Finty

Mine exactly (apart from the washing line bit). I love clean crisp bedding.If I won the lottery I'd have fresh.new cotton every night and someone else to wash it for me.We've just had a holiday in May at Little Dumpledale (the farmhouse) and we're going back to Wyn's Cottage next time (in October). I loved seeing my three poodles totally content and zonked out every night after running free on Newgale beach - heaven! Even my little oldie got a fresh spring in her step when we were there though her little legs were wearing out towards the end of the week! Birdsong and spring sunshine also does it for me.

I love the first one. You could always appeal to a wider audience and have Hugo drinking from a Bristol Rovers Mug on the back! Second thoughts I don't think your dad would walk around wearing any reference to 'The Gas' even for a fundraiser if he is a self-respecting City fan and he probably wouldn't wear it down the pub.

Happy Birthday to my all time favourite Refuge dog- I love to see photographs of you

..... and then there's me ........ not rich but I like his work. Could you please send me a link to his website Ange as I have an idea that a metalwork firescreen may stop my cat going up the chimney and also look aesthetically pleasing

Hope you are feeling better soon Fionna - enjoy the 'cage-rest' - Monty sends his love

I'm thinking of you and Flora. I know I'm t'other side of the city but if there's anything I can do to help you in a practical sense over the next few weeks let me know and I'll do my best to help.

Great news. I do a lot of driving in the Pucklechurch, Wick and Lansdown areas as well as Swainswick , Westonand Bitton and have been keeping my eyes open for him for weeks now. I was thinking of him yesterday on my way back from Bath and when coming down Lansdown Hill I had one eye on the road and one eye in the fields. I'm glad he has made it home safely - with a little help from his friends. Amazing when you think how cold it has been.

Hello - Sorry to hear that Kato is still missing. I've been following this thread. I know I am clutching at straws as you seem to have everything covered.You've worked so hard. I used to live at Yarm and belonged to a Camera Club based at Billingham. We used to go to the Dinosaur Park to take photographs there and the group I was with came from all over. The point I'm making I suppose is that because of the statues there people used to come just to visit the area. People travel into Middlesbrough to work from all over the region too - my brother comes into Middlesbrough from Northallerton most days. I will ask him to check whether a dog fitting Kato's description has been handed in in his area - a long-shot I know. There is a slight chance someone has tried to report him to the local police station in Boro. If they had got the response you describe from the police most animal lovers would not have turned him loose but have maybe taken him home and tried other sources of help. I know it is a very long shot but there is still a chance he has been handed over in another wider local area such as Billingham, Darlington, Saltburn, Redcar, Northallerton, even Whitby. I know some of these areas will use Waterfall too but not all. I can't really suggest anything you haven't already done - just offer my support. I really hope you hear some good news soon. I really feel for your dad. Sorry if some of my 'local' knowledge is out of date but I no longer live in the area.

Sorry to hear about what has happened but glad you are safe. I had an incident in August - Sunday lunchtime so wasn't expecting it - when I was hassled for money by a man who I then couldn't shake off and who started getting abusive and started to follow me. The only reason I managed to get away was that I asked a stranger for help and when he couldn't get rid of him I had to get in the strangers car while he drove me round the corner back to the opticians (I was road testing some contact lenses at the time).They reported it to the police on my behalf and the police took it very seriously and linked it to another incident where a man had just been robbed at knifepoint (exactly same description of hairstyle, build and clothes). The point I'm trying to make is that your report may contribute to help to nail them or strengthen a case against them if they do or have done anything else which I suspect they have. The man who bothered me and tried to stop us driving away was arrested straight away. Unfortunately both me and the man who was attacked failed to identify the person (though I'm sure he was in the line-up of photographs but he looked so different with clean clothes, different style of clothes, different hairstyle , clean shaven etc.) He had a distinguishing feature on his face - a sore- but even this was covered up on all 10 suspect photographs to 'make it fair'.He was released and for ages afterwards I was wary of meeting him again but haven't seen him around. I did feel sorry for the police who were working so hard and took the whole situation very seriously.They did examine CCTV footage too as it was near a parade of shops and they caught the same man harassing a Woollies employee an hour earlier.

Oh No - Sorry Wendy - only just seen your post - Happy New Year -I've been absent for a few weeks because we've had visitors which has restricted access to the computer . I also need to sort out more photographs of the poodle crew and Toby

Oh no - not Brian . I met him when we got Monty from Lizzie's Barn and I remember being smitten with him and another little dog I think it was Luna. I know Fiona loves all the dogs she cares for but I know Brian was a special little friend. I'm very sorry . I had no idea he was so old though - he was a spritely little chap when I met him.

Yes - I'm definitely still in Bristol but do try to visit Wales as much as I can. I love West Wales and I can't resist Cardiff for shopping! As well as both rescues coming from Wales I travelled to Aberystwyth to collect Finty as a puppy and the first few times she crossed the bridge to go back afterwards she 'sang' as she entered Wales ( or it could be the 'lip' she was giving the toll attendant on the Bridge). Mrs Chicken - I have been following your progress and your move and return to Bristol - and the loss of your poor old Bear He was so lovely - hope the family are all well and settled and I love your latest addition

Hello - I've actually been a member for a long time but don't post very much here. I don't know why that is but I'm also 'quiet' in 'real life' too. The Board pruning has prompted me to pop my head around the door and say hello again and I promise to make a bit more effort to be sociable in future. I have been around dogs all my life and have never lived without one. I have had mainly Golden Retrievers, poodles and collie crosses and currently have three poodles. Two of them are Rescues. Lucy is a more mature lady- a White Toy from Many Tears. We don't really know how old she is as she was found in the dog pound - I prefer to think she is maybe around nine as I want to have her with me for as long as I possibly can but the vet thinks she's more like thirteen. We've had her for two years now and love her to bits. She knows what she wants and how to get it and can make as much noise as the Hound of the Baskervilles - she has a proper wolf howl she can turn on and off like a tap. Monty is an eight year old black Miniature from Lizzies Barn. He is very handsome and can be very loving (inside the house). He thinks about his street credibility while he is out and likes to be one of the boys but at home he is a big soft mummy's boy. When we first got him he could be quite possessive of 'his things'. This could range from a sock to a tissue but over the years he has come to realise that there are more important things in life like getting your chin tickled. He still has his moments but they are few and far between. He has passed his Gold Good Citizen Test and is very well behaved both on and off lead. In fact he's just a wonderful dog - even if I say so myself. Finty is the apple of my eye. I have had her since she was nine weeks old and I really do consider her to be my bestest friend. She is now six and is sooooo clever. She too goes to Dog training club. However , as a poodle she decides when to apply herself in terms of her intelligence and not me. She is a black miniature and is dainty and pretty. She has a lot of health problems and suffers from bouts of pancreatitis that is managed by diet and medication. She has also suffered this year from an Immune system problem. We nearly lost her in April but thanks to careful monitoring and our excellent vet she is still with us. Last but not least there is Toby our Maine Coon cat. He is just over a year old and is dashingly handsome too. If you think of Antonio Banderas as Puss in Boots in Shrek - then that's what Toby is like.He is playful and naughty but is a big soft gentle giant. He is as big as Finty and towers over Lucy and has no fear of dogs. His favourite sport is 'poodle-tag' closely followed by 'catch the poodle tail between your paws'.