Quite upsetting. Penel, I truly wish I could pick a fight with you on this - but I can’t.

There must be a wider angle. Licensing? Perhaps even “ownership” means and aptitude -*test*-('")ing? Given some of the nerds I see with dogs, psychometric -*test*-('")ing would be appropriate.

Dare I say it – maybe it’s the few “wealthy” rescues (got to give credit to their “paid” PR and Marketing peeps) and too many smaller rescues, duplicating admin, battling each other etc that’s making the “business” of animal welfare a tad competitive – and a tad inefficient?

It would be interesting to know how big the combined “pot” of money really is.

I understand Archie Norman is a patron of ESSW. He’s a smart cookie, ASDA, politician etc – good business brain with political contacts – putting any political allegiances aside, someone like him could bang a few heads together. Or is he just a figurehead?

Is there an MP / Minister / Department heading up animal welfare?

I'm really confused, and rescue hat off I ask these questions from a personal point of view.

So why if the supplements (cough cough) and alternate medicines (do I remember someone saying that some rescues don't use these methods when an offer of help was given a while back ) are working and the dog is in no pain is a £3000 op being considered .

I'm assuming we are talking a hip replacement for Scruffy which is never guaranteed to work anyway?


Helena wonderful post, very thought provoking

i think sometiems you have to go with your heart, as Nev said earlier, all we have done with Scruff is upped the fundraising, no dog will not be rescued or get what they need just so this one gets a chance, all that we are doing is trying to raise extra to pay for anything he may need in the future, its not as if he needs it right at this minute, but it is likely he will need it in the future and we have to be prepared for that.

As far as we are concerned while we are all able, the piggybanks won't be empty, we'll just do another car boot, or fair, or run another auction.

I said as much the last time this subject came up Penel, and I agree with all you wrote, an Irish dog I believe sparked the debate last time, and apparently, according to those in the know, I'm not a very nice person for suggesting money can be sometimes be better spent helping the many rather then the few.

A system of triage is the only logical action when funds, and space become unavailable.

Citing emotional cases does nothing to further the debate, we can all do that, every one of us would do what is necessary for our own dogs, the sad fact is that dogs coming in to rescue are not our own dogs and are subject to limitations, how ever much you'd like to think you can find that extra pound coin or stretch that rubber wall one more inch, one day all of us in rescue are going to find our selves at that breaking point.

Is it ethical to empty the pot for a single dog today, only to find that a number of healthy dogs could have been helped with that money tomorrow.

I don't share the optimism of those who money an space will always be found and stretched.

For what its worth he is on Vet perscribed Supplements iE seraquin, and yes at the moment it is working, the vet at the time on seeing his xrays said it would be better to do it when young because of the recovery time, at the moment he has another 3 sessions of Hydrotherapy and then we will return to see the Orthopeadic Surgeon, they're the vets and we will take their advice

IF you want to see the income and expenditure of any registered charity you can find their la-*test*-('") accounts on here ... certainly makes for some interesting reading

www.charity-commission.gov.uk

Personally I am absolutely disgusted with the way this thread has gone. There is more than enough room in this world for more than one rescue so what on earth is the problem, what on earth have we done that means we are obviously not welcome on this forum.

Once again it is yet again the same people that attack NESSR, insinuate and try and bring us down, why?

There is no need for any of this, Scruffy's treatment is being supervised by a vet end of ... no need for people to question the treatment that has been prescribed because as far as I am aware you don't have a veterinary degree.

Frankly I know I am not welcome on this forum anymore because I speak my mind but I'll be damned if I will sit back and let rumour, gossip and idle tittle tattle destroy a rescue that I think is extremely hardworking, does value it's volunteers but more importantly always puts the dogs first and foremost above any egos.

Say what you want, attack me all you want but frankly I don't care, I prefer to give my time and efforts to helping dogs rather than caring what people think of me.

Personally, I haven't read any of the recent discussion to be a criticism of NESSR. I think it's been a very grown up discussion regarding the difficult decisions rescues have to face on an all too regular basis Of course there are some who have differing opinions, but I don't feel that anyone has attacked NESSR

Glad it's not just me thinking that then, I did try and point it out a few pages back

Anyone know what homeopathic remedy can be used for paranoia (sp?) I'll get myself dosed up, anyone want to share?

life is just to dam short for this animosity, we none of us know whats around the corner, everyone has differing ideas and thats what the world is all about, i truly hope that each and every one of the rescues manages to come out fairly intact .if i can help out anyone, in anyway then i will, the only winners and losers that matter in all of this are the dogs . and in sure that if it come to it everyone would pull together to help out, dont believe in god anymore, so dog bless everyone, lets get back on track doing what you all do best and continue saving lives

basically its the questioning of where we spend our money thats got Rhys back up, if we want to go out in all weathers, spend weekends away, otherhalfs spend weekends away , use all our holidayts to go to events thats our choice. After all thats what we signed up for, and to be fair what NESSR has been about all these years, doesn't matter how or why a dogs comes in it gets sorted .

So for once i'd like you to look at something and maybe this is emotive, but you can't not care and do this, if you didn't care about the dogs then quiet frankly you's find something better to do with your time, and to be fair sometimes yes your head says that its not the right thing to do, but when a dog has a good quality of life your heart as to take over.

So come on everyone with your business heads on.

This is Scruffy, in better photos









Who would like to come up here and look in to his eyes and then snuff that light out, because although i have been accused of being hard, and in some respects i am, i'm not that hard.

This thread has gone from a lovely story about rescue dogs,,,,,to this,,,,

Selina,,,you say a few posts back,,,same old faces cause trouble,,,,,,tell me have you a mirror at hand.....

What a shame,,,,,I will copy all this ,,and one day when I have nothing better to do,,,I will read it,,,,,


Dogs out there need help,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,tell you what why dont you all put your energy into that,,,and not ,,,question the whys and fors of what NESSR is doing with Pups,,,or Scriffy or anyone else for that matter,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

My calls today have been for 3 dogs,,all over the UK,,,yes 1 down in Hampshire,,surprise surprise,,,she has a leg problem,,,,,but of course I know about it,,I will not say no to her,,,,,because as god made apples,,,,I will be in trouble if I pass her on to another rescue,,,,,

Once again same old, same old, yawn!!!!!!

Average Joe here. Don’t know what’s gone on before. Don’t care, either. I feel despondent, very disappointed and embarrassed (not for me). You’re all making unnecessary snipes at one another “just” to fuel the fire - not what the man on the Clapham Omnibus needs to read.

Good luck.

This has gone from a heated but decent debate about the issues facing rescue to one or two rescues having a right go at each other..on line, in public.....
Its obviously an emotive subject but clearly some history going on.

Im just going to keep my head down from now on as I think this is just a three way conversation and no one else can get a word in...maybe you should all meet up to sort it out in person rather than on line...set some objectives as a collective with the ultimate welfare of the dogs in mind.

I am sorry that this thread has upset people it was never out intention we just wanted people to comment on the dogs we have been helping.

It is common knowledge that personalities in ESSW and The Spaniel Trust do not get on with NESSR. It is sad, but it is reality. We have no desire to interfere with their work all we ask is that they leave us alone to get on with ours.

The problem with some rescues working together is that sometimes we have very different ways of working and very different policies and ways of spending our money so what might seem like a good idea will not really work. Ultimately NESSR always puts the welfare of dogs first and we have no problem refering owners to any other rescues if we are unable to immediately help.

If you are interested in NESSR and want to see how our dogs are getting on then go to www.nessr.net as we will not post them on here again.