K7 Cleo, Beautiful Staffie Girl

[Becky]

Please give a warm Friends welcome to the oh so stunning Cleo



Cleo needed a bit of coaxing out of her kennel to come out to meet us for her photoshoot, but some gentle words and some magical pate soon gave her the courage she needed to say hello! Poor Cleo, her tail was tucked firmly under her bum and she seemed very bewildered....until she spotted the swans



She told them in no uncertain terms that the clue is in the title "Cardiff Dogs Home" and swans were not welcome here thank you!! Telling the swans off seemed to give her a boost and from there we saw a totally different dog! We saw the famous Staffie smile and she lavished Aunty Sooz with snogs and cwtches!



Pucker up!!







We then took Cleo inside to get to know her a bit better. She sniffed all the toys and decided that the squeaky bottle of beer was by far her favourite!! She was incredibly gentle with it, and despite playing with it for around 20 minutes, it was still intact! Cleo, can you have a word with my dogs please







Cleo was all about the toys, but we managed to divert her attention with some pate! She was very polite and ever so gentle taking the good stuff and waited like a good girl for it



Cleo, it was a pleasure to meet you sweetheart x



Cleo will be available for rehoming from 15th June, but the staff at the home will take applications on her now.

If you have any questions on Cleo or would like more information on her please phone the Dogs' Home: 029 2071 1243 or visit Cardiff Dogs' Home, Westpoint Industrial Estate, Penarth Road, open 7 days a week, 10.30 - 4pm.

For more information about the rehoming process at Cardiff Dogs Home, please click here

[cathw]

Awh Cleo is such a sweetheart. I spent time with her yesterday and I'm not sure she's been very well socialised. She was terrified of cars, and just about anything else that moved! As I could see she was getting stressed out and wasn't enjoying walking, I popped into the garden with her instead.



She was a little unsure at first and didn't really seem to know what to do with herself off the lead.



Although she was happy to have a little cuddle, she really came out of her shell when she found a ball she liked. Normal tennis balls just wouldn't do!





This is where I was able to see Cleo's real smile, and it's gorgeous





She seems to regard the kennel block as her 'safe space' and she just needs someone to be able to show her the world isn't as scary as she thinks it is

Good luck lovely girl, I'm sure you won't be waiting too long x

[jenc]

Lovely write up cathw,and well done for getting Cleo in the garden! I took her for her first walk on Sunday & it was heart breaking to see how shy & scared she was. At one point I was sitting on the floor in the rain with her in the middle of the industrial estate because she just couldn't move on & was just shaking so much. It's so upsetting to see because she's such an affectionate girl & was so happy just being held.

Like you I took her in the garden, but you are right she sees the kennels as 'safe' & really wanted to go back in staff member Rob was on hand & helped me coax her to the garden. Once in the garden she still seemed lost until I opened the summer house - as soon as this was open she was straight in & just sat on the sofa. Cleo didn't seem to know what to do with herself which is so sad to see. But she was very happy just to sit with me & have some fusses. I tried her with toys but all she wanted was a ball.

Cleo is a very affectionate girl but it's so sad to see her not know how to be a dog. I wonder what she would tell us if she could speak to us. Hopefully she'll grow in confidence & she will find her furever home soon.

[Baglady]

We've had dreadfully upsetting news about Cleo today

As those of you who have spent some time with Cleo might have noticed, Cleo had a number of 'bumps' all over her body, on her flank, her tummy, her shoulder...

As her owner has not come forward, ownership officially passed to the Council this morning. As soon as she became 'ours' she was rushed to the vets for spaying, and to remove some of the suspicious lumps. The staff had a call midday, whilst Cleo was still under anaesthetic. The vets had removed two of the masses, and were immediately of the opinion that they looked malignant.

We have arranged for histology reports, and should get results by next Monday. If both the masses are indeed mast cell tumours, it would indicate that Cleo is in the advanced stage of disease. We have asked that she is kept comfortable until the results are known, and in the meantime would ask everyone to keep this little girl in your thoughts, and pray for the best possible outcome.

It seems Cleo has not had an easy life, as cathw and jenc noticed, she is petrified by 'the great outdoors', she is unable to tolerate the company of other dogs, and is clearly a stranger to kindness.

Cleo has clearly never known what is it to live a 'normal' life. Her body condition tells us what she can't, that she has been used to churn out puppies for most of her life, and has been denied any normality, any freedom to 'just be a dog'. She prefers dark corners to open spaces, solitude to company, and we are hoping against hope that she will be with us long enough to begin to enjoy the feeling of soft grass under her paws, the sun on her back, and gentle loving hands giving her the human affection she has never known.

Please keep her in your thoughts

[miggy]

As if the poor girl hasn't been through enough! How can life (and people for that matter) be so cruel? Praying for you Cleo xx

[starlite40]

That is such sad news and will be keeping everything crossed for this gorgeous girl.

It sounds like you've had a bit of a rough start to life so lets hope for a positive outcome. 

Xx

[jenc]

Such sad news,but thank you for looking after her & giving her the vet care she needs. Sending lots of love your way Cleo. You've been let down by your former humans but we will not let you down sweetheart xx

[seonlasil]

How sad, makes me so sick

[julesc]

It's utterly heart-rending to read Cleo's story, but thank goodness that she is now in safe hands at the Home.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed and hoping that the tests will prove negative on Monday...

[janeto]

Took this sweet little girl into the garden this afternoon and she was delightful!

As previous volunteers have mentioned Cleo has obviously not experienced what it is to just 'be a dog' but she was very happy to have a run around and soon got into the swing of chasing the ball and bringing it back to me to throw again.

Cleo loves a cuddle - especially on the sofa in the summer house - and loves to stretch out on the grass, she seemed to really enjoy herself in the afternoon sun bless her. 

I hope Cleo has lots more sunny afternoons to come - she is a little sweetheart x. 

[Bellaboo]

I feel absolutely heartbroken for this gorgeous girl, it is so upsetting to think that somewhere there are people that can do this to a defenceless beautiful girl, if there's any Karma in this life they will get what they deserve..I have everything crossed that Cleo is given a clean bill of health and that she finds her forever family that love her unconditionally and show her how great life can be..😘..x

[Sian A]

We thought we'd try and walk the gorgeous Cleo this morning but unfortunately she wasn't quite up to leaving the Home, so we headed into the garden instead. As soon as she noticed we were heading there and not towards the lane, her tail started wagging and you could just see her whole body relax. Cleo loves the garden! She trotted around having a good sniff until we dug out some toys to test her with, and it was just wonderful seeing her big staffie grin as she ran after them. Squeaky toys definitely got her attention and other toys were certainly interesting, but this lady loves tennis balls above all else! At least, today she did. The minute she found an intact one, she was in heaven. The tennis balls (she found more) didn't fare well, however, and soon she was leaving chunks of bright yellow fabric in her wake (we made sure to tidy up after her!)

After a good 20 minutes or so of playtime, Cleo seemed to be losing interest in running about and instead wanted to lie down in the shed, so we decided it might be a good time to head out. We did try her with a treat and while she wasn't keen on the biscuit (she glanced at it and then continued to demolish her ball), the softer treat was met with a bit more enthusiasm. She showed us sit and paw and was very gentle. We attempted to take her for a walk afterwards, hoping she'd be a bit more comfortable with us, but the minute she realised we were heading away from the Home she dug in her heels, so we decided not to push her.

She's a wonderful girl and very loving. I imagine if we'd been in the garden for longer then we'd probably have gotten a lot of cuddles and kisses but as it was, being complete strangers, she was still very affectionate and liked to stay close by, often moving nearer to us before continuing to destroy her tennis ball. Her tail was always wagging. I can only hope that everything turns out alright with her health because she's obviously gaining confidence every day, and really deserves a family of her own to dote on her.

[starlite40]

Oh Cleo, how heartbreaking it is to not see you enjoying all things doggy.
With a little lift from Becky and Charlotte today Cleo made it 2/3rds of the way down the lane. She walked then to the end and suddenly realised that they were heading back towards the home without her. She put in the brakes and did not want to move anymore.
I sat with her for a while and chatted to her to try and reassure her that all will be okay but I could see it in her eyes that she was very uncomfortable and not wanting to distress her we headed back. Knowing she was on her way back she did start to have a bit of a sniff about but kept the home firmly in her sights.
I know that somewhere out there is your forever home Cleo, somebody who will give you all the love you deserve and will bring out the dog in you.
Next time Cleo will book some garden time with you  as you are a gem of a girl and it's fab to see you smiling and tail wagging. 

[Nicole]

My daughters ages 8 and 7 and I enjoyed some garden time with Cleo today. She loved playing with the squeaky toys and enjoyed a good sniff around the garden. Cleo is such a loving girl and loved sharing Staffie snogs and rolling for tummy tickles. Cleo didn't enjoy lead time when she arrived at CDH but after leaving the garden as the staff were busy we took for a stroll around the back of the home, and she seems to be getting used to the lead. Good girl CLEO.  This beatiful girl is going to make a very loving companion. She has been through so much and nothing would make me happier, to see this girl settled in her forever home with a loving family. 

[rubydoodles]

Has this beautiful little girl found her forever home?