Happy 2010

I actually managed to get a whole week of work, but it wasn't without it's price. Just as I finished at 4pm on the 23rd December and headed into the bedroom to finish the wrapping the mobile went off, a dogs home had a dog that wasn't coping with the kennels and could we take it before Christmas to prevent him from being put to sleep. A railroad was set up to move him to the closest available foster space and all was well until the second section of the railroad rang to say "this isn't a bulldog". I have no idea what he was, some kind of Labrador, beagle, boxer cross - but most definitely not a bulldog. The dogs home had since closed so we agreed to continue with the railroad and foster him as planned and sort it out after Christmas, which was fine until he started becoming aggressive. Needless to say the foster home could no longer help and by 8pm Christmas eve I was sat in an emergency vets helping to send him to the bridge. Poor wee man had no idea what was going on, the kennel was not an option as he we knew he wouldn't cope with that and sending him back would have had him put to sleep anyway so we figured we'd save him any more stress and just do it. He was a very very old boy and I did my very best to make his last moments as peaceful as possible but not a great way to start the festive season I can tell you.

I actually managed to spend the entire week reading a book (I never get time to read a book) but come new years eve and 12am the skies exploded with fireworks and all the dogs here (despite them all being very heavily dosed up on calming solution) all began to try and dig their way out of their kennels, in the house Maggie was doing her best to catch them and Hilda was joining in the game of lets chase the ...... what actually are we chasing??? Daisy, my beautiful black beauty was huddled in a corner looking absolutely terrified!

Come the morning Daisy was quiet and her breathing was very huffy, she's not a great breather and stress can set it off, she didn't want to eat so spent the day under the kitchen table keeping out of everyone's way. That night she was really sick but was refusing to move out of her corner, so I made her comfortable, sat with her until she fell asleep and went to bed about 1.30am.

I was almost too afraid to check on her come the morning but sadly she was really really sick by the next day. I think she'd gone blind so I rushed her to the vets where blood test revealed advanced kidney failure. I'd waited 10 years for her but putting her to sleep was the only option, she made my dreams come true after seeing a black bulldog in American when I went out for the Bulldog Nationals in 1998. She has now joined the others in the graveyard at the bottom of the garden, rest in peace my sweetheart - I sure do miss you.

News that the Beckhams have got a bulldog raised some eyebrows in the press. Good friend of the bulldog (not) journalist Jemima Harrison wrote a scathing article in the Times: (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1239792/Why-DID-Victoria-Beckham-buy-David-bulldog-Christmas.html) which is once again factually incorrect - but my personal worry is that the world and his wife will now go out and get a bulldog so they can be like Posh and Becks. Guess who'll be picking up that mess in 18 months time?? Please don't go and buy a bulldog just because they've got one, they won't keep it and should they ever come back to the UK the poor soul will be discarded like a used toy.

Anyway, hope 2010 brings you all everything you need and try not to get stuck in the snow, we've got about 15 inches of the stuff this morning!!