…and the generosity of a wonderful (failed!) fosterer.
Rescuing dogs can can be a bittersweet affair. It relies on a great teamwork. It can be upsetting and emotional and it can be happy and joyous. This month’s story is one of heartbreak and great joy.
In early summer 2024 on the Greek island of Santorini, tourists found a homeless, starving, very skinny dog, a black Pointer. She was about 4 years old and seemed to be partially sighted, or blind.
The holidaymakers didn’t pass her by, or look the other way. They searched for help, and Christina and Katerina, rescuers on the island, wrapped their arms around her. The beautiful black Pointer received care and medical attention and food. They couldn’t be sure if she had any sight. And then Pointers in Need came into the picture.
Katerina contacted Claire, a long-standing friend, and CEO of Pointers in Need. In an instant Claire agreed to take the beautiful black Pointer under the wing of Pointers in Need, and after an 8-hour ferry journey from Piraeus she arrived in Claire’s home in Athens. The dog was exhausted, and curled up gratefully in her crate and slept. Claire named her Santa, after her birthplace, Santorini.
Claire took Santa to the best eye specialist in Athens. All the tests showed nothing wrong with her eyes but, probably following a severe blow to the head, nerve damage had caused her to be completely blind.
Our friend, Despina, then tended Santa until Pointers in Need brought her to the UK in the summer of 2024. And here a wonderful lady called Carol offered to foster the beautiful black Pointer.
Carol takes up the story….
“Santa came to stay with us last September: a dog with a very waggy tail. I had fostered blind and partially sighted dogs previously so her sight loss would, I hoped, be manageable.
“Her first few weeks were full of ‘Ouchs’ and ‘Be Carefuls’ until i invested in an ingenious harness called a Muffin with a Halo. We used this indoors and outdoors. We used it outdoors, especially, until she familiarised herself with her surroundings. However, I later found that by attaching leads to her collar and her harness we could steer clear of obstacles. I now only use a lead on her harness. When out on our walks Santa gets excited when she hears people and dogs nearby. She has won the hearts of many!
“Initially traffic scared Santa, so I very slowly got her used to the noise. She loves her walks, and I wanted to get her used to the car for trips out of my area. So I sold my tiny Peugeot 107, and bought a 5-door car with a large boot. With the aid of a dog ramp, she has mastered the art of getting in and out of the boot, and lies on her duvet in the car like a Diva!
“Santa’s appetite is huge, so I got her a slow feeder bowl which has slowed down her food intake. She still needs to lose a bit of weight and will bark for more food…..it’s the only time you hear her! She particularly likes cat poo, which she finds practically everywhere on our walks….yuk!
“Santa’s housemate is Mali, a Whippet x Labrador, who is 10 – Santa tries to sit on Mali sometimes and this is greeted with a stern reaction! She loves to play and enjoys the company of my sister’s Pointer, Angel…..also from Pointers in Need. They have a tussle about. Tigger, my cat is indifferent to Santa. He thinks it’s great Santa doesn’t bother with him ….. I wonder, does he know Santa is blind?
‘She hates the rain and will not walk in it if she can help it. She takes at least ten attempts to go outside to the toilet. It gets to the point she is desperate to wee and flies out the door.
We decided to adopt Santa in October. The thought of her leaving us brought sadness, and we would certainly miss her snoring! She has taken a while to settle but now has her paws firmly under the table.”
Adopter: Carol Davies
