The Dai Adventures
November 2008
We had heard about the North Clwyd Foster a Dog Scheme online, where you allow a dog into your home so that they can have a break and allow their potential to shine through. My partner and I had just moved in together and I was finding the quite very difficult to adjust to. Growing up in a large family with animals I missed the companionship that they gave, and whilst walking some dogs up at the animal rescue one Sunday I decided to enquire about the fostering scheme.
They came out with Dai a 2-4 year old collie wearing a dog coat, carrying himself very poorly head down trying to make himself as small as possible. I bent down and touched his face and felt every crevice of his skull. I was told that collies weighted around 22kg they had brought him in as a stray three weeks ago at 17kg and he had lost four kilograms since then through anxious pacing. This was a dog not suited to kennel life!
Taking Dai home he had a lot of adjusting to do. Dai had never been in a house before and appeared totally confused, terrified of men, didn’t know how to play and was not house trained, throw in sickness and diarrhea and I felt that I had done the right thing, how was a dog like this going to find a permanent home? The first night came and went and both our parents and NCAR were surprised he was still alive by morning considering his condition. Our first objective was to put on some weight, by this point the muscles in his legs had wasted away that he would fall trying to do his business. We then hoped to make him all around more appealing to find him a new home, finding his strengths and weaknesses.
Over the coming months we had many highs and lows with Dai. Collies are very quick learners and within three weeks he was fully house trained and was slowly coming around to my partner and my dad even through every object they held be sandwich or toothbrush was still a threat. However other areas were not going so well, he was still being sick and had diarrhoea and was being tried on various medications courtesy of NCAR and was very dirty and not cleaning himself at all. I would come in from work and the dog and I would get in the shower. NCAR provided us with daily round the clock support they couldn’t have been better, after awhile they told me to stop cleaning him as I wasn’t encouraging him to do it for himself and he now had experience of being clean, so we just had to wait for him to get dirty again. At New Year six weeks on, we were sitting on the couch, the dog at our feet when he licked his front paw. It seems daft but I held my breath waiting to see what he would do next, it was the best present ever to see him carry on.
January 2009
Dai still was having stomach problem and even though his weight had improved he was still very underweight, medication didn’t seem to have much effect so we moved onto diet. All natural dog food, then rice, eggs and chicken then to just rice, nothing.
My partner over the Christmas Break taught Dai to play fetch. I honestly believe A Ball Saved His Life! He was becoming more and more confident more animated by the throw who was this dog?
March 2009
We were signing the contracts for our first house and we looked like our cat had been run over - in reality we had lost the dog! Whilst fishing in Mostyn a dirt bike had spooked Dai and he had ran and ran and ran some more. After two days of constant walking and asking every person we came across we started putting up posters, from Flint to Talacre from Mostyn to Lloc every shop, lamp post and bus shelter had a poster of Dai. I don’t think I have ever cried so much or so hard. Again I must thank NCAR as they were out in the land rovers, walking the rail tracks and informing farmers that a collie was missing, (don’t shoot!). On the forth evening we got a call saying that someone had found Dai, I was so nervous it was someone playing a horrible joke I dared not dream that he was found. But he was, huddled in some bushes at the back of their property. On seeing a poster they took their motley crew of rescue dogs up onto the land and out he popped matted and hungry. I can’t remember ever being so happy.
May 2009
Time to say goodbye. He was no longer being sick or had diarrhoea, (the vet eventually thought it was anxiety) he was up to normal weight and running like a grey hound. We couldn’t do it and decided to adopt Dai. We had so many highs and lows, tears and laughter that he had embedded himself into our hearts.
August 2009
We got Zack from NCAR we had wanted to foster another animal but wanted a dog that could encourage Dai to become more outgoing. We got Zack a lovely 6 month old collie that had never been mistreated and as such is so confident and cheeky he has encouraged Dai to be the same. When Dai first barked I think he and I were both shocked. I thought Zack would be the dominant due to Dai being so introvert but I am glad to say Dai has just took on a transformation.
One Year
Dai is a normal confident, playful dog and I would encourage everyone I meet to give a rescue dog a chance, and if you have time, patience and love to give, try and foster an animal. NCAR, my partner, my family and that ball have saved Dai’s life. Could you do the same?
Thanks
Dai would like to thank NCAR for all the medical care, accessories and all around the clock support they provided. A personal thanks to Anne you have been absolutely priceless. Anita and Peter Butler and my friend Dotty, for having me over to play when I was alone and teaching me lots of new things.
A few things to say - we had decided to adopt Dai but no pressure was put on us to do so. NCAR was there as little or as often as we needed it and were only too pleased to help an animal in need.