Letters to Mutts

Toby was abandoned in March as a 6 month old pup. Spent a month with you, then I brought him home. He will be 11 in October. He was found tied up to a bin store. I’ve always been grateful for that – he was not just left to roam.
Maybe he only had one night of terror before the pound took him in, and then you saved him.
I searched closer to home for a dog, looking at all the pics online, not finding a dog that called to me. When I saw Toby, looking up and away from his handler, feisty, independent and full of life I just had to have him. I fell in love with him then and there and fretted for days until I got approval and was able to bring him home.
He is slowing down now, not so likely to go off like a firework when he sees motorbikes or running children or anything! But he will still go for it sometimes, particularly pigeons in his garden, or cats!

We have loved him to bits every day and hope to be able to do so for years to come. We live by the sea now, which he never saw until 2 years ago! He was suspicious at first but now he loves poking around in the sand or paddling, but only if I paddle too. If I am dodging the waves, he does the same, with great skill.
Sue

Loki is doing well. Quite unmannered but is learning really quickly. Our first walk he showed that he was reactive to other dogs and that he didn’t really like walking. I have purchased a harness which I use alongside his collar and this has worked out better. I’ve also started de-conditioning training by offering treats when he shows no reaction when walking. Bless him – a lot for one week.

Hi, it’s been over a year since we got Benny from you and we just wanted to say thank you and to let you know what an amazing boy he is.
He was very nervy when he first arrived and the first week with us was quite eventful! We would find him walking on the worktops looking for food or he would be standing on the dining room table without you even noticing. He managed to prize his way into a tightly sealed dog food bucket and proceeded to eat everything that was inside. He was then bouncing off the walls for about an hour afterwards!
He settled really quickly though. He is really chilled out and is such a loving boy.  He loves being outside, lying in the garden, watching out for squirrels and any flying bugs. He has three walks a day and loves to play with some of the other big dogs that live locally. It’s taken a while but he is off his lead and loves a good run around. But I think his favourite time of day is having a cuddle on the sofa in the evening.
He really is a gentle giant and we feel we have really lucked out to have such a loving, beautiful boy, he brings us so much joy. He has grown so much in this past year and is not only part of our family but part of the neighbourhood, everyone knows and loves him.
We cannot thank you enough for allowing Benny into our lives, he is a very special boy and we all love him dearly.
Thank you again,
Kindest regards,
Lisa, Simon, Mason & George Bennett

Dear Mutts,
I thought you would like an update on Toby – known to you as Santa, who was found in Saffron Walden at Christmas. We took him home in January.
He has been a wonderful companion to us and is very loving and funny with his antics. He is a happy little chappie now, very much loved.
Thankyou for such a wonderful dog. Stay safe in these troubled times.
Linda and Toby

Hi Mutts,
As it’s Orla’s first Gotcha Day, I just wanted to thank you again and wish you all well.
Sadly Orla never got to the Italian campsite this year but has done every inch of the field paths around Cambridge. She knows a few basic tricks but has yet to master recall (I have since learned a lot about the Saluki !).
Thank you again; keep well and here’s hoping for better times in 2021.
Sue, Nick & Orla xxx

Dear Mutts,

Ivy is very settled here with us now and certainly feels this is her home. She’s such a gentle sweet dog with her family. She’s a brilliant addition to the family.  

However, she certainly barks at any visitors to the door and passers by.  Lockdown has probably not helped this.  She’s already getting better with meeting people now measures are easing.   We took her to the beach the other day which she thought was very exciting.  Clearly her first visit to the seaside! She was also brilliant with seeing so many other people and dogs.

We’re slowly working at training her which is making some progress with recall. She loves her balls but we still struggle with getting her to drop them for us to throw again!   This is our next training focus. 

Thank you for letting us take her home with us.  She’s much loved and she loves us back too. 

Best wishes 

The Wood family

Hello,
I hope you are all managing to keep well at this time!

I have my people at home all the time at the moment as they are (were!) supply teachers. I love this but I can tell Sue is bored because she won’t just let me chase squirrels but makes me learn things- I make sure that the clicking sound is followed by something good! I am doing very well, though, despite a point-blank refusal to ‘Fetch’, and have won the sofa battle…

I am very happy here and get tasty bones.
Love to you all,
Orla xx

Hello, this is Ross again, still having a great time.  My master tells me that these times are difficult but he makes sure that we get our walks, we are down the river walk at 7.00 am walking and ball chasing for an hour.  We were going out about 1.30 pm for a 90 min walk but now the weather is hotter we go out at 6.00 pm for an hour or so, so I am exercising him well.
In the evenings we sit on the settee together, with his arm over me gently stroking my chest, while he reads.
Sadly there may not be any holidays this year, and I do miss going out in the car, but he tells be that we will make up for it when we can.
Best regards Ross.

Dear Jill and other Mutts staff,
Just to let you know that ‘Órla’ is settling in very well, sleeping quietly all night in her bed in the kitchen and doing her business in the garden.
She enjoys her walks, especially the quarry, where she can go off-lead as there is only one narrow, closed entrance. She has a retired Greyhound friend called Blaze, who is only her age and fancied himself the fastest thing in there until she ran him into the ground. After zoomies, she tends to walk with us- pure affection, nothing at all to do with my treat bag full of sausage.
Hunstanton proved interesting for her; after initially freaking out at the sea from a distance, she dragged me down to have a look at it!
She has a lovely nature and is much admired by all who meet her, although tall men may have to offer a piece of sausage before being allowed a tail wag.
Best wishes and Happy New Year to you all,
Sue & Nick 

Dear Jill and other Mutts staff,

Just to let you know that Orla is settling in very well, sleeping quietly all night in her bed in the kitchen and doing her business in the garden.

She enjoys her walks, especially the quarry, where she can go off-lead as there is only one narrow, closed entrance. She has a retired Greyhound friend called Blaze, who is only her age and fancied himself the fastest thing in there until she ran him into the ground. After zoomies, she tends to walk with us- pure affection, nothing at all to do with my treat bag full of sausage…

Hunstanton proved interesting for her; after initially freaking out at the sea from a distance, she dragged me down to have a look at it!

She has a lovely nature and is much admired by all who meet her, although tall men may have to offer a piece of sausage before being allowed a tail wag.

Best wishes and Happy New Year to you all,

Sue & Nick