A non-profit organisation set up to rescue and re-home shar peis in need.

Remember Glassblower in the Czech republic?

He went into rescue with the most terrible injuries and we highlighted his plight on this page. Well to share some GOOD NEWS, Glassblower is now completely healed and has been adopted by a vet..no huge bills for him then? For once a truly happy ending for a dog abroad!

Spanish Rescue Needs Help

Connor was found recently in a terrible emaciated state, and we know that he had been around the own of Mula at least for a couple of months before he was actually able to be picked up by a kind lady, who rather than pass on the problem, was prepared to take on the responsibility of bringing this handsome boy back to health.

Myself along with M.A.R.A.(Murcia Animal Rescue Association) are fund raising to support Connor, but like all dogs we want to find him an appropriate permanent home when possible.

Connor's hair is now starting to grow back and his wounds are healing. Unfortunately he has a mediterranean disease but his blood tests showed that all of his internal organs are working well and that his skin condition is actually a consequence of how he has been living and malnutrition. When i have the information on the disease he carries i will post it here...........

*Leishmania:* The chance of a dog catching Leishmania in Spain is extremely high, many veterinary surgeons put it as high as 30 to 35 percent. In reality, the figure is much higher because there are many stray dogs with
the disease and the figure given applies only to dogs registered with a veterinary surgeon. It is an incurable disease and one that has been widely publicised in Spain yet many people hear of it for the first time when they
arrive in Spain from other parts of Europe. However, there are still many dog owners who are not aware of this disease.

Leishmania is an immuno suppressive disease, which means that it breaks down the natural ability of the body to fight off diseases. In this way it is vaguely similar to AIDS in humans. There are two types of Leishmania:
Cutaneous and Visceral, though it is argued that there is a third which is a cutaneours / mucous membrane Leishmania. Cutaneous affects the skin, Cutaneous / Mucos Membranous affects skin and mucus membranes, particularly the nose and eyes, and Visceral attacks the internal organs.. Each case is different, and so is the form the treatment will take.

There is no cure and there is no vaccination against the disease. However there are treatments which can afford an affected dog long periods of remission, often reminiscent of a cure. A dog with Leishmania in a mild degree can live to a very ripe old age.

Prolonged nail growth, ulceration of the ear tips, thick dandruff, bald patches on the skin, sunglasses effect around the eyes, getting thin although eating well (in this latter case, check firstly for worms), whiteness of the cornea of the eyes. These are all warning signs that the dog could have Leishmania. The only way to make absolutely sure is to visit a vet who will analyse a blood sample and you will have the results within a day or so. It is indeed a relief when the results prove negative. We all want to care for our dogs to the best of our ability and care means
preventing your dog from getting this ultimately fatal disease and it can certainly be prevented.

Connor has had Glucantime injections and the results as you can see speak for themselves, all he will need now will be a daily dose of Alopurinol (a drug actually used in the UK for gout) which is realtively inexpensive (a
box of 500 here costs around 35€), he will probably need 1 tablet on a daily basis (it is weight dependent) for the rest of his days but with a few days break each month. The alopurinol actually stops the Leishmania from
reproducing further, he will always have it but with proper medication it can be controlled.

Connor after 6 weeks...what a difference!

Please if you can help the work of this Spanish rescue go to...

http://www.dogslookingforahome.com/

http://www.blog.dogslookingforhome.com/

David McDowall of Spanimal this year adopted Kain and Chavo from us here in Murcia and I am sure that if you require references of any description he would only be happy to provide them. Kain and Chavo are now living their happy lives in Argyll, Scotland!

http://blog.spanimal.org/category/kain/

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We are DESPERATE for foster homes for dogs coming out of shelters. These dogs behave completely differently than they would in other circumstances and with the social climate being what it is, these abandoned dogs often get put to sleep.. With these dogs we have very little knowledge of their history, their ages or even their names, so the foster parent is our first inclination as to the dog's temperament. It is a labour of love and we will support you in any way we can. Are you one of those very special people ?

Please contact us if you can help... 01823698278

We are always needing good prizes for our Tombola and are very grateful to those who donate them.

Please Keep em coming!!!!!!

Are you a very special Person?

We really need those special people who are willing to foster a rescue dog.

It can be a difficult, sometimes sad path to travel, but has many wonderful rewards.

When a Shar Pei needs to go into foster care it is almost always because they have been abandoned in rescue Kennels. These are dogs we know little or nothing about. They can be fearful, grumbly and sometimes badly behaved, but they all need kindness and love. A foster family takes on a dog knowing little or nothing about it and teaches it that someone still cares. They teach it to be handled, often nurse it through surgery and train it in good manners; and when the dog becomes a loving family pet, watch it leave to go and live with somebody else ! We support our foster mums and dads as much as we can, but we can't help how it feels to say goodbye to a dog who the foster parent has spent so much time with.

That's why this breed of individual is so special.

for people who dont think they can adopt another shar-pei after losing one
We lost our precious margo which totally devistated the whole family, she was more than just a dog she was my best friend, loyal,dependable and my shadow.
We had spoke about fostering another dog to acompany margo for a while before we lost her.
I rang Roma on the saturday morning as it was unbearable going home to no friendly tail wagging or sloppy kisses and no evening walks with my best friend.
Roma gave me a number which i called and we went to pick poppy up on the sunday.
Poppy has not replaced margo but she HAS helped us through our loss.
I would really encourage people to re foster another dog from Roma after any loss as I now feel like the piece of me that was missing has come back. Its wonderful to have a friend to come home to and who is always willing to play at any oppertunity.
I am so glad to have made the right decision in re fostering been able to give a shar-pei a chance at life with a loving family and getting all the love back in return .

IF you have any doubts feel free to ask Roma for my number , I will answer any questions or worries you may have. TERESA XXX

A Foster Mum's Story

Being a foster mummy?

I had pondered the idea of being a foster mum for quite some time.

After the death of our beautiful 15 yr old Yorkie, my partner and I decided to have a go at fostering.

It seemed the most natural thing to do, as we couldn't conceive of just going out and replacing our dog with something else, but we still had love to give.

We didn't mind what we fostered, however my partner had always had a soft spot for Shar Pei and by deciding to foster only one type of breed, it allowed us to do some research and concentrate on the characteristics of this lovely dog, in advance.

To date we are now on our fifth foster doggie and it really has been a roller coaster of emotions!

Many times I have felt stressed, upset and frightened by the whole fostering concept, but these feelings soon evaporate when we watch with pride our foster baby go to its 'forever' home.

In my opinion the main qualities needed to be a good foster parent, are patience, understanding and an ability to take advice and criticism with an open heart and a good spirit. Staying open-minded and having a sense of humour are also desirable!

Follow your instincts but also listen to those who are there to support you.

You don't really need to years of experience with dogs to be a good foster mum, but it is essential that you have a lot of common sense and an unconditional love of animals. They don't really ask that much of us and you soon learn to look and listen to the animal in your care and learn how to teach it that it is safe, protected and loved.

Saying goodbye is never easy, and we have shed tears, but when the next lost or damaged sole comes into your home and you think with pride of the last doggie friend who bounced off to its new life.it's all worthwhile.

Amanda

My foster dogs.....

If YOU think you can do this amazingly selfless job,

PLEASE contact us on 01823 698278

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The perfect dog!

What is the perfect dog?

A dog that is loyal, loving and kind? That never gets up before you do? That can safely take itself out for a walk when the weather is bad? That never barks unless you want it to? That obeys every command instantly without question? That is sociable with adults, children and other dogs? That can spot a threat at 300 feet and prevents access to your home and possessions? That carries pooh bags with it and cleans up its own mess? That never needs a trip to the vet? That knows which balls to chase? That never treads in anything nasty and can bathe itself once a week? That never makes a smell under the dining table whilst you're eating? That you never trip over?

What is the perfect owner?

A person who is loving, kind and patient? That gives you furniture to chew? That feeds you all day, every day all your favourite foods? That sleeps at the same times as you? That loves walking for hours no matter what the weather? That never leaves you alone in the house? That never shouts? That wants to play tug o war for hours? That never scolds? That gives you All of their time, ALL the time? That doesn't kick you off the duvet? That loves to hear you bark? That enjoys mud? That enjoys chasing cats? That never blames you for a smell when you're lying under the dining room table? That never trips over you?

There are no perfect dogs and no perfect owners.

Remember this when you consider a rescue!

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DEMODECTIC MANGE

Demodectic mange is caused by a microscopic mite called Demodex canis . All dogs raised normally by their mothers possess this mite as mites are transferred from mother to pup via cuddling during the first few days of life. (After the pup is older it is unable to pick up demodex mites. Puppies raised by hand, do not tend to get demodex mites.) For some reason, conditions change in certain dogs to allow demodex mites to "gain the upper hand;" the mites proliferate and can cause serious skin disease.

Mites are not transmitted to people or other dogs except from mother dog to pup as described. Demodectic mange (unlike Sarcoptic mange ) is not contagious.
Mites live inside hair follicles -- a difficult place for miticides (chemicals that kill mites) to reach.
Mites are normal residents of dog skin; it is only in some individual dogs that mites cause problems.

This condition is sadly very common in Shar Pei and in some cases is so severe the dog has to be put to sleep.

Recently we tried a product range called Mitacin that came highly recommended.

The dog we used it on suffered third degree burns and went into anaphylactic shock. Thankfully we recognised what was happening and saved the animal . PLEASE, BE VERY WARY of this product. It is available on the internet and may be fine on other breeds, but we do NOT advise that it is used on Shar Pei .

For treatment of Demodectic mange please request our health sheet via email.

This disease along with SFS and Swollen Hock Syndrome could have been wiped out years ago, if dogs known to carry these conditions were not bred from. Put the love of the dog first, not the profit that can be made from Shar Pei pups.

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Busters Epitaph

As some of you may be aware, on this site we had an appeal for Buster, the first dog the organisation ever re-homed.

He had developed cancer and despite operations, two courses of chemotherapy and immense love and support from his owners Michelle and Lee, on Thursday 25 th of February, Buster was allowed to give up his fight for life.

He was such a special boy, to all those that knew him. Despite his grumpiness with other dogs he was a wonderful character and as the first of many Shar Pei that Shar Pei Rescue and Welfare gave a new start to, he was very special to everyone involved with the rescue and the staff at Battersea dogs home . Sleep in peace Buster, we miss you.

If you wish to offer a Shar-Pei a loving home for ever...

Please download the forms below & post them to us.

Please include with your forms a short resume of your household/family. What dogs you have had before, what experience you've had with animals, how often you work etc. The more information you give us the easier it is to find the 'right' dog for your situation. Without any details it makes it very difficult to process your application.

Please also don't forget to include your £10 registration fee.

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