Hulas Animal Rescue in Aspley Guise is full of beautiful animals in need. Many of them are forgotten pooches, four-legged pals who have been let down and now spend their time in kennels hoping for a forever home. And they are the lucky ones. Hula works tirelessly for all of the needy creatures in its care.
Esther the beautiful staffie has been at the shelter for far too long, and proved irresistible for team member Nicola, who took her home for a couple of days pampering...here's what happened when Esther came to visit.
Having relocated back to the UK, I’m currently living at ‘hotel a la Ma & Pa’ whilst in the throes of house buying.
Sadly, after a recent devastating loss, Mum and Dad are, shall we say ‘between cats’ at the moment, and I thought I’d use this time to perhaps give one of the HULA dogs a little break from kennel life, and join me at home on my two days off.
Esther, bless her, having been with us a while now, clearly deserved a break. She’s certainly put in the hours. Mother was potentially more excited than Esther, Father on the other hand, not being a dog person to say the least, simply resigned to accept the inevitable: Esther was coming to stay.
Having arranged this, I was suddenly a little nervous. Myself and my husband Rich had two wonderful dogs that we sadly had to re-home ourselves when we left Africa and headed to England. I understand the heartbreak of ‘rehoming’ from both sides of the situation maybe more than most.
Walking our beloved pooches, we worried about coming across elephant herds and venomous snakes, not traffic and dog-knappers.
The English dog walker’s nemesis that is a pile of unseen fox poo was provided for us by wild jackals. Needless to say, my experience of dog ownership was worlds away from what I was about to experience. What if I did something wrong? What if I was a really rubbish at it? What if Esther didn’t like it?
Turns out I needn’t had worried...
Upon arrival at home, after Laura had kitted me up with Esther’s belongings and sent us on our way, Esther proceeded to ensure she investigated every inch of the house.
All apart from the conservatory that is. We’re not too sure whether it had something to do with the glass sliding doors - perhaps she couldn’t work out why you could walk through one side and not the other?
Regardless, she decided it was just easier not the cross the threshold. Considering that is Dad’s ‘man-cave’ this situation actually worked out for both parties. Dad had retreated to the allotment by this point anyway, just to be on the safe side. With the back door open (we have a very secure garden), Esther had the choice to run in and out as she pleased.
And boy did she take this opportunity with both paws. In and out, in and out. To the kitchen, to the lounge, to the hall to the conservatory door, to the garden and back again!
After she had explored, we headed for a nice long walk up the woods. We came across a couple of other dogs who Esther passed by pleasantly, she was, to be honest, far too busy to make friends thank you very much – have you seen how many sticks there are to investigate in a woods?!
She did get a treat from a passing dog walker though, who found her irresistible. Quite rightly so.
Without getting too melodramatic (which I have been informed I can apparently be inclined to do), what struck me that first day was the frequent urge I had to cry; there were so many times I looked at how happy Esther was, just doing basic doggie things.
When she found a stick in the woods it was like Christmas for her. Carpet?! For her to roll around on?! Well, isn’t life great.
A life in kennels for any dog isn’t ideal, regardless of how comfortable we try and make them, but Esther has been with us for months!
Why? Because she’s a staffie? Because of her colouring? It was so unfair I could have screamed.
During dinner on the first evening, she joined us at first in the kitchen, but found us all a bit boring and headed into the lounge for a kip on the carpet. To be honest, by the second evening Esther probably was sick to death of us. Don’t ask us what happened on Scott and Bailey, because we were all too busy watching Esther. “Oh look at her cute little face”… “Oh, look how she’s sitting”… “Oh, look at her sleeping”.
Even Dad kept one eye on her ...
It really did feel a privilege to get to know her a little and to spend time with her, even when she was just sleeping.
This little lady really can keep herself occupied and loves play time too – with or without you!
She doesn’t ask for much, and she gives such a lot. Yet finding her a new home is proving so difficult. How crazy is that?!
The idea that Esther has been judged based by her breed or colouring is awful, and the notion these things are considered before her personality and character is quite frankly nonsensical. What a truly upside down world we’re living in.
The things I worried about when taking Esther home were the amount of trouble she had the potential to get me in with my dear parents. Waking me up at ridiculous times throughout the night, perhaps. Piddling on my bed, maybe. Those sorts of things.
But what I should have worried about when taking Esther home, was just how hard it would be to bring her back to the centre...
If you are interested in giving Esther a loving new home, or for details of the other animals at the centre looking for rehoming, please visit www.hularescue.org or call 01908 584000.
