by Pippa Lee.

Have you ever wondered about Cavalier Rescue, what it is, how it happens and who does it? You don't need to be a breeder, exhibitor or even a Cavalier owner to be a volunteer with the rescue services. You need to have love and patience and be prepared to help rehabilitate a Cavalier who has fallen on hard times. Hopefully your help won't be needed too often, and rescue can be a very rewarding experience. At times, though, it can also be heartbreaking.

Information on Cavalier rescue can be found in this area. Alternatively, ask your local Cavalier Club or a breeder and they will be happy to tell you more.

I have been privileged to work in rescue in various breeds for many years. Sometimes, it can be a couple of years between rescues that I come into direct contact with - at other times we are kept more busy. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Club of New South Wales (Australia) has a well organized rescue service, and these days rescue work I undertake is with the support and backup of our Club Rescue Officer.

Two rescue experiences have been particularly memorable. The first is the story of a Miniature Long Haired Dachshund who had been abused in her first home and then by her so-called rescuer. I became involved in this rescue in 1979.

My news agent was also a dog breeder, and so we would often end up talking about dogs. On one occasion he asked if I would be able to offer some help to an old lady in the village who had rescued a Miniature Long Haired Dachshund, but was not coping with the situation. This lady was delighted at my offer of help, and I visited her at her home.

Over a cup of tea, I was told that Penny, the Dachshund, had been living in a kennel of German Shepherd Dogs. She was in poor condition and was terrified. The lady had heard of Penny's plight and had bought her from the owners. Unfortunately Penny was not used to being handled, nor was she housetrained. The only way this disabled old lady could catch Penny was to throw a towel over her and pick her up, which further frightened her so she would struggle and bite.

The lady was an animal lover, and just did not know what to do for the best. She was delighted when I suggested that Penny was perhaps too much of a handful for her, and that I could take her and find her a new home. However, she desperately wanted (and needed) a pet for company. She felt a kitten would be more suitable, and I was able to help her find a pet she could manage.

I took Penny home in a travel crate, and let her out in a small run before taking her indoors. This is where the fun began, it took me quite a while to catch her again, and by the time I did she had left several impressive bite marks on my hands and wrists.

I kept Penny in an upstairs room where she could be quiet and learn that I would not harm her. I would regularly take a mug of coffee and a book into her room and sit on the floor, apparently ignoring her. It was more than three weeks before Penny summoned the courage to approach me. A few days later she allowed me to touch her, but her fear overcame her and she bit me. Day by day her confidence improved, and eventually I was able to pick her up and cuddle her.

A couple of months after I took Penny home, she started showing some interest in what lay beyond the door of her room, so I left the door open. She followed me into the hall, where she froze and then belted back to her room. This became her routine, and I was surprised one day to find she had come downstairs to find me. The sight of my other dogs terrified her, but this time instead of snapping she ran to me and virtually climbed up my legs. I knew then that she was going to be a wonderful dog, and my time was being well spent.

Penny's rehabilitation took over six months. Initially everything and everyone frightened her. However, meeting only love and patience and being allowed to progress at her own pace, she became a friendly dog in beautiful condition. She became devoted to me, and I to her.

One of my friends had a neighbor who had been unexpectedly widowed, and was looking for a dog. When they visited, to my amazement Penny left my side and jumped up on our visitor's lap. We had been considering a puppy for this particular home, but Penny sold herself without considering my feelings!

After she had recovered from being desexed I delivered Penny to her new home. I was shown around the house where stools had been placed besides chairs and the bed so that Penny would be able to jump up. Penny inspected every room, and then curled up in an armchair in the sun.

Penny is probably my biggest success story in dogs. All my doggy friends, including my vet, said I would not be able to rehabilitate a dog that was so severely traumatized. Penny, however, had different ideas and lived very happily, well into old age with her new owner.

The second rescue I mentioned relates to a twelve month old male Cavalier called Tippi. This story took place only last year.

I received a phone call from a family who were at their wits end with the dog they had recently bought as a family pet. Tippi had been sold as a puppy to a family in a city where no one was at home all day. He learnt quickly that he could escape from the back yard and play on the busy roads. His owners were unable to keep him in, and they sent him up to their parents in the country. Unfortunately Tippi was too boisterous for the older couple and they sold him to the family who had contacted me. They adored Tippi, but simply could not afford the release fees from the pound where he ended up several times a week. Tippi had exhausted three homes in his first year of life.

Tippi was delivered to me in a travel crate. I expected him to be a little wary of coming out of the crate, but I was totally wrong! He bounded out and jumped into my arms before exploring the room. Perhaps he accepted that constant change was his way of life.

I knew Tippi would be over the fences in my dog runs in seconds, so fixed up a running chain for him. He quickly explored his run, and then jumped onto the top of the fence where he sat wagging his tail as he watched my other dogs. Tippi amused me with his antics and wonderful loving temperament, but he was only with me temporarily.

A few days later Tippi was transported down to our Club Rescue Officer. It was decided that he would have to be boarded as none of us had facilities that would keep him in. We were all concerned that this beautiful dog would not be able to be successfully rehoused, due to his love of freedom and the open road. Happily, we were wrong again.

A family contacted our rescue service offering a home to a Cavalier with special needs. They were told about Tippi and his tendency to wander, and decided to give him a chance as there was always someone at home. This proved to be the magic answer for Tippi. He was only let outside under supervision, and was constantly with people. He settled in well and has become a much loved member of the family.

For me, breed rescue is a way of giving something back to the breeds that have given me so much over many years. I am happiest when there is little or no work required in this area, but when it is needed I will always be prepared to help if I can.