Success Stories

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CHEEKY

Cheeky is a two year old Chinese Crested x French Bulldog and I first met him at the beginning of October 2011.  I knew instantly that Cheeky and I were going to become firm friends.  To be honest it was "love at first sight" on my part.
When Cheeky and I first met he was rather nervous and so I just sat quietly in his kennel and waited from him to come to me.  It didn't take long for him to gain confidence and soon he was sitting on my lap and nibbling one of my ears (something he still loves to do).  I started to visit Cheeky regularly and it was such a pleasure to see how happy and excited he became when he spotted me.  His personality and lovable nature started to shine through and it soon became evident he was ready to explore the outside world. Cheeky started to enjoy his daily walks and it was clear that he was learning to trust and that his confidence was growing daily.
Cheeky was soon ready to be re-homed and at the end of November I adopted him and he came to live with me, my cat Marta and elderly Cavalier Gucci (both rescue pets).  With a lot of love and attention Cheeky soon settled in to his new home and he has become house trained, travels well in a car and thoroughly enjoys his long walks.  I was amazed at how gentle he was with my cat Marta and how quickly he started to cuddle up to Gucci in her basket. 
The pleasure that Cheeky has brought to me, my family and friends is just immense and it is so rewarding to know that he is now happy and content in his new home.
Thank you to the staff for all their help and support.  Also, thank you for allowing me to be the proud mum of Cheeky!
Sally Ann Minster-Bianchi

 

 

Star & Tizzie 

 

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The Story of Fonzie

Fonzi was found sheltering from the sun under a rubbish bin by the side of a busy road in Spain and was only about 6-7 month’s old. Filthy, dirty, flea ridden and very unwell, to cap it all this poor dog that was thrown out with the rubbish had badly deformed back legs through either malnutrition or birth defects. 

Luckily for Fonzi, it was Pia Seymour-Morris who has rescued over a 100 dogs since moving to Spain 3 years ago, who found him when she went to put out her own rubbish and set about getting him back to health. 

Fonzi responded in the way we have come to expect from him with bravery and fortitude, he is a sheer delight and has coped with his deformities.very well. But on serious level he cannot carry on this way as even at this young age arthritis was creeping in to his front legs. 

Fonz visited many vets in Spain but to no avail no-one could help him apart from fusing his legs and this was not an option.  Pia heard that a vet in Boston, USA had done a procedure similar to the one Fonzi needed but even they said they could not help, as they had only done it once before on a Boxer and that did not give a good result. 

All seemed lost at this point and although brave Fonzi was getting about ok it was only a matter of time for him until he detiorated. 

Around this time Pia asked us to see if our vet Clem Pichler at Vets 4 Pets could suggest anything and he advised  a certain vet at a referral clinic would be about the only person who could possibly help   So an appointment was made for five months later to see the magic man as the Fonzi was still awaiting his passport and rabies vacc which takes 7 months and he could not come to England till then. 

The vet was uncertain as to whether he could help, he had never seen a deformity like this and did not expect to see it again but he would do it as long as it was in Fonzi’s best interests.  Fonzi had his first op 2 weeks later and we called at Midnight to say he had just finished the op.and we would have to wait and see what happened next. We do not think any other man could have done this procedure and we and Fonzi are very grateful that he has.  

Fonzi is still an in patient at the vets 4 weeks later and doing really well and is a great favourite there (we are not sure we will get him back from them!).  The leg is straighter and hopefully the other leg will be done soon.  Fonz is such a lovely, amiable little dog and we are all rooting for him. 

Surgery 
Fonzi had to have his thigh bone cut above the knee and shortened by 2cm to straighten the leg.  Also below the knee was cut allowing the knee to be rotated 90 degrees to face forward and then all put back together again.  Physio 4 times daily and aqua therapy to help straighten the tendons which have shortened due to the position the legs were in.

 

Second Chance Animal Rescue
4 Mansbridge Cottages
Mansbridge Road
Southampton
Hampshire
SO18 2NH

Charity No: 1002511

t 023 8055 9552