George and Sophie's blog

Sophie

Good evening! As the sun has disappeared, I have come in to write our blog. This has taken a little while to do as I love sitting outside so much that I kept forgetting to come in and get on with our blog.

George

My name is George and my companion is Sophie. We are both rather shy and quite often Sophie will hide away from everyone. Some days, even I don't see her when she is hiding under the bed. I much prefer being outside in the fresh air though I do have a fondness for my bed too.

We came from a lovely home where we were well cared for and didn't want for anything but sadly we have found ourselves in the care of York RSPCA because, as is the way of life, our elderly owner was no longer able to give us the care we needed. It was a sad day for us all. It's hard to let go of someone you love very much and we know it was for the best but that doesn't make it any easier. I think that is why we are so reserved. It's hard learning to love again but we are getting there and I think we are ready for a new family to teach us again.

I would love a garden that I could lounge and potter around in and Sophie tells me she would like a place where she can feel safe and can come out of her shell at her own pace. My Auntie Laura reckons we should have a bunk bed because we like to share a bed but Sophie prefers to hide underneath and I'm quite comfortable lounging on the blanket. I do sometimes end up sitting on Sophie's head but when she takes up the whole bed, what am I supposed to do? She doesn't seem to mind much.

If you think you can offer a quiet, patient home for us then please come and meet us. We take a little while to trust but we are getting better at it and do love being stroked. I promise we will be wonderful companions for someone who is willing to look our way.

Auntie Laura: George and Sophie are such a lovely pair of cats but continue to be overlooked because they are older and more timid than some of our other residents. Once they know you, they are so affectionate and it would make our day for someone to give them a chance at their forever home.

Could you be a fosterer and save a life?

As you may have seen, we are desperate for fosterers for both our cats and dogs. We have some fantastic fosterers who are a lifeline for some of our animals and they thrive in their care. Currently the centre is overrun with animals who have been in our care for too long and need a well deserved rest from kennel life before they find their forever homes.

It is an incredible job to take on but all you need to do is provide love and care, we'll provide everything else. Could you be a guardian angel for one of our residents?

...or a cat!

One of our fosterers has taken time out to give you an insight into what fostering for us is like...

"All dogs are special but there are some that are just that bit more special and these are the ones that can often get stuck in rescues (through no fault of their own) or need some 'rehab' before a permanent home can be found for them. We are fostering one of each kind for the RSPCA Animal Home and can honestly say that it's been one of the best things we have ever done.

Mack is an old greyhound, arriving at Landing Lane because his owner died and there was no-one else to take him in. He was 13 and arthritic - a difficult dog to rehome for obvious reasons but when we said Hello to him in his kennel he just wanted what they all want - a stroke and an ear rub. When Marie said they would foster him cos he wasn't doing well in kennels we thought about it for a while - how would the rest of our greyhounds take it? Could we cope with another dog? Actually, we didn;t think about it for that long! We could help this poor old lad so why wouldn't we? Mack's been with us over a year now, wobbling out every day for his slow plod round the block, shouting for his Bonio in the morning and generally being a sweet old man that keeps the others in line if they try and nick his bed. We take him to the RSPCA clinic to monitor his arthritis and his medication every now and again. Mack will have the best care at home for the rest of his days - and that thought makes us happy!
 

Grace is one of the second kind - traumatised, undoubtedly abused and neglected before she was found wondering the streets of Harrogate, she trembled in her bed at Landing Lane. The staff were really worried about her and a call went out for a foster home. She has been harder work than Mack in that we've had to keep her isolated from the others initially and because she wouldn't go out (too scared) we had a lot of clearing up to do at first (lots of bed liners on the floor! Don't buy puppy pads, ridiculously expensive!). But gradually, very slowly, we began to see a change in the little girl. I'll never forget the first time she wagged her tail at me. Just a tiny tail tip wag. It made me fill up, I can tell you. Gradually she met the other dogs. Slowly she got the courage to go into the garden. Very slowly she began to go for walks with us. Now (about 2 months from her first day with us) she is flying up and down the hall doing bitey faces with Babe and we've had to hide the squeaky ball cos she likes to try and kill it at about 5 in the morning. She's not out of the woods yet, still sacred of men, not always happy to go for a walk, but the difference in her is incredible. The RSPCA will be able to look for a permanent home for her before long.

Fostering is not for the faint-hearted (or perhaps not for the very house proud either!) but if you can find space for a bed on the floor and have a bit of spare love in your heart, you won't regret it. The RSPCA will give you full back up and of course they cover the vets bills. They will also cover the food bills too if you need it (although we don't need that help, luckily). I can't tell you how lovely it is to see an old boy lying in the sun or a young dog slowly coming out of her terrified shell and to know that although you haven't changed the world, you have changed that dog's world.

Jane"

So could you join Jane and become a member of our fostering team and help change the life of a furry resident?

If you think you could, get in touch with the branch on 01904 654949 or email us at reception@rspca-yorkhome.org.uk

To all our current fosterers, you do an incredible job and we thankyou from the bottom of our hearts for everything you do for our animals in your care. Keep up the amazing work!

Paolo's blog

Hello there and welcome to my blog. My name's Paolo and I am currently waiting patiently for my forever home. I don't mind waiting (though not for too long) as I have the most AMAZING bed that I share with Tigger...

When I first came to the centre, I wasn't in a very good way. I had a break in my leg which the lovely vets attempted to reset. It wasn't much fun having my leg all bandaged up but I always kept smiling.

 

It helped that I got lots of love and cuddles from all my Aunties and Uncles. We got some bad news when the vet checked my leg again, it wasn't healing right so the decision was made that I'd be better off without it and how right they were! It took sooo long at first to get used to not having my front leg, I cried and cried. All the staff did as much as they could to make adjusting to life on three legs as easy as possible, an amazing comfortable bed, stands for my food and water so I don't have to worry about losing my balance and getting food on my face, regular short walks so I could slowly rebuild my strength. Ooh and lots of cuddles too!

Now I'm up, running and raring to go to my forever home. Having three legs doesn't hinder me at all and I can out run many of my four-legged neighbours without even breaking a sweat...

 

I'm as fast as lightning but I do sometimes get told off by my aunties for going too fast! They just don't like to live dangerously! I probably should slow down sometimes but it's just lots of fun jumping the logs and seeing how fast I can go.

I do like to shout at other dogs when they pass sometimes but it's because they don't listen to me. I feel a little snubbed by them because I'm different. But I've made some wonderful dog friends recently and my Auntie Laura took some pictures of my playdate with Auntie Lydia's Romany so you could see that I really am good with other dogs even if I do bark initially.

I am looking for a human who is willing to continue my socialisation with other dogs. I would like a relatively active home and possibly a nice garden for me to blast off my energy in. You must enjoy doggy snuggles as I am King of those.

I'm just a happy, energetic lad who is looking for a forever home to settle down in and be part of your family. If you would like to give me a chance, please come and visit me. I'd love to see you.

Hello from some ex-residents

Auntie Laura here and I'm happy to bring you three stories from some ex-residents who have found their forever homes.

Firstly, Wilbur...

"Hello. You might remember me, my name is Wilbur. I'm a greyhound and only have 1 eye. That doesn't stop me causing trouble. I have dug the garden up which I find funny. The humans don't though.

Apart from that I'm good as gold, although I don't always come inside when I'm told. I love sun bathing. There is another little human in the family now and I love him loads. I give him lots of kisses but keep out of his way when he's playing with his toys as he likes to throw them. I'm very happy in my forever home and get lots of walks by the river. I'm so big I poo on people's garden walls as I think this makes it easier for my humans to pick up... :-)"

(Apologies if Wilbur's humans added pictures to his email, I couldn't find them. If you have some, send them through and I'll update)

Secondly, here comes Franklin...

"My name is Franklin, myself and my siblings were born at the Leeds RSPCA home and were moved to York to be found our forever home, my siblings were quickly snapped up and I was not only the runt of the litter, I sadly had hip problems that although ok now could mean I will ned lots of vet trips and meds when im older. I was taken swimming every week by my lovely carers at the home to insure my hips were as best they could be built up muscle.

 

 

Then one she came, she talked softly to me and seemed impressed with my wrinkly frown as I listened to her... But then she left, following week the lady turned up again and after more kind words I became excited unsure why but this lady was giving off the feeling of excitement! From then on it was a blur or visits from this lady her partner and a young girl and boy, they wanted me.... Me! By now I was 7 months old and it had to be my turn, house checks done, my new owners where made aware of my hip problems but they did not care!!! and after sad farewell to Mandy ( my mum I call her as she cared and showed me so much love at my time at the home, she works at the RSPCA but she loved me, she never made me feel it was just her job to care for me, ) as all the staff do.
So here I am! 2yrs on with my forever Mum and Dad ( who's side I never leave) and young Alex my playmate who sits in my bed with me every night while he reads.

 They are all so proud of me as I am of them, I'm not the family pet..... I am Franklin and I'm part of my family,..... my forever family"

 

 

And finally, the lovely Drake...

 

 

Hi, it’s me, Drake! I was a dog who had spent over 2 years in the wonderful care of the RSPCA until I found my humans who took me home at the start of March this year.

I didn’t really have any problems settling into life in a real house, so much so that my humans think I must have lived in a house before I went to the RSPCA. The weather was quite cold when I first moved in, but luckily we have a lovely cosy fire to snuggle in front of once we’ve got back from our adventures. Here I am in front of MY fire:

 

 

I had loads of great time with Scott (Dad) when I first moved in because he had a broken leg and had to work from home, but Ellie kept me well supplied with walks, helping me explore my new surroundings. Although the RSPCA said I wasn’t very friendly with other dogs, I’ve really started to feel secure that my humans will keep me safe, so when I meet new dogs I tend to have a good sniff and let them sniff me. There are a few dogs nearby who I really want to be friends with, it’s just taking a bit more time for me to get used to them and hopefully soon I can play with them sometimes. I was most proud when I finally got taken to the pub after I’ve been to see Scott coaching the children playing cricket. I love all the fusses I get from the people at the cricket, but I get a bit annoyed when they don’t let me play with the balls! I met a lovely dog called Poppy who was calm – I hope I can see her again!

I love my new garden as its so big and Scott has given me one of his old climbing ropes so I can have a long lead in the garden and I can explore every inch without wandering off. We have even dug up some of the garden so that we can grow veggies, there are things sprouting through the ground already and I’m very eager to try them but Ellie keeps telling me off for walking over them.

 

My favourite place in the house is the sofa, where I spend lots of the day snoozing. My humans wake me up too early and make me go outside before they head off to work for the day. I get to have a little sleep before my other new friend, Sue, comes to play. She takes me for a lovely walk during the day and wears me other before Scott and Ellie get home in the evening. I’ve been trying to chase rabbits but know now that I’m not allowed.

 

Outside my house is brilliant with lots of green space and we’ve been practising my recall on a big long rope, I’m getting really good! I’ve met some big horses who I wasn;t so sure about to start with but not too long ago they were following me and getting VERY close and I just ignored them!

Here are a few more pictures of me looking happy and content in my new home, I can wait till Ellie is off in the summer … she says we are all going to Wales and I might even get to go in the sea!

So if you’re reading this because you are thinking about letting a York RSPCA resident adopt you – please do it, it’ll be the best decision you ever make and they will provide you with tonnes of smiles and happy memories and I’ve never regretted my move and the humans I chose.

Here are a few more pictures to make you smile …just think, you could have this much fun too, only with your dog, not me. I’m happy right here!

 

It is fantastic to see pictures and hear from all our ex-residents. We spend every day of the year caring for, rehabilitating and falling in love with them all. We know their quirks, their likes and dislikes and whilst it is always bittersweet to see them leave, it is even better to see them settled on their forever sofas, having their holidays and being part of their forever families.

 

If you would like to tell your ex-resident story and show us pictures, please send them to york.rspca.residents@hotmail.com

 

 





Do you need adopting?

You might not know it yet, but there is something very special missing from your life: One of us!

We here at the York RSPCA animal home are a super-special group of good-looking animals of all ages, colours, shapes and sizes. Despite our differences, we do all share one thing in common: We want to adopt a human of our own and keep them forever.

If you have space in your heart, we’ll fill that space with unconditional love and joy.

If you have space in your day, we’ll fill that space with fun, cuddles and companionship.

If you have space on your sofa, we’ll fill that space with our big furry bottoms. (Happily!)

We're great at taking care of our humans. We can keep you in shape, socialise you, reduce your stress, comfort you in your times of need, give you something gorgeous to love and a reason to smile, and generally be your best friend. We’ll never judge you, never leave you, and never stop loving you. All we need is someone who'll do the same for us...

Everybody wants a forever home. Be it the smallest hamster or the largest dog, someone here knows that their forever home should be with you!

Are you an active person in need of a friend to take you out for plenty of exercise and keep you on your toes? One of the young dogs from the kennels will take the best care of you!

 

If you’re more of a couch potato who’d love to have someone special to relax with between gentle walkies, a golden oldie will be more than glad to take you under their wing.

 

One of the many beautiful cats here will snap you up if you’re in need of a furry, purry body to keep you company, adorn your furniture, and put a smile on your face.

 

The youngsters are willing to take anyone ready for a long-term, committed relationship! Their enthusiasm for fun and snuggles knows no bounds, and all they want is to share all that with you.

 

 

And if you’re looking for some smaller friends to keep you entertained and out of trouble, the small animals are lining up to take you into their hearts.

Our bags are already packed. We are ready and waiting. We want you.

Do you want us too?

(Huge thankyou to Heather McCarthy for writing this blog)

Moodles's blog

 

 

Pretty handsome isn't he? Yeah well that's me and I'm the most handsome chap on the cattery. At least that's what Auntie Mandy tells me. I'm inclined to agree with her.

 

With all these youngsters on the block, someone has got to keep an eye on them so I've taken it upon myself to be their uncle and keep them in line. I sit and watch them play, they sometimes try and bat me through the gate but I'm very tolerant with them and don't tell them off. I'm not so keen on adult cats, I don't see eye to eye with the chap on the end so Auntie Geraldine sometimes has to tell us both off for arguing. Not a fan of being told off because that usually means I have to go back inside and I much prefer to be outside. I love to sunbathe...

...and play games! Normally it involves winding up my Aunties by not going back inside and run back and forth up the corridor whilst they try to catch me. I probably shouldn't do it and Auntie Geraldine calls me a naughty teenager but it's just too much fun and I really don't want to be cooped up in my run when I can be free.

 

I'm a very intelligent fella, even if I do say so myself. I'm clicker trained so if my Aunties REALLY don't want to play games, they can use their clicker and I'll go straight into my run. I'm very good at it and since I get food afterwards, it seems pretty silly to ignore it.

 

I can be a bit grumbly but what do you expect from a naughty teenager, it's part of my charm! I will need an experienced owner and it would be great if they had a garden that I could sunbathe in. I'd prefer a quiet area as I'm not used to traffic. And finally, if you have an infinite supply of Dreamies, you'll have me trained in no time.

 

Youngster season is here!

Auntie Laura here. I hope you are all enjoying reading the blogs from our residents and it has inspired some of you consider giving a forever home to some of our furbabies.

As kitten and puppy season gets into full swing, we expected our little ones to fly out but so far we've not had much interest. We have decided they need their own blog, alongside our older cats and dogs, to let you all know they are here and desperate for their forever homes so they don't have to grow up in the kennel and cattery environment, not that they mind at moment, playing together in the sunshine. But it's not the life we ever want for them.

They are a little young to bring you their own blog so I've told the little ones, I'll tell you about them. They all had a little photoshoot on Friday which was lots of fun...

....But I'll warn you, from this point onwards there will be an overload of cuteness! =D

Firstly Kittens. Mothers with their kittens have been coming in thick and fast over the last couple of months and all of our litters are now coming of age to be adopted. Not forgetting their beautiful mothers are needing loving homes too.

The kittens are all becoming very playful now and most have now worked out how to use the catflap so they are starting to explore outside. They are also all using their litter trays, very smart little kittens! A couple have been reserved by lovely families already but there are still too many that are still waiting. Could your family be missing the joy of one of these bundles?

Now for the puppies and even more cuteness...

The majority of our current puppy residents are Lurchers apart from little Rosie who is an English bull terrier cross. All are your typical puppies, love to play, love to cuddle and give you lots of sloppy kisses. Some are a little nervous of the big wide world and others love being out there. All will need training and continued socialisation to ensure they grow up to be smart little cookies who love the world. Do also keep in mind that they do get alot bigger and stronger than they are now and you need to be completely sure that you will still be able to handle them once they are fully grown.

Have you overdosed on cuteness yet?

If you have any questions about our youngsters or would like to give one of our kittens or puppies the forever home they have never known, why not come down and see us? Please note that any children in the household must be over the age of 6 for the family to adopt a kitten or puppy under the age of 6 months old.