Wednesday 29 February 2012

A bit about the RSPCA Derby

Hi guys,

It's Delilah again. Leanne has asked me to come on here again (because I am so loveable, she says!) and tell you all a bit about what to do if you want to choose your new best friend from this place.

If you would like to take a cat or a dog home (I personally don't understand why, they're not half as lovely as us guinea pigs. But I suppose, being a guinea pig, I'm a bit biased) then come and have a look around the Centre. If you fall in love with one then you go to our reception and you will have to place something Leanne calls 'a reserve'.

Apparently once that's done one of the lovely people who volunteers will come and see you and your house to check everything is fine for you to take your new best friend home. If everything goes okay then the Centre will ring you and you can take your new animal home! About a month later they may come back again just to check they are settling in well.

It's a little bit different if you want to take a smaller animal (like me and Samson!) home with you. You have to bring in a picture of your hutch (a nice big one please, Samson and I like our space) to check that it's the right size and then you can take us home!

Anyway, I think that's the basic stuff covered that Leanne told me. Although did you know that, if you have a lot of love to give, you could become something called a fosterer. That's where you take an animal home with you if we're all full up here, or if they need a little bit of extra special care and then when they are ready to go home with a permanent family you say goodbye to them. Apparently you can do that for all types of animals! I don't really know much else about that (i'm only a guinea pig after all), so if you're interested I'd suggest you ring up Reception - they know lots about it all!

Just a quick picture, because I know how much you like them :-) this is me and my babies having a cuddle with Louise, one of the volunteers! xxx

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Rabbit on the lookout for a new home

My name is Sunrise!


I don't want to sound like I'm blowing my own trumpet, but my personality matches my name! I am very friendly and enjoy the attention I get from people. Sometimes I can get a bit nervous, but I try my best not to. Young children can sometimes be a little bit rough so I'd rather not go to a home with them, unless they are very well behaved!

I was brought in by somebody the staff call 'an Inspector'. They were very nice and got me settled with a nice cage here. I don't really like other rabbits though so I'm fed up of being around them all the time!

Lucy was telling me that on the 10th March (apparently that's very soon...) we are having a 'Rabbit Awareness Day' where you can come into the Centre and get your own rabbits checked over or get advice on getting a rabbit!  If you don't have a rabbit and you're looking to get one, please come in and ask to meet me (my name is Sunrise, remember). I'd really like to meet you!

I would love to have my own big hutch on a back garden, with a nice run and an owner who will give me attention every day. If that's you then please come and see me. I'll give you a nice welcome :-)

xxx

Monday 27 February 2012

The veterans would like a word

I'm Ozzy the Lhasa Apso and I live with my best friend Floyd, who is a Miniature Yorkshire Terrier. Here's a couple of pictures of us:


I don't really understand all this technology business but some of the other dogs here suggested we give this blog thing a go and Leanne offered to let us try it today. So i'm just going to tell you a bit about us.

We have lived together for about 11 years so I'm sure you must understand how close we are. We do everything together and at the end of a long day we love to cuddle up in our basket together. I could never imagine being separated from Floyd so whoever comes along really does need to take us together. We may be older than a lot of the other dogs but we aren't old fuddy-duddys just yet!

We enjoy going for walks, not really long walks because let's be honest, our legs aren't that long, are they? We really like people and some love and attention really makes our day.

The staff keeping telling us that 'we don't know how to play', well I don't even know what that means and to be honest I'm not really bothered. As long as I can have a little walk, have somebody to love me and give me a cuddle and be with Floyd then I don't think that I need anything else.

I should let you know that I do have poorly eyes at the minute and I have to have eye drops. But the staff tell me that when I get into a home they're hopeful that my eyes will improve! Paws crossed!

I suppose what I'm trying to say is please take a chance on us! Or if you know anybody who might like to take us home then please show them this blog :-) xxxxx




Wednesday 22 February 2012

Guinea Pig Update!

Hi Guys,

This is just a quick update from Delilah. I wanted to let you know that one week on my babies are doing really well. Here's a picture of them and me having a cuddle with one of the Animal Care Staff, Matt.


Samson is still doing well too, every day we talk to each other through the cage. If I ever feel a bit scared all I have to do is squeak and Samson is there on the other side of the cage making sure I'm okay :-)

Delilah xx

Tuesday 21 February 2012

Strays in need of a new home

My name is Oscar. I came in here quite a while ago with my sisters Alice and Apricot. Our other sisters came with us too but there are just us left now.

Here's a couple of pictures so you know who we are. That's me in the bottom picture! Alice & Apricot are two of the cats in the picture above. That's a picture of our little family group when we came in.



We were all living in an allotment until somebody (they call them an Inspector here) found us. At first we didn't like it in here at all, we had never really been around humans you see. Sometimes we got so scared that we couldn't control our bladders when they came near us. We didn't understand why we had to be here.

But we are feeling much better now. I've realised that even though it was scary here at first (and still can be sometimes), it's a lot warmer than living outside and I get fed everyday. When they first tried to touch me I was really scared, and I know my sisters were too. But now I quite enjoy being stroked, I know how nice it can be! I never got any fuss when I was living outside.

We still don't really like sitting on laps and to be honest I still get nervous of new people, but I do think that I'm ready to go home with somebody who understands and will take their time with me.

The staff tell me I've done really well to get to where I am now, my sisters too, so I hope someone will take a chance on us. We can only get better! I've been in here so long now and I just want somewhere to call my home. I wouldn't like to go to a home with dogs or children because I know how loud they can be! But I love other cats so please could you take me to a home that has one please?

My sisters really love each other so they would like to go together if you wouldn't mind. Please think about it, we'll try our very best to fit in!

Monday 20 February 2012

Reception Dog

Hello everyone,

I'm Alfie! I'm a Saluki cross and I'm about five years old. Right now I live behind reception because I really didn't like it in the kennels. I think Sophie the receptionist is happy about it because now she has company all day long.

Here's a picture of me taking a nap in my favourite spot - by the radiator:




Although my name is Alfie, a lot of staff have started calling me Alfredo, which is a bit confusing but I quite like it :-)

As nice at it is to be behind reception, meeting lots of new people, I really want to go to a home now. I see other dogs leaving with their new owners and I just keep wondering when it's going to be my turn. My skin itches at the minute but a bit of Sudocreme makes me feel so much better and hopefully when I get in to a nice new home it'll clear up. I really hope that it doesn't put people off because I try my best to be a good dog.

The staff say they love me because I'm so placid and calm but with a mischievous side. When I get going I love to play in the yard! I enjoy going for a walk and don't mind walking on a lead at all.

Oh before I go, Sophie has told me to put this Circus Music up on the blog. I don't really understand but she said she thinks that must be what goes around in my head all day long...

Love and sloppy kisses,

Alfie xx


Thursday 16 February 2012

A Puppy's Point of View

Hi!!

My name's Tilly and I'm a Staffordshire Terrier puppy. I came in to the RSPCA a couple of months ago but I was a bit naughty (well I AM a puppy!) so they sent me off to my foster mummy.

I love it with her! She is quite strict with me but she gives me lots of love too so I don't mind learning...manners, I think they call them? I also have another dog who teaches me the right way to behave with humans and animals. Here's a picture of me and my new best friend, Patch, curled up together. I have lots of energy but then I get very tired! So I really enjoy snuggling down for a sleep.


My favourite past-times are playing with my toys, trying to get attention from any new humans who come my way and looking cute. Everyone who sees me smiles and makes a sort of 'ahhh' noise, so I think that means I've managed the last one pretty well. I enjoy chewing toys because sometimes my teeth hurt, which Patch says happens when you're a puppy.

Today I've been spending the day behind reception at the RSPCA until Donna picks me up later. Here's a picture of me posing :-)



Although I love it with my foster mummy I would really like a new home now. I give really good cuddles and am always lots of fun to have around! I might need a little bit more training because I don't always like to do what I'm told...but that's the fun bit, isn't it? :-) If you're feeling a bit sad I can always make you feel better and I'll keep you exercised by letting you take me for a long walk.

Oh somebody new has come in - I need to go and say hi! Bye for now! xxx

Proud Mother Checking In...

Hi Everybody,

It's Delilah the guinea pig here. I came in to the RSPCA already expecting little guinea pigs with the love of my life Samson. Here's a picture of Samson, getting some attention.


He's not just my partner, he's my best friend too but the staff here thought he might be a bit too boisterous for the babies so a few days ago I was given my own cage to get ready and he had the cage next door. It was perfect really because it gave me some time alone but we could still see each other every day.

I'm very proud to announce that yesterday I gave birth to two beautiful babies. One of them looks quite like me but the other is the spitting image of Samson. I honestly could not be happier! I've been showing them the rest of the cage today and teaching them where the food and water bowls are. All of the staff here have been so excited! Here is a picture of me with them. We haven't decided on names just yet but it'll let you know as soon as we do.


Samson is really missing having me with him but at least he can see me from his cage. We can still talk to each other every day - in fact the staff often say that we never shut up! I'm going to spend the next weeks giving my babies all the love and care they need before they find their own families to love them. Hopefully then somebody will give me and Samson a home for life!

This is Delilah signing out to get some much needed rest :-)