold.
Oh, and we found out today that she loves a ball. Shocker.
Since then, she has been in the shelter, but there is an issue with her now suffering from faecal incontinence. It's unclear how much of this is due to the trauma of her injuries and surgery, and how much because of the chronic diarrhoea she is suffering with, and in the shelter environment, it's impossible to get that cleared up. With the possibility of further surgery - which of course is very dangerous with it being on her spine - the shelter is unwilling to place her up for adoption until they know where that all stands. Enter us, as we can hopefully help to get her tummy sorted and see what happens at that stage.
In the meantime, she's having lots of bottom washes with sensitive doggy shampoo and bamboo cloths, and is otherwise enjoying her new life. She wants to be with humans all the time, although she's not clingy when we're with her - she will take herself away to settle down. She just needs to know that there is someone near. I think we can work on that in time.
She's smart as a button but has no training, and I've started teaching her a few little skills which will help her going forwards. She's also typically working cocker bonkers, spins with excitement whenever there's the hint of food, and runs around like a hooligan. She and Squidge have had a good play together, and we're working on walks with Shadow so she can be brought properly into the fold.
Oh, and we found out today that she loves a ball. Shocker.
