General Chat

Hi Liz, I read about the poor Staffie tied to a brick in March in our local paper & was appalled that someone could be so heartless. I don't suppose they will ever find those responsible for it. We have two rehoming centres near us so no excuse ever for dumping any animals.
I think the problem is that too many people see it as making quick money, as soon as a breed starts becoming popular too many people start breeding them in their own homes. So we end up with too many dogs. My son has an English Bull Terrier, had wanted one for years but I am now seeing more of this breed. Hope this breed does'nt get as popular as the Staffies.
Hilary. x

I think there will be many more dogs and cats and even horses, needing homes with the recession causing people hardship, let's hope people are responsible and find them homes, not just turf the pets out somewhere to take their chances.

Val, I am sure your services will be welcomed at some point.x

Lizx

The lady next door to me has a staffie that was kept in a van all day as the owner had to move with his job he was told he could take the dog then the landlady would not allow pets. the dog was well looked after the owner gave Lou food for him he is a lovely dog good guard dog and brill with her three boys. It seems to be in most place now there is loads of dogs and cats given to dogs homes as people can not afford to feed them. Mine go to kennels at the local RSPCA i have offered to foster a dog if the get to full could not take another on full time as a already have a gab and a lab Valxxxx

Hi Maggie, nice that the woman listened to reason and gave Honey up to be rehomed. I bet she made a wonderful pet in the right environment.

Lizx

So glad Lola has found a loving home.
The only reason they got a bad name was because of their owners - and it sounds like the recession has hit the 'Chav'!!!
There was one around here a few years back, called Honey. She lived with 5 unruly children and her owner said she couldn't cope with her - hence Honey used to roam the streets.
Honey took a liking to my daughters dog, a collie/GSD cross and decided to visit on a few occasions. She behaved like an unruly child at first - (well she'd had enough examples!! ).
Her first instinct was to jump on my sofa, but a firm 'Down' and a quick example of what I meant - and she was putty in my hands!!

Have to admit I fell in love with Honey and her frenetic ways, but couldn't keep her (I had 3 cats as well at the time) but managed to persuade her owner to take her to a rehoming centre, rather than have her roaming the streets. She was adoped within the week by a recently retired couple.

This story has a happy ending .....

Lola finds caring new home

A three-year-old dog that is blind in one eye and which was fed just one fish finger a day has found new caring owners and a loving new home.

More than 100 people came forward to offer a new home for Lola, a Neapolitan bullmastiff that was left at a dogs shelter in Woodbridge, Suffolk.

But of all the applicants to register an interest in the dog, Paul and Patricia Caston from Reepham were chosen to take in the deprived and severely underweight pet.

Mr Caston, 66, a semi-retired petrol forecourt owner, said: “I don't understand how people can treat a dog like that. Doing that to any animal is horrible, but especially a mastiff. They have a very high pain threshold and can suffer quite a lot without letting people know. “I think she needs some extra care now.”

Grandparents Mr and Mrs Caston, who also have an Italian spinone called Bella, a lurcher and setter Cross called Maddie and a pony, said they had already taken Lola to the vet and spoiled her with a dinner of roast chicken.

The dog, who has a striking resemblance to Fang, Hagrid's large boarhound in the Harry Potter books, was handed into the Pampered Pets dogs rescue centre in Hacheston, near Woodbridge, more than two weeks ago.

Mr Caston added: “She is brilliant and she has settled in straight away.

“When we saw the picture of her we thought she looked lovely. We have had two Neapolitan bullmastiffs in the past.

“They aren't everybody's dogs because they slobber, and when they shake their heads you can get covered in salvia. But they are something special.”

Why on earth do people have pets if they don't know how or can't be bothered to look after them properly, one fish fingera day - poor dog!

Glad someone good has taken her on.

Lizx

sorry if upset some of you, I wish I could take on a dog in need but can't in my present situation.

Noting wrong with Staffies,Had one when I was young,Lovely Dogs,The trouble with them is some of their owners are dodgy,should,nt be allowed to keep animals of any type.**M**.

my sister has a Saffie, he is lovely and loves her 2 girls. He gets on well with my dog whenever we visit and he has lots of other doggie friends he walks out with

I cant understand how people can be so cruel

Over the past few years Staffies were seen as a statement of how 'cool' you were especially amongst teenagers and dare I say 'chavs'

If I didn't have my 4 cats and work full time I'd consider having one xxx


McAnne in Kent

Your cats will soon have it in its place believe me I had a 70kg Rottweiller and she wouldn't even look at the 8kg cat as it walked past. Was funny to watch. Cat use to just go up to the dog and smack it for no reason just because it could, poor dog.

Staffies and Staffie crosses dominate at our local dog/cat home too. Wonderful dogs in the right hands, I would love one but we're both working full-time at the mo :-(((

Heartbreaking isn't it!!


All the Staffies I have come into contact with have been absolute darlings - so affectionate and such good fun .....


If I didn't have my 4 cats and work full time I'd consider having one xxx

I too love Staffies. We bought ours, Bella, for our daughter's 1st birthday. Sadly, we had to have her put to sleep at the end of October last year, she would have been 14 years old this month. You would have been hard pressed to find such another, gentle and loving dog although a lousy guard dog. She thrived on company and was very good and patient with children, she did need loads of attention and lot's of exercise though - we had to take her out at least three times a day. The only draw back I found was that she was not very good with other dogs although as she got older she couldn't be bothered. When I used to walk her she spent more time on the lead than off because if I saw another dog, no matter how far away, she was called to heel and put straight back on a very short lead.

I think the general public's attitude is part of the problem though as well. People would pull their children away or even cross over the road to get out of her way. Think they are often confused with other breeds like the pit bulls who have bad reputations. Fully agree that it is "who is at the other end of the lead" that is often at fault.

The statistics are awful and a sad reflection on our society.

Hi Liz and Ingrid

Oh my word, I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face, had felt so happy yet this is horrid, absolutely horrid and ohhh ...

We have Cass, part Staffie/part Bull Mastiff, love him to pieces. He's not much older than some of these poor poor puppies, we absolutely adore him, he 'kisses' my forehead, I kiss him on the top of his head and he shnuggles up with us.

He is such a wonderful dog, part of our family, would never let anyone hurt us.

How can anyone treat another living creature so badly, tis vile and sorry ... have to go.

Thank you for letting us know ... if they are brought up in a loving, calm atmosphere they are the best dogs ever.

xxx Shimms xxx

Tis not you who has upset me Liz, it is that one living creature can be so calous to another. I used to foster, I should not be surprised. xxx

Liz

Those stats are just awful. I love the Staffie, my son has just bought one. Given a loving home and a firm hand they are one of the most loyal dogs.
Like all dogs I think it has more to do with the owner not the breed, brought up under the right conditions they are all loyal & loving.

Cheers

Staffie is the East's most unwanted dog


New figures show that the Staffordshire bull terrier is the most unwanted dog in the eastern region.

So far this year 12 of the 94 abandoned dogs collected by the RSPCA in the East region are Staffies or Staffie crosses. In 2008, 90 of the 354 abandoned dogs rescued were Staffies or Staffie types, and in 2007, 97 of the 406 were Staffies/ crossbreeds.

RSPCA branches and animal centres in the region report that Staffies and Staffie crosses are by far the breed that they see the most of with more than three quarters of those taken in, male.

The new figures have been released to coincide with a campaign which urges owners to seriously consider neutering their dogs.

RSPCA superintendent Kelly Rivers said: “Staffies and other bull dogs and terriers are wonderful dogs. The problems are not usually with them but at the other end of the lead, with owners who buy them for the wrong reasons.

“We want to see bull breeds who are properly trained, socialised and cared for. This duty of care includes neutering and microchipping your dog - no excuses.”

Of the Staffordshires, and other bull terriers taken in, half of RSPCA branches in the East said that those neutered count for less than five per cent of those taken in.

Some of the incidents dealt with recently include two Staffordshire bull terriers weighed down with house bricks and thrown into water and another which was dumped from the back of a van. Another dog had to be put to sleep after her she did not receive veterinary treatment for a ruptured uterus, suffered while giving birth.

The body of a young Staffordshire bull terrier was found in the River Nene in March, Cambridgeshire in March.

A brick had been tied to the brindle and white-coloured dog's lead to weigh the body down. The terrier still had his baby teeth, meaning he was less than a year old. It is thought he had been in the water for a week.

RSPCA inspector Jon Knight said: “It can usually be presumed that an animal found dead in a river with bricks tied to it was intentionally put there to drown. If this was the case, the dog would have suffered a distressing and painful death.

“This appears to be a callous and deliberate act of cruelty.”

Many RSPCA branches across the East region are offering huge discounts on neutering bull dogs and terriers. For details call 0300 1234 5555 or visit www.rspca.org.uk

The RSPCA is also running a survey on owners attitudes towards bull dogs. To fill in the questionnaire visit www.rspca.org.uk or



Thought some people might like to do the questionnaire, isn't it cruel the things these dogs had done to them, poor things.

Lizx