Day 4...... In the Warped Universe!

It's day four of Barry Basura gate and I feel as if I am in some weird parallel universe. I cannot decide if it is some warped reality TV show, or if the world has finally just gone mad. As the days have progressed the abuse has strengthened, and on day four, the death threats begun.

Day one was crazy, but day four is on another level, the real hard core nutjobs have appeared, the " I want to fly over and smash your face in" type crazies. Now I am slightly insane, some would say crazy, but these are on another level. I have lost count how many times I have been called a C**T over the last four days, why for apparently being rude!

Now as we have all debated before, am I rude yeah I can be, am I sarcastic, hell yes, but on this occasion I actually wasn't, over 1.3 million views and 9k of comments, and I commented around 10 times, never rude, never swearing, yet I'm the bad guy, and someone even accused me of hurting the animals in my care yesterday.

There was even a "Lord of the Flies" moment yesterday when the haters begun turning on themselves. What is it with people that feel when protected by a screen, they can type what they want. There were some really awful things being spouted, and not even to me, or about me. Real hate fueled posts, which I honestly pity these people that they have nothing in their lives but hate.

Oh, and did I mention that in the midst of chaos, and craziness, an online UK magazine, picked up on #Barrybasuragate, and posted, causing more chaos, more craziness, and general weirdness. Now don't get me wrong, after I trawled through the 1300 messages, there were some genuine people wanting to help, or adopt, or simply being nice, but god there are some weirdo's out there too, as in Jemery Kyle would love to get his hands on these messages!

So, I state again, Barry is just a puppy, not a miracle, just a cute, four week old puppy that has no idea the weird, warped, reality world that he has caused. When he is ready for adoption he will be on the page, I will brace for impact, and see how many of the "I want him" posters are still around when the world calms down, and he is looking for a home. ..... lets see if day five is calmer.... please god make it calmer....

*inserts cute puppy picture for the awwwwww moment

Calm Down It Is Only A Puppy!

December the 26th AKA Wednesday started like every other day, usual chaos, usual 100 phone calls and messages, and then the dreaded I found a puppy message came. A small cute puppy had been found in the bin, not unusual here, but always more upsetting knowing he was an unwanted gift!

I collected the pup, and off we went to the vets, Barry Basura as he had been christened, is just four weeks old, small, innocent, and doesn't understand what the hell is going on. Usual vets checks done, entry photo taken, popped up on FB sating the usual not up for adoption, more of a yippee the first of many posts.

OMFG.... fast forward 48 hours...... over 633,000 people have seen the post, over 3.5K of shares, and 2500 comments... not all constructive, in fact very few constructive comments. Don't get me wrong the sharing the page is fantastic, the PM's from people wanting to adopt other dogs is fantastic, BUT the trolls, god give me strength.

If I answer the comments, I am rude, abrupt, unprofessional, if I don't answer the comments I am rude, unprofessional and a fake. God give me strength, what do these people want, my first born child, and a vital organ! As always the page and post were split into two distinct camps the "we support Pet Pals camp" and the " this page is rubbish and the owner is a donut camp"

I was criticized for publishing the puppy as he was not up for adoption, I was slated for calling the puppy basura which according to one mortified lady "means bin in Spanish" yes dear I know, that was sort of the point. this went on and on, like a dripping tap all day... moan, bitch, whinge.

Thankfully there were some great comments, some intelligent PM's and some genuine interest in what I do. Sadly out of the 633,000 people that clicked on the post, 27 donated towards my vets bill, yep its creeping up again. But hey cannot have it all.

So thanks Barry basura for causing a stir, and getting people on the page, but come on guys calm down it is only a puppy!

What Day Is It?

Anyone with animals, even just one dog or cat knows that the 25th December AKA Christmas Day, is just another day. Everything for me is exactly the same as the other 364 days of the year. With this quantity of animals there is no relaxing, no getting pissed, and no getting a lay in.

Whilst a majority of the world are in their PJ's unwrapping and enjoying time with their loved ones, I am feeding and cleaning the masses. This lot don't care that us humans want to sit and relax, or that this one day is supposed to be about us.

For them it is business as normal and all I can ask for is no major disasters so I can spend a proportion of the day with my family. I also don't want my phone going off, as it has done in previous years. There is nothing worse than getting the I have found this dog message.

This year it is even more hectic for me, as I have a big mouth and made a bold statement that if a sum of money was raised I would cook Christmas dinner for all the animals. Fast forward to Christmas, and yep I've been cooking for hours! yippee.

No matter what you are doing today, where you are in the world, and how you choose to spend it, have a great day.  Feliz Navidad <3

Let the Dumping Begin!

Call me the Grinch! I hate this time of year, for many reasons, and since running a rescue I now hate, hate, hate, no looooattthhhh this time of year!

People rushing round trying to please everyone else, spending money they don't have, on gifts that are unwanted. Added with the idiots buying the good old fashioned "Christmas Puppy"

The internet has made it even easier for these idiots to get their hands on the best "gift" the one that will be adored and played with for a total sum of 24 hours. Then their bundle of joy pees up the tree, chews the other new toys, and isn't as cute as everyone thought.

For over 40 years the slogan "A dog is for life, not just for Christmas" has been used, and to be honest very few people seem to listen. They ignore the adverts, the TV campaigns, and the papers that publish the numbers of abandoned dogs every year. Rescues are bracing themselves for the impulse puppies to be dumped in the New Year.

Some people actually manage until around March time, and then they dump their larger, uncontrollable, un trained "gift"  I would love to think that this year will be different, but to be honest I don't think it will be. You cannot help stupid, and that it what is buying the puppies as gifts for Christmas..... pure and simple stupid!

Thankfully more rescues like mine are banning the adoption of puppies over the Christmas period, and it still amazes me how many people call me on Christmas Eve looking for their "perfect gift" They are shocked when I go "NOPE" come back in the New Year, they never do.

All we can hope for is that new generations are more intelligent, and that slowly the numbers will decrease. Until then, like many rescues, I am bracing for impact, and getting ready for the dumping to begin!

Mentally Strong and far Too Confident

Yorkshire Terriers are a breed that we can rehome easily, everyone wants them regardless of size, sex, age or personality. However, unless you own one, you will never fully understand how confident, and controlling this breed are. I have two Yorkies, both so different, that it is hard to believe they are the same breed.

The one trait they both have is loyalty, and I honestly believe my Yorkies would die trying to protect me. They would charge in to the most dangerous of situations, risking everything to prove they were my protectors. Where as my big dogs, would look up from their beds, and consider whether it was worth all the effort.

If allowed on my bed one of my Yorkies makes sure NO ONE can get near me, and this includes the kids and hubby on occasion. He will begin with a low growl, which leads to a full blown Tasmanian devil moment. The traits of loyalty and protection are lovely, but when it goes too far it can be daunting.

We have a Yorkie looking for a home in the UK at the moment, Yoyo is a typical yorkie, however, he takes loyalty to the next level! He wants to ensure that nothing can hurt his new mum, as everything could endanger her life.

This is proving to be a challenge finding him a home that understands he is mentally strong and far too confident. He needs an experienced home that can help him understand that not everything in the world is a danger, and that maybe if he didnt approach every situation looking for a fight people would want to stroke him more.

Yoyo is not a bad dog, and I have seen Yorkies act like this time and time again, but he needs a home that understands his needs, which are that he thinks he is a pitbull trapped inside a teeny body. There must be someone willing to offer our little stroppy Yorkie a home!

Time to Reflect.....

This time of year is hard (all year is hard) but this time of year feels tougher, there are so many dogs being dumped, and very few donations. People are not rehoming, or donating due to the big C being just round the corner. I understand 100% but that doesn't make it any easier.

The dogs I have in the kennels I now know will be here until the new year, they will spend their Christmas in a kennel, not in a home being loved. All I can hope for is that they get reserved, and can begin their journey as soon as possible. At this time of year I begin to look back on the year, and reflect.

For me I need to focus on the good, as there is so much bad in what I do, I see the worst, the most evil, and the extreme. I see dogs that are starved and beaten, left to die, let down by humans time and time again. Although I cannot save them all, and I loose some along the way, there are some that fight for their right to be here.

Murtle my little mole rat is one that has stamped her place on the world, and stated she has a right to be safe, loved, and in a home. She has improved beyond belief, from the hairless, scabby, infected mess that was handed to me, to a stunning, beautiful dog who needs a home.

Murtle is now up for adoption, and will thrive in the perfect home, she loves toys, and balls, and playing, and although wary of people, she will come around. Her transformation is incredible, and although everyone keeps telling me this was due to me, in fact it was due to the people who donated. Without those funds she could not have received the treatment she needed.

This is why donations are vital to give dogs like Murtle a chance, to ensure these dogs get the medical attention they need. So although it is harder with all those mince pies to buy, but please keep the dogs in your mind, and remember together we can save more lives.