Herbie's Story

As I saw in the New Year in 2008 I had no idea that a year later I would be sharing the same experience with a darling rescue dog from CYDRA the pet charity run by Eve, John and friends.

After a visit to Cyprus in March 2009, where I saw a Cyprus poodle in a local restaurant I set my heart on getting my own dog and I had heard there were lots of unwanted dogs in rescue shelters in Cyprus needing new homes.

On my return to the UK I found my way to the CYDRA website where I instantly fell in love with a small dog named Herbie who had been abandoned in Limassol. It was love at first sight. Following several emails with Eve, who was tremendous support and help, she managed to find a very special couple who agreed to foster Herbie during the Pet Passport Scheme process before Herbie was able to enter the UK. He flew into Heathrow where I collected him in mid December 2009.

Herbie has settled in really well, despite the shock of cold weather hitting the UK, our coldest for several years! He is the most lovable, quiet and calm dog anyone could ever have. He is an absolute joy to own and I cannot imagine my life without him. In the short time I have owned him he has brought me more happiness than words can express.

What would Herbie say "I am enjoying my new life in the UK and playing with lots of new friends. Thank you to everyone for giving me a new chance in life"

Rosalyn Sandercock
Cornwall
UK

Wilson

I will try to write you a letter in English, though my English isn't very good.
Wilson came to us on friday, 13.th november. We have two other dogs, one 12 years, the other 17 months old. The youngsters are very close from the first moment and they play 3/4 of the day.
Wilson, now called Willy, is a very loveable little guy and everybody likes him.
Today we'll go to the veterinary because of his ears, he will get a rinse. Poor dog! He doesn't like touching his ears.
Now I must end, but I send you some pics with Wilson.

Kind regardsy
Ingrid Möller

Muffin

Muffin's live is hard. He himself must wakeup our children from Monday to Friday. He will be angry, if we are doing this. Than he will sleeping in the morning, too look for the children from 1.00 pm until the children coming back from school at 1.30 pm.
In the evening from 5.00 pm until i´m coming back from job, he is still waiting at door.
When everybody is home, he is happy. All together, he is having fun the every day. He is playing in the garden or with other dogs, when we are on tour in the wood.
Between the time, he is living with us together, he learned, the most visitors are friendly, and now he is not so anxious.
Muffin learned, to be alone at home for 2 or 3 hours without crying. Than he takes our shoes from corridor in the livingroom where he is waiting until anybody is coming home.
He likes to be pampered by all of us. We´re don´t missing the time before Muffin comes in our Live. One this way we´re sending fotos from today.
We all wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Will all your wishes come true.

Kim-Jacqueline, Jan-Luca, Birgit & Thomas
and of course Muffin.

Regards
from Vinnie

The minute I spotted Vinnie's mischievous little face on line I knew he was the dog for me.
I convinced my husband to spend New Year's in Cyprus so that we could meet Vinnie and take him home with us if all went well. All went more than well!
Vinnie arrived in Geneva in the snow on 4 January. We had changed planes in Vienna and throughout the journey he remained curious about his surroundings but quite at ease.
He settled into his new home quickly. He enjoys playing in the snow and meeting new friends in the woods nearby. He loves to play and explore but comes running the minute I call him. He is easy, good natured and a real joy to live with.
When I take him shopping in town he is the centre of attention with a small crowd collecting around him.
Last weekend I went to Normandy for a professional weekend and took him with me. He was a huge success, stealing centre stage when I gave a presentation by trotting back and forth in front of the screen throwing a piece of paper in the air.
I intend to train him to do pet therapy as he has such a lovely temperament and is friendly to all. He is an excellent ambassador for Cyprus poodles and I am hugely grateful to CYDRA and PAWS for my wonderful little dog.

Hope you are well,
Best wishes,
Lesley

Lovely regards
from Megan

Megans arrives safely and healthy. We think that she feels very well in her new home. Beyond the flat she is still afraid, there is too much new for her. But inside the flat she catch more trust – day by day. She loves to have all of us nearby and she prefer to be pet the hole time. She likes to play each times of ball an she brings them back really quick an well. And she listen to her name very good.
For us she is a real treasure and we all just closed her in our hearts from the first look.
Thank you very much for your letter and the other things you sent to us. We were very glad about that. Its good to know that Megan had good times in the past. Thanks a lot for that.
You don`t need to sorrow - we will take care of Megan every time.
Later we will write again an we will also sent some pictures from Megan too. Wish you all the best and hope to hear from you.

Steffen, Annett and Markus Lange from Erfurt in germany

Lozi with
a big smile

Well Lozi (now Dexter) has been with us for a few weeks and he has settled in wonderfully. He is a lovely character, very well behaved and seems to have been with us for ever!
He has learnt basic commands, loves to fetch and loves to laze around even more.. Dexter is great with our son Toby and his favourite toy is a fluffy sheep.
Many thanks to you all for your help and for finding Dexter for us, good luck.
Kind Regards
Sarah, john, toby and dexter ward.

Mitch

Dear Ruth,
first I have to say that I'm so sorry I didn't write to you earlier, it's been now 6 weeks Mitch (by the way I call him Sammy, hope you like the name) is with me. The photos you find attached to this mail were originally sent to me by my mum, cause I took them with her camera while playing with Sammy in the park. So the woman on the last 3 photos also show him with my mother, as you can see, he sometimes gets a little crazy. And he`s absolutely fond of her, maybe he sees her as a kind of "grandma".
How many time did you spend with him?
I guess he was lucky to arrive in Germany in August when the weather was still warm, now autumn is coming with large footsteps, but Sammy loves to play in the puddles and is curious about everything he sees. This afternoon he played for nearly 2 hours with his new friend (a mixture between Bobtail and Terrier), so now he lies snoaring and totally exhausted in his basket, but he looks very content.
In the very beginning he was still shy and very skinny, but now he put on some weight, looks like a "real dog" and is absolutely self conscious, loves to play but on the other hand is totally cuddly. I also go with him to a dog obedience school once a week, cause I'd like to walk with him without lead in our parks one day, but in Germany you have to get a licence to be allowed to do so. Right now, when he sees a bird or a rabbit he just starts running without hearing you anymore. Just too dangerous for a big city like Hamburg. Meanwhile his castration wound also healed, but I had to get some ointment from my veterinary.
Altogether I did not regret a single minute my decision to give Sammy a new home. You are right by saying that he's a wonderful dog and I cannot imagine one day without him anymore.His usual routine also has changed a little: It's not him to wake up at 7 in the morning, but me who has to wake him up (and he's still so tired he will hardly move), then we go for a 30-45 minute walk outside so he can do his toilet. Then we take a "big" walk in the afternoon for 2-3 hours and then last walk after dinner in the evening around 9. When he feels like playing he plays with everything, his chewing bone, his little puppet (made especially for dogs) or a chicken leg made of synthetic material that squeaks when you squeeze it or his ball.
I hope this detailed report compensates for not getting a single word from me earlier. I hope you enjoy the photos and it would be nice to stay in contact with you.

Punch - now called Saga...
in her new home

I'm writing to let you know that the dog we rehomed on 10th of May is doing very well! When we came to the shelter it turned out that it was a girl, not a boy so it was better for us because we preferred a female. Her name was Punch but we renamed her and she's Saga now. She gained her confidence very quickly and is a playful, very energetic, loving and happy dog. She surprised us with how clean she was, never dirty at home and is very well behaved.
She loves to play with us, lies on our tummies, digs holes in the garden, plays with her toys and jumps on our laps.
We are very grateful that we can have such a wonderful dog. Thank you!

Best Regards
Karolina

Roger after a big
trip now at home...

WOW what a trip around the world...
But happily now me, Claire-Zoe and Olivier arrived in Strassbourg and I'm feeling better every day. In the first days in Hamburg and Strassbourg I tried to be on the safe side and didn't leave my blanket. I also did not feel safe on my feet, so exhausted and insecure I was. Claire-Zoe and Olivier therefore gave me the nickname "Bambi".
But I was so lucky to discover the big city in Claire-Zoe's arms. So now I gradually have more trust of my new home and new country.
I am not so shy now and I am very nterested in everything! This town is a little bit chaotic but step by step I got used to the traffic, all the people, dogs, noise, smell and lights... And Strassbourg is quite green and friendly to animals.
Everywhere I find green spots and along the river you can have marvellous walks. Claire-Zoe and Olivier promised to teach me how to jog and bike. The trips in the car I enjoy so much. Claire-Zoe and Olivier are so proud of me and the way I behave.
Since Saturday I'm using the toilet outside and fertilize the grass. On the weekend I lost 2 teeth and on Sunday I had a big surprise for all - I am perfect on a lead!! I didn't want to miss the walk through fields and grass with Nemo and Charlie (Grandma and Grandpa Koenig's dogs).

Curly ex. Kristal

I came, I saw, I conquered.
Written by Curly.

I never ever will forget the 6. December 2007. In the Dog Shelter the helpers came and took me for a bath, than they combed me and gave me a blow dry.
I thought - what's going on here?

And not enough they brought me with some of my friends in a car to the airport. There I met a nice gentleman from Hamburg and he took me with him in his plane. No, not just any old plane it was a super Lear Jet. Wow what an experience I thought. And than we took off and after a few hours we arrived in Hamburg.
Brrrrrrrr I thought what cold weather but when I saw all these nice people who were so happy to see us and I felt like a VIP (what I really am, but don't take it serious!)
This warm welcome they showed me and all this good blankets (red, coloured, blue and also one in a leopard design) let me forget all about this cold weather. After a short stop we continued to go to Flensburg.
And there I met Hazel and loved her immediately.
I jumped on her lap and stayed there. I was sooo happy and she felt it too. She gave me so many cuddles and not enough she is also a physiotherapist for dogs.
I let her know how much I loved her with a lot of kisses.
My Cyprus friends it's absolute great here. I have my own bed, great food and receive a lot of love. Of course I had to learn some rules, quite easy ones and therefore I got biscuits and cuddles. My favourite word is "fine" and I understand this word in German, Danish and English.

So come on friends give your best for the camera, I'm waiting for you in Germany.

Ollie with lovely
pictures

Hi it's me Ollie and I wanted to let you know how my new life isgoing on.
It is very exciting here in Kiel / Germany. Even the ride over here was so exciting, all the time I looked out of car not to miss anything. Then I had to inspect my new home - everything seemed to be ok, so I made use of my privilege and had a good sleep on the settee. Apart from me, my Mum and Dad there are two other feathered fellows - very noisy ones. I tried so often to climb up the windowsill to look at them closer but Mum and Dad are not very amused so I stopped it. They also don't like too much when I try to sleep with them in their bed at night but I try hard that they give in.
When we go out for a walk I can't wait to make progress. Unfortunately Mum and Dad are very slow walker and they can't follow me properly so I have to pull the lead to push them.
But funny enough mostly it works the other way round. They told me they will teach me seriously to give up this pulling but is it my problem when they are so slow But it looks like that they try to do something - today Mum took me for jogging. That was more my speed. Everybody we met until now was very enthusiastic about me. But why do they all think that I'm a girl? How can they ignore my male charisma?

It is very terrific here, warm and comfortable. I have my own cuddly cushion, get a lot of cuddles and we go for a walk all the time. I keep my fingers crossed for all my doggie friends in Cyprus that they will find a home like the one I have now.

Percy in his appartement

Percy is with us in Hannover now the 4th day. Immediately he took over the apartment and sniffed in every corner for any details. Nobody could sleep in the first night because everybody had to have a look what the other is doing.
The impressions he got the next day in the city were so overwhelming that we ended up in a Veterinary surgery to check his stomach. The next night was quiet and relaxing and with a diet (chicken with rice) Percy started to trust his new pack.
So much that Percy started to improve his position in the pack by demanding bed, settee, socks and also his feeding place.
Since then we swing in between a trainee for subordination, cuddles and solicitude. Slowly we find together our rhythm for the day and we can have sometimes half an hour alone for us. But Percy is more superior than the owner.
Best regards and many thanks for your help and support.

Shep now Tobi...together with his friend

Here are a few lines about Tobi. He has developed magnificently, is already a great deal larger than Coco and would like to be King. Last week he was castrated, which did not bother him at all. It plays and runs around just as madly as before.

He fell the other day in the Plöner lake, just in a place where it was hard to get out. Fortunately the water was not so deep, so that he became wet to the belly only. But he was very frightened. Otherwise he loves to annoy Coco.
He teases her by running at her and just shortly before he reaches her he turns off or recently jumps over her. Coco however always ducks her head if he comes, since he attacked her nevertheless already several times. But Coco becomes now the boss and takes away from him at every opportunity the chewing bone, which she defends then growling and does not give back again.

Then Tobi comes and looks to me for assistance. It is thus always correctly which the matter.
Something which we did not expect however is that Tobi has grown a completely thick and curly coat, which in before was only on his head. But we like it much better this way. Anyhow are we all happy with one another.

We wish a beautiful Christmas to you and the entire team and for the new year completely many successful rehomings for the poor Schnuffis.