General Chat

From our local newspaper online..KATE SCOTTER ( I was this reporter's school dinner lady and she and her Mum, brother and sister now live in my old family home, a council house, which we had brand new when I was a small baby and in which my Mum died in 1995)






A dog lover has come to the rescue of a deaf puppy and is now looking for funds to help buy him a new kennel.

Suggs, a white Staffordshire bull terrier believed to be under a year old, was picked up as a stray by Norwich City Council's dog team.

Totally deaf and unable to go on a lead or in a car, he was set to be put down. But Debbie Dennis, who works closely with the council's dog wardens, heard about Suggs' plight and said she would take him in so he would not die.

She is now raising money to build a kennel for him at her North Walsham home so she can train him. Once fully trained, she will then find him a permanent home.

Ms Dennis, 35, who lives with her partner Rob, said: “He's obviously never been trained in any way, shape or form. He wouldn't go on a lead or go in a car and they were going to put him to sleep.

“He obviously had a very bad start in life. The person who had him must have discovered he was deaf and didn't know what to do with him. He is so sweet that it would've been so wrong not to give him a chance.”

Ms Dennis needs a kennel for Suggs as she already has four dogs and it is “too soon” to introduce him to the others while she trains him. More than £500 is needed to buy a kennel and run for him.

She said: “He is such a baby, loves cuddles and is so good with other dogs but because he is deaf it's going to take a while to train him because it all has to be done with body language. I will have to get his attention focused on me.

“I don't want him to be in a shed, I want to make sure he is comfortable, safe and warm, otherwise it's no better for him to be there and it's not fair on him.”

Once Suggs is fully trained, it is hoped somebody will take him in permanently and Ms Dennis will then use the kennel to help another dog.

So far, £200 has been raised for the kennel. Anyone who would like to make a donation, is asked to get in contact with Ms Dennis on 07887 748772 or email [email protected]


Lizx

what a lovely story

i hope she keeps sugs
once hes trained, love him,
maybe one of her other dogs will teach him , as ive heard before how some times another dog becomes its carer, as in hearing dog,

you couldnt let him go could you

n

He does look a nice dog, hope he gets on ok, if I hear anything further will let you know.

Lizx

I had a deaf German Shepherd, and a Blind labrador... the GSD understood basic Makaton, lol..... brilliant!! The Lab wasn't blind from birth, she went blind in her middle years....... you would never have known either of them had a problem, unless only one was taken out for some reason.... they just stayed very close to each other, and the GSD made funny little noises that the lab would follow..... they were brilliant... I had the lab as a Christmas present, and she was 14 when she went over rainbow ridge... we acquired the GSD aged 6 months.... and she, too, was 14 when she passed to rainbow ridge..... I miss them so much, even though it has been a few years, now, since they went.

Love

Daff xxxxx

That's lovely, Daff.
I knew someone who had a deaf retreiver. As soon as she realised, she got a 'hearing' dog for her - as the retreiver tended to go for runs - and unless she turned around, it was impossible to get her back (until she was ready LOL)
Funny thing was, the 'hearing' dog was a Yorkshire terrier! Fittest Yorkie I ever saw!
If the retreiver ran too far, the Yorkie would nip her ankles. They were inseperable though.

Personally, I would have thought putting Suggs with an older 'parental' type dog to guide him would be preferable - dogs can understand each other's body language much easier