News

Feb

18

Monday 18th February

News  Posted by / 0 comments

So what’s new in Kim’s Home?

Lucy, a Saluki, who came just before Christmas from a shed on an allotment in Durham, is not doing well.  She seems to have a severe case of demodectic mange stemming from a weak immune system.  I am hoping that this is the cumulative result of general neglect, having pups 5 months ago and then being spayed recently and that it will improve soon.  She is having lots of supplements and no chemical treatment in order to boost her immune system.  She has not been vaccinated.  At the moment she is getting balder by the day.   Please send her your best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Grace hasn’t been very well recently – though she seems to have rallied today.  If you remember, Grace came 4 years ago in a state near to death because of malnutrition and hypothermia.  We knew that this trauma had left its mark because she never grew a proper coat – just a fluffy undercoat.  Last September she developed SLO – Symmetrical Lupoid  Onychodystrophy, a condition whereby the nails all fall out painfully.  She is in remission now and her claws are starting to grow back.  But she will be on supplements and treatment every day for the rest of her life.  Your donations will help with this.  She’s been sick for the last 2 days but today ate her breakfast and it looks like all is well.

Emma, who was a feral dog and terrified of life, has become a bit of a diva and very attention-seeking.   She’s a worrier and I can’t get her to put on weight but she’s happy and running like the wind and being very bossy with me.

Biddy, our GRWE foster is still here.  She’s a beautiful gentle girl who is a good communicator.  We shall miss her when she goes.

George – there’s been a breakthrough with George, our token Jack Russell Terrier.  He was a dedicated chaser of joggers and cyclists.  But he has learned that, if he doesn’t take off after them, he will get a sausage.  And now he’s a reformed character.  Terriers are so bright and learn so quickly.

Zak is getting very frail and demented. He still does 2 walks a day though and is generally in good health.  He must be about 14 at least now.

Tom is another very old dog – between 14 and 15.  He had a nice weekend walking with his former owner around the lake in Roath Park and then having cuddles and biscuits with her.  She now lives in a care home and is delighted to see Tom every weekend – as are all the other residents.

Freya will be 14 next month – I can’t believe that she is still with us because she’s a big breed dog and has had problems for many years.  But she seems to be getting stronger on her back legs.   Some days are better than others.  She can’t do the very long walks but she comes out twice a day.   She has to sleep downstairs away from the family though –not because I can’t get her up the stairs but because she might try to come down in the night and would fall.

All the other Kim’s Home residents are fine.   And, if they could, they would thank you for the support that they have had since we set up the website.  It does help a lot.

The donations received this month have enabled me to buy out a Saluki cross from Strayaid.  He was found as a stray in Bishop Auckland and thankfully not claimed.  He has the chance of a good life now when he moves next weekend to St Francis Dogs Home in Newquay Cornwall.   I still need volunteers for this trip, please:  Durham to Cornwall – it’s a big one.

All the dogs are going to be very happy this week because their favourite person, Francesca, my daughter, is coming to stay for a few days.   She spoils them rotten and they love her to bits.

That’s all for now, folks!  Thanks again for all your support.

Jan

30

Hello and Welcome

Current Residents / Foster Dogs / News  Posted by / 0 comments

Hello and Welcome to Kim’s Home news.

The big news this month is the launch of the website kindly built by Richard Taylor of openbracket(design). Some of you may know Richard’s mum, Anne, who is Lurcherluvva on Sighthounds online and who master-minds the Black Beauties website. I am so pleased with the Kim’s Home website and I think it does Kim proud.

There are 2 foster dogs at Kim’s Home at the moment. Biddy is ready to go and will be rehomed via GRWE. Lucy needs more time to get fully well and to learn some manners before she can go to a new home. All the details of them are in the Current Fosters section.

The current residents are all well. Freya is still coming out on most walks in spite of her dodgy back legs. Zak is getting very frail but is still up for outings. Emma has become an absolute diva and shouts at me when she needs something – like dinner or a treat. I always knew that dog was going to be trouble! Tom has been to visit his mum in her care home twice this week: once on Sunday for our usual walk along the lake and then again on Monday because it was his mum’s 91st birthday. The weather was horrible and so Joan and Tom had a nice time cuddling in her room.

Griff had a little adventure this week. He became very absorbed in a digging project in the meadow when we were down at the river walk. I called him to come but he ignored me. Not unusual when he’s digging but he always catches up with us. So the rest of us set off back towards the van – about half a mile away. Instead of going along the river path we stayed down on the playing fields because they were partly flooded and the younger dogs were having fun running in and out of the mini-lakes. We were parallel to the river path. Anyway we rejoined the river path further up. In the distance I saw a walking friend coming towards us with Griff on the lead! Apparently, when he’d tired of digging, he’d run along the river path to rejoin us – he’d gone right to the van but of course we weren’t there. So then he ran back to the meadow but we’d left there. So he ran back up on to the path, sat down and
then howled and howled. . And that’s where he was found. So my friend, who knew that we were there somewhere because she parks next to my van, put him on a lead for safety’s sake. He was ecstatic to be reunited with his family.