When the telephone rings and we hear the words, "Can you please help, I need to re-home my English Setter?" I imagine we Rescue Volunteers (all eight of us to be precise, plus the partners working in the background) wonder what will it be this time. That's the thing with Rescue, no matter what you are told over the telephone until you actually see the dog you just never can tell. We have all been told that the dog is in perfect health only to find out that it is far from the truth in many cases. If the dog really is healthy then we do sometimes need to get the old scissors and brush and shampoo out. Bit of elbow grease and a tight hold on a dog that is not to keen on being groomed and the end result is a beautiful English Setter all sparkling clean! I do sometimes wonder if the owners would recognise their dog after we have spruced them up, along with ears cleaned, claws trimmed, a full MOT and passed fit for their new home. I once a had Rescue that thought soap was so nice he would eat it - and he did 'smell' nice from head to tail - inside as well as outside!

On a more serious note we have perhaps all placed a dog directly from ex-owner to new owner only to have the new owner contact us to say all is not well and we are off to the vets. In most cases it is something that can be soon put right thankfully. However, occasionally it does involve medication, blood tests or even an operation. As a Rescue we do always offer to cover the costs of this initial treatment to be fair to the new owners. This is why sometimes passing a dog on straight to the new owners can be a bit risky! Thankfully it does not happen all that often. Needless to say if any of us take a dog into Rescue who turns out to need veterinary attention - then we all make sure they receive it before rehoming them.

Jenny Penna was going backwards and forwards to the Bristol University Veterinary Hospital several times a few years ago. Before the Rescue helped this lad he had no prospects at all - he would have died. With time, care, and money he now has a quality of life and a wonderful new home.

Diane Dudley in the Midlands has had dogs come in that have been found wondering on the streets. Again time, care money and the right home - and a dog that came into Rescue in a sad and sorry state is put back together again. As a Rescue we have NEVER put a dog to sleep for wanting veterinary attention or due to age. Our only criterion is making sure that the dog still has a 'quality of life'.

Do we manage to find enough good homes? The answer is yes. Compared to a lot of Breed Rescues we do not have large number needing to be re-homed. As I write this the Rescue has rehomed 15 so far this year. I pity the more popular breeds who are doing that number most months and probably more as well. With the Rescue being in existence for over 25 years we are even getting people coming back time and time again. Life for all of the volunteers is made so much easier when you know the person on the other end of the phone. Gladys Jenkins had people ringing her up and saying, "Remember me, I had a dog from you 12 years ago. Do you have another one just like her/him?" I think that we must all have the most wonderful photos of many of the dogs we have placed. Some of us even get them coming back to us on holiday, so in many ways we do get to see them and keep up to date with their progress.

Do the dogs all settle and love their new owners? Most definitely and almost from day 1 as well. Our beautiful breed take it all in their stride - as well as their new owners. Which in this instance is a good job. Several years ago we placed a young dog locally here in Cumbria. Judith had never had English Setters before but she came to see ours and just loved them. Lewis came into Rescue and Judith and Graham fell in love with him. Before they took him home they just needed to make the garden more secure. So on a lovely Sunday afternoon they started knocking posts in. By six o'clock the whole of their street and several more had been evacuated. In their enthusiasm they had gone through a gas main! Red faced, incredibly embarrassed they asked if we could hang on to him for a day longer. We never did get told the ultimate cost of the fencing to keep Lewis safe. I think the less they spoke about it - the less painful it was all round! Judith also used to trim Lewis on the kitchen table - the same kitchen table that Thursday night's buffet spread for the boating club was all laid out on. This particular Thursday Graham clapped his hands and then thumped the table - calling everyone to "come and get it". This was the sign for Lewis to jump up and be BRUSHED! Result one English Setter smack bang in the middle of the table on top of all the food. Lewis was all right - but the buffet was a write off. Such is life owning an English Setter. True ES owners just laugh. What more can you do?

So where does English Setter Rescue go from here? Well I hope, and I think that all the other people connected with the Rescue will agree, to carry on as it always has with 'Helping English Setters'. Whether it is one or however many, they all need and deserve to be suitably looked after and most of all to be loved. We can as a Rescue with your continued help and support make that happen. Although the numbers this year are not that high, who knows what next year or even tomorrow might bring? As I always say to people who wish to adopt - there is nothing today but tomorrow the phone could ring! The one thing with Rescue is that you just never know.

Perhaps you would just like to talk about a problem you might be having with your dog... call us, or email, we are always happy to help if we can!  polberro@tregew.freeserve.co.uk