ANIMALS ALREADY HELPED

Here are just a few examples of animals that have been helped by the Friends in the past.

Being "Toto"

It is nearly five years since I was taken to Leyboume which makes me about six years old. Volunteers Valerie and Alan saw me and thought I was just the right size to join their other canine companions 'Becky' and 'Rufiy'. We were introduced to each other and I was then officially adopted and named 'Heidi'.

I will gloss over the first few months when my new Mum and Dad had to be very patient. I really liked the taste of the kitchen unit comers and wicker chairs. Even when the door was open I would leave a puddle on the kitchen floor. Now to tell you how I became a star! Last October auditions for the part of Toto' in The Wizard of Oz were advertised in the local paper. The pantomime was to be staged at The Hazlitt Theatre in Maidstone. As I am a good look alike my Mum and Dad took me along mainly out of curiosity as I am not trained to do party tricks. It was however a doddle, walking around on a lead being friendly and letting strangers pick me up. hi fact I am well known for my friendly enthusiastic greetings.

Some seem to think I'm rather OTT! Five dogs were chosen to do a week each. My Mum and Dad were very surprised I had been chosen but pleased that I might be able to donate my earnings to Leyboume Animal Centre. I have now acted on stage at The Hazlitt, appeared on lunchtime and evening news on BBC1 interviewed on Radio Kent and had photographs in the local press. This must make me a star! My dressing room was actually in the scenery dock. There was a comfy armchair and they put up some Christmas lights and even a tree for me. The stage hands came there for their breaks so I was never short of attention and the odd treat. Uncle Cedric, as I called Cedric Monarch of The Three Monarchs fame, played the Wizard. He always came to talk to me and brought me treats.

Before the show and during breaks we took my favourite ball to the Exchange Room which has a polished dance floor and we had some great games in there. The cast and audience thought me such a star that I was asked to do 30 performances. I had 10 entrances and 10 exits each show. Every time I first appeared the audience all went aahhh! Mum and Dad had to learn all my cues and when and which side I was to be handed on and collected. I was never on stage when they had loud music or dancing. No matter what the weather between shows Mum & Dad would put their coats and gloves on and take me to the nearest patch of grass.

There was great joy if a poo bag was used and even a wee would get a great reaction, but if I didn't 'perform' there was a lot of tutting. I never disgraced myself on stage, even though the stage hands made bets as to whether there would be an impromptu puddle during a performance. During my last week on stage I had to learn a new routine. I had to pretend to be naughty (easy!!) I had to rush from one side of the stage to the other. It caused lots of laughter as the Tin Man had to ad lib depending on how fast I ran. At the end of the show 'Dorothy', played by Rebecca Ritters from the soap 'Neighbours' came on with me held high in her arms as they announced "Heidi as Toto!". I received cheers and lots of clapping. On our way back to the car park children would nudge their parents and say "that's Toto!" and would ask if I could be stroked.

It was all a great experience but as they say in show business my owners and I are now 'resting',

Heidi very kindly donated her earnings to 'The Friends' £200 Thank you!

OPERATION SLOBBERCHOPS

An injured brindle and white, bull mastiff bitch, was found dumped in Sittingbourne. An RSPCA Animal Collection Officer picked her up and took her to a local Vets' who found she had a very complicated injury involving the rupture of the cruciate ligament in her right hind leg. She had to be transferred to a Vet that specialised in orthopaedic surgery to repair the damage and he quoted £1,500 to do the delicate operation!.

The referral Vet appreciated how hard it is to raise funds and agreed to charge half the true cost of the op. It was arranged that 'Cassie', as she was named by the nurses, would have the surgery and then be transferred to Leybourne for 6 weeks cage rest and re-homing. Initially 'Cassie' enjoyed resting in her kennel. Lots of hug therapy, plenty of sleep, a ready supply of dog food, and huge rawhide chews to while away the hours.

As she felt better and her leg got stronger the frustration began to set in. Cassie found that sitting still was boring, and the staff were finding it difficult to come up with new ways of breaking the monotony of her day. Eventually her confinement drew to an end. Cassie's check x-ray was booked and we started to make plans to find her a home.

Then, disaster struck. She had begun to 'bounce' in her kennel whenever she saw us as she loved the company and with just 24 hours to go before getting the 'all clear' to re-home her, she put to^much pressure on her 'good leg' and snapped the cruciate in it. In just seconds we were back where we started an injury needing £1,500 worth of surgery and a further 6 weeks confined to a cage. None of us felt it would be right to put her through another couple of months in kennels. We knew she wouldn't cope. There was also the Small problem of needing £1,500. Just when we thought all was lost we had two wonderful offers. One of the 'Friends' committee said he would foster Cassie, thereby giving her a home environment to recuperate in |and one of the Centre's consulting Vets Martin Smith who is also an porthopaedic specialist said he would match the other vets fees for the op.

Fantastic news but we still needed £1,000 to complete her treatment. 'Cassie' had by now crept into everyone's hearts and was becoming affectionately known as 'Slobberchops'. We now had a mission. We had to raise a lot of money quickly and so the 'Cassie Appeal' otherwise known as 'Operation Slobberchops' was launched. We contacted the local media and Meridian TV and the Kent Messenger newspaper were the first to respond. Unfortunately, the day Cassie's story was due to be broadcast, a lot of other local news broke. Cassie's story only made it onto one mid morning bulletin and only 3 people responded. The 'KM' proved to be more lucrative and we had donations ranging from just a couple of pounds to a staggering £500! In total we raised £1,900. We had made it clear that if we were lucky enough to raise over £1,000 the remaining funds would be used to help other animals in need of treatment. So, not only was 'Slobberchops' fixed a lot of other animals were saved as well. £265.67 paid for extensive dental surgery for 'Lucky' a black Cocker Spaniel. 'Brad' a handsome moggy had his damaged eye removed at a cost of £185.86.

'Gypsy' a very affectionate tabby cat had a series of x-rays taken of her fractured pelvis for £100. The intensive supportive therapy and hospitalisation of a stray black cat found with the most horrendous burns cost £226.60,

and 'Sparkle' was literally given a new lease of life when her bills of over £200 were paid.

A huge "Thank You" to everyone that contributed to our appeal. You saved a lot of lives.

SIGHT FOR SORE EYES APPEAL

Lost, lonely, and bewildered, this friendly, trusting, Springer Spaniel was found wandering the streets. Her eyes were so full of infection that she could no longer see her way. Her legs were covered in sores, due in part from constantly rubbing her eyes and then licking the purulent discharge from her paws. She had suffered the most dreadful neglect.

Her road to recovery started when she was transferred into the care of the RSPCA Leybourne Animal Centre. We began with a name, ‘Ginny’, a good quality diet, an intensive course of treatment and a great deal of TLC (tender loving care!). Once the infection in her eyes had been successfully treated we found that Ginny’s eyesight was still very poor as she has thick cataracts in both eyes. Cataracts cause opacity of the lens in the eye impairing vision.

Ginny was thought to be about 6 years old. She was a normal bouncy fun loving Springer Spaniel but her lifestyle was severely restricted. She had to be kept on the lead to stop her bumping into things or losing her way. Her environment had to remain unchanged so that she could learn the patterns of the objects around her. As the cataracts advanced her sight deteriorated. Surgery to remove the cataracts and place an artificial lens in the lens capsule, made a huge amount of difference to her, but it was very expensive. Ginny had been seen by an ophthalmic specialist to ensure her retina wasn’t damaged and that she was a suitable candidate for surgery. The consultation cost £112 and the surgery can be done but it would cost £2,500 plus follow up consultations, antibiotics and eye drops.

Sadly, Ginny was not the only animal in need of help with serious eye problems. ‘Boycie’ a huge Mastiff, had a condition called ‘dry eye’ (he couldn’t produce tears to keep his eyes lubricated); ‘Trinkett’ another Springer Spaniel, had a persistent conjunctivitis and there were several cats and kittens that were also on treatment for eye problems.

Web space generously donated by Infinityplus1.co.uk

E-mail here to contact the webmistress