It's time to update everyone with what has been happening here.
As you know I was at my whits end having tried everything that I could. The situation as it was did neither Barney, Morgan, Sapphi, Max or myself any good. I'd considered all the responses I received and did some soul searching on what the best solution was for all of them, I wasn't important in this. I have had the worst two weeks of my life.
Jo (joanne_v) contacted me to offer a foster home for Barney with her parents who have previously fostered for Springer Rescue Scotland who Jo is involved with. Jo's parents have owned Cocker's and are very experienced with them, something that was vitally important for me. Plus of course Jo herself would be on hand to assist with any issues.
I went away and did an awful lot of thinking, spoke to everyone who knows Barney well and the situation we are in. I spoke to my vet and she confirmed that my thoughts about him needing to be an only dog and with a man in his life were right. They agreed that his stress since I split my husband is what is still affecting him a lot.
The vet said that she saw rehoming him as the best thing for everyone concerned and a "win win situation for everyone". She's been trying to help Barney for a number of months and we'd not got anywhere. She also said "you just said that you thought what would Barney want for a life if he could tell me and you've thought honestly what that would be. That just shows how much you love dogs, that you'd put him first before any feelings you have". I found that very comforting. The vet was also very concerned that Morgan could well become aggressive as the best form of defence. She also said that although he'd not attacked Sapphi and Max they would be keeping one eye on him watching their backs.
I decided that ultimately for Barney's sake I had to give him the best chance to be happy. So I spoke with Jo and we spent last week talking about everything. We made arrangements for Barney to go to her parents.
That was last week and I have been completely heartbroken at the thought of him leaving.
I completely fell apart and I couldn't do anything last week. My dogs are my life, I run my life around them and they are always my first priority. I couldn't sleep at all and I was just beside myself, I still am. During all this time Barney was continuing to attack Morgan.
Morgan has become very jumpy in the last few weeks.
Then last Friday he messed inside in the lounge which is unlike him. He walks as he poo's so there were 21 different places to clear up poo from.
I was in agony when I'd finished clearing it up. He had been attacked the day before. He had messed inside the previous week though not as bad and when I worked it out he'd been attacked the day before that time. So he was obviously becoming distressed by it.
Nicola very kindly offered to come for him.
I'm really limited as to how far I can travel. She came and collected him on Monday.
The night before she came I was awake all night and I felt so sick. I ended up cleaning the house all night otherwise I would have just sat and cried all night and the dogs were already unsettled by how I'd been.
My heart broken when Nicola came and got him, it was the hardest thing I have ever had to do in my life.
Far far harder than when I split up with my husband......honestly.
It is so quiet here it just feels wrong. Barney always made more noise than the other three put together.
I've waited to post this because I just couldn't bring myself to do it. Today I feel a little bit easier, I can't say happy.
Barney on the other hand is having a whale of a time! Nic said he was as good as gold on the journey up.
I'm getting regular texts and PMs from Jo letting me know all about what he's doing and I know from what she's telling me he's doing......all those little traits when he's full of himself.....that he's absolutely fine.
I cannot thank Jo enough for coming to our rescue.
I would never have let Barney go to somewhere that I didn't have confidence in and as I said before I could only let him go to experienced Cocker owners. Jo's mum is one of only a few people that can handle Jo's Lily, who shares a lot of Barney's issues, and that really reassured me.
And Nic, thank you so much for coming all the way down here just to help me out.
I can never thank you enough.
I'd also like to really thank Rhona W and Jann for getting me through this. They've spent their evenings picking me up.
I'd also like to thank Fifer who also offered to help find a short term foster home for Barney.
This forum is a very special place.
