A year (and a bit) in the life of a K9 adoptee called Toto

Written by Mikey from K9 Tenerife...

A year (and a bit) in the life of a K9 adoptee called Toto

Hello everyone. Well it seems such a long time since I was with all my old friends at K9 and such a lot has happened - new home, new family, new country and lots of new friends, but I still think about you all and thought you might like to know about my life after K9.

As you know, I had a bit of a miserable start in life – born in a refuge, adopted but then brought back (because I chewed – still do that but only my toys!) I was ill for a time and thought I was not going to make it but the guys at K9 pulled out all the stops and I gradually got better. I was still not at my best when my Mum, Lynn, started to help walk the dogs at K9 but she saw something in me that she liked and I was very good with her so we enjoyed our walks together.
I must have made a good impression because suddenly I was in a new home in Tenerife and had not only a new Mum but a Grandad as well – Jack.
He took a bit longer for me to get to know as I was not terribly keen on men but we are now best buddies! I had my own comfy bed and lots of toys to chew my way through. I was on my best behaviour in my new home though – no accidents indoors! I had lots of walks and also had my own garden.

I really enjoyed my trips in the car and still visited K9 when my Mum walked the other dogs there – I stayed in the car to keep an eye on Grandad who cannot walk very well but also kept an eye out for my old friends to say hello. I learnt lots of things in Tenerife – how to chase a ball – meeting new people – eating new foods as well as having lots of treats.

I was settling in really well and getting to know my routine when, in January 2011, there was the biggest change ever to my life. I was taken to the vet and given some tablets – I did a bit of a widdle in the surgery as I was a bit nervous but I don’t think anyone noticed. The next thing I know, I was put in a large crate and went on a longish journey in a strange vehicle – I found out later it was an aeroplane and I was off to England. I met some nice people at Gatwick Animal Centre who made a fuss of me, but I was very pleased when my Mum and one of my girlies collected me. I was allowed straight home as I had my own passport but boy let me tell you it was ffffreeeezing! My new home is on the south coast of England but it was till very cold.
My new house seemed strange at first – it is a lot bigger than Tenerife and has more rooms. There are soft carpets in every room and it is lovely and warm inside compared with outside. I have my own bed in my cage again but also have a second bed in another room so that I can keep an eye on all my family.

Springtime was really warm. Grandad spends a lot of time in the garden and I have to join him to check he is OK, keep an eye out for foxes, squirrels and badgers – oh and play with my ball. It is warm work though and I have to cool off with a nice drink.
I am still a bit shy with new dogs and people but my Mum took me to a dog training class where I learnt to be a bit more confident with other dogs (although some of them were total fruitcakes at first) and the man who ran the class thought I was excellent at walking and fetch. One of my favourite times now is my daily walkies in the morning. We go through the wood by my house and then onto my favourite place – the recreation ground where I have a good play with my ball and meet up with my pals.
I then often walk back home with my best pals Poppy and Daisy but I have to keep an eye on Poppy as now and again she nicks my favourite ball.
I do have a busy life now. I have to go to the shops, the recycling centre etc with Grandad every day to keep an eye on him and guard the car. We also go to my Mum’s new craft shop in our village to take her lunch – I sometimes stand guard to vet who comes in.

Anyway, that’s all for now. In the meantime, I have to get on with choosing which ball to take with me today.

Take care all – we still think about you!

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Its so nice to hear from doggies who have found happy homes - muchas gracias Toto for letting us know about your new life in the UK.
woof woof Gizmo

My second class at Star Agility

I went to Star-South Tenerife Agility Ring yesterday had another fab afternoon with my furry amigos and the nice agility teacher Clare, with the help of her assistant Glenn showed us how to use some more of the equipment - It was great fun for the doggies and the humans. There was this rather horizontally challenged chap though waiting ouside the ring - don't think he has much hope of being able to join in though..!

 

Dominique Doring (Dog Trainer) and Sam doing his stuff

 Mi furry amigo Sam again

 The lovely Mercedes doing her stuff

   This horizontally challenged chap was hanging outside the agility ring I think he over did it with the biscuits ..!

A Happy Tail video of a Dog from Accion-del-sol

 

A rescue dog 'Kodie' from Accion-del-sol who found a loving home with the help of Dominque Doring

Dog Refuge Events

Refugio Y Alberques De Tenerife - 21 Jan  9.00 - 14H. Market stall in El Medano Plaza to raise money for the dogs in Refugio Y Alberques De Tenerife 

San Francisco de los Animales are having a Dog Show - 22 Jan 10.30 am  - all money goes to the Refuge, its a fun show if any one wants to come and show their dogs you need to be at the Los Gigantes Hotel at the rear at 10.15am.

Live Arico Event - 25th January - at the Oasis Pool Bar, Fairway Village, Golf del Sur, from 8pm. Enjoy a carvery dinner, homemade desserts, and live entertainment hosted by Suzy q. Tickets €10 from the bar, or from Suzy directly 629 388102. facebook page

Accion-Del- Sol - Saturday 28th January - Puppies and Pony Club fun and educational morning where children learn how to care, feed, groom and learn basic veterinary care.Tel 922 778 630 facebook page

 K9 Tenerife -  Saturday 28th January.  The Welcome Inn at Costa del Silencio have agreed to host a fundraiser for K9. facebook page

K9 Tenerife -  Monday 13th February   St Valentine Fundraiser at Monaco restaurant Peurto Colon, Las Americas. Raffle, Bottle Tombola, Book & Craft Stalls. Info from Sue on 922 710 675 facebook page

K9 Tenerife - Saturday 31st March     This is a “Thank You” event for all the volunteers and supporters of FOTA/K9 over the past year. It is being held at The Heritage Bar in Los Cristianos (behind the bus station) and commences at 3pm. Free refreshments will be provided and the entertainment promises to be First Class. There will be a Fun Quiz & Raffle.
Invitations will be coming out in January but anyone who has supported us in the past will be very welcome. RSVP is required because of the food preparation. facebook page

The wind is blowing in my fur

Here's a photo of me today, watching the windsurfing and kitesurfing in El Medano. It wasn't easy as the wind kept blowing fur in my eyes.

My First Agility Class

I went to my first agility class yesterday with my mate Sammy and Nikki's pal Dominique Doring (Dog Trainer). The Agility class is held next to a banana plantation in the San Eugenio area, see here for directions click.  In the first class, Clare our agility teacher demonstrated to us about how to use some of the equipment and we all had turns using it. There were 6 of us attending the class , that's the maximum of doggies they can teach in one go, as it  then gives everybody a chance to have individual attention.

I thought I did very well and Clare the agility teacher was impressed. All of the doggies though did very well . It helps that Clare is such a kind and patience teacher . Shelly and her partner also agility trainers were there to give a helping hand and they are also very nice humans :)

Mi furry amiga the lovely Mercedes, started first with jumping over a pole followed by me and the other doggies . Our owners brought plenty of treats with them so we had incentive to jump over the poles. We were all quite exhausted including our owners when we finished, but it was great fun and a fantastic way to bond with your pooch. I can highly recommend agility training and Star Agility who are very professional and kind people. You can find out more by clicking here

Me jumping over pole ( impressive yeh !) also in photo Clare in purple shirt, and Nikki

 

My mate Sammy checking out the tunnel and Dominique Doring and Clare.

The lovely Mercedes leaping through the ring.

Me in foreground checking out Bertie's technique.

How I was rescued from the mean streets of Granadillia

Today I'm going to tell you the story of how I was rescued from the mean streets of Granadillia, adopted by Nikki and Richard, and got my job with Tenerife dogs.com.

About a year ago I was abandoned by my previous owners. Goodness knows why: maybe I grew too big, or perhaps my owners couldn't afford to keep me anymore ? Maybe I was woofing too much, or chewed up one too many pairs of their slippers ? ... who knows ?

It was very sad and lonely living on the streets, really difficult to find water or something to eat, and people kept shouting at me to go away !

Then one day I got lucky. The Proteccion Civil picked me up and took me to the dog refuge: Accion del Sol. The kind humans there gave me some water and something to eat. Their vet checked me to see if I had any injuries, and tested me for heart-worm which can be a very nasty illness for us pooches. I was de-flead (phew thank goodness, those pesky fleas were a real pain!), and I went to say hello to the other inmates in the cages there. One day I'll tell you all about some of the wonderful woofers that I met there, but for now let's get on with my story ...

Because I didn’t have a micro-chip or a collar, Accion del Sol couldn’t find my owner, so I had to wait with the other dogs until someone wanted to give me a home. Then I had another bit of luck. After only three days, the nice lady director of Accion del Sol: Marion found me a potential home with a local couple who's little Yorkie (Basil) had just died. When I first met my new family I was a liitle shy and timid, but then we went for a walk, and I got more confident and started to cheer up a bit. They decided that they'd try looking after me for a few days to see how I'd get on with them.

Before I could go to my new home though, I had to be castrated and micro-chipped. There are already far too many abandoned dogs without me adding to the problem with more puppies. Also it means that I'll probably live a bit longer, and be a happier pooch - so it's not as bad as it sounds ! Having a micro-chip means that if I get lost, the police or a rescue shelter can locate my owners.

The next day Nikki and Richard came to collect me, which was very exciting ! Marion gave me a farewell cuddle, and then I got in their car to go to my new home. When we go there, I started exploring straight away, and it wasn't long before I'd sniffed out some interesting smells, discovered the dog biscuits, and I felt quite at home straight away. Within about half-an-hour my foster family realised how cute I was (lucky I was on my best behaviour), and decided that they were going to keep me permanently !

Now I get lots of lovely walks; I've got my own bed; plenty of fun toys; bones to chew; and loads of cuddles. So I definitely have landed on my paws all right ! :-)

It wasn’t long before I was assigned the important role of SpokesMutt for TenerifeDogs.com, following in the paw steps of the late, great Basil, who was the first ambassador for TenerifeDogs . Nikki set up this website to support all the kind humans who help poor abandoned pooches like myself find a new home, and being a rescue dog myself I know only too well about the plight of abandoned dogs in Tenerife. By the way, do check out the advice, information, and list of rescue shelters on www.TenerifeDogs.com if you're thinking about adopting a pooch.

I was very lucky to find a home quickly and land on my paws, but there are plenty of my mates still waiting for someone to give them a home. So, if you're  thinking of making a pooch part of your family, a rescue dog would love to meet you ! If you do give them a home, there'll be one less pooch on the streets struggling to find food and shelter, and one less dog living in a cage in a rescue shelter.

This article has been printed in Island Connections - Copyright Nikki Attree
Check out gizmo's book www.nobodyspoodle.com