Shula         

In December 2008 our much loved 18 year old cat called 'Rabbit' had to be put to sleep. She was very much missed and we both decided we needed a new addition to our family...enter Shula!

Whilst working in the Motor Trade a few years ago we became friendly with a chocolate Pointer called 'George', a farm dog that used to call for fuel in the back of his owner's pick-up.  Since then we had made a decision that when the time was right, a Pointer was the dog for us.

We searched the internet for 'pointer for rehoming' and managed to find a little girl, English Pointer, 18 months old in East Sussex.  The rescue centre was www.pupsneedinghomes.co.uk and they also advertised on a larger national site called www.dogsblog.com.

We spoke to Gemma at the centre who told us that Shula was just adorable, very quiet but extremely thin and had kennel cough.  She had been found abandoned in Ireland by a centre over there that have around 150 dogs at any one time, and bring them to rescue centres in the South of England in the hope that they may find their 'forever' home.  She weighed around 14kg when she arrived with Gemma and put on 3kg before we went down to collect her on 6th January 2009.  Apart from being very thin she also smelt awful from living rough for so long...Gemma couldn't bath her properly because there was thick snow and it was very cold.

Her 1st day with us  -  you could see her spine and hip bones.

When we arrived to collect her, she ran into Gemma's lounge and bounded over to see us, so sweet and adorable.  She slept the whole 5 hour journey home and was soon settled down on her new huge bed with her cuddly duck.  Her first feed was amazing...about 5 seconds and it had gone and the bowl licked clean!

Making herself at home on her new bed with her favourite duck!

She soon began to put on weight a little at a time and now weighs 21kg which is about average for a Pointer; she'll never be fat though because she stays fit and lean running the fields after pheasants and rabbits down by the river every day for an hour.  Every night before bed she goes out for 5 mins then rushes back in and sits on her bed and waits for her piece of cheese...she will not lay down and go to sleep until she has had it!  She sometimes tries it on and goes out early, waits for her cheese, lays down and goes to sleep, then 10 mins later goes back out and does the same routine so she can have another piece!!

'Pointing' at a rabbit.

We feel very lucky to have found her, she really is perfect...never barks, sleeps all day and night apart from her running like a mad thing around the fields!  She has the sweetest gentle nature, wouldn't hurt a fly, and loves meeting any guest who will give her a little attention; even non-doggy people seem to like her.

She will be waiting to greet you when you arrive.