Poppy's Page

Impound Number PCC 1272

This is the way most rescue dogs start their journey.
Known history begins with a frightened little dog being picked up wandering, often no tags or identification. A council ranger delivers the dog to the local pound. Scanned for a chip, logged with an impound number and 'due' date. The dog is placed in a kennel run and awaits the future. Some go home, some do not.

For some, the regular meals and care by pound staff are the kindest human contact they have ever had.

So begins Poppy's story.

Pneumonia

Nobody came to take Impound #1272 home again.
She waited her 7 days, and was faced with euthanasia on the 8th day.
I'd seen her photo, there were two Silkies due in that pound that week. A female 7 year old and a male 13 year old.
The male went home but #1272 did not. What else could I do? With help, she was released into care and moved to a rescue facility so I could pick her up.

But - her little body was stressed, she had contracted the usual kennel cough and couldn't shake it. Within days she was being treated for suspected pneumonia.

Would the newly christened Poppy Girl survive? Was she strong enough to fight it?

Recovery

Linda at Senior Dog Rescue came to our aid.
She had nursed many older dogs through tough times and her experience and care helped Poppy when she needed it most.

Back on her feet and enjoying the sun in Linda's garden...........

A new start

December 2009.
Poppy Girl is finally here in foster care.
She is fearful and shy but hides it all with Silky bravado. Underneath the bluster is a golden girl who just wants to go home.
Poppy Girl will take a while to learn to trust someone new but we'll get there.
She will visit our Vet soon and have her teeth, eyes, bottom, heart and ears looked at.
She also has to be desexed vaccinated and heartworm tested.

More soon. Wish us luck.

February 2009

Poppy has come a long way! She no longer screams or bites when picked up, and is starting to show a little of her personality. Last week she gave us her first tail-wag.

Her vet-work was fairly straight forward for a dog her age, her teeth needed cleaning, she had a couple removed. Her desexing and heartworm test went fine. However the lump on her neck (which we hoped would be a regular fatty cyst) turned out to be a scarred saliva gland. Her vet uncovered what looked like old bite marks in the area, leading us to think that in her past she was attacked at the throat and injured. The harmless lump won't be removed, and is not painful.

March 2009

Poppy is staying.

The stroppy, tough and brave little lady has helped us over the loss of my two Silky girls and has a place here forever.
Thank you so much for the emails and questions about Poppy. She is a very special girl.

January 2010

A little update on Poppy.

Despite a few health hiccups which we knew were coming (sorted for now with the help of our lovely vet) Poppy is doing really well. I am glad she stayed with us - her eyesight is frosty and she has a 'personality' that has to grow on you. She pretends to be deaf, and is officially the Cat Police around the house. But she is such a treasure.

Ruth from ruthlessphotos.com offered to do a little photo shoot for Senior Dogs Rescue and Silky Rescue so we now have a beautiful portrait of Miss Poppy.