What’s it like to rescue a dog? This maybe a question you are asking yourself if you are looking at this webpage. So we thought it would be nice to share some of our real life stories with you. If you have rescued a dog from Wallace Kennels, we would love to share your story here. Email us at fowksecretary@btinternet.com

Meet Delilah – our gorgeous mastiff cross  – by Julia, Secretary Friends of Wallace Kennels

Delilah came into our life in February 2015. Having just moved to a bungalow that backed on to a forest we had already decided we wanted to get a dog to make the most of our surroundings and enjoy lots of country walks. It wasn’t quite the right time, as our new home needed complete refurbishment and we were in the middle of an extension, resulting in a very muddy garden and no fence to one side,  but Delilah stole my heart when I was walking her as a volunteer at the Wallace Kennels. Those big brown eyes looked so sad when I put her back in her kennel, I just knew I had to take her home, so after completing all the paperwork and getting her to meet my husband, she moved in!

Delilah was such a character from the start, She had a bit of a crossbite, which meant she always looked like she was grinning.  She had an obsession with shadows and shining things and would chase reflections. She loved to snuggle up on the sofa and, despite weighing in at just over 35kg, she thought she was a lap dog and would often try to perch on you in the most precarious spots.  Delilah loved the grand children and wanted to be involved in everything they were doing, this didn’t always bode well, as she would plonk herself down in the middle of a pile of Lego, when they were building their finest model. Groans of “Oh Lilah.” would soon be followed by giggles as she overpowered them with doggy kisses, earning her the nickname ‘licky-licky Lilah’  Delilah loved a holiday, especially the beach. She joined us on many travels, including a campervan touring holiday around the Lake District and a stay on Holy Island, to name but a few.

In 2017 we made the decision so get another dog,  as company for Delilah for the short hours we were at work and Samson became her best buddy – but I’ll tell you more about him in another post.

You may have guessed from my use of past tense that sadly Delilah is no longer with us. She was diagnosed with Sarcoma in 2018, which was devasting news. However, Delilah was a fighter and once the tumour was removed, she made a good recovery. The vet said that her type of cancer could reoccur quite quickly, even in as little as 6 weeks or 6 months, but to see Delilah running around and going for long walks, you would never have known she was ill. She had another tumour removed in 2020, just after the first Covid lockdown, and thankfully again she bounced back. They say good things must come to an end and sadly Delilah crossed rainbow bridge in June 2022. Although we only had her for 6 years, they were they most wonderful years and she filled our hearts with joy. Rescuing Delilah was one of the best things we have ever done and we will forever cherish the memories she has given us. We obviously still miss that big slobbery grin everyday, but while some people might say they couldn’t do it again because of the heartbreak, we just think of all the dogs in kennels that deserve to live out their lives in a loving home, so in September 2022 Nancy  came to stay, but more about her later…..

In just 9 years of being involved with Wallace Kennels we have had 3 rescue dogs, my son and several of my friends have also had rescues from Wallace. Rescuing a dog is one of the most fulfilling things you can do. They give you so much joy and an unconditional love which  is just the best and will leave a paw print on your heart forever.

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Candy’s story by Eve Townsend

On holiday  in Cornwall, on one of the main highways near Liskeard, all traffic started to slow down and two Jack Russell dogs were running in and out of the traffic, they were very scared. I jumped out of the car and threw some dog treats on the floor as they ran towards me ( I didn’t have a dog but always carried treats as our friends, who live in Cornwall, have dogs). Thankfully, they took the bait and I was able to catch one as a man caught the other.. He explained they had phoned the police  to report the incident so off  to the police station  we went with the two dogs. The police asked  us if we would mind waiting with the dogs in the car until the dog warden came. By this time the dogs had calmed and stopped shaking after a bit of fuss and some more treats. When the warden arrived he thought they would be mother and daughter, neither had a collar or were chipped. I said to the warden, if they have been dumped  I would like to give them a forever home but fortunately when we phoned  a couple of days later they had been claimed.

Our friend Amy was on holiday in Cornwall  a couple  of weeks  later  and our friends told  her about us rescuing these two dogs, she must have told Teresa (chairperson) about us and given her my brothers number, as he got  a phone call from Teresa saying our friends  in Cornwall had told  her we were looking for a dog. She explained about Wallace Kennels and that a  dog had come in looking  for a home, would we like to join the dog walk on Sunday to  to come  and have  a look? Well  I love  dogs  but wasn’t sure about getting one as I didn’t want the end bit,  didn’t want the hurt after losing my partner some 14 years before. However the idea played on my mind and I had bought books on care training and ailments just to be prepared!

So off  we went on the 30th of September to have a look at this dog, she was just 11 weeks old, I took one look said I would give her a forever home. She had to go  to the vets on Monday and if all was well I  could take her home  on 3rd of October. So that’s how Candy, as I named, came into my life to her for me to love and take care of.

When I first got Candy I was worried I wouldn’t get things  right even though I had got books on care, as she was my first dog. The first  night  I sat on the kitchen chair all night while she was in the crate that had ben loaned to me. I wanted  to be awake if she wanted to go out , the next night I decided to go to bed and left her in her crate but she was barking. I thought what to do and took down a long sleeved tee shirt I had been wearing and laid it on her bed, I thought  it would  be a comfort for her she sat on it immediately, so back to bed I went not long afterwards she started to bark again,  down I went to her and what do you think? She’d pooed on my tee shirt! That taught me a lesson, so after I’d cleaned her and her bed and thrown the tee shirt out, she came to bed with me and curled up tucked under my arm. I got up every time she woke up to take  her in the garden and it didn’t take long until she was clean.  I had a writing pad that I put the times I fed her and the time when she went to the loo, so I had an idea  when to take her in the garden. I still have that little pad in my memory box along with some  of her baby teeth.

A couple of weeks later on training we were in the garden and I hid round my side entrance with my whistle. Three short blasts and call her name she came and found me for which she got a small treat from her food  ration. Next I hid at the  bottom of the garden and repeated the whistle and name and she came and found me again so I let her have a little mooch about  when I looked at her a few  minutes later  her head was covered in green, she had got some green off the greenhouse glass. I had to laugh, it easily brushed off but a bit remained to remind me of her mischief! 

Hi my name is Candy and I am 12 years and 3 months  old  now this is my rescue story from the lovely Wallace Kennels. I was born  on the 12th  July 2012 from a not very nice puppy farm. Thankfully, the council closed it down and I was taken to Wallace Kennels rescue.  I was very scared as I didn’t know where I was going but a lovely lady, who owns the Kennels gave me a nice bath and got rid of all the fleas. She said I was filthy and stank but I felt much better and she gave  me a nice warm bed and some food.  I have to stay here for a bit to see if I have parvo virus, as my siblings didn’t make it.  The lovely lady, kept coming in to see me often, then after  a couple  of days the door opened and a lady and man came to see me.  I was a little scared but the lady picked me up and gave me a cuddle, which I liked very much. They said they would give me a forever home but I had to see  the vet to make sure I was healthy and to have vaccinations. A couple of days later they came  back -it was my gotcha day!  I was a little  bit scared and I was shaking a little bit as I didn’t  know where I was going  but I needn’t have worried as  I soon realised I was going to be ok!

It’s 7am on 11th July 2013, it’s my first birthday and I’m meeting all my doggy friends on the top of the field, My mummy made cubes of liver cake to share with them, to celebrate. Next we are travelling to Cornwall for a week and there will be a Wallace Kennels reunion with my Cornwall doggy friends, Boson and Mia who were rescued from Wallace Kennels and now live in Cornwall. I like Cornwall, especially when  we are on the beach. I dig for shells and get stuck in the mud and look a real mess. We also go to this cafe for something to eat, they have a doggy menu and I have sausage as a treat.

The years have gone by so quickly and I am 12 and a half years now and a bit arthritic. I have  a buggy when l go out for sniffy walks and get a lift home when I have had enough.

I still see doggy friends on our walks, which I like.  I am having a lovely life and I am well  looked after and loved 

Thank you  Wallace Kennels for finding me my forever  home  love Candy  x 💕