Pining for my pooch!

Hello out there! Lola here and I am back from my international travels.I had an absolutely fabulous time and there were a number of incredibly memorable highlights! However one of the top highlights of my trip was when I came across my first dog!

Many of you know full well what it feels like to pine for your animal whilst you are away on vacation. Yes, you are assured that they are safe and well tended to (at Woodrock Kennels;)) but you are selfishly uneasy because at night the bed seems slightly too large and grassy patches don't have the same appeal without your pooch shnoofing around!

This was too true whilst I was away, Lavender was living it up with Stella and Nicholas enjoying her holiday away from me ( I can tell this because she has picked up weight- suspicious mid night snacking I think) Myself although basking under the magnificent Tuscan sun would constantly think of her. For this reason, when I came across my first Italian pooch I literally had to restrain myself from rolling on the floor with him! His owner understood but the pooch literally looked down his nose at me with an italian flair contemplating the foreigner's motive.What made seeing pooches in Italy even worse is that there are loads of Chihuahuas and I had a large case of animal envy!

I would love to hear about what lengths you have resorted to in order to get your animal fix!

Have a fab week

L

Nicholas smells a rat....

VivaRats Viva update...

So in an earlier blog post I elaborated extensively about Nicholas- the patriarch of Woodrock and his intense love for the undervalued "rat".

As many of you know, this love is criticized by other members from Woodrock. We do not condone cruelty but we do condone cleanliness and sanitation and unfortunately unwanted rodents carry disease and germs which we cannot allow our animals t be exposed to. 

Nicholas's humane rat traps and relocation antics have proved successful if not exhausting in the past but he pushes on even when he is criticized for  going to extreme lengths to save them. Please read "Viva Rats Viva" for more!

Well unfortunately his good deeds have not gone unpunished. A few weeks ago whilst driving into Johannesburg, an alarm light started flashing in Nicholas's car. The warning light was for the airbag- an oddity as the car has never given problems. The next day a second light started blinking followed by a discoteq of various coloured lights over the next few days.

Smelling a rat- pardon the pun- Nicholas called in a good friend Juan who through some under bonnet investigations discovered that the problem was in fact rats!

The puzzle pieces slowly started to fall into place with Nicholas recalling a strange " pop" sound coming from his engine as well as fluff balls of gnawed at carpet miraculously appearing in his foot hold.

It turns out that nightly, the array of liberated rats at Woodrock were having a party in Nicholas's engine in order to get to the warmth. The warmth in turn mellows them out and makes them feel for a snack and thus the destruction of carpets, wiring and ultimately car engine!

One would think that this would be the final straw for the rat problem and Nicholas's devoted tolerance of them. This is however not the case, what has transpired is that in place of removing the rats, Nicholas now parks his car away from the house by the kennels, acquiring much more exercise and inconvenience as a result of them.

He is stubborn and obstinate but he is the kindest man you will ever come across so Nicholas with your rodent like quirks- we salute you!!

Ps he also has a large weakness for cheese!!! Sounds slightly suspicious....

Until next week

L

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But mommy you are driving me nuts!!

There are very many things I can do to Lavender that get her peeved. Things like blowing in her face gently or hiding mine under a pillow whilst mimicking the sound of a mewling animal.She absolutely falls every time for my favourite prank whereby I pretend I am cuddling with a fake cat in the bed ( what makes this so funny is that I can use absolutely any object to be said cat in question) and suddenly her very large jealous streak emerges!

These are things I purposefully do in order to get a reaction, I have no shame in admitting that I find my baby highly entertaining. The question I wonder though is, do I perhaps do something that irritates her without being aware of it.

As I'm sure many of you are aware- the people closest to you are the ones who you have the smallest tolerance for their idiosyncrasies for instance Stella detests the way Nicholas yawns and then sniffs slightly after 5 pm! It drives her mad.

Now I know animals love us unconditionally but there are moments where Lavender prefers

to go to her own bed (cat cave) then cuddle with me in a warm bed. I wonder, is it because I am irritating her with the way I sleep or does she just need some lone time.

One thing I know for certain that she detests in when she is having a love and being given attention and the person giving her the love gets distracted by a cellphone or iPad. Immediately like a neglected child she puts on her absolutely cutest face, largest eyes and puppy blinks and then if that still doesn't get the attention she requires she resorts to pushing her way in between the device and person's face! 

I know of certain dogs at Woodrock who detest the sound of my camera's shutter even if it is not pointed at them, they skulk off into the corner like a celebrity with a jersey over their heads for fear of the paparazzi getting a shot.

On the more humorous side I also know of someone whose identity shall remain anonymous that their dog will quickly jump off the bed if they let "one off".The sound in particular bothers them but if they are under the covers they bolt at the first sign of gas...

I would love to hear about some of the things that you unintentionally do that irritate your babies.

Please send me a mail at woodrockanimalrescue@gmail.com

I would love to start featuring some other fun stories of your beloved pets!

Have a fab week

L

Bwahahahahahahahahahahheeeheehehehhehe!!!

Laughter is fantastic medicine and sometimes in rescue we just need something to make us smile! So I have searched the Internet many a lazy afternoon in England this week to find you guys what I think are some of the funniest and/ or inspiring animal videos out there at the moment.

So here you go! 

Woodrock's top 5!(as selected by the hilarious spawn L Meldau)

1)Firstly a cat up to some rather mischievous antics!

http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=plpp&v=aP3gzee1cps

That wonderful moment when you have your animal enraptured with your food "tails"

2)

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw

3)The guilt trip

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=B8ISzf2pryI

And the tear jerker 

4)

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ShpMtSG05EI

Oh and this!!!

http://www.buzzfeed.com/mattbellassai/the-40-greatest-dog-gifs-of-2012-6z51

Pause... Thank you.

Being the week of Mandela's birthday and considering that his time is coming to an end, I find it an appropriate time to pay homage to his life's mission by showing gratitude.

The simple phrase of thank you does not fully convey the strength of appreciation that Woodrock wishes to extend to all our supporters. Our wonderful Woodrockers  as I have spoken about in earlier posts give tirelessly of themselves on a daily basis.But our network are individuals who keep the cogs turning is far broader.

The wonderful animal behaviorists, kennel handlers and veterinarians as well as their staff that Woodrock get to work with makes our jobs all that easier, more fulfilling and ultimately more successful.

And our tireless social media scouts who spread our message with zest and persistence have helped many a dog in need!This is particular has helped us in providing the funds and food we so often need to rehabilitate animals in need. No small amount goes unnoticed.

So this post is dedicated to the true Woodrock Helpers- the Acta  Non Verba's. the ones who make the daily difference. Thank you.

These kitties were surviving on baked beans that were at the bottom of the rubbish dump.

Was found with terrible skin disease and malnutrition.

Had terrible eye disease from years of being abused in a puppy mill with insufficient nutrition.

Saved from poisoning

This baby's eye ruptured and his owner could not find anyone to help until Woodrock stepped in.

Being treated for a skin eating worm.

One week later and he smiles

Was shot in a robbery

Abandoned on a property with no food or water

Scoops is blind but is in retirement 

So thank YOU!

But he seems a bit.... Down

Woodrock Animal Rescue is funded predominantly by Woodrock Kennels. Our 5 star boarding facilities provide a home away from home for your precious pooch.

Being in the industry for so many years, we are very very acclimated to the various temperaments that kennel dogs have. This variety of personalities makes our furry friends all the nicer to have around. What is rather humorous is the preconceived idea about what the owner thinks the dog will "be like" whilst they are away.

More often then not the downtrodden puppy eyed dog who looks longingly at their owner departing is the dog with the real attitude of "when the cat's away the  mouse will play" and we are always thrilled to see our boarders  acting as our own dogs- out there  and care free once they are settled.

Often we get potential boarder owners who come to survey our retreat before boarding their canine friends and we are only too happy to have them but although impressed many owners feel immense anxiety wondering how their pooch will adjust! 

Woodrock boarders are treated the same as our dogs up for adoption and we make no apologies for this. All dogs within our care are looked after as our own with the same amount of love, care and attention!

Recently we had a boarder with us for a number of weeks and he was thrilled to partake in the hub of activity viewed from his kennel and the surrounds. The problem only set in once he had go e home with the owner frantically calling. The dog in discussion was lethargic, unmotivated and not interested in food. These are typical withdrawal symptoms from Woodrock!

Dogs who go home usually encounter a type of depression for a few days to acclimate to the normality of their daily lives! For the record animal lover, our dogs are our children and we anthropomorphosize them accordingly, however at the end of the day their animal instinct is up adapt and survive- at Woodrock they do this and more!

Woodrock Kennels

0845852418

Only an animal lover knows...

Without a doubt one of the small pleasures in having a dog is continually having a warm body to snuggle up next to- even if that body insists on taking up the majority of the bed at only 55cm and 2.5 kg ( Lavender as you guessed is the pooch in point). 

Jenny- Stella's cuddle buddy having a lie in...

My portable heating device is transportable and never minds a cold toe being placed on her warm belly, she also doesn't mind if I steal the blankets but honestly my favorite thing about sharing my slumber vessel with Lavender is that at any time of the night, I can pull her sleep -softened, floppy eared  little body in for a cuddle and a kiss. 

For me the delight of inhaling her "popcorn- maizey warm" sleep smell is better than any perfume! Although, having no children of my own yet, I suppose this maternal love is engaged further through scent! 

I can only speculate as to whether she feels the same way about my morning breath?! 

I Would love to hear about your babies and their antics!

L 

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