So on to Skye.

I was working in the West Country when I received a phone call from Lisa, she asked me could I collect a 2 year old ebt from Somerset.
So after asking a few questions I agreed, wow I had a new foster.
A few phone calls later I met the lady from the dog pound at a service station just of the A303, after all the pleasantries were exchanged I asked where the little girl with no name was, I was told she's in the van, well lets see her then.

The kennel lady got this little girl out of the van, it was then that my heart sunk. Here was a little dog that had been so mistreated and was so unhappy, I could see in her eyes, she just didn’t want to be here anymore. It really broke my heart to see her like this.
I decided there and then I wouldn’t give up on her, and she would receive my total attention.

I lifted her out of the van and looked in her eyes, only to see they were vacant, like there was no ebt there just a shell of a dog. It was heart breaking to see, but I knew I could mend her if she let me. I rang Lisa and told her the situation.
I told her of the problems that this little girl had, i.e. she had been beaten and may " In my opinion"have brain damage, her nails were curling over and cutting into her feet, she had cigarette burns on her body, her ears were compacted with infection, and it seemed she was blind in one eye. These were just some of the problems this little girl had.

I will admit now that I did something I never normally do when transporting, I let Skye curl up on my lap all the way home. Something else I'll admit is, I was in tears all the way,this little girl had got to me already.
I wanted to make her as comfy as possible and if it meant her sitting on my lap so be it.

So we got home all ok, with out any hiccups. I gave Skye a good meal and she settled down for the night. All was well till the next day, whilst I was on the phone she became very agitated. She turned on me in a big way, wow she was scary. I just managed to get her in a crate before any damage was done.
It just so happens that I was speaking to Lisa at that time, and she said that I must do what’s best, and I must be confident that we could re-home Skye
at the end of her stay with me. I asked Lisa if I could have some time working on Skye, and to her credit told me to just get on with it.
She supported me every single step of the way and spoke to me every day for updates, and guess what, Skye was turning the corner, my vet was working hard on Skye and I was putting lots of time in with her, just to build her confidence back in humans, and it was working thank god.

After about three weeks Skye was really turning the corner, she was still a bit snappy around food, but that was something we could deal with quite easily.
Her feet, eyes, and ears were on the mend, but we found out she was deaf and partially blind in her right eye. I didn’t care because she was coming round, and becoming a very loving little girl. She just loved to sit behind me and lick my ears and head for ages. Also her and Paddy, another of my dogs, seemed to have quite a special bond.

After two months Skye really had become a beautiful little girl. She was really growing on me and I knew that some time soon, I had to make that decision.
Whether to keep her or re-home her. I spoke to Lisa and said I wasn't sure I wanted to let her go. Lisa then informed me that, a really nice couple had applied for Skye, and would I like to speak to them. Very reluctantly, I agreed. The only problem I could see was that, they lived in the west of Ireland. WOW, what a home check this was going to be.

So, to Ireland I went to do the home check. It all went well, what a nice couple. Now it was time for them to come and meet Skye.I arranged to meet them at a train station near me, they flew in and I met them and brought them home to meet my little Skye.
This was  going to be a sad day for me, as Katherine and Skye got on so well. I just knew this was right for Skye. They both had a real twinkle in their eyes for each other. Harry, Katherine's husband, got on so well with her too. I agreed with Lisa the re-homing coordinator, that they should take Skye back with them.
There were no problems with that, as Katherine worked for the airline.

So, to Luton airport we went. This was one of the saddest days of my life, but I just knew it was right for Skye. More importantly, Skye knew it too. At Luton airport I was getting very stressed out, because my little girl was going.
Unfortunately I took my frustration out on an airport worker, and had to make my apologies quite quickly before I got ejected from the airport.
I was desperate to spend as much time with Skye as I could, and that’s what I did. I waved my goodbyes and of they went.

My drive home was once again a very tearful one, but hey I was upset at Skye going. i was also so pleased that she was going to be with Katherine, Harry & Finney her new little brother, a Sussex water spaniel who I must add is a wonderful little lad. About 3 hours later I received a phone call from Harry to say they all got home ok. All was well, and that really settled me down.

I flew back to Ireland in December 2006 to do a follow up on Skye. I couldn’t have wanted better for her, she is doing so well and is very much loved.

I’d like to thank Lisa & Ann from B.I.N for all the help and support they gave me. But most of all I would like to thank two very special people, for taking and looking after my little girl. So thank you Katherine and Harry.
Hopefully, I will be going to see them soon.