I was very upset when it was time to go and there were lots of tears when I left the flat and said goodbye to Dave and Honey and Zico, but Eva came with me to the docks and I was thrilled when she came on board with me. I thought I would have to travel over on my own, and I was a bit worried if I was honest, having to manage the tickets and travel arrangements, but she obviously fancied a cruise, so she partnered me on the trip over. We had to wait on the quayside for a while before boarding and here's a photo of me just before we went on our way. Aren't I a handsome pup if I say so myself?

I can't say I enjoyed the journey over as I had to be  shut in a cage, so the least said about that the better. What an indignity. I was very upset as I fancied a good look round the boat to see if I could find some fun, but no such luck.

When we arrived in England it was cold and miserable and I felt rather sad, but we quickly found Chris and I liked him very much. I jumped in his car and made myself quite at home. It was a shame I was moulting so much and the car was so clean, well it was to start with, but never mind. I was so sad to say goodbye to Eva but she explained she would keep in touch with me for ever. Eva can see into the future and she had already told me that one day soon I would have my own field to play in and my own sofa. I could not wait. I just had to be patient, as they were a little longer coming than anticipated.

When I arrived in Dave and Eva's lovely flat there were already two canine residents - Honey and Zico. Two very handsome Bassett Hounds. I was so pleased - two new friends! They were initially very pleased to see me as well, but once I started to play with them they seemed to go off me a bit, but I don't know why. I heard them using words like 'lout' and 'mannerless' and 'rough' and 'pushy'. They could not have been talking about me as I played very sedately for an 8 month old pup. Doesn't every dog love rolling around in mud and splashing about in water and being knocked off their feet in hilarious games?  Apparently not.

Here's a photo of a bassett hound - not my new friends as I can't find their photos at present, but a relative of theirs. His colour matches my site nicely. These hounds aren't exactly built for speed, are they? Honey and Zico were very nice to me and I lived with them for over eight months and we had great times together. Well, I did anyway. I am not so sure about them.

However, I was growing very big and getting very boisterous. I had such lovely food to eat and walks in the park that I had become much stronger and, if I say so myself, much more handsome.  Here's a photo of me below taken after I had been with Dave and Eva for a few months. Don't I look good? It just shows what good food and love does for a boy like me!

One day Dave and Eva explained to me that now I was so grown up I was ready to make the move to England where I had a much better chance of finding the forever home I had always dreamed of. They had always told me I could not stay with them permanently as they were only fostering me, not adopting me permanently, but I was very sad to hear the news I was dreading. They kindly foster lots of dogs to give as many of them a chance of happiness as possible.

So, the next chapter in my life was about to start. I was excited at the thought of travelling to England, but very upset at the thought of leaving Dave and Eva and my new doggy friends as I had been so happy with them. I wondered if my next home would be as good. Eva said she could see a great big green field of my own for me to play in and my own sofa in England, so I felt a bit better when I heard that good news. Honey and Zico, however, did not seem too worried about the thought of me going and when I left I did not notice too many hankies in evidence. There were mutterings about 'needs to grow up' and 'over grown schoolboy' but I took no notice. Some dogs have no sense of fun. I will tell you all about my sea crossing and my new home in England next time I write. 

When I told Jake this story he did not believe me as he said she could not possibly have called to me, as she did not know my name. Now, doesn’t that tell you how dim he is? He never listens, as he thinks he knows it all. I told him she didn’t call out “Boomer” she called out “here puppy, here boy". I told him I was not Boomer then, I was a nothing. He couldn’t understand that at all and asked how I could be a nothing when I was Boomer! He said he had always been Jake and had never been a nothing. I had to explain I had lost my name when I lost my home and became a no one and I only became Boomer later. And they say terriers are bright! Not this one if you ask me. He can’t even remember to keep with us on a walk and has to be put on a lead all the time. How embarassing! If you let him off he just runs in whatever direction he is pointing at the time and never comes back.

Here are some photos of us at Sudbury yesterday. We love going to Sudbury to see Jason about the website as we always have a really good walk across the water meadows by the Mill in the town and we both have a good swim in the river.

I had a bit of a narrow escape there actually. I was minding my own business, admiring the view, when two swans sneaked up behind my back and started hissing at me. I was not at all bothered but then one of them started flapping its wings and it suddenly looked just that bit too big for my liking. It so happened that precisely at that very second I decided it was time I looked for some more entertainment, so I hastily got up and headed off across the common - as fast as my legs would take me if I am honest!

As luck would have it I found my new entertainment almost immediately. A huge flock of seagulls had descended on the common and were having a doze in the sun. Being the friendly chap that I am I decided to say hello and raced up to them at some speed. I was quite put out when they all flew off just as I was about to wade across the stream to introduce myself. You can see me in the photograph below, just about to cross the ditch to say hello to the gulls.

If you follow my blog you will find I jump about a bit and digress, like that funny man on the telly who told stories sitting in a deckchair,  you know, Ronnie someone , short guy with glasses. He starts on one subject and goes onto another and then back again and I think I might do the same as my mind jumps about quite a bit, like the rest of me does.

I ought to start my story at the beginning, so we need to go back to Ireland, as I am an Irish dog. You didn’t know that did you? I have almost lost my Irish accent now but I still say the odd “begorra  “ now and again and my mate, Jake,  the scruffy white chap who lodges with me, sometimes has to ask me to repeat what I said to him and makes jokes about bogs and leprechauns, but I just ignore him.

Now, I must warn you, you might need to find a hanky as the next bit is very sad. It sometimes brings a tear to my eye as well when I think back. The first time anything definite is known about me was when I was found wandering the streets in Dublin in March 2008, or, to be quite accurate, I was found wandering around some shops in a Dublin suburb. I remember clearly how cold and hungry I was - and how alone.  No one wanted me near their shops and they shouted at me to go away. I was very thin and tired and was only trying to find something to eat. I could not understand how or why I had been turned out on the streets to fend for myself in the middle of the winter when I was only a few months old. I am such a happy kind dog and have never done anything wrong, so why I lost my home I do not know.

I had better cheer you up before I go on, so here's a photo of me relaxing on my luxury fleece bed that's got a real duvet in it a few months ago. Remember this photo as the bed cover is no more! It came with me to the kennels and 'had an accident'. Roughly translated this means I ripped it to shreds, but more about that later.

The lovely kind people who have helped me since my early days suspect I was bought as a present for someone at Xmas but when I started to grow bigger and  cost more to look after I became a burden. My cute ways as a puppy, always wanting to play, were gradually seen as a nuisance and the people who bought me were not true animal lovers and had no conscience turfing me out of my home to get rid of me.

I have learnt that there are hundreds of dogs like me around that no one wants and many are not as lucky as me and get put to sleep because no one wants them. Many are older dogs who are thrown away to make room for a new puppy and, sadly, thousands never find a new home. Some become ill and die on the streets and others find themselves abused by people who like to be cruel to defenceless animals. Some are just tied up and left with no food or water. I hope that when you read my blog you might be able to help some of these poor dogs by becoming aware of the problems so many face on a daily basis. We are going to try and help by advertising a few rehoming sites on my site to see if we can find some dogs like me new homes.

Goodness, that was a sad paragraph, and here I am looking almost miserable, which is not like me at all. It's so hard to get a photo of me looking sad so this one is a repeat, but if I'm ever sad again we'll try for a new photo, just for this page!



I am now going to wipe my eyes and I promise the next time you hear from me I will cheer you all up with what happened next!