What a party that was.

Hi, A new dog came last night she is called Lily she is a Lakeland Terrier type, and had been taken to the vets to be put down. The vet nurse rang pawzforthought.org who John fosters dogs for, until they find them a home. She is an absolute dream, well that's what John said. But even I think she is okay she is like a ginger Mop, what a shame it would have been if the vets had not got on to pawz, the vets checked her out and she is healthy. Mind you she does want to be nursed all the time.

Lily is only small and light, she cried a lot, just little howls last night but went quite when John took her a walk then he nursed her. He put a bed for her at his side of the bed and she slept, only once she looked on to the bed to make sure John was there. I heard him say its okay pet and she settled down on her bed and he covered her with a nice warm blanket and she slept until John got up. We went to the park and John said you would not even know she was on the lead. He said not like you Bob, its only that I can not pass a tree or a corner or anything I can cock my leg up.

When we came back from the park she dashed in first, all exited so she is fine today mind it could have been because of the boulder size hail stones that were coming down so hard they hurt. If it stays like this he can go out on his own, I will not go.(John said if it stays like this I will foster Goldfish)

We have been to the park again all afternoon so we walked round then John decided to let little Lily off the lead and she was fine she just stayed close.

John keeps trying to take a photo of Lily but all he gets is backsides and heads down.

Hic I could not even make it to my bed.

John has burnt the sausage tonight I am sick of him, he is useless I might leave home if this keeps up. I will go and live in a cardboard box in London well I might wait until the winter is over.
We went to the beach today and John put a coat on the Mop because it was so cold.

He ran about in his little combat jacket scaring all the dogs,

but he could not resist the water.

So what a waste of time, John ended up carrying it soaking wet and covered in sand.

OH! THAT WINE.

Hi, We went to the beach this morning and I had to wear my coat it was so cold, so I would like to thank Auntie Linda for the coat, she gave it to me.

The Mop still went in the water so he could not wear a coat. So I chased him about to try to keep him warm.

We went to the park this afternoon, and met a nice new puppy, The Mop thought it was great smaller than him, but she did not like him because as usual he had been in the stream and was soaking. Suzy liked her too but I think the two of them were too much so I stood back and just looked at her. Then John gave her a fuss so the Mop was jumping up I think he was a bit jealous.

We can hear fireworks already the Mop is nearly climbing on Johns head, it will get worse all the time until after Bonfire night and even then it still goes on.

I am never going to drink again I only had a little bottle of Tequila.

I am so pleased today, I have just had my evening snack, a sausage not a black one, it was cooked to perfection well for me and the Mop anyway.

John stood and watched them instead of walking away and forgetting them.

So I love John now and he loves me, because he read this out to me and said he would not leave me at a gate

A man and his dog were walking along a road. The man was enjoying the scenery, when it suddenly occurred to him that he was dead.
He remembered dying, and that the dog walking beside him had been dead for years. He wondered where the road was leading them.
After a while, they came to a high, white stone wall along one side of the road. It looked like fine marble. At the top of a long hill, it was broken by a tall arch that glowed in the sunlight. When he was standing before it he saw a magnificent gate in the arch that looked like mother-of-pearl, and
the street that led to the gate looked like pure gold. He and the dog walked toward the gate, and as he got closer, he saw a man at a desk to one side.

When he was close enough, he called out, 'Excuse me, where are we?'
'This is Heaven, sir,' the man answered.
'Wow'
Would you happen to have some water?' the man asked.
'Of course, sir. Come right in, and I'll have some ice water brought right up.'
The man gestured, and the gate began to open.
'Can my friend,' gesturing toward his dog, 'come in, too?' the traveller asked.
'I'm sorry, sir, but we don't accept pets.'
The man thought a moment and then turned back toward the road and continued the way he had been going with his dog.
After another long walk, and at the top of another long hill, he came to a dirt road leading through a farm gate that looked as if it had never been closed. There was no fence.
As he approached the gate, he saw a man inside, leaning against a tree and reading a book.
'Excuse me!' he called to the man. 'Do you have any water?'
'Yeah, sure, there's a pump over there, come on in.'
'How about my friend here?' the traveller gestured to the dog.
'There should be a bowl by the pump.'
They went through the gate, and sure enough, there was an old-fashioned hand pump with a bowl beside it.
The traveller filled the water bowl and took a long drink himself, then he gave some to the dog.
When they were full, he and the dog walked back toward the man who was standing by the tree.
'What do you call this place?' the traveller asked.
'This is Heaven,' he answered.
'Well, that's confusing,' the traveller said. 'The man down the road said that was Heaven, too.'
'Oh, you mean the place with the gold street and pearly gates? Nope. That's Hell.'
'Doesn't it make you mad for them to use your name like that?'
'No, we're just happy that they screen out the folks who would leave their best friends behind.'

Hello, Well the day started out okay we went to Hendon beach early then we went over to Roker and we dropped off some books for the Pawz For Thought book sale. Then we had a run on the beach we came up and there was little Spot with his new foster mam Lucy and her 6 year old daughter. The Mop was delighted to see him I think he was happy to see the Mop they acted daft for a bit, then John said we were going for another walk, so Spot and Alice came with us.

Little Spot and the Mop were pleased to see each other, and Spot enjoyed the beach.

Then the Mop ran into the water as usual

He went into a big wave and came out soaking again.

John's and my ears were ringing when we came back, Alice is a right little chatter box. John said it is better than being all shy and quiet, well maybe.

All was okay until we came back and John said Brenda should go down to Cheshire to see her Mum and Dad before the weather gets bad, so she went so now we will be on burnt sausages again until Brenda gets back.

Well it had to happen the Mop grabbed something and ate it quick before John could get it off him, it fell out of a ladies bag it must have been a tablet. He became very sick,so John was going to take him to the vets but after he was sick a few times he seemed to get better, so we went out and he flew about okay.

But I do hope this has taught him a lesson, but I doubt it on the beach he still tries to eat rotten things.

He did feel sorry for himself though.

He is fine today so that's good news yesterday he even did not get told of for chewing Brenda's scarf.

Here is a little mouth full.

Pip was being his usual chewing self today, he got the wall papering brush, Brenda said I told you to put it away.

I am sick of him just doing what he likes so I went and told him off, he did not care. I could not frighten him.

Then the wind blew a plant pot over in the yard and he ran to John and cried like a baby.

John is always saying I am full of wind so I should be able to scare him.

wall paper

Hi, John had to patch the wall paper again today the Mop chewed it off , this is about the fourth time. He even went and watched John doing it as if it had nothing to do with him, if he had got any closer he would have got stuck behind it.

As John was doing it the Mop did his commando creep and went to bite it, he got told off and warned not to go near it again. He did not look as if he was bothered to me.

Then after we had been out John filled the bucket to wash the car and came in for a coffee, then the Mop came running in, he had put his ball, out of the famous Stomp'r in the bucket and tipped it all over himself getting it out.

When John saw him he said what have you done, and he put his ball down, yet John could say leave until he was blue in the face and he would not put it down normally, so he knew he had done wrong . He is just wet all the time and yet he hates a bath in nice warm water .

There must be something that attracts the Mop to Shih Tzus there was another girl up the park and he danced and skipped around her making a right fool of him self. I think at first he thought it was the girl from the beach but it was not. That did not bother him he thinks he is Don Juan or something. I thought she would chase him but she started to follow us around the park, I think she liked me really, her owner was going the other way but she turned and walked with us, so the Mop and the girl played until we got to the stream and the daft Mop ran straight in.

He shouted for the girl to go in and her owner nearly had a fit so she put her on the lead and said we must go. John was saying to the Mop it is too cold but he might as well talk to the trees. We have to take a towel and a blanket to wrap him in because he starts to shiver. John has tried coats but he has to take them off they get all muddy and wet.

Here is Spot in his new foster home loving the fuss he is getting from the children. John thought he would be OK with children but our Kids are much older so it is not a good test now. This little boy is 3 and the girl 6 so it is good to see that he likes children and is happy to lie and be fussed by them. I would hate it and as it helps dogs get a home if people see they are OK with kids this could be why no one wants me. I will have to get a photo of me with a little child. then every one will want me. Because John is getting on my nerves.

Hi, Today at Backhouse Park, a man asked John about little Spot, John said he has gone to a new foster home with children, so we know if he can be placed with a family with kids.
The same chap had said to John on watching Sam sit gazing into his eyes I bet you can not let that dog go.
How can you let them go, I would want to keep them, John had said as long as you know it’s a good home, the dog will be loved and cared for it makes it a lot less painful. There is always another needing help, and you can not keep them all.
He told me of when he was a child he so much wanted a dog, but his mother would not let him have one. Then one night his older sister was baby sitting for the lady just across the way, she shouted John over and in the back yard was this little puppy its name was Rex.
John had sat on the ground with the puppy and it tucked into his jacket and licked his face, at that moment his heart had filled with love for this skinny little pup. In a corner was an orange box made into a kennel that offered no real shelter and a saucer with some mouldy peas on it.
He persuaded his sister to give him the money for some dog food, and ran and got some from the corner shop. Luckily his sister realised that you must only give it small amounts, John would have given it the full tin in one go.
The next day being the start of the six week school holiday, John had gone over and knocked at her door and asked could he take Rex for a walk, terrified she might say no, of course he need not have worried she was just to happy to see it go.
So Rex got fed a bit more food, John spent his pocket money on food and if it was not enough he always managed to persuade his sister to buy some, sometimes taking the odd tin of corned beef or spam out of his mother's cupboard.
Every morning through the six weeks he would sit looking out of the front room window until their light came on then go straight over for Rex.
Until in the end she said just come and open the back gate and take him, you can keep him if you want.
This led John to beg and plead with his mother, but the answer was still no, so things went on like this and by the end of the school holiday Rex and John were both smitten with each other, they had explored every bit of beach and the parks and the hills. Rex was delivered back to his yard and orange box every night, the peas were now just a green mark on a dirty saucer.
When John had gone back to school he could not think about anything but getting out and going for Rex, every afternoon as he turned the bottom of the street, he whistled and the lady would let Rex out of the yard to fly down and throw himself all over John who would roll on the ground and play with him. Rex was now allowed to wait in John’s yard while he had to have his tea before he could go out. John always managed to take most of his tea out for Rex; he had also got friendly with the butcher who used to give him scraps.
It was at a tram stop one day when a kid dropped his tram fare and it rolled down a sink, and people at the stop gave the child some copper for the fare.
John said that was a great idea for dog food money, and became adept at turning the tears on saying he had lost his tram fare. So moving to different stops he could make quite a bit of money in this way and it amazed him how kind some people were as his fare was ½ old penny but they usually gave him a threepenny bit, and not just one person if there was a few people at the stop he would get money off each all saying here are pet don’t cry.
Sometimes he could sneak away, others he had to get on the tram but he said that was ok because he and Rex would get off at the park or weekends he would go right over to Roker beach.
As the nights got darker John was supposed to be in early but he would be up at Tunstal hill in the rock cave with a little fire and Rex tucked in his coat and he would talk away to this little dog, and go on about all the if only, s that mostly involved a way he could keep Rex.
John and Rex were not always on there own but nearly all his friends had dogs so they went home with their dogs, but John had to leave Rex in the yard across the way. It was nothing like taking him home with him so when his friends went, John would hang about to be with Rex as long as he could,
Often in trouble for staying out so late.
Every now and again begging and pleading but still to no avail, his mother would not give in.
So this went on, the time went by and the next summer came and little Rex was with John all day again with their friends, and their dogs loads of exploring went on and walking for miles John said he did not have to call him he just stayed with him.
Rex was being well fed now as John could just pretend to put the collection money in the church plate, and sell balloons at school for a penny, running to school instead of getting the tram and his crying scam + pocket money. Rex even got a red collar and lead, although he said he can not remember using the lead. But he said then if you saw one car a day pass every one would stare at it.
Another winter went by and heading for the summer holiday again, John was so happy all those days every day for six weeks with his Rex although he was not really John’s dog. John was Ten this year in the July so he always got some birthday money and he and Rex would walk over to the pet shop in Roker Avenue to look at the dog kennels. If I get enough I will get you one he promised Rex.
Just before the summer holidays John came around the corner and whistled as usual, but she did not let rex out and the back gate was bolted so John banged on it. The lady opened the door and said O I took him to be put down today, I did ask your mam if she wanted him before I took him, staring in the yard in total disbelief there was still the dirty saucer.
A heart was broken that day Rex was about 18 months old and the lump that came into John’s throat, stayed for weeks he did not want to speak to anybody, but could not if he had wanted too.
Today we went to Tunstal Hill there is still the little cave where John and Rex used to go, John said he can still feel Rex‘s little tongue licking his scraped knee or a cut he had or the tears from his cheeks as he had cried because he wanted him so much.
The dogs he has had since have lived their lives through so although it hurts you know you have given them a good life and cared for and loved them, he said nothing has hurt like that because it was a Childs love with no hang ups just pure love. Now 57 years later he still says he can see little Rex looking up at him when he was sat on the step, his mam shouting him in and he not wanting to take Rex back to his yard, the lump in his throat is still there a hurt in his heart and the tears still fill his eyes when he thinks of Rex and the life he did not have.

Look close this is me and Spot, you have not seen me lie so near another dog before. John had said he was going to another foster home so I thought I would be kind to him. He went yesterday afternoon so little Pip was missing him today.

Auntie Lynne called last night and brought some food and a "Stomp'r" what is this you might ask, well Pip was already in bed so he got it this morning to take his mind off Spot.

The idea is you stick a little ball in the end and stamp on it, but Pip was not bothered he wanted the thing you stamp on, in between pulling the box to bits

The little ball was stomped out and ignored as he dove for the Stomp'r, when John was taking us out Brenda said are you taking the stomp'r,

John said I am not walking around the park with that people will think it's a mini pee bottle.

Now we all know the ball throwing things ,you can pick the ball up and throw it without bending down, but not with the Stomp'r you have to put the ball in bend to place it on the ground then stamp, now you pick that up and walk on, if you are lucky enough to have your dog return the ball then you have to pick it up, put it in the Stomp'r and repeat the whole process.

I think if John had took it he would not be able to straighten up now, and all the stamping in the park, I can just imagine people watching him from a distance, him bending up and down with a mini pee bottle in his hand then stamping on it.
He probably would have been phoning auntie Lynne to bail him out by now, sorry Lynne but this has got to be the daftest dog toy ever thought of,

the Mop loves it though.

Well just the stamp part.

Well today I have had a good laugh, Ben the Rotti is now Jen the Totti in his beautiful dress. It's no good asking auntie Liz for help she called me Booby so she will not care that you now want to wear dresses. It is quite common now and nothing to be ashamed of so don't worry, I will still be your friend you are a nice boy. But Pip is sending e-mails to all the dogs he knows some are laughing but take no notice.

Dolly said they are having a girls night out Saturday if you want to go Jen, now the dummy sucking pom thought it was funny

So did Jack

This nice boy is one of Pips friends he said can he come up and see you sometime.

Grumpy Bobby, We went fishing last night and I had a great time, John was parked by a big lake, he had a little stove and about 2am he cooked a load of bacon. I got some even though it was like all he cooks over done, it tasted really good. Brenda should tell him brown its done black its burnt.

John had the side door open he was sitting on the step and he had a nice warm fire in the van. I kept going out and walking about I could hear things scurrying about, then I fell asleep until John started the van and we were on our way home. I could not smell any fish in the van, we stopped at ASDA and John went in and got some smoked cod. He put them in the fridge, when we got in. Brenda said well are we having fish for lunch, John said yes its in the fridge. Brenda went to look at it saying I hope there are no heads

on, when she saw it she said so did you catch anything, John said yes but I put them back. Now she was pleased about that, I can not understand humans.

Well we all still went to the beach, when we got back the sun was out so I went for my breakfast, and thought I will go and lie in the van in the sun.

I could not believe what I saw and John would not do anything about it, there they were already in and lying on my bed and my seat.

I told them to get out with a big bark but they took no notice, and John said you have been in all night let them have a go.

So I came back in and lay inside, well he can stick his shed on wheels, and I will not go fishing again with him he can take the Mop or the Spot or both I don't care.

Anyway if it was not for Liz's Brian he would not have found the engine yet and he could not open the doors, he is a daft human he would still have been stood looking at it if Brian had not come.