Lozzie

I'm thrilled she's none the worse for wear after a rough night. Delighted that she's back where she belongs Lorraine

I wholeheartedly second that recommendation, AFI are brilliant. Great cover, only deal with pet insurance so experts in that field, excellent customer service and a very ethical company. I would be very surprised if they wouldn't cover a TM. Elaine who runs the company is marvelous Lorraine

Back after a couple of hours searching the fields again. There's just so much ground to cover I think it's likely she has headed through the fields from the roundabout she was last seen. The roundabout has only 3 exits, left to the motorway (with a dog that is noise sensitive I doubt she would have taken this route as it is very noisy), straight on leads to great a expanse of fields (you can park up at the turning for the school). Pixi took a straight line up to the roundabout so I doubt she would have then gone right and crossed what is a busy roundabout so personally feel it is most likely she went straight ahead. Grass is quite long across some of the fields and it is not easy to see a little dog Will get back over after work but hope and pray she is found and back home with Cher long before then. Lorraine Fantastic news Lorraine

Just back, so many fields and undergrowth for a little dog to hide Was getting too dark to see much now, did meet a few dog walkers that are now on the look out and have Cher's numbers to contact rather than trying to catch her if she spooks. Will go back at 5.30am and do my dogs couple of hours morning walk over there instead of locally but hope to God she has made her own way home and is safely tucked up long before then. Lorraine

Can somebody send me Cher's mobile number, I only have her landline. Only down the road from Cher and can get out and look when I finish work in half hour. Thanks Lorraine

Awww my Sammy walking himself Beautiful photos Ange, I will get a link put on the website so people can get in touch with you to buy any prints if that's ok? I'd love the ones of my old man Quinn is a darling isn't he, Saturday would have been his gotcha day too as Alison collected him from me at the reunion 2 years ago. I think it was Casey that got very attached to the cushion Was certainly a lucky charm though, helping to earn the most coveted prize of the day..... my Darcy's memorial award for the worst dog in obedience Thank you all for coming, it was lovely to meet you. It wasn't quite as busy as previous years but we had a lovely weekend and it was wonderful to meet up with old and new faces alike. I'm booking the weather again for next year but I'll swap the factor 50 for total sunblock Lorraine

Great news Ange Look forward to seeing you Saturday...... I'll be the one with 4 geriatric reprobates Lorraine

Me too Lorraine

Awww, thanks everyone He really is a darling and if it wasn't for the fact that I hold all the paperwork for the rescue and therefore have his pedigree I wouldn't believe he was 11, he's no plodder and still has plenty of life in him..... has spent all day today destroying toys.... unfortunately he also thought a cushion was a toy And yes he's a Goldie, but even for a goldie his greediness is impressive For him to have been so thin when he arrived he must have been literally starved as he will eat absolutely anything.... edible or not!! I love my stubborn old fool...... we will be having our reunion for the rescue in Sept and this year this is a special prize in the obedience classes in memory of my precious Darcy.... it will go to the most useless dog!! Darcy is the only dog in history to have been disqualified, his heelwork was great but his stay a little too great, a one minute stay turned into 15 mins with him refusing to budge and then sauntering out of the ring and back to the tent I think it's best not to enter Sam as he will have Darcy's prize sewn up Lorraine

Specially for Ange I met this old fella in Ireland back in June when I was collecting a couple of our other goldies. He was 11 and had been given up because his owners were emigrating and wanted the best for him.... all sounded ok, until you laid your hands on him Under his thick matted coat was a bag of bones He broke my heart and I loved him the second I laid eyes on him but back at home I had Darcy who had suffered a number of strokes and at approx 16 needed and deserved all my time and attention so reluctantly I had to admit that both Sam and Darcy deserved better. Sam came into foster where he started to regain his weight and find love and attention again. The following month in July, Darcy left me and the thought of Sam did pass through my mind but Darcy was such a special special soul and the love of my life and I didn't know if I had the strength to give my heart to another old boy so soon and the pressure that would put on Sam so I put him to the back of my mind again. Last week Sam still hadn't found his home and his fosterer was needed for another boy that wasn't good with other dogs for a week so I offered to have Sam here as he knew me. When I lost Darcy, over the first week white feathers started appearing.... angel feathers from my boy Within hours of Sam being here, 3 white feathers had appeared near him and I knew my boy had a plan, he had chosen him for me, Darcy always got his own way and this was no different Sam is as much of a delight now as he was when I first met him back in June, he's not Darcy and never will be, he doesn't need to..... he's Sam, MY Old Sam and just as precious in his own way and I love him Thankfully so does Martha my monster!! He will be twelve in October, the same age Darcy was when he arrived, I just hope I have him as long. We have plenty of fun times ahead of us, he's a real character and home feels like home again with a stubborn old golden gent My handsome boy Lorraine

It used to be this old fella Not anymore......... I brought him home this weekend Lorraine

Darcy... aged 16 The old man that stole my soul My old man, my clown, my friend, my constant companion, my muse….. my life. You walked into my life on Boxing Day 2004 and changed my life forever, in heartbeat I became not only your Mum, your waitress, your nurse, your slave… but a rescuer! It was because of you that I agreed to set up IRR with these special people I now call friends. The thought that a dog (though you were never a dog to me) as special as you could lose their lives in a cold pound was not something I could ever contemplate. Since that day, rescue has become my life, I live and breathe IRR throwing my heart and pockets full of money into dogs just like you. And it was, and still is, you, that gives me the strength to do it. Many a night we spent together, with me ranting and raving or crying with the stress of saving these souls, on the brink of packing it all in and having a "normal" life where people sleep and talk about things other than dogs. But all it took was one yip from you, that wonderful smile and a Darcy groan as I rubbed your ears for me to know that, I couldn't give it up, it's in my heart because you put it there. Those times will be harder now without you at my feet, but I know you will find other ways to give me the nudge. I will never let you down. Time with you was too short but with a soul as precious as yours, a lifetime would have been too short. Despite my pain and aching heart I would not hesitate to take on another old boy, there is no love like that of an old dog who finds themselves down on their luck. You were my fighter, my stubborn old bugger, my wonder boy…. Illness had tried to take you from me on several occasions in the last year but no virus or stroke could compete with the heart of a lion, that old knackered body of yours was certainly as stubborn as your mind ;) You made laugh me daily, bless you, you were more than a little bit thick!! That monster Marth ran rings around you and you fell for her tricks time and time again, why oh why you couldn't fathom out that the only time she touched that treasured rubgy ball of yours was when you had a bone was beyond me! I would smile as your ears pricked up at the squeak, as you huffed and puffed to your feet and pottered towards her to reclaim it…. We all knew by the time you got there, she would be pegging it upstairs with your bone but you always looked so surprised and disappointed when you got back and realized it had gone!! And really son, doors are not that difficult… our doors have always opened inwards, pressing your nose against them was never going to get you out quicker!! You were the most stubborn dog I have ever met, but always with good grace and a sense of humour…… the recurrent limp and sit down protests at the sight of the car will always be remembered with great affection and a smile. You knew what you wanted and you bleeding well knew how to get it, you had me wrapped around your paw and there is no place I would rather have been wrapped. Over our last weeks it wasn't just your laziness and stubbornness that had us waiting on you, your knackered old bones depended on us to meet your every need. I know you chose Independence Day for a reason, "I can do this on my own now"…… my stubborn old bugger to the end. Darcy, you were one in a million, everything a Goldie should be and more….. a dignified true gent with the heart of a lion. The bond we shared will never be broken, I was and still am, privileged to have loved and been loved by you, your body maybe gone but your legacy lives on in the hearts and souls of all the Irish Goldens whose fortunes you have helped to change. Not bad for a knackered old boy dumped in the pound ;) Forever yours xxxxxx

Looking very much at home Lorraine

Sorry to hear about Nugget's diagnosis, I know how worrying it is but whole heartedly agree with not subjecting him to further tests, I went through this with my old Goldie who underwent castration and scrotal ablation aged approx 14. We chopped them off and kept our fingers crossed, as at his age, I didn't believe further tests and treatment would have been in his best interests, he's now 16 and still here Fingers crossed Nugget and Jack will both be as fortunate Will keep them both in my thoughts Lorraine

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