Tezz

Tezz came into our care under unusual circumstances. A chilly February morning at the kennels was interrupted by a call from a nurse at King’s Mill Hospital, who was treating an older gentleman who had fallen ill. A visitor had mentioned that he had an elderly Collie at home, and the nurse asked if we could check on her.

With permission from a relative, we visited the property and found that Tezz’s owner had clearly been struggling for some time. The house was piled high with rubbish, and several rooms were completely inaccessible due to hazardous conditions. We found poor Tezz huddled on a well-worn sofa. She had, unfortunately, been forced to toilet indoors after being left alone for several days. Large patches of fur were missing from her back; some areas appeared to have been shaved, while others may have been lost due to stress grooming or alopecia. We later learned that a larger rescue charity had been made aware of the situation but had not seen it necessary to help, although part of her back had been shaved in an attempt to check for fleas.

Despite the clutter, as we explored the home we discovered many treasured belongings: a collection of guitars, an extensive CD library, and numerous statues and trinkets from around the world. These hinted at a life once filled with travel and adventure, now overshadowed by years of mental health struggles.

We brought Tezz into our care and, after a much-needed bath and blow-dry, settled her into the kennels. At 11 years old, she was in remarkably good condition. Her blood tests came back clear, with strong liver and kidney function, she only needed her ears cleaning! Aside from the bald patches, she was obviously a well loved companion and had been beside her owner all her life.

Once she had time to decompress, she revealed herself to be a gentle, affectionate soul who simply wanted to be close to people. She would poke her nose through the kennel gate for attention, eagerly leaning in for cuddles and offering kisses. Our rescue founder, Denise, quickly grew very fond of her. At first, she didn’t seem to understand the concept of a dog bed, so we made her a makeshift sofa, which she curled up on straight away. It was clear that Tezz had been deeply loved in her previous home, despite the difficult circumstances. Sadly, during her time with us, we were informed that her owner had passed away in hospital. We made a promise to his family that we would find Tezz a home where she would be cherished, as she deserved. We also ensured she was able to attend his funeral to say her final goodbye.

It wasn’t long before Tezz was adopted by her new owners, who absolutely adore her gentle nature and funny quirks. She now spends her days napping on the sofa, taking slow walks by the canal, and enjoying her favourite pastimes: playing with plastic bottles, shredding cardboard tubes, and carefully customising her toys to the perfect level of chewiness. The fur on her back has grown back beautifully, and she is absolutely thriving.

Tezz will spend her golden years in comfort, thanks to the dedication of our staff and volunteers, and the compassion of the nurse who ensured she wasn’t left alone.