It's sweet...they think I'm Royalty!

Hi Dog Lovers...

A lot has happened since my last 'dog blog'... And I've added another stamp to my passport! Even though the journey from Gouves in Crete to Worthing, Sussex was not without its spooky and frightening bits - what with van, ferry, aeroplane (AEROPLANE!!??) ferry again and van stints to get here. But, having settled in for just two weeks in the UK, I was whisked away and crossed over water again. My uprights said it was the 2nd worst channel crossing they have ever had. I can't believe that anyone can have had 200 crossings without being on wages on board the ship... but then, I'm just a dog. In my box in the van (I love my box - I call it home) I was low down in the ship - but it was much worse than the Mediterranean and I was a bit sick... but the humans said they thought we were all going to die. So...we've been to France and I liked it! They've got what they call their 'renovation project' over there... I didn't have to get involved in that. Best thing for me was the garden - behind the barns is the 'playground'... well that's what it looked like to me - a huge piece of grass like a football pitch with a few trees...where I could run and jump and go a bit mad. And then, sitting in front of a huge log fire in the evening... lovely!

It was here that I first picked up on the possibility that I might be royalty (I know... I may have to check out my family tree). One of them said "have you seen the 'king dog and the way he performs in the garden after he's been fed?"... and again, the next day, when I was caught short in the lounge and the door to the garden was shut... "this 'king dog has done a poo in the lounge!... It's your turn to clean up after him!" Now that's what I call royal treatment! 

Apparently when I am fully developed I will have a vocabulary of about 200 words... they use the term 'commands'... cheeky buggers! Little do they know... since my native language is Greek I've already used up a few of that 200 and now they are giving me the old "sit, stay, do a wee, do a poo, down, good boy, roll over, in your bed... and other stuff in English. So I'm reckoning it might just be a 100... who knows? I can see it's going to be a long haul for me to put them fully in the picture.
Anyway... I'm Greek and royalty too... You know what...I could be related to Prince Philip!!

And wow, it was quiet in France...Not a bit like Gouves OR Worthing. Two or three tractors a day went past in a day and that was it...So quiet at night I had to keep pinching myself to see if I was still alive. There were a couple of other dogs at the farm down the road and we met up... amongst talking uprights... Had a nose to nose - the other local dogs are OK. But I had a very close shave with a giant... The uprights said it was a Newfoundland (I thought that was a remote province of Canada) but, we were having a nice walk by the canal and Voom there he was on top of me. I thought I was a gonner. One of my uprights threw themselves in between me and the giant and the other one lifted me off the ground on the lead! I'm hoping he learns that's not probably the best way to get out of these situations... like hanging me just because I'M being attacked!

Anyway... since we've been back in the UK., they've put me through a few embarrassing things - And I've done my first proper photo shoot, which they found most amusing. I think they must have been drinking. ... I'm working out how I can get my own back. There's something big coming up and it involves a celebration for all of them... involving presents, drinking stuff I wouldn't give to one of my courtiers! And also singing and dancing, watching TV and playing games and, apparently, wearing reindeer antlers... are you with me on this? They think it's hilarious!

But the good news is... and I have been a bit worried about this every time I meet new uprights... I feel I might be handed over again! But I haven't been given away to anyone else so far - These two are OK...Maybe a bit slow on the uptake about all my particular needs... Especially now that I know I have royal blood in my veins!

I've been told to sign off by saying... Have a Great Christmas and a Happy New Year whatever that is! So...Over and Out! Cheers All - Rudy - Hey that's a bit like Rudolph and he had antlers! Wow!

I Guess You Might Call this Settling In!

I have to say... the team back at Gouves Animal Shelter, in Crete (where I came from)... they did a great job on me... Along with the rest of the pooches I was fed and watered ... I could wee and poo whenever and wherever I wanted and then, at the end of the day, whichever of the volunteers who drew the short straw would come around and hose down the place down to freshen things up. They all gave us love and life was good. It was warm (not so much rain as here) and I now know that stability had arrived in my life... But, I left Gouves about 10 days ago!
And - they hadn't told me about THIS place!

Here, in downtown Worthing (I think it must be near the North Pole) I go for a walk every morning (maybe even along the pier). I am still on the coast here but on this one it's a little on the chilly side. The Mediterranean it definitely is NOT... Sometimes there's another walk just after lunch (yeah I have lunch too) and then again, after my evening meal - yep, we may go out again. It's been said by a few of the 'uprights' around here that I really need to put on quite a bit of weight. But I think my ribs have almost disappeared (in a certain light). I am still quite nervous and maybe, when I was at Gouves, I didn't assert myself enough and some of my pushier pals were a little daunting to have as neighbours. I've also heard in the last few days that my 'journey' really started when I was found scavenging around Crete's less salubrious areas - taking my pick from the dustbins - they were the ones without lids.

Every night here I have been made to lay on a huge cushion (they thought I was going to be much bigger) in front of a fire ( did I say it's cooler here than it was in Crete)... And I have a toy in each room... In front of the fire it's my new best friend - the green funky chicken. You know what? I think I'm gonna like it here. And next week I get to go to Brittany! I'll let you know how it works out!

Quick PS:- Yesterday a £100 parking fine arrived in the post...because the uprights overstayed the free parking period whilst waiting for me to arrive at the rendezvous point... That went down well!

What do you think of the threads huh? Good eh?! This is my Top Gun Jacket!

Now for the truth... (CS here) Until about ten minutes before sitting down to write my own bit here - I was beginning to despair over the "weeing and pooing whenever and wherever etc.," because he has had his 'catch me if you can' moments... But tonight Rudy stirred from his big cushion and sauntered, maybe a little resignedly, to the lounge door. Micki said... I think he might want to go out. Quick as a whip - because he has been quite wil'o the wisp - and suddenly - there will be a puddle and he will be standing yards away looking like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth. "Who me?"... "No, it wasn't me!" The cat at least uses the litter tray - even if the outside world is not even on her radar. So we know it wasn't her!

So, I carry Rudy to the kitchen door and we go outside together and, almost before my backside touches the bench it's...a wee on the lawn and, a quickstep to the flower bed - amongst the shrubs (not even on the lawn) and voom! A number two too! Brilliant!! A breakthrough? I'll let you know! Everything else is just perfect! Rudy is superb, an absolute delight. He walks to heel on the lead as though he's just left the show ring at Cruft's. He is such a joy! btw... he has put on a kilo since the first vet weigh in a week ago!!

He's going to love Brittany! We're going to give truffle hunting a try...Wish us luck!!

and... Rudy now owes me a tank of fuel because we had to travel to collect him on two consecutive days after unavoidable delays caused some real hassles for the Gouves volunteers... And I got a bloody parking ticket on that poxy motorway service area! This bloody dog owes me big time now. He'd better learn how to tap dance or something! (I was also flashed by a speed camera... but that one hasn't materialised in the post yet!!!)...

Did someone say Truffle Hunting?
That sounds like I could be on wages...
Sounds like I might be needing a talent just to pay
off the upright's motoring offences... Humpf!

From One Top Holiday Spot to Another!...(Worthing!)...It's a dog's Life

From Crete, in a Crate, all the Way to Worthing in West Sussex...

The Rudy Has Landed!

It was a long haul from Crete, and the Gouves' Animal Shelter volunteer ladies did us 4 dog-travellers proud! The trip didn't quite go according to plan and I think a few beings... human and canine, got fairly near the end of their tether at times! I've finished up in a place called Worthing hey ho!... And, first impressions are that it's OK. Cooler than Greece but that is just from a temperature point of view initially. I will let you know about the social, hip-hop and night club scene after a few days...

I was sick in the back of my new owner's car after being lifted into my new squidgy pet carrier...within the first 30 seconds... and then did a poo on the hall floor as soon as I got into the house... what my new boss called my 'travel plug'! He thinks I'd been constipated after being cooped up in a box for a long time with only a few opportunities to stretch my legs and, I'll admit... I was nervous. But I certainly didn't want to sit in my own crap for the best part of 1,500 miles! Can you imagine the embarrassment? Everyone was very nice about that first indiscretion, and we've all put it down to the journey taking much longer than expected. So, I'm on Chicken and Rice at the moment and every time I do something that makes them smile I get something that smells manky but actually tastes quite nice. I have two or three places in the house with squidgy things to relax on. But I spent the first night in my transit carrier in the hall with the noise from the TV to keep me company. There was plenty of time to sleep off the journey on that first night... My new folks went to bed early because I think they had a fractious time too... Two trips up to the M20 on consecutive days.... It's been said that I now owe my boss a tank of fuel out of the earnings from my first modelling contract. He says I'm cute enough. I decided to try whimpering and barking at about 4am because I was busting for a pee and it worked a treat. The new boss came down and took me out in the rain in his onesy and with bare feet (you have to laugh)...and I made it easy on him by doing a double evacuation within about twenty seconds. I got a dog treat for that but he got soaked!

It's all going well...I've been out for my first walk on a lead over here and I stuck to the guvnor like a limpit - just to make a good impression. It's been mentioned in hushed tones that there's a visit to the vet lined up. I'm going on a ferry to Brittany in a few weeks and so I have to have my chip scanned and my new address registered. I'm just hoping that the 'nut job' I mentioned in an earlier blog (but didn't actually have) has been forgotten about for the time being.

I'm just about to have a bath!!! Eek! Somebody said I smelt like a tramp and 'voom' some posh shampoo has been sourced for the purpose. Until now I've been almost the perfect house guest (if you don't count the sick, the poo and the wee) I even brought my own towel with me! And, now that it's been washed after the 'sicky' experience... the bath, I'm afraid, is inevitable. And the chances are... when I'm smelling sweeter, there will be more cuddles and an opportunity, after being towel dried, to finish off in front of the fire! It's a dog's life eh?!

And... (the 'boss' here) just as the bath was running ... he did a wee on the landing carpet!!!! OK, first time un-supervised upstairs so - my fault, not his... Anyway he looks great after his bath... Jealous? Yes - because he has so much more hair than I do!

The Name's Rudy and, apparently, I'm on my way!

I'll have to qualify that straight away. I don't even know what my name is! In fact I'm not even supposed to know what a 'name' is. There are things happening to me - and around me, that I don't understand... Since just after my eyes opened and I could actually see for the first time, I have been in what I've heard people call an 'animal shelter' with my brothers and sisters... I recognise the words because they are said here all the time... but I don't know what the words mean.
Here's another word, one that I've heard humans use and, by association and because I heard it again recently and close by this time, I think I've just been 'castrated'. All I know about that is - it hurts like hell - especially after the anaesthetic wears off!

This word 'castration' is something that I've heard just before others around me have disappeared and, when they get back - just before they disappear forever, people start making a fuss of them and begin talking about a 'journey' to somewhere else. It hasn't always been mentioned by its clinical name... this 'castration', but referred to as 'nut-job', 'the chop' and other things. Apparently it's done to prevent me being a dad one day. No reference to me... no-one asks! Someone just decides it's a good idea that I never get to know what it's like to have a family of my own. You go woozy and fall asleep and wake up feeling sore in the wedding tackle area.  There are humans around me here, in this place (I think it must be called Gouves) - another word I've picked out of the air around me.. and they speak of animals being 'adopted'... You just get used to something and then it's 'all change'. I am being spruced up for my own 'journey'. Into the unknown... I'm probably about 5 or 6 months old whatever that is, and... I'm on my way!

We... (that's us, Chris & Micki Slade)... first came across Gouves Animal Shelter because of a 'share' on FaceBook (whatever you might think of it - this is one of the more beneficial purposes of social networking). A friend - a real life one - who works locally here in Worthing, shared a photo of the above mentioned dog (of course he doesn't even know what he is)... Micki picked up on it and shared it to my timeline... Oh how Handsome is he?! Who wouldn't agree?
I've always had a curious mind and wondered how an animal shelter and the volunteers that run it - in a place seemingly over-run with often unwanted and unloved dogs and, consequently, litters of 'accidental' pups - how they cope and respond to their inbuilt, instinctive need to help find homes for their 'charges'? I/we are finding out on the inside track. I sent an e-mail to a name I found linked to the Gouves FaceBook page. I'd asked what costs were attached to offering a home to one of their residents. I still don't know what name he has been given by the shelter's volunteers... The only reference I've been using is 'FaceBook Dog No.4 October 14th. The first response from the address I'd found, filled me in on the cost of each individual process. Vaccination, MicroChipping, Passporting... the dreaded 'Nut-Job' ... teeth cleaning (Ooh la lah!)... the crate... transportation and logistics et al. After a week or so it's all systems go!! 'Rudy' (working title) has been reserved for us and... and even as I write, may be having his teeth cleaned and his breath permanently sweetened (oh yeah?). Because - it's been confirmed that on 11th/12th November he is due to be flown from Greece to Belgium from where he will be collected (I'm supposing/hoping together with other 'sore bottomed' pals) in a van. Our local 'FaceAche' friend, Debs, has already accepted several cats from the Gouve's shelter and tells us that she collected her new special friends via a 'meet' arranged at a motorway service area in Kent. To me this all sounds very exciting - almost covert! Puts me in mind of an exchange of spies on a disused eastern european airstrip... on a damp winter morning... but with dog biscuits, poo bags and warm blankets instead of lugers, white macs and trilby hats!!
Needless to say I am looking forward to welcoming Dog No.4 into the family - I hope you like your new name son! - Watch this space!!

He tells me that I will be having my very own blog... whatever that is!

Gouves do have a website - but most of the traffic is via their facebook page...

https://sites.google.com/site/gouvesshelter/

https://www.facebook.com/Gouves-Animal-Shelter-215371411825716/

http://gouvesanimalshelter.com/

Before I die...When I've gone... Do me a favour?

"Before I die... I just wanted to say - when I've gone... Do me a favour?" This is what my dad asked me whilst he was in the last few days of his life. He was on Morphine. He'd just undergone an operation to remove a cancerous growth on the exit wall of his stomach - which, in retrospect, was hardly necessary. But he was philosophical and said that it had given him a few extra days of life and that's how he was able to ask me the question... There was something that had been niggling him...

He was very pragmatic. "Will you, when you put my ashes in the ground in the hole next to your mum's, will you open the plastic bag that hers are in - you know, inside the casket - and will you make sure that you mix the two lots together... touching?"

Without giving it any thought - because it was his last wish - and you don't want to spoil the moment - I said, "Of course I will". At the time I wasn't surprised or phased by the question. I don't recall mentioning it to anyone else except the vicar on the day in question. Not my brother, not my wife. The same vicar who, being well known to my dad, had presided over his funeral at the church... the committal at the crematorium, he was the leader of the small, solemn group that joined us a week or so later, after I had collected Bud's ashes from the undertaker's office. We all met up at the church and, as we walked to the garden of remembrance, in the cemetery (it's across a muddy farm track in a farmyard nestling on the Sussex Downs) I had been working out in my mind how, quite, I was going to achieve this feat. I didn't know (couldn't remember) what state the oak casket would be in which currently held just my mum's ashes... was it screwed down glued down... I didn't think so, because I could remember seeing a blue plastic bag and therefore it must be that I had lifted the lid off without any resistance. But I didn't know for sure... It had, after all, been 7 years earlier. So as this procession made its way across the frozen ground... There was another thing... It was February...Frozen ground! I doubled stepped up to the vicar's shoulder... We filed through the lych gate into the cemetery... "Just a quick word" I said. "Bud asked me the day before he died if I would mix his ashes with my mum's. Hers are in a blue plastic bag in the casket and he wants me to push a hole in the bag and make sure that their ashes are intermingled".

"I'm not sure that I heard you" he replied. "I don't think that's the sort of thing I could support"...

"That's probably because it wasn't your dad asking the question" I whispered... "So you're just going to have to give me a bit of time whilst I have a bit of a moment whilst I am placing my dad's ashes in the hole. I had actually done a reccy the day before and I had made sure that the marble slab would lift easily and that the lid of the casket was loose... It spoils the spontaneity of the story I know but you don't really want to have a major delay in front of a dozen people in a stone cold churchyard whilst some idiot kneeling on the ground finds that he can't get the gravestone out of the ground or open an oak casket because it is glued or screwed shut.

The process actually went very smoothly - not only was I able to puncture the bag and pour in my dad's remains so that were 'together again' with my mum's...but I also held some of his back and  took some of hers too so that I re-united them not just in space beneath the marble 'head' stone but also in the velvet bag that my dad's had been in and which were now - with me.

So, their combined ashes are now not only in the garden of remembrance at Sullington Churchyard, but they are also under a Camelia bush (which my mum had given to us long ago) but now also in our garden in Brittany. Often, when I am mowing the grass and pass them by, I have a word!   The bush, which did go through a bit of a dodgy few months after the ashes were first placed under it is now doing fine and is showing a fine crop of blooms almost all year round!