People don’t always think to turn to a rescue for a puppy, but sometimes we do get puppies arrive into our care, even whole litters!
In 2019, we received one such litter from Ireland (GSPCA) – Asparagus, Aubergine, Avocado, Broccoli, Leek, Lentil, Okra and Yam, who soon became affectionately known as the Veggie Pups! Being such gorgeous pups, they were all soon adopted to families around the country. Here is Orla’s (was Aubergine) story as told by her lovely mum….
Orla was always going to be a challenge; her arrival as a 5-month-old babe with no social skills would prove to be the first hurdle. I admit that after a wonderful partnership with our previous Lurcher, Meg – quiet, sedate, cuddle-some, lots of licks, obedient, and oh-so-loving, Orla was very different!
From day one, she was relatively calm and open to teaching in the day, however, her nightly zoomies around the rooms caused more than a little disharmony throughout the first few early months, as did her vocalising about every noise she heard! She and I were banned to the conservatory for some weeks, so my husband could watch his very important TV news shows! She met the cat and realised she was not a toy very quickly, but Harriet is well used to the ways of dogs, and always keeps her at paws reach.
As Orla headed towards ten months, I raised the question of neutering with the vet, as was the agreement with Forever Hounds Trust when she was old enough. He was knowledgable in sighthounds, so looked her over, and pronounced her good to go. The deed was done, and we started recuperating. Just as we got over neutering, she broke her toe on the beach, so it was back to lead walks. Then she pulled a shoulder….you get the picture? Nothing serious, but back and forth between being able to run, then not – we were obviously unable to explain ‘why’ to this gradually more nutty puppy.
Then, of course, we have Covid lockdown – she really didn’t like that! People would look at us strangely as all she wanted to do was bound around! She became more vocal out on-lead, or in the garden in the day if she could hear people but couldn’t see them, where it had only been in the evening for a brief period.
She has now grown into the princess she always aspired to – aloof, regal, and waited on hand and foot! She has her private land for runs with her two boys, Oscar and Brodie, and the dunes for muzzled runs (when weather allows!)
We have managed TWO reunions with her mum and siblings, all except one, whose mum and dad weren’t well enough, and we are hoping to arrange another this year.
She may not be all I was expecting, but she came at the right time to ease my grief after losing Meg after 16 years. She is a challenge, she is needy, she is sometimes a complete pain, but I love her to bits. My heart will no less break when her time comes, as it does for us all.
Thank you for letting me care for this whirlwind of lunacy, Forever Hounds Trust.
Orla’s Mum
Happy (Foster) Mother’s Day!