I don’t know why they left me. I’m sure they didn’t mean to leave me tied to that lamppost, but I barked and cried, and they walked away. Maybe they couldn’t hear me.
I was frightened, cold, and my belly hurt. Loud cars flew past and scary people walked by. I cowered as low as possible, trying to be invisible so nobody would hurt me. I knew they wanted to – that is what humans do.
I was so hungry, and my mouth was so dry. I curled up in a ball on the hard ground, and shivered myself to sleep.
Somebody came up to me. They didn’t hurt me, though I flinched away just in case. They untied me and put me in a strange car. I didn’t know them and didn’t trust them, but I did gulp down the water they gave me.
I was so confused and scared. I went to a place where I could smell and hear other dogs, and see them walking past with humans. I tried to hide myself away in my blankets. They brought me food, but even that didn’t always draw me out. It hurt when I moved my legs, and my mouth kept aching.
They took me to a place that smelled weird, and had very bright lights. They looked in my mouth and felt all over my body. Even though they were gentle, it hurt when they touched my welts and bruises. I couldn’t help but cry when they inspected the painful, heavy growth on my belly.
I went back to the place with all the dogs. I felt very groggy, and my belly still hurt a little, but not the same way. I hid in my blankets again and slept. I did come out once or twice, because I felt much warmer, and the food smelled so good. I didn’t let everyone touch me, but the people who brought my food sometimes scratched my head and pet me in a way that felt good.
This place is called Appledown. They call me Lancel now. I don’t hurt anymore, and I am gaining weight. Nobody has hit me in a long time, but I still can’t quite believe it. I can’t always keep myself from shying away, even though they bring me nice food and are always very gentle with me. Some of them even take me out for walks in a big field with interesting smells. I’m finally starting to understand that they don’t want to hurt me, but I think I might always be a little frightened.
I keep hearing about adoption and “forever homes.” I’m not sure what that means, but if it’s anything like this, where I can have food and blankets, and people are kind and gentle, I think I might want to find out.
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We have decided to highlight his story, because it's an encapsulation of everything Appledown does EVERY DAY. They may not have thought much about taking in a dog with medical needs and anxiety, but we think it is indicative - they are willing to spend time, money and emotional energy without hesitation, and that should be celebrated. If you've ever wondered why we work so hard at the shows and fundraising opportunities, this is why!
This particular lad had a large, painful tumor on his groin, which you can see in one of the photos on his page. It required surgery that itself cost several hundred pounds. He also had marks on his body, and an infection in his mouth. As he healed, he was provided with extra heating though it was Spring, and was tempted back to life with expensive, tasty food. As you can imagine, the charges add up, and Appledown pays out.
If you're wondering how you can help Appledown support dogs like Lancel during the road to recovery and rehoming, please just ask. Contact Kate Tuck at appledown.fundraising@outlook.com to sponsor a kennel, or to donate directly on
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