Darcy Cannon has traditionally led the Parade of rescues as he was the very first rescue dog to be rehomed by Irish Retriever Rescue UK, although Sandie had been single handedly re-homing dogs for 10yrs before that. Darcy was a stray taken by Sandie from the pound. He was, undoubtedly, like many other older dogs, dumped in favour of a younger model, as it was very near Christmas. He was lucky enough to be adopted by Lorraine and lived happily with her and Gareth and his Labrador girlfriend, Martha in Hertfordshire.

He had a few ups and downs but with his dogged determination and Lorraine’s TLC and heaps of love, he kept bouncing back. Sadly, in July 2008, Darcy went peacefully to Rainbow Bridge at the grand old age of 16yrs.

We then took a moment to remember all the lovely IRR dogs Carrie, Duke, Ellis, George, Jimmy, and, of course, Darcy, as well as other dogs belonging to our adopters, fosterers and sponsors, who have sadly gone to Rainbow Bridge in the past year.

For sure, they may be gone but none of them will ever be forgotten.

Much to our delight JIM and RITA led our Parade of Rescues from 2005.

Jim is a 5 or 6yr old Labrador who Sandie brought over with Darcy, Perry and a little black terrier on the first boat to Holyhead on 27th December 2004 (the first of many IRR journeys across the water) and went to live with Rita and Fred in Southampton. He was given the name Jim as he was destined to live with Rosie, a black Labrador, so it was quite fitting that he arrived on a boat, having been named after a puppet character that lived on a barge. This year we were delighted that they could make the Reunion and lead the Parade.

DANNY JEFFEREY

Danny is about 10 or 11yrs old and is owned by Pauline and Steve who failed as his fosterers and adopted him themselves. Danny was a stray who ended up in the pound and, unbelievably, this lovely, gentle well bred golden retriever was never claimed. He was clearly once well loved and knew many commands when he arrived but he was very, very sad. We suspect his owner may have died and the other family members did not want him, which is a very common story. He is absolutely brilliant with all the foster dogs they have passing through as he understands doggy body language very well and helps to settle the more nervous ones. He is a wonderful dog. He was taken into the Parade by Sandie.

SANDIE BISSETT is our founder and Irish Co-ordinator

Sandie has rescued golden retrievers from Ireland for well over 12 years now. She fosters many dogs in her home and has never been known to refuse help to a golden retriever in trouble. She regularly drives the length and breadth of Eire to save one.

In January 2005 a small group of us got together to try to help Sandie with what we thought would be a few dogs in distress and that is how Irish Retriever Rescue was born. Although predominantly intending to help distressed golden retrievers, we also often find ourselves helping labradors and the first crosses of both breeds too.

Apart from the three Golden Retrievers girls that have been hers since they were puppies, Sandie has 3 rescue dogs who have all stolen her heart over the years.

They are Barkley, Isabelle and Jessica. Sandie was hoping to bring them all with her this year but, in the end, the logistics became far too complicated and she decided they would be a lot happier being spoilt rotten by her house-sitter instead

ALICE HOUGHTON

Alice gave birth, prematurely, to the 3 pups the day after she arrived in England. Alice, Lisa and Carrie were 3 golden retrievers, liberated by the ISPCA from a puppy farm. They were all absolutely terrified so much so that they all huddled under the table in Sandra’s kitchen and would back several feet away from their food bowls.

Poor Alice’s lovely face was covered in cigarette burns and she could barely walk. She is now a lovely, bouncy retriever with only just a few lasting bad memories.

Carrie was fostered, then adopted, by Carol Carbin, who also has Molly, the chocolate Labrador, and Travis, the GSD. Sandra, in London, fostered Alice and Lisa and was a wonderful grandmother to Teddy Jumble, Rupert and Rory. Alice now lives very happily with Brenda and Sammy, the Springer Spaniel, in Southampton whilst Lisa remained in London and was adopted by Carol Connolly.

Alice is another of the Sponsor Dogs who help us to raise funds to help others.

JUMBLE JONES

Jumble, is almost 3yrs old and is a golden retriever X, and lives in Abingdon with his family Anne, Alan and Alistair. Originally called Teddy, Jumble was the first born of our first litter of surprise puppies. Anne says he is a very special dog with his one blue and one brown eye. He has a special friend, Finn, a 2yr old Jack Russell cross, who came from Many Tears and they spend many hours playing together. Both Jumble and Finn are very much loved members of the family and they wouldn't be without them.

Jumble and Finn are kept busy with the ever increasing livestock in the garden, which includes 6 chickens and guinea pigs. Jumble, like Topsy, grew and grew and, sadly, at 5 mths was diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia. Hopefully, Jumble has finally stopped growing. Unfortunately he suffers from hip and elbow dysplasia and his knees are crumbling, and should really not be able to walk but he, clearly, doesn’t realise that. When you see him running round the garden with Finn (who has a bad heart) or when he is leaping up at exciting things (please don't tell 'Aunty Sandra') you find it hard to believe about his bad joints.

Jumble had been doing a lot of hydrotherapy, which tremendously helped his joints, but, due to problems with the insurance company, who are refusing to pay now as “they believe hydrotherapy is only good before and after surgery” he, unfortunately, is unable to go as much and we are hoping to raise some special funds to HELP JUMBLE SWIM.

JAKE & ELMO KOSSAKOWSKI

Jake and Elmo are 7yr old golden retrievers who have lived together all their lives. They were surrendered to Sandie by their devastated owner when a change of family circumstances meant she was no longer able to keep them. They live happily in the countryside with Bridget and a very large selection of animals. Everybody seems to know and love them and they are huge favourites of the local baker who had to be persuaded that giving them loaves of bread and even doughnuts wasn’t a great idea!!!!!!!!!!

KIMBA MORRIS

Kimba is a 6yr old golden retriever who came over at the same time as Ricky and Molly on a cold and snowy day in 2005. She was fostered by Pam Morris, in Somerset, who fell in love with her and adopted her. She was used as a brood bitch from a very young age and was handed over to Sandie with her 10mth old son, Toby, when she stopped having seasons. Her male owner had accidentally run over one of his other bitches and said he wished it had been her instead. She used to be terrified of men but is absolutely fine now. She obviously beaten with leads and brushes and still gets slightly anxious but she has a real enthusiasm for life and for anything new. Pam says “When we first had her she would pitch into a male dog if they came to close. Now she is a happy, sociable little golden who is the apple of my husbands eye (and mine), she has the biggest wrinkly faced smile you ever did see.”

SILVER MORRIS

Silver, a 12yr old golden retriever is also owned by Pam Morris. He was a stray in Ireland and was taken in for approximately a year by someone over there. However, he had a lot of health problems and the owner couldn't afford to keep paying high vet bills so was persuaded to hand him to rescue who patched him up and turned him into the handsome dog he once was. He was fostered with a view to adopt by a family but one day, when he went off his legs, they wanted him gone. Pam says “He was in a sorry state when he came to me (just to be nursed back to good health). He was given lots of TLC and healing and, unsurprisingly, I fell in love with him so he stayed. He is the loveliest natured boy you could ever wish to have, good with children, other dogs, cats, you name it. He is just lovely.”

BEN FOWLER

Ben is another lovely older dog. Nobody could understand how or why he ended up in rescue. He has a wonderful temperament and has totally restored Pauline’s confidence in the breed (she had been very badly savaged by a golden retriever from another Rescue organisation who, unlike us, don’t assess the dogs in foster homes before re-homing). Ben is extremely popular in the village where he lives.

Jim & Rita	Danny & Sandy	Sam & Ian	Honey & Lynne
Jumble & Anne, Alice & Brenda	Jake & Elmo	Kimba, Silver & Pam	Ben & Pauline

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©2008 Irish Retriever Rescue UK