RESERVED

UPDATE: ETHEL We got the biopsy results back for Ethel because she had a big lump on her back, and we were absolutely heartbroken to hear that it was a malignant tumour.

When we hear news like this, we don’t just think, “Oh, that’s so sad because she has a malignant tumour.” Of course it’s sad, but what makes it even harder is knowing that her chances of finding a home now are practically zero. And that really stresses us out because we hate seeing a dog grow old in kennels. We hate seeing a dog have no chance when, in reality, there may be absolutely nothing wrong with her. The tumour may never come back. In fact, the report says it is likely that it never will.

She’s a beautiful, young, wonderful dog who just wants to love somebody.

What do you think, guys? Is there anyone out there who can see past something like this? Someone who can give Ethel a chance, get her out of the kennels, and help her move beyond the fact that she once had a malignant tumour removed?

Well… this is awkward! We were told Ethel was an older girl, around 10 years old. She had a few lumps and bumps, and she did look a little worn out, so we believed it. But it turns out Ethel may simply have had a pretty rough life. She was spayed, and the vet told us that her uterus looked like that of a young dog — possibly around three years old! So… surprise! Ethel is actually a beautiful young Podenco, around three years old. Which means she’s definitely not going into retirement just yet! She has her whole life ahead of her, and now we’re looking for the wonderful home she deserves.

She’s loving, friendly, very sociable and great with other dogs. Basically, Ethel is ready to leave her difficult past behind and start enjoying the life she should have had all along. And this is also why we sometimes find it a little crazy when people focus so much on a dog’s estimated age. We’ve had people choose one dog over another because one was supposedly four and the other five — as though that one year makes such a huge difference.

The reality is that so many rescue dogs don’t have an exact birth date. Their ages are often estimates, and even vets can have completely different opinions. As Ethel has just proved, sometimes those estimates can be very wrong! So please don’t take the number too, too seriously. Look at the dog in front of you — their personality, their energy, their health and, most importantly, the wonderful companion they could become. Because Ethel might have been labelled a 10-year-old yesterday… but today she’s got a whole lot of living to do!—Tina

It could have turned out much worse for older girls Ethel and Mildred. Their owner had died and the girls were locked away in an outbuilding remaining unnoticed for some time. It took the fire department and police to get them safely out. Now with us, they seem quite relieved and are enjoying themselves immensely. Cover with tumors, we have no idea whether they were used for hunting or breeding—whatever their purpose, they deserved so much better than being kept in an outbuilding. It would mean so much for these lovely girls to finally know the comfort and benefits of a loving family. And they do not need to be adopted together.

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