HUMANS & DOGS OF ST AGNES
2015 - 2018 HUMANS & DOGS OF ST AGNES
HELLO FROM HADOSA
Hello. Josie and Viv here, the humans HaDoSA jaunt. This is for those dogs, gone but behind the Humans & Dogs of St Agnes not forgotten. Edition: 2015-2018 HaDoSA 1 (HaDoSA) project. It has also always been the intention of HaDoSA to We have loved being out and about in the village create a book that could be used to raise money for in the past few years meeting the people and their local dog rescues. pooches who live in (or visit) St Agnes. Finalised during the challenging days of the We both share a passion for dogs and the village, COVID-19 pandemic, we hope it brings a ray of and quite like being nosey too - we mean chatting sunshine to all. We understand the comfort our to folk and learning all about their lives with their dogs can give us. canine friends. We’d like to ask that you make a small We hope you enjoy reading the stories of a donation to our fundraiser for Last Chance number of people who spent a few moments with Hotel, if possible, to help them us to share their ‘tails’ of life with their dog(s) as continue to provide love and much as we enjoyed gathering them. sustenance for the dogs in their care at this time.
INFO This edition takes a look back at some of our first Visit justgiving.com/fundraising-edit/hadosa if you can participants. Not all of the dogs are still with us, facebook.com/humansanddogsofstagnes spare a few pennies. Thank you. including Milo, Josie’s much-missed dog, and instagram.com/humansanddogsofstagnes partner in crime with Viv’s dog Ted on many a
Josie and VivApril 2020
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Anny with Roo
October 2015
Anny is a vet and when she moved to Devon for work her boss went to see a litter of Jack Russell/ Border Terrier puppies on Dartmoor, Anny went too. There was one puppy left and Anny’s boss said “you should get her”, and Anny did. Roo’s name comes from a family tradition of naming pets after Winnie the Pooh characters - there’s been a Piglet and Tigger too. “Roo is eight-years-old and has great energy, loves everyone, and can bring even the grumpiest dog round,” said Anny. Roo even goes running around St Agnes and Cornwall with Anny when she is in the mood. She has some bad habits too such as stealing balls off other dogs on the beach - watch out.
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Rhubarb and her humans, the Red and his humans Fliss, Troy and Nason family. baby Sunny.
November 2015 November 2015
Rhubarb (also known as Rhu-ra, Ruby and other nicknames on occasion) Red is four-years-old and has dual citizenship. is a two-year-old ee-red Border Collie. And that makes her pretty unique in the Collie breed as it means she is a lovely redhead. He started life in Australia, where he was surrendered to the pound when he was just seven Rhubard lives in the village with her humans Mark and Joceline Nason, months old. and their children Barnaby, Lily-May and Isaac (not in the photo as he had other business to attend to on the day). Fliss and her husband Troy rescued the handsome Kelpie/collie cross and he continued to live there “Before moving to St Agnes, we were living on a farm and wanted to get with them until earlier this year. a dog that would be good around animals, had lots of energy, that could come out with us all when we went cycling and could take part in agility. In June, he took a 24-hour flight to the UK to join Rhubarb is pretty good at agility and loves doing it for fun.” Fliss and Troy to live in St Agnes.
After researching dog breeds, the family decided on this red-coloured Fliss said: “Red is obsessed with water - he can Collie and when they went to see her in the litter they were “sold” - the go all day on the beach chasing and biting the family also love the fact that she looks like a fox too. Her best friend is breakwater. He also loves the water outfall on a cat and Rhubarb loves to play with lemons and feathers. Trips to the St Agnes beach. He runs up the tunnel and the other beach are fun as she loves to play with balls in the shore break, letting the day he emerged from it with a fish. He took one look waves bring them back to the beach. She is also known for being a little bit at me and promptly proceeded to eat it.” neurotic and protective of Mark but she loves cuddles and even jumps up on her back legs to put her paws over people’s shoulders to give them hugs. When she meets someone new she does tend to do a little wee - you’ve been warned.
“She loves to be near us and really loves to jump on our heads to wake us up.”
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George and his human, Emily
November 2015
George, a two-year-old Jack Russell, works as His best buddy is Emily’s daughter, Eryn. They love Churchtown Arts ‘shop manager’ on Sundays and hanging out and playing with each other’s toys. His Wednesdays with his human, Emily. favourite toy is his dinosaur.
His full title is George Orwell. Emily was writing a He’s really good friends with Milo (who lives with Josie dissertation about her literary hero as part of her from HaDoSA) and with Emily’s sister’s dogs, Murray English degree when canine George came into her life. and Clive.
George will be starting his own Facebook page His favourite thing to do is tell Emily he loves her in soon so that everyone who knows him from his job ‘dog talk’ when she tells him she loves him. will be able to keep up-to-date with his exploits. Customers at the gift shop love him and often bring him treats and Christmas presents.
“When he was a puppy he used to sit in my hoodie while I was at work - I looked pregnant.”
He’s also getting quite famous as the “dog in the window” as he likes to watch the world go by when at home.
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Dottie and her humans, Kate and Neve
November 2015
Dottie is nearly four. She was born on 12 December so she has her birthday soon. She is an English Springer Spaniel but isn’t a typical one.
“She’s not one for chasing rabbits and hates moving water. She doesn’t even like to go for walks when it’s raining,” Kate said.
She’s not keen on the dark either and can be nervous around big dogs, although her best friend is called Barnie and is a big collie who she can actually stand under.
Neve had never been fond of dogs until previous neighbours got a Labrador puppy and she went on walks with them and started to save for her own.
“My godmother breeds Springers. When we went to see them Dottie chose Neve as she kept playing with her and sitting on her lap. We also needed a dog who would be good around horses and she will now follow Neve when she takes her pony out.”
Dottie can be a little bit lazy but at the same time is full of beans and loves to play with people, but if she gets nervous she likes to sit on their feet.
She had a litter of 8 puppies in June this year but she (yes, Dottie) said: “I’m not doing that again, it was too much like hard work.”
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Bear and his human, Bill.
November 2015
Bear is the newest, much-loved Labrador owned by (or who have owned) Bill and his family.
Bill has been the publican at the St Agnes Hotel for the past seven years. “In the past 18 months, we sadly lost our previous dogs, Buster and Molly but felt ready to look for our next dog in the Spring this year.
“We went to Devon to originally get a chocolate brown female puppy, but when we were viewing the litter, a car backfired outside and the litter scattered. There was this little black male puppy who stood his ground and was looking up at me, and I thought, that’s the one for us.”
Bill’s daughter Lily came up with the new pup’s name on the drive home.
Bear is now nine months old, a real daddy’s boy, going everywhere with Bill. He’s becoming a Lola and Alfie with their humans, Helen and Dave - November 2015 good guard dog (although he’s frightened of the hoover), loves everyone and everything and is When Helen took on Lola, she certainly got more than she bargained for. Lola was eight-months-old and turning into a model pub dog. was being advertised in the local newspaper as needing to be rehomed. Originally Viv and Ted from HaDoSA offered her a new home, but let’s just say Lola and Ted didn’t get When asked where Bear sleeps Bill admits that on too well. That’s when Helen kindly stepped in, offering to have the feisty Lola as it was obvious she although adamant the new dog would not preferred humans to hounds. be sleeping on the bed, Bear now has his own After about a month of settling in, the most amazing thing happened. Helen said: “I had just taken Lola sheets on top of the bed. “He is one of the pack.” on a lovely long walk to the beach, got home and then needed to pop out to the shop. When I returned This seems to be a common theme for the there was something on the kitchen floor and Lola was looking worried. She’d given birth to a tiny brown humans and dogs of St Agnes when asked if puppy. I wrapped him in a towel and rubbed him to get him breathing. Thankfully he did and that’s how allowed on the bed. I now have Lola and Alfie - mother and son.” Lola is fiercely protective of Helen (much to Dave’s cost on occasion) and they can be “full on” sometimes but the couple love them to bits. They have a great spirit.
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Vinnie and his human, Lizzie
December 2015
Lizzie admits to never having been much of a dog lover before, but her daughter Robin had been asking for a dog for ages so Lizzie contacted a local rescue charity and asked if they had any small dogs needing a home. She was sent a photo of Vinnie, who had been rescued in Wales, and fell in love instantly. Three years on and he has taken over their lives - in a good way of course. He goes everywhere with Lizzie. “His nicknames are Vinniepops or ASBO depending on his behaviour that day,” she said. He adores cheese too and also gets to sleep on the bed with the humans - a regular occurrence among the dogs of St Agnes. Lizzie is a piano teacher but sadly Vinnie has to go upstairs now when her students come for their lessons. Why? Because he has a rather embarrassing habit of becoming amorous with the rug and exposing himself. Harvey and his human, Clare - December 2015
First of all, a big thank you to the owners of the house Harvey, now 13, certainly seems to be a little minx. who didn’t mind Harvey and Clare taking a break on Clare said he has taken burgers out of people’s their very pretty Christmas steps. hands, stolen roast chickens, a leg of lamb off a Clare wanted a Beagle as she thought that they were barbecue, eaten friends’ food when they have dared very cute. Now she says, with a resigned smile, she to look away and last Christmas ate numerous mince has learnt the hard way. pies and almost got the turkey. “Harvey is actually from the Beagle Rescue Society in When not behaving badly and passing the time doing Cumbria so he’s a rescue dog. his two favourite things, eating or sleeping, he likes to hang out with his canine pals Professor Milofogees, “It seemed such a good idea at the time but all the Kuma and BoBo. reasons why people said “don’t own a Beagle” have since come true - I just thought I knew better at And, despite all his up-to-no-good tricks he is very the time. gentle, sweet-natured and does not have a bad bone in his body. “I’d had a collie so I thought, how bad can it really be?” And, despite all her protestations, Clare wouldn’t be At this point, Harvey gives a nonchalant wink over his without him. shoulder. “He’s just so naughty. Incessantly so. Unbelievably persistent and just untrainable.”
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Misty and her human, Gwynedd (Gwynnie).
December 2015
Misty, a retired, ‘blue’ greyhound, came into Gwynnie’s (and Trev’s) life three years ago when they decided to adopt her from the Russet Greyhound Sanctuary, Camborne.
She had been used for greyhound racing but was out of the game by age three. “We think she possibly didn’t have the right temperament for racing, even though she was a winner, as she is very nervous by nature and that maybe it was quite a traumatic time for her,” Gwynnie said.
Gwynnie used to volunteer at a Manchester-based animal rescue centre many years ago and worked in the “bunny division”.
One day the centre held an open day and the Retired Greyhound Trust took a stand. They brought three greyhounds along, which Gwynnie thought were “just lovely”.
“I didn’t know anything about the breed or racing but learnt so much on the day but, as I had three rabbits at the time, I couldn’t have a dog so instead I sponsored a greyhound for 12 years.”
When Gwynnie’s last rabbit died aged 11, she was able to have a greyhound of her own.
Six months after coming to live with Gwynnie, Misty, unfortunately, had a mysterious medical condition that caused her to collapse suddenly and she was paralysed. “It was thought it may have been an old racing injury as the dogs can often crack heads at the first bend of the race or possibly a slipped disc and she had to have major surgery.”
Misty then spent time back at the sanctuary so that she could learn to walk again.
“It was a miracle as we thought that we were going to lose her.”
Misty now has a ramp at her house to help her down over the steps, needs help getting into the car too and isn’t allowed to run very much. It has been a steep learning curve for Gwynnie as Misty is her first dog but she has definitely found her forever home.
Misty’s main quirk is not being keen on other greyhounds, which is unusual and she will bark at them ferociously. “It’s very embarrassing, although many of her quirks are embarrassing but we love her. She is so affectionate and at home she is the queen.”
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Darcy with her human, Sam - April 2016
Darcy and Sam were visiting Wheal Coates on a beautiful but rather blustery morning. The delightful Darcy is 14-weeks-old and is a miniature shaded red dachshund. Sam had always wanted a dachshund since she was a little girl, when she called them “sausage dogs”, but thought it was out of the question as they are expensive. However, a friend of her mum’s in Camborne had Helga the dachshund who was having a litter and luckily Sam was able to have the only female in that litter, the adorable Darcy. “I got to see her from when she was a day old and saw her weekly and took photos until I could bring her home when she was eight-weeks - life has changed an awful lot since then. “The first two-weeks were exhausting but she has settled really well and she comes everywhere with me, including to work and family and friends’ houses,” Sam beamed. “As she has met many people she is pretty confident, gives lots of kisses and cuddles and has an amazing impact on everyone she meets.” As sleeping arrangements are a big topic for Humans and Dogs of St Agnes, we had to enquire. “She has just transferred into her big girl’s crate for overnight sleeping, but she is allowed onto the bed for morning snuggles,” Sam smiled. Well, who could resist? Darcy has made Sam slow down, not rush everywhere and think ahead much more. “More than anything she simply makes me smile - and walk.”
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Poppy, Harley and their human, Helen.
September 2016
This dastardly duo are both 13-year-old Springer Spaniels. Harley (on right in photo) is from upcountry and travelled to Cornwall in a cat box while Poppy is a born and bred St Agnes pooch.
Helen said that Harley is “getting a bit senile now and will forget who I am”, but both ladies love to go on wanders over St Agnes Head where Poppy can run about.
They both adore Helen’s partner Mark, Dotty (a ‘Heinz 57’ although Harley did bite him on the Whippet/Springer bum when she first met him. Collie) with her humans Dan and Ruth, and her doggie “I think she likes him best now though”. pal, Mazy (a Hungarian Vizsla). The girls are also good pals with Helen’s April 2016. dad’s dog Spike who likes to come to “I love walking,” Ruth said, “but without a dog, it would be so their house for sleepovers. “Dotty’s mix means she is built for speed and she likes much easier to make an excuse not to go; it’s great to get out As with many HaDoSA pooches, nothing better than to hare around being chased or chasing and about nearly every day with Dotty.” others,” said Ruth. selective hearing often applies, although Ruth has plans for Dotty to start agility training soon too, one of the girls is deaf so she can get “She is a little bit of a whingey Whippet at home and is quick to although she did hint she’s not sure how focussed Dotty will be. away with things. let us know if she’s not happy but she loves snuggles too and Dotty is coming up to her second birthday in July and there’s although she doesn’t sleep on our bed she does love to sneak talk of a beach party to celebrate - let’s hope they choose And even though they don’t up under the duvet in the morning for cuddles.” Trevaunance Cove or Trevellas. actually sleep on the bed (mainly as they Dotty’s is Mazy’s mid-week sleepover pal as she often stays at can’t jump up on it anymore) they now Dan’s parent’s house in the village due to Dan and Ruth’s work sleep on the bedroom floor, with Poppy commitments. being fond of clambering in and out from underneath the bed all night. When not coming back to play on the beaches of St Agnes, the couple loves to take Dotty to a pebble beach off the coast path not far from Mawnan Smith.
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Charlie with his human Susie.
February 2017
Susie adopted six-year-old Charlie three months ago from St Francis Home for Animals in Porth, Newquay.
She wanted a companion and when she went to meet him, he immediately put his paws up on her (something he hadn’t done with anyone else) and so Charlie chose Susie.
It’s taken him a while to find his feet - he was quite aloof to begin with but his confidence is growing - he’s wagging his tail more and loves a snuggle in his dog blanket.
Susie has discovered that Charlie likes to “take things” into his bed when she is out. So far he’s had shoes and slippers, and even an unopened packet of flatbreads. At first, Susie thought she might have been getting forgetful but now knows it’s Charlie’s way of being close to her when she pops out.
He travels well in the car, has got a fantastic recall, loves the Q Tea Room in St Agnes (where biscuits are plenty) and his favourite walk is at the ‘lost oratory’ at Perran Sands.
And of course, we asked about the sleeping arrangements. Charlie is allowed on the bed, and in true HaDoSA style, this causes Susie to end up gripping onto the edge of the mattress so as not to fall out.
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Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Huxley with his humans, Marina and Jerome - March 2018
Welcome to the Mayor of St Agnes, the most “Sometimes he almost falls over trying to wee as honourable Ronnie, a seven-year-old English high up a pole as possible,” grinned Jerome. Bulldog, who made himself at home with his humans when he was almost five years old. They Yet it’s Ronnie’s bedroom etiquette that makes him describe him as the “love of their lives”. a true HaDoSA dog. “He snores like you wouldn’t believe and has made Jerome end up sleeping in Both Marina and Jerome had always wanted an another room - it’s mine and Ronnie’s room now,” English Bulldog, even before they met, and it was giggles Marina. while Marina was volunteering at Battersea Dogs Home when she lived in London that she knew Although Ronnie had always been allowed to hang rescuing a dog was the thing to do. out on the sofa and mosey around the house, it wasn’t until Jerome had to go away for work just Her internet searching led her to the Bulldog after Ronnie moved in that he gained full access to Rescue Centre and the couple laugh that that was the bedroom. the “beginning of the end”. “It was Bonfire Night and Ronnie was terrified - I Luckily for the dogs at the centre, many simply couldn’t shut the bedroom door and the people want to adopt them but it meant Marina and rest is history,” Marina laughed. Jerome had to apply for lots of them in the hope that they would be matched up. Ronnie’s likes include the Muppets, especially Kermit, watching Blue Planet, fish, and ruining And eventually, they got the call and a trip to meet horror movies by barking so much. He’s also a Ronnie in Cambridgeshire was on the cards. music lover with an eclectic taste from Bach to Brazilian rhythms, but he’s not a fan of Jerome said: “We thought he was the rescue Amy Winehouse. centre’s show dog as he is so handsome.” And you won’t see him dancing with the Bolster as There are times when Ronnie becomes Ronald he’s really not keen, possibly as the Bolster is a bit - usually depending on his behaviour but, most too tall. importantly, when out and about on public engagements. One thing is for sure is he’s won Marina and Jerome’s hearts - “he’s made our lives complete”. He’s quite partial to being authoritative, likes his status as well as being told he’s tall, and climbing up as high as he can.
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HaDoSA’s Ted with his sister Peggy and one of their humans, Viv
Viv and Tony adopted Ted about 13 years ago when badly injured leg. She’d been living on the streets he was about eight months old. His owner was before this. SRS took her for treatment, and her leg struggling to cope with him. was amputated. “We weren’t particularly looking for another dog; We had been looking on the dog rescue pages for a we had a bonkers collie, Esther from the Dogs while, saw Peggy’s story - she sounded a real sweet- Trust, but we offered to look after Ted for two weeks heart - and arranged to go and meet her once she and he never went back,” said Viv. had been brought to the UK and was in foster care. Ted and Esther became firm pals. Ted was a We researched tripod dogs (most get on just fine on typical Jack Russell for the first four years, three paws), took Ted for the meet and greet (lots of constantly disappearing after rabbits, showing no sniffs and a bit of a play), and brought her home. fear of ANYTHING, a being a bit of a Pepe le Peu with the ladies. She is absolutely adorable, loves people, and she’s learning to trust other dogs, getting used to cars, As he’s got older, he’s now a complete enigma - a is mesmerised by the TV, and is getting physically regular down the Drifty pub with his signature stronger every day. meerkat begging (for crisps). Ted mainly tolerated her to begin with but now “We take him everywhere we go and he has his own they sleep in the same dog bed and he has taught Facebook page and answers to alternative names her the ropes - she adores him. as Tedward and Edwardo. And yes, he sleeps in the bed. We have photos of her when she was in the pound, sick and in pain. To see the transformation is truly “Esther sadly died eight years ago, and we often wonderful.” thought about getting another pal for Ted. In addition to supporting all our wonderful “The latest edition to our family is Peggy, a three- local and national charities, if you would like legged mongrel from Romania. We like a challenge. to spread the love you can support SRS at: “We adopted her in October 2016 through the savingromanianstrays.co.uk. most amazing rescue organisation, Saving Romanian Strays (SRS).
She was spotted in the dog pound by SRS with a
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HaDoSA’s new team member Millie with one of her humans, Josie.
When HaDoSA lost one half if its original pooch crew, Not coming from Cornwall, it seems Millie had Milo, it left his humans Josie and Gav devastated. never seen the sea - she ran away from the tide at “We miss him every day - every loved dog leaves a Trevaunance Cove at first but loved watching the huge doggie-shaped hole when they go. crashing waves at Crantock. “We didn’t expect to have a dog for a while, but we Like Ted, Millie now has a passion for her local pub, knew providing a safe home for another rescued dog the Drifty. And any other local eating and drinking was a good thing to do. establishments where doggie biscuits are on offer. “You could say that Millie chose us - we’d been in touch with Last Chance Hotel and when they rescued She is a hugely affectionate girl and is pretty good Millie they thought we’d be a good match. at snoring on the sofa but more than anything, she’s loving life - as every dog should. “In the three years she has been with us, she has grown into a wonderful girl. At first she suffered terribly from severe separation anxiety and was fear reactive around some men. But when she saw Gav, she instantly rested her head on him as if to say I feel safe with you. “Now she has numerous human and doggie besties - when she’s out and about she can still get a little over excited when meeting others dogs and forgets her manners - no one’s perfect.” Millie is a bouncy and bubbly husky/collie X. “She’s as bright as a button and has got sit, wait, lie down, roll over, paw, high five and more down to a fine art.”
28 29 Thank you to all the pooches and people who took part and shared their stories. Dogs forever xxx
Prof. ‘Milo’ Milofogees
2005 - 2017
In loving memory of one half of the HaDoSA pooch ‘pack’.
Milo, along with Ted (and now Peggy and Millie) inspired humans Josie and Viv to begin going out and about to meet other pooches and their humans and to share their stories. He fought long and hard against his illness and never stopped bringing absolute joy into our lives. Milo, you are a star. Shine bright handsome pants. HUMANS & DOGS OF ST AGNES