Rehomed Dogs
Ben and Jess
Some visitors to our website will have seen Mother and Son, Jess 12 years old and Ben 10 years old, featured on the DWA site looking for a home some weeks ago. They have gone together to a lovely family in the Midlands who are permanently fostering them for us. Here is an update on their progress in their new home from Richard, Heather and family.
Ben and Jess came from an awful situation and were in a poor and depressed condition. We are so pleased that they came to our attention and we were able to take them under our wing to ensure that their last few years will be spent in happiness and comfort with a loving family.
Update: Autumn 2009
We thought you'd like to hear about Jess and Ben and how they are getting on here. It doesn't feel like a month ago since they arrived to live with us, in fact it feels as if they have been with us for a very long time and have fitted in so well into our lives. Everyone who meets them has been entirely won over by their lovely, affectionate and very genuine good nature.
We had previously owned a lovely older Doberman called Petra, also from the Doberman Welfare Association, and missed her terribly when she died. It had taken a while to feel that we could have another dog but after reading Ben and Jess's details knew that we could offer them a lovely foster home in the countryside with a doting family of older children.
They travelled really well to the Midlands and were very excited upon their arrival and raced around the paddock following each other everywhere. From day one they were very settled, sleeping well at night and content to potter about during the day. Right from the start Jess decided that she would spend the day at Rich's feet whilst he worked in the office. In fact she now has two beds - her day time office bed and her night time bed! Ben likes to keep an eye on things during the day and lies in the doorway laid out fast asleep. When the rest of us arrive home they then move into the living room for lots of fuss and attention. Jess is a real lady and curls up like a fawn.
Just recently we have found that she likes to sit on your lap, if you're sitting on the floor - she loves a comfy seat and really can't get enough fuss. She shuts her eyes as you stroke her, almost falling asleep whilst standing! Ben is very careful with his Mum and looks around for her when she's not there. He seems to have improved his strength and is very interested in what is going on around him. He loves his food and has discovered the delights of large chewy bones!
They both like to potter around the garden together and Ben has truly decided that this is his property and sends any rabbits and pigeons packing. Jess will follow in hot pursuit! At weekends they have been spending lots of time in the garden watching us work! It's lovely to see them both just enjoying the freedom we can give them with shady trees to lie under when the weather gets hot.
Their coats are really shiny now and they are growing new, gingery hair on the bald bits! Jessie has even started to grow lots of hair, tinged with white, on her ears too.
They love their food and appreciate everything they are given. In fact they are appreciative of everything that is done for them, whether it be lots of fuss, being brushed and combed, or being taken out for walks. They like to come up and nuzzle you and tilt their heads on one side ready to be fussed. We can't wait to see their reaction to the log burner in the winter - I think a spot in front of the fire will become a popular place for a sleep!
Ben and Jess have been fantastic ambassadors for their breed, everyone who has met them can't believe what lovely dogs they are and they are gaining an ever increasing fan club of admirers! Despite all they have been through Ben and Jess are still prepared to trust the human race and they have given us so much pleasure. Although we wish we could have had them both earlier in their lives and given them the life they deserve we are so glad that we have been given the opportunity to make a big difference to the latter part of their lives, however long that may be. It has been so rewarding to have Jess and Ben as part of our family and we would highly recommend giving a home to an older dog. Richard and Heather
Toby
Delighted new owners for Toby (yes another Toby!) wrote the following letter to the DWA:
'We would like to say a massive thank you for our new addition to the Armitage family ... Toby. When we lost our dobie 'Trevor' we felt life had ground to a halt, nothing prepared us for the silence. No more chewed shoes, no more walks, no big hello when we get in from work, it was undoubtedly an awful time for us both.
After much pining I decided to get in touch with you and throw the idea of adopting a dog into the works with my husband. You were in touch within days and sent round the loveliest couple to do a house visit for us ... funnily enough bringing with them their Toby! A few days later we came to visit the naughty ball of fun in Wales, driving down the gravel track was the scariest thing ever! I thought my husband was going to cry when he saw the state of his car after, but it was all made better when we saw the Tobes!
What a gorgeous boy, we picked him up 2 weeks later on our way back from Devon, we had been on a weeks holiday and had been wishing it away because we were so excited about picking him up! A long 2 hours later we got him home and he has been a joy ever since.
He is a very good boy, and doesn't put a paw wrong, (he even brings the post in for us)!! We can't thank you enough, our house has returned to the chaos we enjoyed before, and shall give him his forever home he deserves!
We would also like to thank Rowena and Karl who did our house visit and giving us a shining review, I'm sure we will meet for many walks with our 2 naughty Tobys!
See pics for Toby's first big day out with his Mum and Dad. Thank you again. C.J. and M.A.'
Toby
'Dear DWA
We have to write and thank Dobermann Welfare Association for their wonderful work and for bringing us together with Toby the Dobie.
We lost our best friend Max to DCM (dilated cardiomyopathy) after spending 8 years devoting our lives to him. After this heartbreaking loss we found ourselves empty, no more walks in the fields or down the old railway track, no giant welcome when we came home and no big wet tongue.
Due to the interbreeding of Dobermanns and the attitude of the Kennel Club we decided we would not buy a puppy from a breeder and so chose to give a new life to a dog that really needed it.
We contacted the DWA, had a few conversations and were told about a black and tan long legged little tinker called Toby. He was at the rescue centre in Wales. After a visit from the lovely Sue Garner she told us he would be perfect for us. We needed a big black and tan lump of fun to come back into our lives and he needed a house to trash. Perfect!
Three days later we rushed down to the centre in Wales, like a couple of teenagers off to see Take That. Two hours later we arrived at the entrance to the kennels in our Audi TT sports car with lowered suspension. Nobody told us that the kennels were only accessible by a narrow, pot holed gravel track. Not a problem ...we were on a mission. Two new tyres, a new exhaust and engine sump later, we were there.
To bring a short story to an even shorter end, Toby the Dobie is now a major part of our life and walks in the woods and along the old railway track have resumed as have the huge wet licky kisses as we walk through the door at home. He has an amazing ability to stand on his back legs and put his front paws on your shoulders while licking your face from top to bottom. He can even perform this overbearing welcome on friends and family that visit - they love it.
The house is once more a tip and there are toys lying everywhere. Items of clothing have once more started to disappear and we are all at risk of having our dinner snatched from our plate each night but we wouldn't have it any other way.
Toby has settled in perfectly and it feels like we have had him for ages. Life is back to normal once more and we are continually laughing about his funny ways, especially when he sleeps on his back and snores like an old man.
We would like to thank everybody connected with DWA and for the blinding job that they all do. It is not easy and takes up a lot of time but what you guys do means the world to people like us.
Toby has transformed our lives and we thank you. Anyway got to go as he has just pulled the biscuit tin down off the table and there are Hob Nobs all over the kitchen floor. God help us!
Carl and Rowena.'
Marley
Marley a marvellous character whose antics have had to be taken with a double dose of patience from time to time as he is not adverse to a bit of destruction especially when it came to beds and car seat belts. He possibly holds the record for chewing up his beds until Tuffies of Turrifff put him on the Really Tough Tuffie Challenge last year and surprise, surprise the bed is still winning! Marley has of course turned his activities to other items including one of Tori's hats, numerous squeaky hedgehogs and to trying to spring open doors within his home by pouncing and bouncing on them when he has been left shut the other side.
At the moment he is in his element because Michael is busy with DIY activities so he supervises those from his owner's bed or gazes across his favourite fields and countryside waiting for the next walk or dip in the canal. Marley was quite a puller on his lead but that all came to an end having been introduced to a Gencon headcollar. He now parades around his local towns of Droitwich, Worcester and Kidderminster - quite the dobie about town.
Being a more senior member when needing to be re-homed Marley was not immediately taken for the snip, but old habits die hard and he was being a pain when meeting bitches and seemed to have a particular fetish for the very small ones, causing their owners some consternation. Duly neutered and with stitches out he is in fine fettle but it will probably be 3 or 4 months before those 'naughty thoughts' go out of his head. With endless patience Marley's recall has improved as this was a dog who used to decide where he was going to walk and you followed!
Stan
Poor Stan had rather a long stay in kennels which he did not enjoy after being surrendered to the DWA by his original owners.
His luck changed in December 2008 when a family living in the Outer Hebrides saw him on this website. They were not deterred by the ferry trip, the long car journey to collect him, nor the considerable expense; not forgetting some dreadful weather at that time.
His new owners have always re-homed rescue dogs and Stan now has a lovely home where he enjoys warmth, company, comfort and lovely beach walks - as the pictures taken in March 2009 show.
Stan used to have a very over enthusiastic and unwelcome approach to the girls and since being neutered this is no longer an issue. May Stan and his family have lots of happy years together.
Bella
At the end of 2008 Bella's owner died and his family being unable to keep her made arrangements for Bella to be rehomed through the DWA. Please click on the link to read about a happy ending for one of our older dogs. - Dobie Tales
Vita
Vita came to the notice of Dobermann Welfare when her owners contacted Evelyn saying they were going abroad in two days time, yes two days and not taking their dobie. Originally her owners had approached the Dog's Trust who did not have space for Vita and suggested they called the DWA.
On arrival Vita's coat was in poor condition, she had spent her days living outside and slept in at night, she was born with only one kidney and had an operation on her off-side quarter to remove a stick that staked her which has left a slight scar. We are pleased report Vita is now well settled in her new home and a much loved family pet with two companions Kyle and Zak. To read more about her please see - Dobie Tales
Amber
Happy endings are great and Amber's story is one of 'love at first sight' for all concerned. Her new owner read about Amber on the DWA web site after she was surrendered to an Animal Refuge centre after a family breakdown.
As soon as the homecheck was successfully completed CL jumped in her car at 4.00am one August morning and with handsome Harley the weimaraner drove up to Carlisle from Wiltshire for what proved to be the beginning of the perfect rehoming tale, as you will see from the photos!
By 9.00pm that evening all three were back in Amber's new home, with no introductory problems whatsoever.
Amber and Harley are early risers, with their first walk of the day at 6.00am and another at mid-day.
A final walk at night completes their day, and on top of that they have a lovely home and large garden to enjoy.
Besides long walks and lounging in the garden with Harley, Amber loves swimming in the local lake! Apparently she's a real water dobe.
Snoopy
Snoopy joined the Wait family at the end of May 2008 and as you can see from the pictures and in their words he is a much loved member of the family.
Apparently his recall still needs improvement but he is walking better on the lead and doesn't pull as much, as long as there isn't a cat in sight! Many thanks to this family for giving Snoopy his forever home.
Fudge and Puppies
This is the story of a brown and tan dobie bitch who was dumped on the DWA kennels in Wales after giving birth her owner could not cope but thankfully a happy ending. To read more please see
Dobie Tales
Millie
Buying litter sisters or brothers is never a good idea and the DWA often have to rehome one of a pair that have sadly started to fight. Sibling rivallary is a terrible thing but matters turned out
well for Millie. For the full story please see
Dobie Tales
Bo
Not all the dobermanns rehomed through the DWA go into our kennels. Bo was rescued by a caring couple when they saw him being badly treated in their local market. For the full story please
see
Dobie Tales
Barney
Recently featured on the DWA website, Barney is now happily living in his new home.
Barney lives with 10 year old Dobermann, Sasha, in North Yorkshire - for the full story please see:
Dobie Tales
Tia
Tia (formerly Gigi) came to Dobermann Welfare from an all breed rescue where she had been for several months as they had unable to find a home for her. She had been dumped and was found wandering the streets. Although she was microchipped they were unable to trace her owners.
Tia has gone to live with Joy and Sue in Scotland and now has an idyllic life on a small holding, with various animals and has constant love and attention.
She lives with Tara - another Dobermann, who is also a rescue and they have become great friends, conspiring in all sorts of mischief in reorganising the garden and even digging a hole for a second pool. They have also had great fun digging up plants in the garden that they didn't approve of!
The dogs spend the cold winter evenings stretched out in front of the fire or cuddled up on the sofa, with Joy and Sue squashed in between them. See photograph of happy dogs.
Handsome and Indy
Natalie and Jackie are dedicated to their dogs and successfuly rehomed Handsone and Indy, then recently joined the DWA organisation.
Handsome was their first dobermann and was originally used as a guard dog. They had huge problems socialising him but those issues have now been overcome.
More recently they took on Indy, who, as a result of a marriage break up, was advertised in a local paper.
They make a happy couple - Handsome has been castrated, which in addition to having a female companion has calmed him down enormously - and Indy, who used to suffer from separation anxiety, is now a very happy girl.
Dizzy
Dizzy - a deaf dobermann, abandoned at 6 months in the South of England - was successfully rehomed by the DWA.
Now living happily in Banffshire, Scotland, Dizzy benefitted from a classified advertisement placed in a Scottish newspaper by his foster carer, looking for a permanent home.
A member of the editorial staff saw the advertisement and sent one of their reporters to photograph Dizzy with his carer.
As a result his story was featured prominently in the paper and his new owners, on seeing the picture, decided to help.
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