After three years, Sunny finally found her forever home yesterday. Sunny has been a huge part of the foundation since she arrived here. She was spoilted by visitors and volunteers and was often one of the first dogs to greet people as they came up the drive. She loved the comforts of the kitchen and often shared her bed with a cat or two. We are so happy for Sunny now that she has a home of her own but she will be sadly missed by us all. Thank you so much to the Bailey family for giving this old dog a new home
Farewell Sunny “Old dog finds New home”
Polly Saved by the Boys in Blue
This tiny tot only 3 weeks old came into the shelter today ( Tuesday 17th January 2012) after been escorted by Garda patrol. She was handed into Newbridge Garda Station late last night and the lovely Garda looked after her overnight and brought her over to us today. The poor girl is dehydrated and suffering from Rickets due to poor diet. After a trip to the vets she is now on a special diet to help correct the rickets and hopefully in a few weeks she will start to walk properly.
Thank you to New Garda Station and Maeve & Julie for pointing them in the right direction.
Follow this little ones story on our Facebook Page…
Deciding to Bring Home a Dog.
Deciding to bring home a dog.
One of the best decisions you could ever make is to adopt a dog. But before you even consider taking a dog into your family, you need to think about the home that you can provide for a dog. Taking care of a dog takes time and commitment. You need to have realistic expectations of any canine companion and know that you can offer a home for life. If you have an doubts at all then a dog is not for your home right now, but that doesn’t mean that you won’t ever be able to share your home with a four legged friend. The best way to find out if you can promise a suitable home is to look after a dog for two or three weeks, this could mean fostering a dog or taking care of a friends dog. Having a little trial is the best way to experience life with a dog. Now you need to take a look at your options, it is no good adopting a high energy dog if all you can manage is thirty minutes walk a day, its no good opting for a high maintenance breed if you have no intention of daily coat care and grooming visits. The reason there are so many dogs in rescues looking for homes is not because they have something wrong with them, its because their original family chose the wrong dog for their home. To make sure you don’t make the same mistake as many other people ask yourself some questions:
1) Can your lifestyle afford a dog?
Unless you have the finances to provide a good quality of life for a dog you won’t be able to make a long term care commitment. There a vets bills, insurances costs, dog licence fees and good quality dog feed. To put this in perspective a neutered dog who lives an accident free life for 14 years will cost your family approximately €2,000 per year.
2) Can you exercise a dog?
No matter what size dog you take into your life they all need exercise and mental stimulation, hail, rain or shine. A good way to see can you make this commitment is to exercise yourself for at least 2 weeks for 40 minutes twice daily this will give you a good idea what it will be like to walk your dog.
3) Where do you plan to house your dog?
If you are taking a dog on as pet, then your dog should live in your home as part of your family. Dogs that live indoors tend to be better behaved and a better canine companion. The more time you spend with your dog the easier it will be to create a bond and the easier training will be. Saying that it is a good idea to have boundaries and rules in your home. Decide in advance what your dog is and isn’t allowed to do and stick to the plan.
4) How much alone time will your dog spend?
This is a tough one and one of the main reasons why families are turned down to rescue a dog but also one of the main reasons that dogs and pups end up in rescue. It maybe that you can financially provide for a dog, that you would love a furry family member, that you are prepared to put in the training and exercise time but unfortunately your dog won’t know that. Dogs are social animals and should not spend any longer than 5 hours a day alone. Your dog cannot read the paper or watch TV so the more time alone your dogs spends the more boredom will set in. A bored dog will be destructive, noisy and lonely. If you still insist you can provide a good home then consider doggy daycare or a dog walker to occupy your dog during the day when you are not at home.
Finally when you do decide to get the right dog for your family seek advise from a qualified and experienced professional. They will be able to deal with your concerns and talk through the right choices for your family and a dog will be the best decision you have ever made.
Suzi Walsh
Positive Dog Training Dublin
Positive Dog Training Dublin is a one stop shop for all your companion dog needs. In our state of the art premises we can cater to your best friends every want and wish.
Our shop stocks only the best of food, toys and treats with a fabulous selection of collars, leads and beds for even the most discerning pooch. Daycare in our 3000 sq ft warehouse will provide you with peace of mind that your pet dog will be cared for in a fun, friendly, safe and clean environment. Grooming at Positive Dog Training Dublin is a completely relaxed and chilled out experience for your dog. Only the best of organic products will be used along gentle techniques that ensure that you dog comes away from grooming with only a positive memory and looking forward to the next trip to the groomers. Dog Training is a fun way to spend some time with your pet. From our beginners obedience classes through to our advanced tricks and games nights, your dog and you will enjoy learning in our indoor arena. At Positive Dog Training Dublin all our training methods are welfare friendly, gentle and easy to understand for you and your dog. Positive Dog Training Dublin is run Suzi Walsh & Liz Mc Donagh. Both have vast amount of hands on experience working with dogs along side their numerous professional qualifications which make them the natural choice to look after “your best friends” every need.
Suzi grew up with a love of all animals, always wanting to work full time with dogs. After leaving school Suzi attended University College Dublin to study Zoology. Following her degree she was accepted into Edinburgh University to study at the Royal Dick School of Veterinary and graduated with Masters in Applied Animal Welfare and Behaviour. On returning to Ireland Suzi began working for Dogs Trust Ireland while continuing her education in the area of dog training and behaviour. Following on from that Suzi began employment with the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind as a supervisor in Dublin and in 2010 qualified as a puppy trainer for Guide Dogs worldwide. She also worked with the veterinary department of Dublin Zoo on a nutritional research project for captive wild animals. Suzi has attended numerous seminars on dog training and handling including those presented by Dr. Ian Dunbar, Sarah Kalnajs and Dog Training Ireland. Suzi has also written many articles on dog training and welfare which have been published in newspapers and online resource websites.
Liz Mc Donagh is a dog lover who has volunteered helping rescue dogs all her life. Originally involved in the Irish Film Industry but always dreamed of working full time with dogs. To that end Liz has completed numerous animal care courses including a full time professional dog grooming course. Liz is a member of the Irish Professional Dog Groomers Association and carries certification in Canine first aid. Liz has attended in seminars with leading behaviourists such as Dr Ian Dunbar and Sarah Kalnajs. Liz continues to educate herself by taking part in obedience classes and ongoing training with her own dogs. Liz still continues her volunteer work and nearly always has a foster dog by her side while waiting on their forever home. In 2008, Liz opened her first grooming salon and pet accessory shop, The Wagging Tail in Dunboyne County Meath. Liz quickly built up a fantastic and loyal customer base many who have now become close friends.
In January 2011 Liz, along with Suzi decided to take the big step and open Positive Dog Training where their combined experience in grooming, handling, training and caring for all manner of dogs could be housed in one state of the art centre. Liz has three rescue dogs, a six year old Border Collie Sheba, a four year old German Shepherd cross called Cassie, and a three year old Border Collie called Nala.
For more information or to make a booking call Liz & Suzi on 01 9013018 or check out their website www.positivedogtrainingdublin.com
Curragh Dog Walk 1st January 2012
The 3rd Annual Curragh Dog Walk in aid of Kildare Animal Foundation and Little Hill Animal Rescue takes place on Sunday January 1st 2012. Starting at 12 noon and meeting from the car park in front of TRI Superstore, opposite The Curragh Racecourse front entrance.
Please come and support two local charities with (or without) your dog for a nice walk along the old Vic Gallop and help raise much needed funds.
Everyone is welcome! Please spread the word.
You can download a poster to put up in your local shop, office or vet clinic here
A Christmas Message
The year 2011 will be a year I will never forget. It’s a year where we as a rescue have grown in strength and have achieved so much in just 12 months. With the huge down turn in the economy more animals than ever have needed our help. People who know us will know we are only a small group of dedicated people who work hard. We have laughed, cried; shock our heads in despair when words failed us, all in the love of each and every animal that we have met. No animal was ever judged on how it looked, what breed it was, its species, its injury or its illness if it needed us we were there. We were there in the sunshine, in the wind & rain, in the snow; Day or night it didn’t matter we were there.
2011 has been a year where people have come together to help animals of all kinds. For all of you who have volunteered, Fostered, brought food, blankets, paper, Donated money, paid towards vet bills, transported animals, helped on rescues, called when an animal needed help , gave an animal a forever home , supported us, shared posts & pictures on Facebook or simply just believed in us. We would like to thank you all from the bottom of our hearts for that support and you are the reason we are still here to help the animals. Without you we couldn’t do what we love doing. You have helped save many animals lives.
We must also thank Geraldine, Michael, Lisa, John and Becky, without them the day to day running of the shelter and the excellent care of the animals would not happen. They do work to be proud of.
We hope you will continue to support the shelter in 2012 and make it an even better year for animal welfare. Early 2012 will see a new project launched that will benefit the county and beyond and save even more animals life’s.
May each and everyone of you have a very Merry Christmas and a Wonderful New Year.
Dan
Molly Needs A Home
MOLLY
Gender: Female
Age: Approx 2 years
Profile: Molly is very friendly but would like a home where she is the only cat. She found her present owner in time to have her kittens who have now been re-homed. She has been spayed and vaccinated and would make a lovely companion.
If interested please contact Eileen on 086 8369763.
A Prickly Subject
Spike the hoglet
This time of year most hedgehogs are busy getting ready for their annual hibernation. As the weather gets colder their natural food source such as slugs,beetles,caterpillars,snails etc become more difficult to find and so they decide to slow down their use of energy and begin hibernation. They build a nest (called a hibernacula).This is usually build under hedges, in piles of wood, inside compost heaps, in old rabbit burrows and underneath timber buildings and sheds.Hibernation usually takes place from November till mid march. Hedgehogs need to weight 600gms to hibernate or they will not be able to survive the winter. This is where you can help.If hedgehogs are regular visitors to your garden you can help by leaving out some meat based dog food, cat food, cat biscuits, cooked chicken, raw mince, cooked potato and small pieces of fruit they will also need a shallow dish of fresh water. DO NOT leave out bread and milk as hedgehogs are lactose intolerant and this will make them ill and could cause dead.Other ways you can help is by not using pesticides. As hedgehogs will eat poisoned slugs and snails and also die.Hedgehogs are a natural pest control and are great to have in your garden especially if you grow fruit and vegables as many people are now starting to do.
Hedgehogs that need help:
•Orphaned hoglets found out of the nest during the day or when the nest has been destroyed or when the mother has been injured or killed.
•Sick Hedgehogs are usually found out in the day (as hedgehogs are nocturnal),they will be thin,dehydrated,possibly poisoned or have breathing problems
•Hedgehogs that are unsteady on their feet(wobbling,rocking)
•Injured hedgehogs with open wounds,fractures,burned, or trapped.
If you find a sick or injured hedgehog please phone for advice before you pick it up or if it is in immediate danger place it in a cardboard box and keep it warm till you can contact someone for help.
If you find a hedgehog that needs help please call us 087 9311827..
Taking Home A Rescue Puppy/Dog
Taking Home A Rescue Puppy/Dog:
So you have taken your new four legged friend home. Exciting times. The best thing to do before you take your new friend into your home is to take them on a lead walk around your area. This way they can empty their systems and it starts the relationship on the right foot. Reward them Physical with lots of rubs and Verbal with praise if they go to the toilet outside. Especially if they are puppies. Depending on whether you have a new puppy or dog will depend on the length of the lead walk.
The next thing to do is to take your new friend into your house. Bring them into the room that they are going to sleep in. Have their bed prepared. Then feed them in that room and always have water available for them. Then take them into your back garden to go the toilet. You must stay with them when they are going the toilet in your back garden or else they could start to do unwanted behaviors like digging up your flower bed or chasing the cat. Again lots of praise when they go to the toilet and you can surprise them with a food treat the odd time to reward them for doing the right thing. Then let them rest and relax in their sleeping area. Stay with them until they relax or sleep.
It’s a good idea to start leaving you puppy or dog alone for a few minutes after a few days of settling in. It may seem strange to be advising you to leave your puppy/dog in a room by itself for a few minutes several times each day for the first few weeks but this simple procedure will ensure that your puppy/dog becomes accustomed to spending some time alone. Puppies/Dogs that are allowed to follow around behind their owners from room to room can sometimes build up a bond that becomes so obsessive that the poor owner is condemned to a life as a prisoner in their own home with a puppy/dog that refuses to be left by itself, even for a few minutes.
If you have other animals best to introduce them slowly. In my opinion I would not introduce the new puppy or dog to any other pets the first day. Just so they can settle in smoothly. You could have them sleep in a crate if they are going to stay with other pets the first night. Just to be safe and start them all on the right path to friendship.
It is always wise to try to introduce your new dog to existing pets by being as casual and off-hand as possible. The wrong way to do this is by picking up the other pet and trying to get you puppy/dog to say hello. This approach tends to over-excite a puppy/dog and places too much restraint on the other pet, making it likely to struggle in your hands which increases the excitement still further. If you have another dog then the best introduced to your new puppy/dog is away from your house, on neutral territory. Walking them together first can help with the introduction. Before going back home with both dogs, pick up any dog toys that are lying around and also remove your dogs blankets or beds. This will minimise any friction occurring over possessions and sleeping areas. As your two dogs get to know one another you can put a few toys down, always double the amount of toys for the amount of dogs you have, save favourite toys until last. Put the dog blankets and beds down only when your puppies/dogs have been allowed several hours together. All interaction between dogs closely watched by you.
Always allow your new puppy/dog to approach people rather than allow other people to approach them. This gives them the opportunity to take things at their own pace and build up trust and confidence. It does nothing to build confidence in your new puppy/dog to have lots of people trying to force their attentions on it, and some dogs feel very intimidated by this approach. The best method is to give each person a toy and ask them to encourage your puppy/dog to approach. The more pleasant encounters that your puppy/dog has, the better they will settle into your household.
Clear rules and boundaries should be set from the start. Consistency is key. Dog ownership should be fun, fun for the owner and definitely for the dog.
One of the most important things to do with your rescue puppy/dog when you take it home is to forget its past and think of its future. It doesn’t matter what happened to it in the past. All that matters now is what’s going to happen in its present and future. We dwell to much on their pasts and not enough on their future. If we focus on making the dogs life the happiest they can be from day one with you then that’s the best thing for them.
As I said it’s very important to set clear rules and boundaries for your new puppy/dog from day one. You also have to be a good role model for your new puppy/dog. An example of been a good role model and setting clear rules and boundaries is the rules when it comes to getting on the furniture. You cant allow them on the furniture one minute and then not the next. You have to be consistent or else you will confuse your new puppy/dog. Everyone in the household has to stick to the exact same rules and boundaries.
One of the things a lot of owners do that confuses a dog alot is when they are puppies we encourage them to jump up on us by patting our legs and encouraging them to jump up put their paws on us. Then when the puppy is fully grown into an adult dog we no longer want them to jump up on us anymore. The dog doesn’t understand that when it was a puppy it was allowed to jump up but now that its an adult its not allowed. So be consistent especially with puppies. Always think will this be acceptable behavior when they are fully grown. If it isn’t please don’t do it. Its unfair to the dog and can cause problems in your relationship and lead to unwanted behaviors such as guarding the future.
It is important that your puppy/dog has at least two good exercise sessions each day when they can be allowed to let off steam. Less walking time for puppies but more play time with toys and you. It is a good idea to take a favourite toy out on exercise sessions so that your puppy/dog can chase around after it. If you teach your puppy/dog to play games on a toy it will decrease the possibility of them wandering away and trying to find their own amusements. Always exercise in enclosed, fenced areas until you are sure that your puppy/dog will respond to your voice and return when called. If it is not possible to find a safe enclosed area then you could use a long line (horse lung line or similar) whilst you are teaching them to come when called.
One of the most important things to do with to your new puppy/dog in order to help the dog understand clearly your rules and boundaries is to train your dog to fit into your world. A lot of people make the common mistake of thinking of training as formal training such as sits and downs but Train4Fun dog training academy sees training as much more than that. We see training as everything we do with our dogs day to day for the rest of its life as training. Remember dogs have to fit into your life style but have a great quality of life as well. We now have breeds of dogs in are households that were never breed to be pets. They were breed to work. So they need outlets for these instincts and if they aren’t given something to do they will do something themselves and you wont always like it. At the Train4Fun academy we will teach you how to do all of this.
Another Very important point is to be responsible dog owners in order for your dog to be an example to other dogs and owners. Be a good role model for your dog, to other dog owners and especially to people who don’t like dogs. Believe it or not we as dog lovers are in a minority in this country. We are losing more and more rights with dogs everyday. Please let us help you to have a dog that even none dog lovers will accept in public.
Some points to remember:
· Pick up after your dog.
· Research your breed.
· Have a dog licence.
· Having an ID tag on your dogs collar.
· Microchip your dog.
· Regular vet checks.
· Health diet.
· Regular play and exercise.
· And most important a well trained dog.
AND FINALLY We want you and your family and friends to enjoy having your new rescue puppy/dog as your faithful and loyal companion. With the right sort of understanding owners that start off as they mean to go on, problems can be avoided. IF you experience any difficulty with your new puppy/dog it is usually possible to sort things out with some timely words of advice. Almost all problems will be easier to solve if you contact Train4Fun immediately. Although a few puppies/dogs have to be returned as unsuitable, the vast majority make loving family pets that are just asking for a new start in life and to learn to rebuild the trust that they once had for their original owners prior to being given up or abandoned.
For further advice or to book a consultation contact:
Joe Kelly
Dog SAFE and Train4Fun Dog Training Academy
Office: 0851966518
E-mail: joe@dogsafe4u.com
Little Vanity
Last Thursday a small vanity case was found in a car park in Newbridge. God only know how long it had been there till a young girl found it and out of pure curiosity opened it. Inside she found the case lined with a baby blanket and some kitten food. Also was a young tiny little kitten about 5-6 weeks old. She was frozen with fear and still was when she was brought to our gate. When we took her from the case we noticed a clock underneath something that people often do when hand rearing animals so the animal will think it’s their mother’s heartbeat. It was pure chance that this kitten was found. I dread to think if this was not the case.
Little Vanity has now settled into the shelter were her fear has been replaced with plenty of love
