Hi Charlotte - what a lot of lovely people there are on this website - it must be because we all love our Springers and springers are special!
When you feel low, it is so good to know that there are people out there who really care, but just keep in mind that when you have a dog like Justin, you have hope and our dogs help us through thick and thin without judgment! I have been through some rough times and Rosie was my rock. I lost her in August and it was awful - but I still had Jake & now Dillon has come into our lives and despite being depressed, they give me reason to get up and face another day!
Keep your chin up and the pressure on the Council

x x

Hi charlotte
Love the pic of Justin... He looks Fab and full of life
If you ever fancy a hol with him in sunny Staffordshire
PM me our two girls would love a boy springer to boss around

Jillx

Last night I had a nightmare that I was in a grotty B&B surrounded by druggies & asylum seekers, without Justin & without my computer [I'm addicted to the internet].

I've had him since he was 11 weeks old. I haven't got a sofa, he gets on my chair with me & nudges my arm with his nose to let me know that he wants a cuddle!

Aw! isn't that sweet, he really is your family.

I love it when they do that, it's like "Hey look at me - I need cuddles!"

He sounds adorable
Where abouts in the coutry are you Charlotte?
We have lots of small get togethers, walks for the dogs, drinks in the pub and a chance to lean on each other. Maybe you are near some of us and we could introduce you to our doggies

Hey Charlotte, hope you are ok today, and Justin is being a good lad! Bailey tries to get up for cuddles constantly, she is very persistent! There are loads of pics on the Post Your Photos section, go have a browse, always cheers me up if I'm a bit low!

Feel free to post any more pics you might have, we'd love to see them!!

I live in Croydon [south London].

I bumped in to my landlord yesterday. He said that this building will be demolished in about a year's time.

Hi Charlotte,

It might be as well to start looking around now for a new pad. Best do it sooner and have something in place than leave it til the last minute!

Good luck. You and Justin will be just fine!

Hi Charlotte and big hugs to you and Justin.
I would just like to offer you support that i feel you are needing at the moment. I have sadly seen people in a situation, similar to yours ( I am a mental health nurse) but things do get better in time and in a strange way makes us stronger people in the future. You sound as though you are very lonely and isolated at the moment, Do you have family that live near, or a friend who you could confide in and share your worries? If this is not the case, there are sincere professional people out there who are there to help and support you through this difficult time. There is always a brighter future, but you need to sometimes give in to pride and the feeling that you should be able to sort things yourself. We all need a bit of help and support at some point in our lives.
Please stay in touch with all the guys and gals on here, who obviously are here to help in any way we can. If this site is your life line at the moment then please please use it to your advantage if it helps you get through this time.

sending loads a love and hugs to you both

Hey Charlotte. I'm sorry that you are finding things tough at the moment and I hope that Justin is doing his job in cheering you up! My boys always help me feel better. Don't dispair about finding accommodation which accepts pets. You have a little time to look and there are places out there that do accept dogs. I didn't think I'd find anywhere in central Glasgow but I found a place that not only accepted students but two dogs. I think the best approach is to look for a nice place with garden etc, or what you are after and if it doesn't categorically say no pets ask if the landlord would be prepared to accept Justin. I offered to let my landlord meet my dogs to prove how nice and well behaved they are and agreed to clean all carpets when I came to move out. Luckily my landlord agreed. Similarly my brother was allowed his spaniel in a place that had said no pets but the landlord met Dillon and loved him! So chin up and be hopeful. You'll find somewhere.

The landlord says that his company owns other properties & they'll find me somewhere else to live, BUT do I trust him? I've learned in life that people are very untrustworthy, unlike dogs & cats.

I've been on the council's waiting list for 14 years, but I bet that even if I lost this place then they wouldn't let me have a council flat [which I'd much prefer to a private rented place]. They would split me up from Justin & put me in a hostel with druggies & criminals & asylum seekers - I'd rather die. I am on council waiting lists in a few places up north, with two of them I put in 'bids' on a weekly basis.

Aswell as the pets, I am on housing benefit too, a lot of landlords don't want to know you in this case.

This place isn't ideal - number one problem is there's no double glazing & thus it gets very cold in the winter. But it's better than nothing. Justin seems to like it though, mind you I think he'd be happy anywhere so long as I was there.

Hi Charlotte

Sorry you are feeling so low. I just wanted to add that I knew a single person in London who was given a council flat because his rented accommodation was being demolished. So if you are on the general housing list, you might be given additional points due to this. Have you thought about making an appointment to have a chat with them? (I would not mention your landlord has told you he has other properties he can offer you).

And if you have been a good tenant, there is no reason to mistrust your landlord. He is a business man and wants tenants he can trust.

But good for you for considering other parts of the country. How you word your council application is very important in order to move to other regions. I can give you a few pointers on that one if you want.

But as for hostels.... Nowadays many people in hostels are just ordinary people who have found themselves in difficult circumstances. Women and children fleeing violent relationships, young people who have been in care through no fault of their own, abused kids who have been thrown out by their parents, even elderly people who have fallen on hard times. They need a roof over their heads too.

But I do agree you need to find an alternative to a hostel so you can keep Justin with you. He is the focus you need to stay positive. And as Lettie said, there are many genuine people out there who can give you the support you need to help you achieve your goal.

Take care

Cath