Finding Ellie a fabulous new home

Chalkie showing Susie-Belle the way home last year

Renae and I have been out on a bit of an adventure this morning. Our neighbour here, Sue, recently lost her old girl, Meg to lung cancer, very sad especially as it happened whilst Sue was abroad visiting relatives that Meg declined rapidly and terminally. It’s left a big hole in Sue and her other dog Chalkie’s world.  Chalkie is just the most delightful dog, getting along with everyone and every dog. The girls all love him.

Sue got Chalkie to keep Meg company when she was living in Portugal and Meg arrived one day on her doorstep. Sue did the right thing and took her to the local pound to see if someone would claim her, secretly hoping no-one would, but after a few days Meg went home with Sue and then Chalkie, having spent 18 months in a pound waiting for his home to turn up, got the lucky break he did and joined their happy home. He hasn’t looked back since but sadly is grieving for Meg, or as Sue says, he’s lost his mojo and understandably so.

Sue made contact this week with a local, small rescue organisation that places dogs with foster homes whilst they await their forever homes to come along. Sue explained that she would like a small girl, wasn’t too fussed about anything else apart from Chalkie being happy with any new sister he gets. So it was that this morning Renae and I accompanied Sue to go and tentatively meet a 10 month old terrier cross who had been given up for adoption by owners that found they no longer felt they wanted a dog. Makes me mad that people don’t realise, or choose not to think what having a dog for life really means. Disposable dogs. No, that’s wrong, always will be wrong, sadly though will always go on.

We drove through the hot, beautiful countryside, past endless fields of sunflowers, through quiet villages with shuttered houses, closed to keep out the fierce heat of late morning, arriving at a tiny hamlet in the middle of nowhere. Jackie, the fosterer came to the gate of her house, surrounded by some small, but noisy dogs, they were all excited to greet their visitors, Renae was happy to join in the racket. In Jackie’s arms was Helsy, a dark faced, terrier girl with amazing pointy ears swivelling round to catch all the activity. Chalkie met her grandly, casually giving her the once over before heading off round the garden to check the perimeter, he made himself at home as we thought he would, unfazed by Sue’s absorption with Helsy.

After a while sitting chatting under the shade of the walnut tree, watching the dogs mooch happily around, Sue made the decision to bring Helsy home today, although, we all agreed the French version of the English name Elsie, didn’t sound quite right for this pretty little thing and Sue has rechristened her Ellie.

Ellie hasn’t been outdoors much, if at all during her 10 months on this earth, so she will have the best life now ahead of her. Sue has a peaceful home, very large garden with lots of interest, beautiful walks all around which Sue happily explores with Chalkie regularly. It’s been a very heart warming, satisfying morning here. We’ve not introduced Twinkle and Susie-Belle to their new neighbour yet, but we know they’ll all get along well. It’s great timing that we are all here now for another few weeks as it will help Ellie to settle in, although she hasn’t shown any problems at all with Jackie whilst being fostered, so hopefully Sue, her and Chalkie will very soon be living a lovely life together as one happy family.

Renae chatting over matters such as ball guarding with Ellie