‘Tis the season for family and friends

Hi Everyone

I hope you enjoy spending time with your family and friends in the next few weeks. That’s what the season is all about, I think.

Polly (far right) enjoying a rawhide Christmas cracker, with friends Ruby, Fred and Decca.

Whenever I have eaten, I like to have a little lie down and a snooze on my bed inside where it’s cool, particularly on these warm summer days when it is very humid. I’m guessing you’ll feel the same need after delicious BBQs and Christmas celebrations.

Polly’s afternoon snooze

I hope you are able to enjoy some rest, too, during the holidays Thank you for your support of the SPCA this year, and take care over the summer.

Love from Polly x

One Year On...

Gosh, it’s a year now since my Warkworth “experience” in November 2008, and what a year it has been!

From the time I was found I have been rescued, had major surgery, I’ve been rehabilitated by the incredible SPCA staff, had lessons in obedience and was rehomed to a new family in February.

I have adapted to living with my canine siblings, I’m even getting used to the cats and I now enjoy eating. I love walking and playing and swimming, and I bark at other dogs if they get too close to my family and our house.

So, all in all, I’ve adapted to life as a regular dog and I’m loving it.

Canon bones are still a favourite of Polly's

I thought you might like to see a shot of me enjoying a bone earlier this week. Yum, yum, yum, I say.

Love from Polly xx

Super Summer’s on the Way

Hi Everyone

It’s wonderful to know that daylight saving and long summer days are just around the corner. I love summer and swimming.

While I don’t swim at beaches at the moment, there is a local pond where I enjoy splashing around. I was there last weekend with my fur family members and we had a great time. My energy levels are excellent, so I can run and run and run, and still not get tired!

Playing with other dogs is fabulous and as I don’t fear any of them, I just have a ball jumping and diving and chasing and splashing.

I hope you all have a lovely summer, and I look forward to keeping in touch.

Remember to Slip, Slop, Slap and Cover Up in that sun.

Love,

Polly xx

Stars in Her Eyes

There were certainly stars in my eyes in early July. You see, TV host Simon Barnett, SPCA Inspector Sue Baudet and I were filmed for a special SPCA television programme.

I spent an hour and half with Simon and Sue in the Auckland Domain while the filming took place. They were delightful and patient, and gave me lots of praise and treats. I was completely star struck.

It was a bit tricky sitting still and not getting into mischief every time the camera was rolling, but I was very good. Some tourists even stopped to watch the action.

At one point, I was sure the sound man was carrying a microphone boom covered with a fluffy treat specially for me. So, the next time I was sitting quietly between Simon and Sue and the sound man held the fluffy thing near us, I quickly and quietly stepped forward and pulled at the fluffy treat, taking it with me back to my place on the grass. Everyone was laughing at my cheekiness. I wasn’t to know that it was a microphone protector and not really a treat for me.

I must be coming up one year old soon, and I’m looking forward to celebrating with a big bone, like this:

And then I’ll probably have a big snooze in the winter sun, like this:

I hope all’s well with you, as it is with me.

Love from Polly xx

Roll out the Red Carpet ... Polly Goes to Hollywood

Did you know that Hollywood for dogs is called Doggywood?  Well, it is.  I’ve even got a photo to prove it...

A few Sundays ago, I went to Purina’s ‘Bark in the Park’ event at Waiatarua Reserve in Auckland.  I had a wonderful few hours there, sniffing lots of other dogs, wearing a bandana given to me by a lovely lady, munching on treats, watching an awesome agility show and having this photo taken with my family.  That’s me in the middle of the shot, with Fred and Decca the guide dog stud, and our mum.

After the excitement of the event, we went for a swim at a nearby pond, and I played in the surrounding mud with lots of other pups.  What a great day – getting all wet and mucky with a crowd of new friends!  My brothers and I were so exhausted when we returned to our car, that we slept for five hours without stirring.

Mum was able to get lots of jobs done at home while we snoozed, so everyone was happy by day’s end.  Mum even gave us a shampoo and a massage, and then a rub down with a special new brush that she has bought to remove the fluff from our undercoats.   By bedtime, we were all clean and shiny and ready for sleep.  Now that the evenings are cooler, I snuggle up closely to Decca and Fred on our blankets.  We sleep soundly and dream sweet thoughts until the morning, when we enjoy delicious breakfast and a new day of adventures begins. Oh, this is the life, I say.

Love from Polly xx

Polly Bottom?

(Barbara is one of our Canine Team at the Auckland SPCA Village and she played 'Foster Mum' to Polly during her recovery period. Polly writes letters to her from time to time.)

Dear Barbara

I visited Richard Jerram at VSG this morning and he's very pleased with my progress. He thinks I look very well and he admired my glossy coat. He calls me Polly Bottom, which isn't really dignified for a princess like me, is it? I talked back to him a bit, but he didn't mind. I'm only 18.5 kgs, but Richard thinks I look fine for my size.

I've not been in touch recently because I've been lying low. My left hind hip area had been very sore, so Richard put me on painkillers and complete rest for two weeks. He was worried that, as I was only walking on three legs and not using that hind leg at all, there may be longterm issues with that sore hip, but all is now well again.

Keeping still-ish for two weeks was OK. Mum had a short stint in hospital herself followed by 10 days of bed rest, so she and I recouperated together in her room. As long as I know where she is, I'm a happy girl. Mum has bought me a beanbag to sleep on, which is really comfy and supports my joints.

Life is good. I'm eating Tux, steak and cooked chicken, and getting back into walking. Decca and Fred are great company, and those jolly cats need a good chase from time to time, I reckon.

I hope all is well with you and the other animal darlings in your tender care.

Love from Polly xx

A comment

Here's a comment from one of Polly's fans...

"Well done SPCA and well done to the fantastic new owner Polly has. What a great outcome all round and how lucky is Polly to have such a wonderful life now. The latest update was an absolute joy to read.

I was one of those who made a donation at the time Polly's plight came to light and it's sooooo good to learn that her life has come full circle now. It sounds like she couldn't wish for anything more.

So again, to all concerned, well done on a brilliant outcome. I LOVE good news stories like this one. Chris"

Adoption time !

What a weekend that was! On Friday afternoon, I moved to my new forever home in Auckland, and there have been lots of new things for me to get used to; new car, new bedroom, new family, new garden, new toys, new pool, new cats and new food.

Me in my new car seat after a long walk

I am having a fabulous time and I give my new mum lots of cuddles and smooches. I have two big canine brothers, Decca (a trained guide dog, who belongs to the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind) and Fred, who are incredibly charming and look after me. They protect me from other dogs when I play in the park, they give me a head start when I run to catch a tennis ball, they sleep on either side of me in our room at night, and they tell me at meal times that they’ll eat my food if I don’t hurry up and eat it myself.

Decca, me and Fred waiting politely for dinner

My mum is quite strict (in a kind and loving way, of course) with my routine, my training and with what she expects me to do. She knows I am a very bright cookie and she’s keen to make sure I use my brain intelligently and don’t become naughty instead. So, we’re off walking for an hour every morning before the sun rises, and again in the evening. I am expected to use my manners all the time. I’m a very quick learner and I also watch what my brothers do, so I’m picking up on my new routine and skills very, very quickly. When they sit, I sit. When they lie down, I lie down. When they shake water out of their coats, I pretend to shake water out of mine, even if I’m not wet!

My life has changed completely in the last few months since I was found in Warkworth. It is because of the care and generosity of people like you, and the wonderful SPCA staff, that I have been able to progress to being the very happy poppet that I am now.

I will keep you updated on how I am doing during the next few months. In the meantime, thank you from the depth of my heart for caring for me and the many other animals who find themselves needing special help. You are our angels.


Love from Polly x x

Adopted..!

Hello everyone

Please accept our apologies for not updating Polly's blog for a while but other than hanging out at her foster home with Barbara, Miss Polly hasn't really been up to much. Polly has been on a training program to help her with being a well socialised, polite well mannered dog and has learnt really quickly but still pushes her luck as often as she can.

The really good news is that a decision has been made in regard to the successful applicant chosen to adopt Polly. There were over a dozen people that applied to adopt & from locations in Auckland and the South Island. Everyone that applied has followed Polly's story since the beginning and were all hoping to be the chosen family. The SPCA would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported Polly throughout her journey without all of you wishing her well and supporting her financially it would have been march more difficult for her.

Polly will be staying in the Auckland region and Polly's new home is near the water which she will love as she is a real water baby. Polly will have two other dogs to keep her company and a very busy life style with her new owner. Polly's story will be one of the main stories to be featured on this years Animal House series scheduled to screen later this year so look out for her.

The process of choosing Polly's new owner was far from easy and everyone that applied would have been wonderful owners but a decision had to be made and we are sure Polly will have a fulfilled and happy life in her new home.

Keep watching Polly's blog for her updates, at this stage Polly will be going to her new home towards the end of this week but we will be staying in touch with Polly and her new family...

Update...

Hello everyone

Time for a quick update on Polly's progress over the last few weeks. As you can see from the previous photos on her blog, Polly is currently living the life of Riley in her foster home. Polly is being looked after by one of the SPCA staff so she gets to come into the village every day but goes to her foster home at night so she has the best of both worlds.

Polly has turned out to be a real character and has personality plus, she loves the water and is having daily training in good manners, walking nicely on a lead and general good behaviour. Her foster mum has discovered that Polly needs to have lots of daily exercise otherwise she can tend to start looking for things to chew including washing, shoes and other household items.

Polly has recovered really well from her surgery but she does have a slight limp and has limited movement in her injured leg but she still gets around without any trouble and is very active and playful.

The Auckland SPCA received twelve applications to adopt Polly as far ranging as Christchurch and Wellington so we are in the process of working our way through them all and contacting the applicants.

We hope that Polly will be in a new home within the next 4 - 5 weeks but we will keep you updated as things progress ...

On behalf of Polly and all the other animals here at the Auckland SPCA, we'd like to say a big "Thank You" again to our wonderful supporters for helping us to help these animals...