Some readers will remember when friends Roger, Anke and I went to Figeac dogs home to walk dogs who never got out of their cages, unless volunteers went to take them out.
We eventually gave up as it was too distressing, and we were only allowed to walk the dogs at the front of the refuge who had a chance of being rehomed. Down at the bottom of the area were the pens for the "no hopers"who had no chance of being rehomed and were never let out for walks.
Before we stopped going Anke saw two of the ugliest big dogs caged up, but they reminded her of the ridgebacks she used to breed.
Anke decided to adopt both dogs, but it was not simple. The director of the refuge refused to believe Anke could possibly want these two ugly old dogs and she had to be convinced that it was a genuine act of kindness.
The dogs had entered the dogs home as 8 week old puppies and were still locked up in cages at 11 years old. Both males, although one had been castrated by another dog it had been locked up with, in a fight he had lost the necessary bits! Both dogs although very scared and not at all aggressive were covered in scars from earlier attacks.
We eventually convinced the director that they were wanted as pets and I went with Anke to bring them to their new farm home.
The two dogs were petrified, shook for days and never got over their fear of men. Apparently when I asked why they were so frightened of men, it transpired for years the poorly paid not very bright man who cleaned out the cages used to beat the dogs with a broom to the back of the cage!
Anke has given the dogs free range of her wonderful farm and the dogs confidence grew day by day. They stayed close to her and could be trusted with the many children who went down to the farm.
Rinus died at the end of last year and today Roxy after having a brain seizure will be put to sleep.
Anke, thank you for giving those two sad dogs a happy four years end to their lives. It was a courageous act of kindness and Malc and I will always remember your care given to these no hopers.
The policy of this refuge which is not aligned to the SPA is to keep dogs locked up for life, not kindly putting them to sleep if they are never going to be adopted.
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