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Max's Life
All alone on a field was I
When I was found by a passer-by,
Starving, wet & feeling sad
Thinking about the life I'd had.
I'm glad to say this was no longer to be
'Cos the people who found me, they really loved me.
But they couldn't keep me in their home
They had a Staffordshire of their own.
So on to the phone they did get
They rang the Rescue to advise of their pet.
I sat and listened to them talk
And I could feel myself begin to choke.
I began to think no-one wanted me,
But soon I found out this was no longer to be.
Because one lovely Wednesday night
The end did come to my awful plight.
A family came; they liked what they saw
And now my life is no longer a bore.
They took me home and now I'm loved,
Now my life is looking good.
I get food and nice warm milk,
And my once awful coat is now like silk.
I know they love me and I love them
I hope to stay here till my life ends.
By Sandra Noon
Max's Life by Sandra Noon
My story started on the 29th March 1989, just two days after phoning the Staffordshire Rescue. I received a phone call from the rescue to say that there was a black/brindle dog in Widnes in Liverpool. The dog was believed to be about 15 months and very thin. He was being fostered by a young couple who had a Staff of their own so they couldn't keep him for much longer. We got the phone call at 8.00pm and we set off right away and were in Widnes by 9.30pm. When we arrived we were met at the door by a little black/brindle dog and I said how lovely it was. The girl explained this was her dog and she said she had to keep the rescue dog in the shed outside. She let him in the house and our hearts sank. He had a large bony face, no muscle at all anywhere, bald patches all over and a bald tail which was very sore and weeping at the end. His backbone and his ribs stuck out so far he looked awful. He was so thin he could hardly walk but somehow he got across to us, licked our hands and sat and looked at us with his big sad eyes. His coat was so dull and dirty. We sat and talked for a while then they asked us did we want to bother taking him on. We did not hesitate, we said yes.
He was found tied to a tree near the motorway so he could have come from anywhere; it was not known just how long he had been there. He had been taken to the young couple's house as someone had told the lad who found him that they had a dog just like 'Max'. They said they would keep him until a good home could be found for him, and this is where we came in. We took him home where we have an 11-year-old Labrador cross bitch. I was very worried they would not get on together. There was a bit of growling at first but now they were great friends.
I did not have any idea how to get the weight back on him or exactly what was wrong with him; anyway a friend of ours gave us the address of Donna and Richard. We went to see them and took 'Max' along with us. Donna was so upset at what she saw and said it was going to be hard to get him back on his feet. Anyway she gave us a diet sheet for him and she told us to give him three meals a day and go and see a vet as soon as possible. After seven months 'Max' is now back to normal and a very happy little dog. He now gets all the love in the world from all of us. It's been very hard and trying this last seven months but he has given us that much love and affection back already; every second spent on him has been well worth it. We wouldn't part with him now for any price.
This poem and story are courtesy of Donna Hopkinson - Donnellas
and are taken from the Plight of the Badger" booklet.
Sadly, after the booklet went to press Donna learned that Max had been put to sleep to save him from further suffering.
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