Daphne was adopted from Grand Daze Rescue Centre in November 2023.
Daphne is a feisty little, mostly black, glossy Miniature Dachsund, with a mischievous glint to her eyes. Always a ball near to paw or firmly grasped in her jaws.
We spent a week visiting Grande Daze before the adoption, walking Daphne up and down the lane outside whilst the bitter winds swept across the barren fields. Mostly missing our low slung little Tekel, but not so with us.
Bribed with chopped Frankfurters and of course a ball, we gradually got aquainted, and used to each others ways.
She came home with us after only a week. She was immediately keen to explore her new environment, and be as amenable as possible. Fitting in perfectly to a strange new home.
She gradually grew to trust us, and her boundless energy and endless appetite for play endeared her to us, and exhausted us, and exasperated us……..She just won’t stop !
Daphne had really only just got settled with us, when we noticed her squeaking occasionally whilst using her front legs.
Her activity slowed dramatically, and she spent her days curled up on the sofa or her basket, and clearly wasn’t comfortable.
In a matter of days she started to have trouble co ordinating her rear end, and by the time we had an appointment with the local vet, she was dragging her back legs.
She was X-Rayed and given powerful pain killers, and we were told that an operation was beyond their capacity.
We rang Anita at Grande Daze and she immediately recommended Andrea Stockly, a Chiropractor, with whom she had had some amazing results with. We contacted her that Saturday, and Andrea wanted to see her as soon as possible on the Sunday.
Poor little Daphne was as game as ever, but totally unable to use her back legs. We were beginning to think that would be her life, with maybe wheels and constant painkillers.
Andrea on seeing her, took her off her painkillers, identified the problem as initiating in her front legs, and carefully manipulated her legs, spine and tail for about 1/2 hour. Daphne was not too thrilled with the treatment, but she appeared immediately more comfortable.
In an incredibly short time, a matter of some weeks, Daphne was beginning to get the use of her legs back.
Slowly and falteringly at first, we were able to take her out for short walks on flat ground.
Now, 4 months later, you could not believe theere has ever been a problem.
We had made a ramp for her to access the sofa, but she will not use it, and will chase her ball all day if we let her.
From about 4.00 pm every day she may be found in a cosy niche on the sofa, upside down, with her long nose pointing at the ceiling, snoring quietly, or not so quietly……………
Andrea has worked wonders, and Daphne is leading a full and healthy life, and brings joy to us with her zest.
We bring her down to Grande Daze for the puppy walks every week so that she can socialise and run about with dogs of a similar size.
We are indeed so lucky to have Daphne in our lives, and we are looking forward to meeting up with Andrea in 2 months time for her 6 monthly checkup, and to show her how well Daphne has responded long term to her treatment. We could not have hoped for a better outcome.
So Daphne wanders in and out of the house now that Spring has finally arrived. She can be enticed to sunbathe, rather than continuously play. But there is forever that michievous glint in her eye, and the long whippy tail of hers never stops wagging.
All immortalised on a lovely portrait by Jenny James? that has caught her perfectly.
Daffers is out in the garden now. Maybe she has spotted next doors cat again.
grandedaze.com 