 Tinka on holiday Why Take Our Dog Tinka On Vacation? Tinka is a rescue dog, one of six dogs we have shared our home with over more than 45 years. Most of those dogs have been of the rescued variety and all have been very loving. Tinka is the smallest dog to live with us and in some ways has been the most problematic. After his owner died this little dog was passed around and became known as a biter. We were his last hope or he would be put to sleep. Six years on he is mostly a very loving sociable dog but he hates going into kennels. We decided a couple of years ago to take him with us on a one-week stay at a dog friendly apartment in Whitby. It went so well that we have returned since for a two-week stay.  Tinka Visited So Many Places With Us Where To Stay First things first then and where will you stay? The Internet is a great research tool and should prove very helpful. Simply search for Dog Friendly Accommodation and see what comes up. Good options are-
Remember it is your vacation primarily and so ideally should suit you too. Getting there The next hurdle is planning your journey. If you plan on driving your own vehicle fine but if you want to use public transport there are some things to consider. Previously we visited Menorca and Tinka stayed in kennels for two-weeks. However we chatted with a lovely young couple staying at the same Menorca hotel who had brought their dog on vacation. They were from Switzerland but it was proving to be a costly vacation for them. They were travelling around the island of Menorca but dogs are not allowed on local buses. This couple did not drive so could not hire a car. This meant paying for taxis and worse still some taxi drivers would not transport their dog. Their vacation was proving difficult as well as expensive. This highlights the importance of researching all aspects of a vacation with a pet included before you book and before you travel. In England:-
There are various regional differences. Locally bus drivers often refuse to carry more than one dog if the animals are with different passengers. In North Yorkshire multiple dogs on buses were not a problem. To be fair Whitby and the surrounding area is very dog friendly. Your pet will usually be allowed in shops, cafes, pubs and some restaurants in that area but it is always wise to ask first. Not all parts of the U.K. are so dog friendly.
General Advice, Hints and Tips
It is up to you to decide if it is fair and a good idea to take your dog on a foreign vacation. If you are taking an extended vacation it may be worth considering. The U.K. rules for taking a dog with you out of the country are the dog must-
Remember Clean up after your dog!
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 In the UK many animal rescue and welfare charities offer pets on a temporary, foster basis as well as for adoption into a permanent home. The rules tend to be much the same for adoption as for fostering in that:-
Find out as much history as you can about your prospective foster pet to ensure that you are well suited. Make sure that you are fully aware of any cost implications. At least one of our local dog rescue charities contributes towards the cost of a foster pet. In one case all the vets bills are paid for, whilst the other charity pays for everything including food for the dog. This may sound expensive for the charity but it is cheaper, and better for the animal, than keeping it in kennels. When we took a foster dog into our home the initial cost of spaying, after her first season, was paid for by the charity and that was all. However we never really asked for anything else and I suppose, as with most things in this life, it is up for negotiation. One thing though that I would like to mention is prepare yourself for separation and always keep in your mind that your foster pet is temporary. More than ten years down the road Jessie our foster dog is still with us and I guess she is going nowhere. If I could have been sure that a good home was found for her when she was young I would have willingly parted company with her, however my husband within a short time became so attached to Jess that she was given permanent fixture status. Fostering an animal, especially if you are not able to re-home on a permanent basis, is very worthwhile and rewarding. Usually both the family and the animal benefit from the experience. Remember though that some animals in desperate need of a new home may have many problems. Our Jess had been very ill-treated despite her young year when she came to us. Consequently she was a very naughty dog for a few months and very hard work. Suffice to say she is not now but those first few months were a testing time for all. Contact a local charity to discuss the options for fostering an animal. It may be that you will be accepted as a regular foster owner. There is also the option to foster an animal you may never actually meet simply on a monetary basis. Some animal sanctuaries advertise for long distance fosterers who will supply the money needed for the animal to survive. With regular small payments it is possible to contribute vitally to an animal's well-being. Foster certificates are on sale online and make great gifts for Christmas and Birthdays. Check out 'Sponsor' a rescued Dog at Hillside http://www.onewomansomanyblogs.com/animals/when-your-dog-goes-blind-jessies-story  Jessie loved sunny days
Caring for a dog through the good and the bad times - It is always sad when any creature is coming to the end of its life. In the case of a dog dying it could be an animal that you have found after an accident, or your own beloved pet whose life is coming to an end. Whatever the circumstances, the role that you play in the animal's final days will be important.
So often a dog will not just quietly slip away in its sleep but rather YOU will have to make the choice to euthanize. Knowing that this is the right decision does not make it any easier. However before that stage of your pet's life you may have to care for a dog which is terminally ill. These days there are many options available to extend a pet's life comfortably, treat various life threatening conditions and keep a pet out of pain. If your dog has a terminal illness it does not necessarily mean that you have to euthanize it immediately. Instead you and your pet can enjoy what time there is left and make the right choice when it is appropriate. Bear in mind though that you must not extend the life of an animal that is suffering. Getting the right diagnosis Just like people dogs need to have the right medical diagnosis. You should never vaguely guess at what is going on with your dog's health or try to medicate the animal yourself without checking with a veterinary professional first. Before you visit the veterinarian try to think about the physical, mental and general health changes in your dog. Make a note of those that are relevant or new so that you will not forget any when you are in the surgery. Any or all of these could help your vet make the right diagnosis. Follow the Veterinarian’s Instructions Your vet may need to undertake tests or investigations of your pet before he or she can make a proper diagnosis. This can be expensive but is vital for your dog. Once a diagnosis has been made your vet may offer a few solutions. Depending on the animal's condition the vet may advise euthanasia. This will usually only be in severe cases. However, although you cannot be forced to make such a choice, the animal's well being must be paramount. Alternatively the vet may give your animal a course of treatment or even medication for life. This may not be easy and can be expensive. You must follow the vet's instructions though. If your animal needs its medication four times a day then that is what it must have. Unless you can offer the commitment necessary you are being cruel keeping a sick animal alive. Illnesses that could be the cause Dog's can suffer from various life threatening illnesses. Some are treatable whilst others will require ongoing treatment and TLC, tender loving care, until the dog's death. The vet will no doubt tell you when they have done all that they can. Your dog still may be quite comfortable but the prognosis will not be good. This is when you need to care for your animal appropriately until it is time to say your goodbyes. Such illnesses can be:
The dying animal If a dog is literally dying in your arms. there may be little you can do. If it is due to an accident the basics of first aid apply just as they do to a person. A veterinarian should be contacted at once so that treatment can be given. In the mean time keep the dog warm, calm and in a quiet environment if possible. When you have a dog as a pet that has a terminal condition keeping him comfortable will depend on many things. For example: If your dog has heart disease it would be cruel to keep it indoors all the time with no exercise. What you need to do is adjust your animal care routine. Adjusting your dog care routine On the whole it is all about being sensible. A dying dog may need more of your time, energy, thought and love but your pet is surely worth it, isn't it? However, it can be difficult. Consider:
Enjoy the time you have left Make sure that you and your pet enjoy the time that the dog has left. This will not always be possible but it is worth trying. Extra cuddles, strokes and love will help all of you. Know when it is time to say goodbye However much you prepare yourself for the death of your animal it will be hard. It is often just as hard for any other dogs that live with you. Consult your vet about how to make those final steps less traumatic for all concerned. Ideally, after loving and caring for your animal for so long, you want its death to be as painless as possible. Half the battle is knowing and admitting when it is time to say goodbye to your pet. A dog may live years with a life threatening condition, almost thriving on its medication. Suddenly out of the blue all of this could change. However hard it is, you must admit when it is no longer fair to keep your pet alive. There comes a time when to do so would be purely for selfish reasons. If you love your pet you have to let it go when the time is right. Often a pet will let you know when it is time, or simply your gut instinct will tell you. Listen to your heart and make the right choice. If you are in any doubt consult your veterinarian. You will need
Tips & Warnings
http://www.dailypuppy.com/articles/how-to-care-for-a-dying-dog_1552.html  As a child in fifties Great Britain I only had a vague knowledge of what a guide dog for the blind was. At school and at home children would save the foil tops from milk bottles "for a blind dog". Firstly I thought that we were saving up for a dog that was blind and, even when the truth was explained to me, I could not understand just how these foil lids could provide a guide dog.
The top and the bottom of the matter is that training a guide dog for a blind person takes time, effort and, as usual, money. Despite the worthiness of guide dogs to this day funding is never enough. The guide dog concept dates back to the First World War During this conflict, the Great War, which ran from 1914 until 1918 dogs in Germany were trained to lead soldiers who had been blinded. Dogs are such willing learners and far more capable than many people give them credit for. Both the trainers and the animals deserve huge thanks for the work that has been done since those early days. The Blind Association Guide Dogs group was founded in 1934. From the late 1920's in America, and the early thirties, in the United Kingdom, research into the dog experiences of Germany was taking place. By 1931 the UK had four fully trained guide dogs, for the blind; the guide dogs for the blind association was well underway. The Guide Dog service in the UK has always been a charitable service and getting the appropriate dogs was costly in the beginning. A volunteer program was created so that volunteers could walk young dogs in order for the animal to get the feel of the guide dog life ahead. Soon after a breeding program was started to ensure that there were always suitable dogs available. Guide dogs in the UK tend to be Labradors. These days guide dogs for the blind does not accept collections of milk bottle foil tops to raise funds. I guess with modern milk bottles and cartons these would be in short supply anyway but instead you can donate used stamps, mobile phones and ink-jet cartridges. The cost of training a guide dog for the blind has risen like every other cost in life. This means that the charity needs any help that you can give either financially or physically, more than ever. In the early days of guide dogs, trainee dog walkers were often derided and people did not favour this charity. In the UK many people felt that it was a waste of time and cruel to the animal anyway but how wrong they were. Over the years that they are together an owner and his or her guide dog usually develop a special bond. Ultimately the dog will have to retire in order for the owner to have a safe, fit and well dog acting as a guide. Until that time though a guide dog will be a blind person's eyes and almost constant companion. Many people who are blind hold down challenging jobs these days and their guide dog will usually be welcome in the workplace also. Times have changed and guide dogs for the blind is one way that they have changed for the better. Guide Dogs for the Blind UK |
Tinka chilling in his forever home
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