Monday, May 25, 2020

New Crew Member…

We’ve been waiting for a new member of Seyella’s crew to make her way across Europe since Thursday, but, after a vehicle break-down and various hold-ups she finally arrived last evening.

Meet Amber.

The van delivered her to us outside Ellesmere Tesco’s

She’s a rescue from Romania where they’re rounded up and destroyed if not offered new homes. The transport dropped off in Germany and France on the way, so it’s not just us Brits who are daft on dogs…

She’d made a good friend of one of the drivers, I think he’d have kept her if he could, so was reluctant to leave him. I carried her most of the 100 yards to the boat but as soon as she got aboard she found a new BFF!

I felt quite left out…

She ate and drank then fell asleep, it must be quite stressful to be rehomed in this way and sleep is the best therapy.




At bedtime she was whining a bit for being left alone but settled down after a quarter hour or so, curling up in her nice soft bed. Two small accidents overnight saw us exploring the towpath at 2 and 5, not really her fault but she really needs to give me more notice!
Out again at half six when we could see what we were doing.

Today she’s been dozing through the morning, going out regularly so she knows where to pee, she was a bit barky earlier on as dogs started appearing on the towpath but a bit of focus training (with the help of chicken sausage) has improved that already. I think she’s going to be a quick study but I’ll leave it a couple more days before starting training properly.

She’s around 11 months old, one of the lucky ones who was picked up off the streets by a rescue shelter rather than the municipal authorities. She’d been there for 6 months during which two attempted adoptions fell through for no fault of hers.

We’ll do some easy cruising for the next couple of weeks, no banging about in locks (as if!) to get her used to the motion and engine noise, though after spending 2,500 travelling in a van canal cruising should be a luxury!

We moved into the arm on Friday and she should have been with us on Saturday, but the delays lost the transport a day. I think we’ll head back out to our usual spot later today. The birds will be missing us, then what we do next depends on how well Amber settles in. She’s doing well at the moment…

10 comments:

Pip and Mick said...

Congratulations to Amber for finding a boat to live on. Welcome to a life afloat.
Pip, Mick and Tilly

Geoff and Mags said...

Thanks guys, I'll pass the message on when she wakes up!

Richard said...

Welcome Amber! You've found a great home! Hope you recover quickly from your long journey!!

KevinTOO said...

Hi Amber, you've fallen on your feet getting a position on NB Seyella 😊
I hope you get used to your new life as ships dog 😉

Carol said...

She'll have the best home ever!

nb Bonjour said...

Lovely news, well done all. MAybe we'll get to meet her one day, if we ever get to cruise again!
Debby

Jennifer said...

Now you are complete again. Enjoy each other's company. Jennifer and Peter in Tassie

Anonymous said...

If Amber is as loveable and placid as Meg she'll make a wonderul boaty companion for you bothe.
She has a beautiful coat of many colours and I look forward to seeing her progress in your future blogs.
I know blogging is fairly time consuming, but am very grateful for yours in these difficult times self isolating.
Than you Ann Makemson x

NB Muleless said...

Hello Amber, look forward to meeting you in person one day, Echo says hello too, and wants to play when you meet. Hope your feeling fit Geoff, with a young dog to run around with! Love to you all xxx

Del and Al said...

Oh how lovely! Amber has found the best home, love to you all x