Roman came to us on Saturday 27th December in a shocking state. He is completely emaciated, very weak and very wobbly. Despite all of this, he is a very affectionate boy, and we are all praying he responds to a bit of TLC and good food. We are doing all we can to try and build him up slowly, and it is critical at the moment that we do see a slight improvement, as if his condition is because of a medical issue then we really will not be able to save him.

 

At the minute he is being hand fed, and getting roast chickens although he has developed a taste for hot dogs and scrambled egg! We will give him as much time and as much treatment and as many chickens as he needs, god love him.

 

This isn't an appeal for money, just an appeal for you to remember him in your prayers, so he may be able to pull through this.

 

 

ROMAN UPDATE 10.01.2009

 

Just a quick update on Roman. He is getting stronger every day, and as you can see from these pictures, he is standing straighter and so much more alert in himself.

 

You never see him without his favourite ball, and as the middle picture show, he is quite content occupying himself with it!

 

 

ROMAN UPDATE 21.02.2009

 

 

I’m really proud and pleased to announce that Roman went to a foster home today.

 

He was in such a state when he first arrived at SHAK, that it’s amazing that he has found himself in this position. He had given up, lost the will to live, but the girls at A1 Kennels have done such a tremendous job in giving him a zest for life again. Thank you Sonia, Megan and Frankie!

 

After a mixed introduction to his pretty new girlfriend Riese, he has settled into his new home well, and has even being showing his new Mam all his tricks, like giving a paw and catching biscuits! She in return has been showing him a few new ones, and he has already developed a taste for home made rice pudding!

 

We all know that this is such a difficult challenge, and we accept it is one we might not have a chance of winning in the end, but he is so bright and loves life now, that he deserves a life in a home with warmth and love. Can I please just take this opportunity to thank Helen and Walter for taking on such a challenge, but more so for just giving Roman the chance to live a normal life once more.

ROMAN UPDATE 23.02.2009

 

 

Roman is still doing really well in his new home. His motions are still solid, and he hasn’t had any accidents at all. He is eager to please and to learn, and is even trying to get up on the couch. If Reise (his girlfriend) goes to the garden he is watching like a hawk out of the windows if Roman goes to the garden Reise watches him out of the window.  So there is definitely a romance blossoming there!

Saturday 21st March 2009 was probably the toughest day SHAK has had, as it was time for us all to let Roman go. He has had a wonderful end to life, living with a family that loved him more than anyone could. CDRM is a horrible condition, and after 3 months of really hard work from everyone, we had to accept defeat. The vet confirmed that there was also something more sinister stopping him from gaining weight, and that his condition was never going to improve.

 

Roman arrived two days after Christmas so weak that I had to lift him out of the van. For the next few days we had to coax him into eating, going for a walk and basically just to live. He had given up, and he was just sitting waiting to die. But through some really hard work, and enormous amounts  of TLC from the girls at A1 Kennels, he responded. Roman found a zest for life again, and it all proved so worthwhile when the wonderful Helen and Walter offered him a family home with their gorgeous girl Reise.

 

In the month that he was there, Roman showed what a wonderful character he was, and was such a gentlemen with Reise. He adored his dad so much, and just seeing living a normal life was a miracle when you remembered the dog that was just waiting to fade away when he arrived.

 

Despite the fact illness got the better of his back end in the end, this is by no  way a sad end to a story. In my eyes it is a happy ending that a dog with nobody who didn’t want to live anymore, leaves behind so many people and another dog who loved him so much. It shows what can be achieved if people are prepared to work and put the effort in, and how worthwhile it all can be when you see a dog as happy as Roman was at the end.

 

A big thank you to everyone who was fortunate enough to meet Roman, and was lucky enough to see the reward from helping him. To the girls at A1, who really did nurse him back to wanting to live, to all the people with me at SHAK who supported Roman and believed in him. To Helen, Walter, Sandy and Reise who gave him what we all hoped he would receive, you made it a reality.

 

And a big thank you for Roman, for just being you and responding to everything we tried for you. You have touched a lot of people son, and you will never know how proud I am of you to battle your way back from the brink. The minute I saw you for the first time I thought you would break my heart. You didn’t you filled it with joy. Run free and fast now fella. x