Unbelievable

[Susie]

I work in a Law Centre giving second stage legal advice and I think you would do well to visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau - I am sure they can give you good advice on dealing with your debt and what you actually have to pay and what you may be able to write off. I think someone has already suggested this, and I would second their advice.

Unfortunately there is no easy way of tracking Ros down if she isn't an internet user which isn't expensive.

May I ask who the dogs actually legally belong to, you or Ros?

[John]

Originally Posted by Susie

I work in a Law Centre giving second stage legal advice and I think you would do well to visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau - I am sure they can give you good advice on dealing with your debt and what you actually have to pay and what you may be able to write off. I think someone has already suggested this, and I would second their advice.

Unfortunately there is no easy way of tracking Ros down if she isn't an internet user which isn't expensive.

May I ask who the dogs actually legally belong to, you or Ros?

Hi Susie

Regarding the dogs. Until a couple of days ago they were in my name on the insurance policy with Pet Plan but I have rung them and added Ros' name to it so that she can carry on the insurance if she wants to. She wouldn't have been able to do that if I hadn't done that. As far as I am concerned my dogs welfare comes first even though I will probably never see them again.

Regarding legality. We don't have purchase papers and have always thought that the Golden Retriever was more on Ros' side and Max (Alsation x Collie) was mine. With the Golden Retriever we were given her by a well known breeder to look after him in his old age on the proviso that we kept up the insurance and that if things didn't work out we were to return him straight away. It was my agreement that sealed it and I rang her the other day to tell what had happened and she isn't happy about it. In fact she would rather have the dog back than entrust him to someone that can do such an underhanded thing like this without seemingly a conscience.

John

[Mark43]

Hi John

Sort of spoke already about this to you but just want to wish you well and just want to say again how sorry i am to hear your bad news.

I'm off to Norfolk in the morning (got to catch up with your list somehow haven't i) but will mail you when i get back to see how you are.

Take it easy mate

Mark

[John]

Originally Posted by Mark43

Hi John

Sort of spoke already about this to you but just want to wish you well and just want to say again how sorry i am to hear your bad news.

I'm off to Norfolk in the morning (got to catch up with your list somehow haven't i) but will mail you when i get back to see how you are.

Take it easy mate

Mark

Thanks Mark

Have a good time in Norfolk.

BTW with my Turkey list added I am now up to 315 species for the year.

John

[littleT]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Susie

Regarding the dogs. Until a couple of days ago they were in my name on the insurance policy with Pet Plan but I have rung them and added Ros' name to it so that she can carry on the insurance if she wants to. She wouldn't have been able to do that if I hadn't done that. As far as I am concerned my dogs welfare comes first even though I will probably never see them again.

Regarding legality. We don't have purchase papers and have always thought that the Golden Retriever was more on Ros' side and Max (Alsation x Collie) was mine. With the Golden Retriever we were given her by a well known breeder to look after him in his old age on the proviso that we kept up the insurance and that if things didn't work out we were to return him straight away. It was my agreement that sealed it and I rang her the other day to tell what had happened and she isn't happy about it. In fact she would rather have the dog back than entrust him to someone that can do such an underhanded thing like this without seemingly a conscience.

John

Hope this isn't taken in the wrong way!!!!

Are you sure the dogs are with Ros and she hasn't left them with the police or a rescue centre??
Personally hope that this isn't the case and I expect you've already thought of it.
When these things pop in to my head....I have to voice them and I apologise in advance if this thought disturbs or upsets anyone.

T

[John]

Originally Posted by littleT

Hope this isn't taken in the wrong way!!!!

Are you sure the dogs are with Ros and she hasn't left them with the police or a rescue centre??
Personally hope that this isn't the case and I expect you've already thought of it.
When these things pop in to my head....I have to voice them and I apologise in advance if this thought disturbs or upsets anyone.

T

I have to believe that she has with what she says in the Dear John she left me. She says she has taken the dogs, and I believe her (possibly the only thing I believe about her at the moment). I know she loves the dogs to bits but she has created a real mountain for herself as she is now retired with not a lot of money coming in and with two large dogs to feed.

John

[John]

I thought I would update you all on where I am with all this now.

Well it is brilliant news.

First of all I have to thank all of you for your well wishes when this all kicked off way back in September.

I had to go to the Citizens Advice to have a Financial Statement done for the banks. Just after we completed it the advisor just did one of those throwaway comments that can change your life forever. All he said was that it was a shame that I didn't have an old Pension Plan, to which I replied that I had. Straight away he took me back into the interview room to discuss this.

Apparently the ruling changed in April this year allowing people over 60, with a Pension Plan fund of under £15K, to cash them in. Well I approached the Pru and the CAB were correct in their advice and a few thousand pound found its way into my account on Tuesday and will clear tomorrow.

That means all my debts will be paid in one go, which also means I have my life back again. It also means that I can move forward and plan things. One thing I am planning is to get a DSLR set up and hopefully on Sunday I am meeting four WAB members to try out four different set ups. This will allow me to determine which set up I will eventually choose.

The second thing I have planned is a fortnight in Lesbos in May and with me will be couple of WAB members (plus a husband) and a mate off the BF forum.

At last I can do things again that I thought were lost to me. It's a great feeling I can tell you.

The only sad side of this is the fact that I still miss my dog, Max, but I can't do anything about that and have made a decision not to get another dog until I retire.

Now I have the opportunity to get out more I will hopefully get some more photos to place in the gallery and threads.

John

[Rainbowmum]

John, I only just read this thread and was shocked to my core and was going to post my best wishes to you. I am so very happy that things are now looking up and your life is getting back on track. All my love John, take care xxxxxxx
Louise xxx

[aeshna5]

John, pleased the silver lining has turned up on those stormy clouds of life- hope things continue to improve for you.

[smartie]

John

I didn't comment before because I didn't think I knew you well enough to intrude, but like everyone else I was shocked by your experience and I just now wanted to say how delighted I am that things seem to be coming together for you.

Carol

[littleT]

Hi John.
Glad to hear that things are looking up.
Hope it stays that way.
Enjoy your planned trip to Lesbos in May, a well earned holiday I think.

Regards, Tina.

[badgerwatcher]

John, I hadn't read this thread until today. What an appalling experience, but hopefully one that made you see what a very likeable person you are, by everyone's response to you, so you won't have had to blame yourself for what happened. The loss of the dogs must have been unbearable.
If you don't want to get another one yet, have you thought of contacting a charity like the Cinnamon trust, an organisation I discovered after my father died last year and my mother was unable to walk their dog, Betsie. They rallied round, and drawing on volunteers in the area, they set up, within a few days, a rota of lovely people who took it in turns to walk Betsie at mutually convenient times. My mother died within six months, and Betsie is now with us, but it saved us for a while, as we didn't live near. You could enjoy dog walks while knowing that you were helping an old person to keep a loved pet beyond what would otherwise be possible. I know when I have lost dogs, the loss of the dog-walk has been so profound, that on the last occasion my son and I continued the walks after April died at 19 years old. We continued them, feeling her presence all around us, until Betsie arrived.
There is a great joy and a quality in walking with a dog, which is unlike walking alone, isn't there? There is also a sort of reliability about nature. Whatever else happens, whoever lets you down, birds still appear on feeders or trees where you have always seen them, flowers still appear in spring, (plant spring flowers, it's very grounding!) birds still migrate, sorry I'm rambling! Just wanted to add my good wishes to everyone elses, and say I'm glad you've begun to sort things out and get back on your feet.

[honeybee]

John,
was very sorry to hear about your experience but glad to hear that things are looking up for you, best wishes
Megan x

[cherrybee]

John I am so pleased that things have turned around for you.You deserve it.I am glad you will be getting out and about like you used to and look forward to seeing your photos with your new set up.It is great news I am so happy for you

[John]

Hi badgerwatcher

Thanks for your comments.

Yes I was appalled by what has happened especially the dogs. I miss them both, but mostly Max as he was my dog, and a fabulous animal he was. A few WAB members had met him and were enthralled by both his looks and his nature. I doubt if I will ever see another dog like him.

Regarding volunteering to walk dogs. I'm afraid I have now gone into a selfish mode until I retire. I am going to make the most of being alone and being able to come and go where I please. There will be places I want to go to where dogs are not allowed and also, now that I have actually gone out and bought this new DSLR set up today, I will want the freedom to go out and use it.

I fully agree that the sort of dog walking you have mentioned is a very worthwhile thing to do, and maybe one day I might take it up, but to be honest I am almost certain in my mind that I won't take a dog on until I retire. I can then give it my full attention and it will become my constant companion from then on.

John

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

John, I hadn't read this thread until today. What an appalling experience, but hopefully one that made you see what a very likeable person you are, by everyone's response to you, so you won't have had to blame yourself for what happened. The loss of the dogs must have been unbearable.
If you don't want to get another one yet, have you thought of contacting a charity like the Cinnamon trust, an organisation I discovered after my father died last year and my mother was unable to walk their dog, Betsie. They rallied round, and drawing on volunteers in the area, they set up, within a few days, a rota of lovely people who took it in turns to walk Betsie at mutually convenient times. My mother died within six months, and Betsie is now with us, but it saved us for a while, as we didn't live near. You could enjoy dog walks while knowing that you were helping an old person to keep a loved pet beyond what would otherwise be possible. I know when I have lost dogs, the loss of the dog-walk has been so profound, that on the last occasion my son and I continued the walks after April died at 19 years old. We continued them, feeling her presence all around us, until Betsie arrived.
There is a great joy and a quality in walking with a dog, which is unlike walking alone, isn't there? There is also a sort of reliability about nature. Whatever else happens, whoever lets you down, birds still appear on feeders or trees where you have always seen them, flowers still appear in spring, (plant spring flowers, it's very grounding!) birds still migrate, sorry I'm rambling! Just wanted to add my good wishes to everyone elses, and say I'm glad you've begun to sort things out and get back on your feet.

[John]

Thanks guys and gals for your comments. It is well appreciated. It is great to get my life back and I am looking forward to a half decent future now. Who knows, Ros might even have done me a favour by leaving (apart from the dogs)

I have had a major day today. Something I have never really done before because even when I was with Ros I couldn't afford to do it.

I have had a major shopping day. I have had today off from work and been out to the shops and bought myself some new clothes. I have also been out and bought myself a new DSLR set up. A Canon 30D camera and a canon 100-400 IS lens. All I need to do is learn how to use it as it is a totally dfferent discipline to digiscoping, which is my only method of photography that I have mastered to a degree.

John

[Beryl]

John. Am so pleased for you, really am
Beryl

[honeybee]

It may be of very little comfort but at least the dogs are together and will be looked after by someone they know. It breaks my heart when people can no longer look after their animals and they are parted. And just think that if it was going to happen, at least it was sooner rather than later and/or you wern't stuck in some loveless relationship as many are. You have to look on the brightside, no point getting depressed although that's easy for me to say. Yes spoil yourself, you deserve it and good luck.

[badgerwatcher]

You are doing all the right things, John. I hope you have a wonderful time with your new camera. I am getting to the stage where I don't want to go anywhere without mine. And you are being happy alone, (something I have always found hard to do when a relationship has ended,) essential before you are ready to begin another relationship if you choose to. All the best to you.

[Wild-Woman]

I'm pleased that things are better for you John. You'll always have your friends here.I'll be on the lookout for those knockout pictures when they start coming.
Hope to meet you one of these days at a WAB meet. Julie

[Susie]

Well done, John.

I am glad to see that you have turned a negative situation into something that is working for you.

Susie x

[Deer Stalker]

Glad to hear your doing alright now John. Can't wait to see the pics from your new set-up.

[JeffH]

John, I've only just come across this thread and I'm not going to say anything about the past (words fail me!) but just wanted to say 'Well Done' for turning things around and Good Luck for the future.

Also, good choice with the camera and lens - I bought the same set up 3 weeks ago and I'm sure it'll give you immense pleasure.

Jeff