Our pets

 I've just updated the 'all about me' page on here. I've discovered that some of it was quite out of date. Sadly, the last of our rabbits died last year.

We do have another new addition though. I agreed just before Christmas to allowing Smudge to stud with a dog of a family friend. The lady lives on a farm and wanted to breed her good little worker and approached me as she said Smudge has good characteristics. I agreed and asked for first choice of any boy dogs as I'd been looking for a year for a friend for Smudge. His litter was born in the middle of February. We went to visit several times from when the pups were a couple weeks old. It was a tough choice as they were all little crackers.

This little cracker is Loki. He was the only boy with this colouring which I absolutely love. The other 3 boys were all goergous little chocolate dogs. 

 

We are now a proud 2 dog household! I'm pleased to report the boys get on fantastically. Smudge is very kind and gentle, Loki as expected with his name is a mischief. We are having a lot of fun with them both and our lives are definitely much richer, even if my bank is a little poorer. 

More about the costs of my babies another day! 

Foal farm

The children have been asking for pets for many years, but I have held fast to my no. Not because I don't like pets, but because we are out a lot whilst I am at work so a dog is a definate no. Cats are a no as they upset  my asthma. Both children have been asking for about 2 years for a rabbit. In our previous home I said no because the gardden was so small there was barely any left to play on as it was.
I have to confess to coming around to the idea now we live here. So today I took Stephanie to foal farm an animal sanctuary around a half hour drive away (if you don't take a wrong turn- oops!)
They have a policy of never putting a healthy animal down and they rehome many different animals. I took Stephanie for 2 reasons, 1 so that she can see how much care is involved in animals and have a chance to see some in a more realistic than a pet shop environment. 2, so that she can see what happens if animals are not taken care of properly. She came home full of understanding of the enclosure we would need to properly take care of an animal so that it is happy, and determined to adopt an animal (or 2 as the rabbits are to be homed in pairs). So we are now on a mission to create the kind of enclosure we would like- kind of an aviary so they have space to play, and to raise the £80 rehoming fee.

Some of the cute rabbits that the sanctuary have for rehoming. Stephanie had my phone to take pictures as we went round. She also took some of these;

 They are the information boards which were read diligently as we went around the different animals. Stephanie was able to tell me lots of the key facts about rabbits during our drive home. So she really diud take notice of the sanctuary's advice,

There were lots of animals at the farm;

One of these cows apparently does star jumps in the field, but they were sleepy looking whilst we were there so we will have to go back another day to see if we can catch it!

If you are in the area it is definitely worth a visit to the sanctuary even if you aren't looking to get any new pets.

house guests

We have a house guest this week, she is with us until next Thursday. She is a much loved and eagerly anticipated house guest;

She is one of the riendliest soppiest dogs I know. The children love having her here. She has stayed several times before and she is always welcome.

She doesn't bark when people come to the door, not even the postman. She walks wonderfully, she doesn't pull at all. I am quite confident letting Stephanie hold the lead to walk her she is so well behaved.

The only thing she is being a devil with is her bandage! My Uncle has been medically retired and so since the accident with her leg she has not been left alone much so the bandage hasn't been a problem. However as I have to work she is left on her own at my house during the day. And the little devil chews at her bandage despite having toys/ food etc with her. So everynight when I get in I have to redress her leg. It is looking lots better than it was, but we still need it covered to stop her getting at it. Still at least she is good and will let me do the bandages for her.

Now if only all house guests would arrive this well trained....