Just a Staffy Cross.

[NewYearNewKnickersOnMyHead]

This is not mine but wanted to share...hopefully will make people think. It has me sobbing my heart out.

Today is just another day - to me they're all the same
I have the worst of genes you see, I bear the "Staffy" shame.
The shame is in our numbers, there's thousands with no home.
Thousands just like me you'll find, in kennels all alone.
My mum was "just a Staffy", my father - well who knows?
Mum, too, became unwanted, as the last puppy goes.
And then begins the process, of money-making deals
A life of "moving on" unfolds, who cares how the Staffy feels?
If you have the cash to hand, the Staffy pup is yours

But that pup is getting bigger now, just look at those big paws.
You brought me for your image, thought I'd make you look more tough
But you'll find my boisterous nature has already got too much.
If you had thought to train me, with kindness and with praise
You would have had a faithful friend to share your darkest days.
I would lay down my life for you, but you simply cannot see
You make sure you get your money back on what you paid for me.

And on it goes, until one day, I'm no longer worth a dime
The retail on an adult staff - not worth the waste of time.
So what happens to a Staffy now? Do you really want to know?
Do you care what will become of us, when we leave our final home?
Have you ever thought to wonder, "Where is that Staffy now?"
The "Staffy" has another name; he's become a "stray" somehow.
Me, I was put into a car and driven far away

The door held open, I jumped out, I thought to run and play.
It was with joy and happy heart I turned to look for you
You drove away with all my trust and a piece of my heart too.
I wondered round for many days before I was brought here.
Now I wait with heavy heart, trepidation and with fear.
Seven days is all I have you see, seven days for you to claim
The little dog that you threw out, for which you have no shame.
This is my last goodbye now my seven days are up
If only more thought had gone into the future of that pup
As the needle empties to my veins I lay down with one last sigh
I'm sorry I was born a Staffy, because it means that I must die.

Very sad because it is very true.

I know BeerTricks. If it weren't for DH I would be half way to the pound by now after reading that

oh that's heartbreaking

I've read this before and sobbed my heart out - I'm crying now just remembering it and I can't face reading it again. I've just quickly scrolled down to post a thank you nonetheless.

Anyone who like me has owned, loved or saved a staffie cross will know how special they are and how important it is to get that message over.

:(

I definately shouldn't read things like this. I don't just want a SBT you see, I need one. I already have two dogs and DH would kill me. But I am determined one day I will have my Staffy, a rescued one of course.

I have been banned from 'actively seeking' out new pets, but DH knows should something turn our on doorstep it won't be turned away.

If anyone knows of any homeless Staffs in my area pass 'em here. Don't take them to the pound

I had to post. Read it whilst holding Diesel, my 14 month old Staffie Cross and just

That is so sad.

How do people who just dump their family pets live with themselves? I don't understand how anyone could do that.

This comes at an important time - important because the pounds are more overflowing than ever at this time of year and more Staffies and Staffie crosses than ever are dying for want of homes AND because Trudie James, the writer of that poem, needs help for her rescue. About 10 minutes before the poem was posted I received this email appeal from an A/R contact:

EMERGENCY APPEAL.

The protection of a dog coat or blanket could save a dog's life this winter. We are appealling for donations to allow us to provide dog coats and blankets for those most at risk.

PLEASE help us keep them alive and warm this winter - Doris Banham Dog Rescue

PLEASE HELP

A donation of just £5 can save a dog's life by allowing us to provide them with a dog coat or blanket giving them the life saving protection they need to survive this cold weather especially at night.

Sick and old dogs are most at risk !

PLEASE help us keep them alive and warm this winter.

PLEASE DONATE - DORIS BANHAM RESCUE Charity number 1103372

www.dogsos.co.uk/#/donations/4524325462

www.dogsos.co.uk

www.dogsos.co.uk

I have this argument with MIL all the time. She likes to think the best of people and believes that people do not dump or kill their pets.

I should never have taken in our Whippet pup because they wouldn't really have drowned her that night. Why would they do that when they could have given her away or phoned the RSPCA or took her to the pound?

She refuses to believe that RSPCA no longer take in animals that have been surrendered by the public and the pound would have put her to sleep anyway. To save her would have took them an hours drive to Dogs Trust in Durham and clearly they couldn't be bothered to make the effort. A bucket of water takes just minutes . My friend got her pup in similar circumstances.

I wish I had MILS blind faith in people sometimes. Anything has to be better than knowing the reality.

Maybe they wouldn't have drowned her. Who knows? But it was a risk I wasn't willing to take. She was meant to be fostered for a short time by us. She now has several million offers of very good homes, she is going no-where

my staffie cross was picked up on the streets with no collar, ID and no history...

but, he was well-trained and bursting with love...

that poem could have been written by him

My late old boy likewise, SpandexQueen.

Hi,

my name is Diesel and I am 14 months old. I was born in Sheffield into an unwanted home. I was taken from my mum at 6 weeks old and lived with a family who was out of the house for over 12 hours a day.

In the end my owners wanted 'shut' of me. Lots of people came to see me but did not take me with them. My fate would be decided the next night. A lady was coming to look at me, if she didn't take me I was 'going'.

The next night a lady called Donna came to see me. She spent over 2 hours with me and my owners and I was very good, apart from sneaking some food from a plate. I had my lead put on and was taken to a car, I was very scared.

The back door was opened and there I saw two small people!!! Yay.....I love small people.

As I walked into my new home I did not know what to expect and I was very nervous. Donna fell asleep on the sofa with me laid on her legs. Whilst she was a sleep I was very naughty and chewed through her dyson cable. ooops. But it tasted very nice!!

Since then, I have chewed a few things, including through the freezer cable and shorting the electric.....

My mummy says I am coming on very well. I have been neutured and chipped and our training is going great, although sometimes I pretend I cannot hear her when she calls me

My mummy tried getting in touch with my previous owner as she had lied about a lot of things about me, especailly about my vaccs, but she never got in touch.

I love my new family loads and glad they have saved me from god knows what!!

My Diesel's story!

My oldest dog was rescued from the pound on 'his last day' by me. I didn't need to ask what his 'last day' meant.

We brought him home the day he was meant to be PTS. He has been trying mainly at times. He is hard work and still has a long way to go. He has cost me a small fortune in vets fees (skin condition, now doing great on BARF and Natures Diet) and training.

He is only young so we have another 10+ years to sort out his many, many, many, many 'ishoos'. He was found stray. Most people who spend time with him can see why he would have been abandoned. I can't.

I feel I will have spent another small fortune in replacing curtains he pulls down and rips and toys he eats in those 10+ years, but he is worth every penny. Plus I am determined that one day he will be trained. He will be the perfect dog.

He has already learnt to walk well on his lead, not beg or steal food, not to growl at people who give him commands and is over his separation anxiety, to go to the toilet outside as opposed to anywhere he feels like it inc. up your leg , not to chase the cat, not to growl and snarl at people who walk past his food dish as well as basic commands such as sit, down etc.

You name a behaviour problem I can guranetee the Devil Dog either still does it or has done it in the past.

He was abandoned at the ripe 'old' age of 1 to 1.5 year old, just before x-mas last year. A classic tale of the x-mas puppy who grew up me thinks.

He is lucky that I know his 'ishoos' and lack of training are not his doing.

Our trainer has been on hols over x-mas but promises me we will be starting back with 'a vengance' in the New Year, to finally help him get over his 'ishoo' with dogs who pass him while he is leashed and help him learn solid recall.

oh god, i am sobbing. that is heartbreaking. my heart breaks every time i think of a poor dog being treated liek this.

so so upsetting and tragic.

Very sad, we rescued our staffy boxer cross when she was approx 10 months and she has tested our patience to the max, she was very hard work although part of that could have been her upbringing prior to going to rescue.

Now at around 2.5 years she is almost a different dog following a lot of training and patience (mainly by dh) and a well loved member of the family.

It's a shame that there can't be more rules requiring neutering etc and that staffys have got this awful unfounded reputation.:(

The rescue place I got my collie cross from was full of staffie type dogs and they just looked so sad, I mean they all looked a bit down but the staffie dogs just seemed to look like they had no hope left in their eyes.
I wish I could have taken all of them home with me but I don't think my landlord would have been too pleased!

That is so

Once you have owned a Staff I think you will always want that breed.

My olddog was a Staff cross, Wembley her name was the funniest dog I have ever known! Dh and I still laugh over things she used to do!

We now have Lola,a pedigree, a year old, she is very much like Wembley, they are the most loving, loyal dogs, big babies!

on you tube is great.

At the end is says 'Big heart and a big smile, they will love you like no other, and ask for nothing in return'

Oh my

My Buds story

He had been in a rescue centre for over 2 years as he was "aggressive" I popped in to do an assessment of other new dogs and left with Bud. He was terrified in the car and would not walk into the house. He lay flat on the floor when my other dogs came to meet him. After a while he got out of the car and sat under the kitchen table for 3 days.
Now he is the happiest bundle of fun and cuddles, he adores the DC and you will never see the DC without Bud there somewhere usually lying on their lap! He is apprehensive when meeting other dogs but is in no way aggressive. He has even been used to help with my work and rehabilitating other dogs that need some help. You can never be depressed if you have a staffi in your life!

Now surely I can squeeze another staffi in the house somewhere. Once you own one you always have to have one!

That makes me so