Effie's Story (Allegra Amelinda)

Two months before my lovely Sara died, my friend came round to see me and told me she had been looking on Bath Cats and Dogs Home website and there was still another 6 Sloughis there.  I told myself I wasn't even going to have a look but that night I found myself on the website......just out of curiosity of course! There she was, this 9 year old Sloughi called Effie.  I knew her chances of getting rehomed were fairly slim so I spoke to Jason who very reluctantly agreed we could have her.  I went to see her only to be told she had to be rehomed with Streaky.  So I came away feeling really jarred because I obviously didnt want to split them up and there was no way on earth we could take on 3 dogs.  Yeh, right!....

I rang Bath and a few days later we were up at the dogs home to collect Effie and Streaky but as we were pulling out of the car park someone started growling so I slammed on the brakes, got Sara out of the car and took Effie and Streaky back.  I was really gutted but Sara was our priority and as she was old and frail there was no way I was going to take the chance of putting her in harms way of these 2 dogs that were younger and a lot bigger than her.  Knowing what I know now, I would have carried on driving.  Effie hasn't got a nasty bone in her body and looking back I think it was probably Sara who was growling and not Streaky.

About 2 weeks later I had a phone call from Bath who said Streaky had been rehomed and did I still want Effie.  Up we went with Sara and all was fine and dandy, so home Effie came.

Effie was an emotional car crash.  She had real fear in her eyes.  She was a lot bigger and heavier than Sara and I found it a tiny bit daunting at first because she was very panicky and would scramble away from me when I tried to go gently prize her off the sofa to put her out for her wees.  Getting her to eat was a real pain for many many months.  In fact it took 9 months for her to be able to eat her food without me having to sit with her encouraging her to take every mouthful. 

I used to have to sit in silence without moving and Jason would have to stop whatever he was doing in the house and be silent otherwise she would be spooked and it would take an eternity to calm her down again and to get her to eat a few more mouthfuls.   Eventually she would eat bits by herself but would lean against my legs and push her body right up next to me.  I couldnt move or make a sound otherwise we would be back to square one.

Getting her to drink has been a constant problem. On her first anniversary she got off the settee and went to the water bowl and had a drink.  I did make a fuss of her!!  I've had to boil up chicken carcasses or save the juice from roast meat and mix it with the water from cooking veg to get her to drink. I could only get her to drink if it had a flavour to it.  I dont think it was an attention thing, she genuinely seemed to have a dislike of water which seemed really strange. 

I have subsequently found out that these dogs had no access to water when they were locked in their sheds and some of the other older dogs have also struggled to understand that they can take a drink whenever they want now.

Sara was used to sleeping with us by now and we knew to be realistic we couldnt squeeze Effie on the bed as well and all get a good nights sleep, so I slept in the spare room with Sara and Jason slept in our bed with Effie as we didn't want to leave her downstairs on her own as she'd always been with other dogs and was so frightened.  This went on for the best part of 2 months until my dad had a brainstorm and made Sara and Effie a bed of their own.  Up until then we had decided to buy a single bed and put it level with ours but it would have been a squash in the bedroom

He made the bed the length of ours but a bit lower so it would be the same height when it had pillows etc on it. I had pillows which I laid out the length of the bed and then put a quilt over the pillows so it was nice and soft and comfy.  It was a god send, me and Jason had our bed back and Sara and Effie had a bed of their own.  I always remember looking over at Sara seeing her curled up in a ball.  There is a street light outside which casts light into the bedroom.  I used to lie their watching her sleeping and reach over and stroke her.  She was so beautiiful, I'd never seen such a lovely dog.  I was watching a video last week and I didnt realise Sara was so old and frail.  I couldnt see it at the time. I thought I'd have her for a couple of years because she became so happy and full of life even though her legs were giving her grief.

There is so much I can say about Effie in particular about how frightened she has been with nearly everything and everyone.  She is secretly my little darling now although I dont say that in earshot of Arrow and Topsy incase they hear and get jealous.  She has taken a massive input of time and patience but I'm pleased as punch to see how it has paid off.  She has gained mountains of confidence and will now get off the settee on her own.  She will come out for her dinner when I call her (and eat it as long as I still dont make a sound because she still gets spooked).  She will go up and down the stairs on her own and lie on our bed.  She is perfect in every way and I love her so so much.  I take it in turns of having them upstairs in bed with me when Jason's on nights.  Effie is the best as well because she's not a fidget like the other two.  I sometimes have them all up but Arry and Topsy plonk themselves right next to you and squash up as tightly as they can to you, then they have the nerve to stretch their legs out in the opposite direction and take up all the bed, and I mean ALL the bed!  I have to lie there as stiff as a board all night because if I move an inch, they will push their bodies right up against mine again and before I know it I am literally hanging off the side of the bed whilst those 3 spread out and sleep for England on my brand new 'Memory Foam' bed!   The next thing I know is I've got a foot in my face or my hair is tangled up in their feet, just what the doctor ordered for a good night sleep!

Effie has got what the vet thinks is a bone tumour protruding through or attached to the side of her rib cage, she now has a mass which the vet thinks could be cancerous under her belly.  He says to leave well alone as there may well be other things going on inside so I'm following his advice on that one.  She is as happy as Larry though and appears fit and healthy. I have gone through the upset, worry  and dread about the prospect of losing her but at this moment in time I have accepted that what will be will be.  When and if the time comes, I know it will be a different story but we will cross that bridge when it comes.  I'm just grateful for every month that passes that I've been so blessed to find Effie.


Written by Rachel Jones

Effie is daughter of Victoria, and mother of Streaky and Twin. She was also half sister of Sara and Belle

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