Tuesday 2 September 2014

My One Thousand Mile Weekend, for Me ..... and Mavis

 Mavis meeting Suky for the first time on 31st December.
 
This weekend I was away staying with Lovely Hubby at his digs in Berkshire and catching up on visiting some of our favourite haunts down there, a two hundred and fifty mile journey each way.  I got home at 11pm on Sunday night and after a quick tidy round and cuddles for Ginger and a check on the chickens threw myself into bed.  

Up bright and early at 7ish the next morning, the henhouse was well and truly cleaned out, I sorted myself out, fed Ginger and sat down at the computer to do a quick Blog post to kick off my No Spend/Low Spend September before going to pick up the dogs from the kennels up the road, then the phone rang.
 

Mavis in March just before she went missing.
 
It was a receptionist at a vets practice in Peterborough phoning to say that Mavis had just been handed in to them, she was 'found wandering the streets'.  I rang around, asked the kennels if they could keep my doggies for another day, let Mum and Lovely Hubby know what I was doing and then set off at midday.
 
Mavis at midnight last night.

After a five hundred mile round trip though places I have never visited before later, my gorgeous little Mavis was tucked up in her own bed for the first time in four and a half months.

When she went missing Lovely Hubby thought she had been caught by foxes or badgers and had met a grim end.  I guessed that she may have been picked up by someone returning home after a holiday and kept for themselves and I remember writing that on here that if that was the case, I hoped she had gone to a good home !!
 
That looks like it was the case .... but she did NOT go to a good home.
 
Whoever the bastards are that did this (and I DO NOT swear lightly) must have got her pregnant virtually straight away and hoped to make money from her by selling the pups.  I have just got back from our vets and they reckon that Mavis has had puppies within the last 2 -3 weeks, and probably they have either been taken off her MUCH too early or they have all died, because at the moment she is full of milk.  When they had no further use for her and could see that she was not able to be a good mother, she was dumped.  All I can say is thank goodness for micro-chips.
 
 
 
When the nurse at the vets practice in Peterborough led her out to me, Mavis recognised me more than I recognised her.  If it wasn't for those big trusting big brown eyes she could have been a complete stranger.  She was still wearing her spotty red collar although it was now thick with grime, but the tags with our name and contact details, and the one that stated that she was micro-chipped had been ripped off. 
 
The main thing is SHE IS HOME. 
 
She has medication to dry up her milk, some pro-biotics to help her poor gurgling tummy, I have given her a dose of Advocate to get rid of the fleas and worms that she is riddled with, and once that has taken full effect and her 'undercarriage' is less tender she will be bathed.
 
She is already wearing a new spotty red collar to match her sisters, one that I had bought for Rosy but I can get another.  So, while she sleeps off the trauma of the last few months and of the long drive home last night and then the early morning visit to the vets, I will be calling an amnesty on my No Spend/Low Spend September and nipping through to the shops to get her a new ID tag and some tasty chicken to get her eating again .... oh and some more Dentastix to try and help with her now chronic bad breath.
 
Once she has put on some weight (she is once again down to just over 4kg) and returned to full health she will be booked in for spaying and having her teeth sorted out.
 

  In this picture it was the first time her ears had gone back to their usual position instead of being held fearfully back against the side of her head.  Once you are back in your own bed the world starts to feel a much safer place.
 
Welcome home Mavis.
 
Soon you will look more like the Mavis we know and love, but in the meantime, you will have to suffer lots of loving and lots of cuddles .... but somehow I think you'll cope.
 
 
Sue xx

88 comments:

  1. Give her a hug from us, poor little lady, I'm so glad she is back with you, both our cats are chipped, it's a wonderful thing. I'm sure she will be back to normal now she is home with mum. xxxx

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  2. Those eyes are still gorgeous, I'm glad shes home safe and sound, what a time the little girl has had, give her a pat from me.

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  3. My goodness, how awful for poor Mavis. I am so pleased you have got her back. I can't believe how cruel people can be. It does make you realise the importance of the microchip. Definitely worth getting done. I don't think you'll want to let her out of your sight for a good while. I'm sure you'll make up for everything with all the love you all will give her now she's home.

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  4. Dear Sue
    Poor Mavis, what a terrible time she has had, but thank goodness she is safe and with you again. I was really sorry to hear that she had run off and I hoped that one day she'd be back with you. I hope that she will recover well from her ordeal. As you say, thank goodness for microchipping.
    Best wishes
    Ellie

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  5. Poor baby Give her lots of cuddles and kisses from me and the RMSM.
    Jane xxx

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  6. Oh my goodness! poor Mavis. So pleased she is back with owners who will love and care for her!

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  7. Poor Mavis, cannot believe how some people can be so cruel. Thank goodness she was chipped and could be returned to a loving home where lots of cuddles await her

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  8. Oh Sue. That's awful for you and Mavis. At least she is home. This has brought a tear to my eye.

    Donnax

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  9. I'm so glad she's home Sue!

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  11. You'll never know what happened to Mavis or her pups but she is home with you now to care for her thank goodness x

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  12. There's some evil bastards, I don't know how they can mis-treat harmless animals in this way.

    So pleased you've got her back home, looks like she's well on the road to recovery.

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  13. Sue, animal cruelty just breaks my heart. So happy for you to have her back. You must be ready to strangle whoever her abductors were. With a little tender loving care and her family back, she will recover soon. Poor baby.

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  14. Poor little soul.....thank heavens she's home. I'm sure she'll bounce back with your care and cuddles.

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  15. I know this may sound heartless, but I hope that Mavis's puppies didn't survive. I can't imagine they would have been kindly treated by the heartless bastards. Thank heavens the vet looked for a chip even though that info wasn't on her collar anymore. I'm so happy she's home with you being showered with medical attention and affection. What goes around comes around. Hope the rest of the doggies help her too.

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  16. O wow! That's the best post I've ever read in Blogland.

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  17. How very sad, the poor thing must be in a lot of discomfort with all that milk engorging her :( You are so kind Sue to take her back and love her.

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  18. Oh Sue, this brought tears to my eyes, how can people be so cruel. So pleased she is back in her loving home xxx

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  19. Congratulations on the return of your Mavis I hope she settles down quickly after what must have been a traumatic time.

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  20. I bet the pup's hadn't died, probably sold already or maybe she had had enough and run away, let's hope so. As hard as it sounds, hopefully she will remember your loving kindness and stay put. Welcome home Mavis.

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    1. I think, and the vet agrees that she would never have run off and left pups, a dog's maternal instinct is too strong.

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  21. Oh my god I am so very sorry to read about what happened to your dear girl Mavis. It makes my blood boil what on earth is wrong with people :-( I am so glad you have found her and hopefully in time with tender loving care from you all she will be secure and happy again. Best wishes, Delia x

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  22. Some people are just no damn good! I'm so glad you got her back and that she'll be safe now.

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  23. Welcome home Mavis! I was so pleased to hear the news, it never occurred to me that she had been stolen, I assumed it was her wanderlust to blame for her disappearance.
    I'm so pleased for all of you. Hoping she makes a good recovery from her ordeal.Sorry for the puppies even if they did survive which, I think is unlikely.
    The bastards will get their comuppance for sure.
    Hugs to all. xxx

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  24. Glad to hear Mavis is home. Poor girl, Hope she recovers quickly.

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  25. Sue I am in tears reading this, I am so glad you are reunited, poor little Mavis she has had such a tough life, but now she can move on, in your home full of love, big hugs to you and Mavis, xx

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  26. What a lot Mavis has been through in her life. It's a wonder she responds to any humans. Thank goodness she is back with you poor little thing. i hope she understands she must stay put this time with people who love her. Hope too the other doggies are happy with her return.

    Jean
    x

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  27. Glad to see you home Mavis. Thank heavens you are back safely. x

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  28. That's such an amazing story. I'm so glad you had her micro chipped. Those horrible people who took her should be prosecuted. I hope she recovers soon, and I'm so thrilled she is back in your loving home.
    Will you keep her leashed??? Or in the fenced yard, so she can't get out again. I'd be worried.

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    1. She will be permanently leashed.

      I have already bought another garden spike with a long lead attached, when I find her old one it will be over in the veggie patch so she can be close while we work but unable to make a dash for the hills. We have the extendable type leads for all the dogs when we take them out and about where it is safe to let them run round a bit, but except when on own land our dogs are rarely off the lead, only Rosy can be trusted to walk to heel around distractions, Suky pretends not to hear us call her and Charley is not trained at all yet.

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  29. So very happy to hear you lovely news

    Maura

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  30. How lovely she's back with you, let's hope she stays put this time x

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  31. That's just brilliant news that she's back home where she belongs. As for those bastards who used and abused her I hope karma gets them big style!!

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  32. So glad she's home. I really hope that she now understands that being with you and the other animals is the best thing she could ever wish for and doesn't make a run for it again. You made such a difference to her well-being in the short time that she was with you last time - that is evident from the photographs as she went from looking thin, sad and unloved to well-fed and cared for and had a spark about her. I'm sure with the love and care you will all give her she will soon be looking sparky and well again.

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  33. So pleased to hear that Mavis is back home, safe and sound with you - Bless you that must have been some drive right across the country - the Lord always pay his debts - let's hope these cruel bastards really do suffer for what they've done to poor Mavis - give her a hug from me xxx

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    1. It's the first time I've ever driven 500 miles in one day, I'm quite proud of myself .... but I'm very tired today. I see a couple of days spent looking after dogs, cat, chickens and not much else being done .... except of course a bit of Blogging and blog hopping :-)

      Oh well ...... it'll stop me spending money during No Spend/Low Spend September.

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  34. Thank you for all these lovely comments. Sorry ...... I've got you all swearing ;-)

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  35. So very glad Mavis is home. I am convinced that anyone who can be cruel to an animal, is a beast with people. Animals thrive when returned home and get used to being loved again. My Leo was rescued from a puppy farm, and bless his heart, he still makes a run for it when he gets out. I know you will keep close eye on her, but after 6 years, Leo must always be on his leash. Give her a big hug from Tennessee.

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  36. So so glad to read that Mavis is back home with you :) I will not type what I said out loud when I read what had happened to her - it would be too sweary. Scum, the lot of them.

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  37. Welcome home Mavis. Our dog got out when being looked after by relatives and we feared that we wouldn't see her again as she is so good natured and small/portable, she could be whisked off under the arm and gone in a flash. Our dog was chipped but you do rely on the finder taking them to the vets. We thought she may turn up years later when old and ill and the chip may come to light then. Luckily for us an old lady found her and took her in and called our number from her dog tag the following day. She must have been thrilled to bits to see your friendly face after roaming around by herself.

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  38. So glad to read this, tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. XXX

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    1. I mean, so glad to read she is back, poor little dog. Horrible experience for her and you.

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  39. Oh my goodness, I was not expecting to read this today Sue. Poor, poor little Mavis, she really has had a rough time hasn't she :(. Thank god she is back with you, where she belongs. Wishing her a speedy recovery x x x x

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  40. Crikey Sue, this is the first time in a bout 6 weeks I have been able to use the internet (Bt b.....D's) and I can't believe my eyes. Well done you marvellous woman for taking the responsibility of this tragic little dog( hopefully not now) will look forward to seeing her grow and glow:) I have finally MOVED and all is very very well. Hope your good too! You look like you have done sooo much. Be in touch ? Lots of love Karan xxxx

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    1. Glad to hear you have moved and are back in the world of the internet, you'll have so much to catch up on .... take care. xx

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  41. Wonderful she is back home, I have often wondered where she was.

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  42. I can probably guess the genre of folk who took her, and poor little girl, she's not had a good time of things has she? At least you have her back now and I hope she will soon be comfortable again when her milk dries up, and you have gotten rid of the fleas etc. She must think she is in heaven again now. Well done you for driving 500 miles in a day as well - a big ask. Just as well she wasn't found in Aberdeen . . .

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    1. I would have still gone to pick her up ... she's family :-)

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  43. So pleased you have her back and she is safe and sound. She is lucky to have you x

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  44. So pleased to hear she is back. Just a thought but she may not have run off last time but someone may have deliberately pinched her. My little JR terrier was out on the road in front of the house about 20 yards ahead of me (she had escaped the garden) when a BMW stopped and opened the door by her I ran up and they drove off quick. This was in a little village not in the county. Give Mavis a hug from me and my 3 dogs Su

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    1. She did run off, we watched her go round the house and up and over the hill.

      Lovely Hubby trusted her without a lead on while we were working, he said it would be okay .... it wasn't. We think she must have come down the hill further along the road giving someone the chance to pick her up and drive off. Last time she did this a neighbour picked her up and rang me, I had to go and pick her up in the car .... our neighbours are not that close!!

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  45. Poor Mavis. It's absolutely shocking how some people will treat animals. I wonder if it was a puppy mill. When Mavis didn't 'perform' to their liking they just dumped her. You hear such horror stories about these places. I'm so glad she is home, safe and sound with you.

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  46. Sat here in tears, thank God for microchips x

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  47. I could swear, scream and cry reading this but most of all I just want to give you and Mavis a great big hug. You are an absolute angel Sue xxx

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  48. Sue, so pleased that you have rescued Mavis for the second time, some people are so cruel. Happy times ahead for you and Mavis. Your post is brilliantly written.

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  49. Oh my GOODNESS! That is one lucky dog to be found again by the people who love her, Some people are truly ghastly

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  50. I must have missed the post,, I didn't realise that Mavis was missing. Pleased she is back with her family.

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  51. This makes me cry, some people are so heartless and you wonder what is wrong with them.
    So glad you got her back, sad to say if any of her babies survived, goodness knows what
    happened to them. Hope Mavis starts to feel better real soon. Cheryl

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  52. Oh! So glad she is back with you.

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  53. Okay then..
    Sitting here weeping and SO furious at the same time !!!
    Sometimes you wonder why such hateful people are here on Earth.
    Poor lil' Mavis- God Bless her and keep her safe with you from now on.
    Gentle Hugs & Kisses-
    Karen

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  54. Just looking at her sweet little face and those big eyes shows that she knows that she is safe at home now. I could not be more pleased to see her if she was mine. There are some terrible people out there, let us hope that they suffer.

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  55. This has broken our hearts and then mended them again..the girls cried when she went missing..and now we have all done the same that she is back..poor little baby. We are so glad she is home with you where she belongs..i really hope who ever has hurt her gets their come-uppance or steps on every bloody lego from here to eternity..rotten people..
    all our love and very gentle hugs
    sara,fern,iris

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  56. Welcome home Mavis, thank goodness she's found you and LH again. Poor little mite xxx

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  57. Sitting with tears in my eyes with my little rescue jack Russell blissed out at my side. Also been mistreated and puppy farmed. Often wondered about little Mavis. Thank god she is back with you. Heart breaking. Please give her a kiss from me xx

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  58. There are some bastards in the world. amazing that you got her back though! I bet you're so pleased. All my love.
    Kev

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  59. What wonderful news. I'm so pleased that Mavis is back home. Please give her a big kiss from me. xx

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  60. Oh poor Mavis. There are some cruel nasty people out there. So glad you have got her back.

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  61. Dreadful, poor Mavis. Thank goodness she is home.

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  62. So happy to see her home, poor pooch. Can't believe the way some people treat animals. I believe in karma. Enjoy her, love Vikki, xxx

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  63. Another one here with tears in eyes. Everything has already been said, bless you for your mammoth drive, have a good rest and best wishes to you all from Ali, OH and Miss M the border collie (rehomed to us at 8.1/2 months, not really ill treated thank goodness, but was certainly in the wrong home).

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  64. Oh the poor little darling, thank goodness she is now back where she belongs, in a loving home! And yes I agree, thank goodness for microchipping!

    Bless you Sue xx

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  65. So pleased Mavis is home. I was only thinking of her yesterday and was intending to write and ask if you had ever heard any news, I was amazed when I read your post, what she must have been through, it does not bear thinking about.
    Well done to you Sue, getting in your car and driving to an unknown destination. I know that must have been daunting on your own, but you did it for Mavis.
    I do hope she stays close and does not try another bolt for freedom, maybe she will be content now after this experience.
    Love from Pam in TX. xx

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  66. Bless her heart - at least she is home. Poor little love. Here's hope she recovers soon

    Pattypan

    x

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  67. Sue I forgot to add to make sure that your garden spear/spike is long enough. We took one when we were camping and the dog managed to rip it out of the ground. Now looking for a much longer one that will go deeper. This was a corkscrew style about a foot long but obviously not long enough for our dogs (although they are much larger than Mavis). I was talking to a man in our village who has a son in Ireland. The son took his dogs out for a walk and never saw them again. He thinks they must have been lifted as there were reports of a lot of this happening at the time.

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    1. Thanks for the reminder Susan, yes our spike is a very long one, not the corkscrew kind. It has a long spike and then a cross-blade type thing that goes into the ground. She isn't strong enough to pull it out and even when she is at full weight, which she was just before she left she couldn't budge it.

      Too many dogs are being taken from their owners for purely monetary gain, it's terrible. I only hope that the new micro-chipping laws coming into effect next year in Wales and in 2015 in England can do something to combat this.

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  68. Made me cry too! Can't bear animal cruelty…so glad she is back where she belongs.

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  69. Hope this a Happy Ending for you all.

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  70. Well done you for driving all this way [Pbro is not far from us] and so very pleased to hear that Mavis is safely home with you again - I do hope that she will recover and get well soon xx

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  71. Bastards is the right word. What a miracle to get her back! I hope she is better very soon and that you all recover from the trauma as well!

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  72. I read your blog every day but have never commented but after reading this post I wanted to say how pleased I was to read that little Mavis was back with you and shed a tear when I read the latest episode of her story. I was so sad when she disappeared in April and have often thought about her and dread to think what she's been through since then. She is such a lucky dog to have found you again and I know she will thrive now that she's going to be getting all the love and cuddles she deserves. x

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  73. Oh Sue, that made me cry! Poor Mavis!!! I'm so glad she found her way back to you!

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  74. I know I rarely comment these days, but I'm so pleased to read that Mavis is back with you now. The poor little soul has so obviously been through the mill. Sending her a hug and hopin she is soon back to full health. What a great advert for microchipping :o)
    Rose H
    xx

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  75. Oh Mavis! What a tough time she's had. I'm so relieved she's back in your loving home Sue, I know you'll give her all the love and care she needs.

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  76. How wonderful you have got her back - Our hearts would be broken if that happened to our miniature schnauzer. Mavis has such a lovely little trusting face too. What mean people - I hate animal cruelty of any kind. The main thing is she's home with people who love her xx

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  77. lucky mavis to have you rescue her again, her abusers will get their come uppance I strongly believe in Karma

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  78. So glad she is home to you where she belongs.

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  79. Lots of dog thefts going on all over the uk. People are taking them out for walks never to be seen again! I still see beautiful dogs tied up outside shops and although it's hard to believe these scum will just snatch them. I wonder, if people started rescuing like you do, rather then paying £500 and more for puppies, whether this would stop it. If people won't pay for puppies then people will stop trying to make a quick buck out of breeding. Wonderful that she is home. We always micro chip. Xxx

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  80. Heart breaking to think of what dear little Mavis went through and how good to have her home again, an answered prayer.

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