EDDIE'S STORY
Eddie's story featured as part of the Rescue and Welfare Report, published in the Irish Water Spaniel Association's 2019 Yearbook.
Below is Eddie’s story, quite the saddest ‘rescue’ I have dealt with but, as you will read thanks to a kind and generous veterinary practice and his new owner very rewarding.
It was 2nd December 2019, Eddie wasn’t well, in fact he was in a lot of pain. He had glaucoma, and a very bad ear condition, and was matted from top to toe. He was taken to the vet by his owner but not to have his issues dealt with, but to be euthanized.
That same morning I received a phone call from Hannah, a veterinary nurse. “Can you help?” she asked, “we have an IWS here which the owner asked us to euthanize, but we asked if he would sign him over to us, we would treat him and find him a new home. I wondered if you could help?”. She also asked if we could contribute to his costs which would be around £605.00. He is (she added) very friendly. I said I felt neither would be a problem.
During the next few days I checked on Eddie’s progress, he was doing fine.
In the meantime I contacted Clare who had some time back applied to ‘adopt’ an IWS. I also checked on the charges, so I could make arrangements for payment to be made. I was advised he will be ready to go on Wednesday, but the charges of £605 have been waived by Richard Pettit B Vet. Med MRCVS Veterinary Director. I was for a while quite stunned. “are you sure?” I asked, quite sure was the reply, no charge. Thank you, just did not to me seem enough to say. What a very generous thing to do!
I called Clare again, ‘Eddie’ would be ready to go Wednesday, but Clare couldn’t make it until Friday which was not a problem. Friday dawned, and Clare with her best friend Ruth called me to say they were on their way, both very excited to meet Eddie.
He didn’t disappoint them. His lovely friendly nature won them over immediately. Since then Eddie’s progress has been relayed to me regularly, and he has won friends on his walks both human and canine. What a lovely result for Eddie.
The IWSA Rescue and Welfare Co-ordinator , the IWSA Officers and Committee wish to thank most sincerely: Richard Pettit.B Vet. Med MRCVS Veterinary Director and his wonderful team of veterinary nurses at the High Cliff Veterinary Practice, 96 High Street, Hadleigh, Suffolk, 1P7 5EN for their kindness and generosity to Eddie & the IWSA.
Lois Ferrans - Rescue & Welfare Co-ordinator IWSA
Eddie Update - May 2020
Dear Lois,
Thank you for your mail....
Eddie is great ! Woof!
(He's had) some allergic flair ups which we are slowly dealing with with our lovely vets.
Hope v much to meet you one day.
With love Clare, Bob & Eddie
What a transformation! Well done!
Eddie Update - August 2020
Dear Lois,
I am sorry it has taken me so long to write anything for the IWS rescue page but I am doing it now - please forgive me! Eddie and Bob have formed a grand alliance and conspire against me at every turn!
"Eddie came into our lives fortuitously as we had unexpectedly lost our 12 year old IWS Finnbar and obviously couldn't carry on without another boy. So we had contacted everybody for a puppy or a Rescue or Adoptee and we were miraculously told by Lois to go to Suffolk to meet a poorly IWS, which the owner wanted to euthanize but the wonderful vet practice at High Cliff Veterinary, Hadleigh, Suffolk, wanted to treat and find a new home.
I travelled to the vet with my friend Ruth and obviously Eddie couldn't be left. A fantastic dog, even with no fur and no eye.
He still has many medical issues, particularly allergies and skin and stomach problems which he bravely deals with but he is easily one of the most wonderful dogs the world has ever seen.
Eddie – ROCKSTEADY EDDIE - with the most bounce of any mature dog to be found is six years old going on six months. Let him loose on any green space, particularly with other dogs and balls and he will run and run like a – can’t find a suitable metaphor – not a cheetah, but perhaps a Chewbacca on a Beano - hair rippling, tail fully hoisted and furred, barking joyfully and loudly and bouncing up to animals and humans expecting them to join in the fun. (As I am typing this he is lying on a wooden floor with his tail beating a rock rhythm into the floor.)
The effect of Eddie is like meeting a very furry young bear at the last fence at Aintree. When out on his joy fests he does sometimes recall if one has armed oneself with more than one very squeaky ball. To be truthful he is a bit of a shock for anyone with a dog that knows how to heel. On the lead he currently turns round and round his human necessitating much nifty changing of hands. Sometimes he morphs on the lead into a large furry otter and always' humans are enquiring 'What breed?' 'How many months old?' (he is still a pup! but nearly 7 years, I think) Can they have one and so on? But Eddie we think is a one off.
The charm of an IWS but possibly some Portuguese don’t you think from the photograph? Eddie gives all of himself, all of the time, and we are fortunate to have been found by him. If any IWS friends in North London have a walled grass garden, we would love to be able to train him safely there, and if anybody volunteers to help with any training we would all be thrilled to meet them.
ROCKSTEADY EDDIE is an enchanting total darling with many medical issues, more love to give, more hair to brush, more balls to return and more barks to launch than can be imagined. Thank you Lois and IWS welfare. And thank you Richard, Veterinary Director, High Cliff Veterinary, Hadleigh, and wonderful nurses particularly Hannah, and Jamie Veterinary, Village Vet Hampstead.”
I hope we are going to meet one day.
All the very best.
Clare and ROCKSTEADY EDDIE.
If you could offer a permanent home or be able accept an IWS to foster for a while, or if you'd like to help in any other way the IWSA's Rescue & Welfare Coordinator (Lois Ferrans) would love to hear from you. Please download and complete the NEW OWNER ADOPTION FORM (available here in WORD Format or in PDF Format) and send this BY POST - her address is on the Form - to Lois to register your interest. On receipt, Lois will make contact to discuss the process with you. Her contact details are as follows:-
Lois Ferrans - IWSA Rescue & Welfare Coordinator
Tel: 07796 072304
Email: loisandtrader@btinternet.com