Yesterday 100 Happy Days post motivated me to write Toby's story today. We have had Toby for 14 months now. We got our first dog Edward just before we got married 20 years ago, he was our baby. I treated him like child, he even slept on the end of our bed. When he died at 17 we were devastated and vowed we would never put ourselves through that hurt again of loosing a pet.
Then 2 years ago our good friends the Valance family came to stay for new year and brought their dog Yoda. Clearly I love them all coming to stay we have been friends for many years, however they had never brought Yoda before. I loved him being here, and it hit home how much we had missed having a dog as part of our family.
Chris was not as keen as me to get a puppy, Edward had been a terror as a pup, eaten his way through 3 remote controls, many letters ( I once got a warning at work, I worked for a large hair colour company in London. They never believed I did not respond to the chairmans letter as I never read it, because my dog ate the letter, ha ha I know but he did eat it!) the corner of a kitchen table, a pair of levi jeans a phone and a diary. We used to joke that if he trumped he would be able to change channel on the T.V. , as you can imagine Chris was somewhat reluctant to go through that again.
After week of grinding him down he agreed to a small dog that didn't moult, so I started looked for a Boston Terrier just like Yoda. Then I saw this advert on the Tameside and Glossop RSPCA website, Toby RSPCA
This poor Dog had experienced such a bad life I fell in love with him in this picture. He almost met the brief he was small, but was a tad hairy. He came from a home where he had been starved, had flea allergies and lost his fur, he had them been rehoused to a "good" home who god only knows why? Sent him back after 5 months.
I was sooo excited when I saw him and rang the RSPCA immediately, only to be told he had been re-homed again. I was upset as I had fallen in love with him, but glad he had a home. Then a week later we got a call from the RSPCA saying the poor lady who had rehoused him was severely allergic to him and was in hospital so he had gone back again and was so traumatised and confused, and could we go to meet him.
We arranged to go the next day, when we got there we were gobsmacked as this little dog was in fact a bear, I have no idea what angle the photo above was taken at, to make him look small! I could feel Chris eyes burning into me, "That is not a small hair free dog" he said through his teeth. As soon as met the boys, he adored them.
The lady from the RSPCA asked us to walk him and have chat about him, so Toby pulled us all round the block, whilst we followed this bear of a dog in shock. He loved the boys and they loved him, he didn't in any shape or form fit the brief. So what did we do? we went back and started proceedings to bring him home. I know we are mad but how could we leave him there he was so desperate for a family.
14 Months later, in reflection I am so glad we were allowed to adopt him, he is devoted to us, and we adore him. He was toilet trained from day one, after a course at puppy training he is obedient, rarely barks, is well mannered and so loving and tolerant.
However he is huge compared to the dog I imagined carrying in my handbag, I would need a suitcase on wheels to transport Toby, I don't think it would have the same effect though. He moults, not just the odd hair, huge hairballs everywhere, he purposely runs in mud after being brushed and he is partial to the odd farmers chicken if they dare to visit the garden. But I wouldn't change an inch of him, he has fit in to our family perfectly, I can't imagine life without Toby. I just can't believe I set off to get a dog and ended up with a bear
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| Our Lovely Edward, who lived until 17 |
Then 2 years ago our good friends the Valance family came to stay for new year and brought their dog Yoda. Clearly I love them all coming to stay we have been friends for many years, however they had never brought Yoda before. I loved him being here, and it hit home how much we had missed having a dog as part of our family.
Chris was not as keen as me to get a puppy, Edward had been a terror as a pup, eaten his way through 3 remote controls, many letters ( I once got a warning at work, I worked for a large hair colour company in London. They never believed I did not respond to the chairmans letter as I never read it, because my dog ate the letter, ha ha I know but he did eat it!) the corner of a kitchen table, a pair of levi jeans a phone and a diary. We used to joke that if he trumped he would be able to change channel on the T.V. , as you can imagine Chris was somewhat reluctant to go through that again.
After week of grinding him down he agreed to a small dog that didn't moult, so I started looked for a Boston Terrier just like Yoda. Then I saw this advert on the Tameside and Glossop RSPCA website, Toby RSPCA
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| Our poor Toby when the RSPCA rescued him |
This poor Dog had experienced such a bad life I fell in love with him in this picture. He almost met the brief he was small, but was a tad hairy. He came from a home where he had been starved, had flea allergies and lost his fur, he had them been rehoused to a "good" home who god only knows why? Sent him back after 5 months.
I was sooo excited when I saw him and rang the RSPCA immediately, only to be told he had been re-homed again. I was upset as I had fallen in love with him, but glad he had a home. Then a week later we got a call from the RSPCA saying the poor lady who had rehoused him was severely allergic to him and was in hospital so he had gone back again and was so traumatised and confused, and could we go to meet him.
 |
| On our way home from the RSPCA |
We arranged to go the next day, when we got there we were gobsmacked as this little dog was in fact a bear, I have no idea what angle the photo above was taken at, to make him look small! I could feel Chris eyes burning into me, "That is not a small hair free dog" he said through his teeth. As soon as met the boys, he adored them.
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| Toby settling in. |
The lady from the RSPCA asked us to walk him and have chat about him, so Toby pulled us all round the block, whilst we followed this bear of a dog in shock. He loved the boys and they loved him, he didn't in any shape or form fit the brief. So what did we do? we went back and started proceedings to bring him home. I know we are mad but how could we leave him there he was so desperate for a family.
 |
| Yes Toby is very tolerant |
14 Months later, in reflection I am so glad we were allowed to adopt him, he is devoted to us, and we adore him. He was toilet trained from day one, after a course at puppy training he is obedient, rarely barks, is well mannered and so loving and tolerant.
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| Not a small as we thought! |
However he is huge compared to the dog I imagined carrying in my handbag, I would need a suitcase on wheels to transport Toby, I don't think it would have the same effect though. He moults, not just the odd hair, huge hairballs everywhere, he purposely runs in mud after being brushed and he is partial to the odd farmers chicken if they dare to visit the garden. But I wouldn't change an inch of him, he has fit in to our family perfectly, I can't imagine life without Toby. I just can't believe I set off to get a dog and ended up with a bear
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| Santa's came and left a new bed |
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