Let Me Introduce You To...ATHOS

When our Timba became suddenly absent from our family, he left a huge hole - one we knew could never be filled by another dog or dogs.  But we missed having a German Shepherd so much, we decided it was time we considered sharing our home with a dog who could be a companion to Bryn; an older dog who needed a good home where he/she would be loved and cuddled and exercised and fed all the right food and adored.

We found Athos on the Battersea website and we couldn't stand the idea of him spending his last months or years in a dog rescue home no matter how well he's treated there.  Athos is 11 1/2 years old, and he grew up with a Romanian family.  Unfortunately their two year old son developed an allergy to dogs, so poor Athos was relegated to the back yard for an entire year before Battersea brought him to England.  He joined our family on the 29th of September, 2014.

Athos who often crosses his front legs, as if posing.  Very elegant.

Athos is the most affectionate, cuddly dog we've ever met.  He loves to lay his head in our laps, and if he isn't stroked immediately, he nudges - hard.  He can take any amount of hugs at any time, and he loves his food.  For the first few days after his arrival, he was asking for affection pretty constantly, which is understandable.  But within a week he began to feel a lot more secure in his new home, and he was demanding affection less often, although he still loves a cuddle whenever they're on offer.

Athos is a perfect companion for Bryn - two old boys enjoying their retirement in style. They get on extremely well - as if they've known each other all their lives. Our cats, however, are not so enamoured of Athos because he's very curious about them, and very playful and affectionate.  The cats misinterpret Athos' exuberance and tend to stay away.  Cricket did find out what Athos would do if she hung around - she got a thorough licking all over her face and head until Athos backed off a little, enough for Cricket to make a dignified escape.

Athos chewing on a raw bone - num num num.

Athos came to us with health issues, one of which we've since found a solution for (colitis) and the other is currently being controlled with medication (mild hip dysplasia symptoms).  But we we were told in detail about these issues before we got him, thanks to one of Battersea's vets, so we knew what to expect.

We don't know from where in Romania Athos came, but it's possible he'd never seen the sea, so we took him to the beach here on the East Coast of England, where he had a wonderful time chasing and biting at the waves, ducking his head under water for a tennis ball, and playing with every dog he encountered along the way.  We'll be taking him there often, when we're not taking he and Bryn to the woods, or open fields, or country lanes for walks.

Athos and Bryn in the back of our car.

We are very grateful to Battersea for allowing us to adopt Athos - we couldn't have asked for a better dog to help us recover somewhat from Timba's death, and to be a brother to our Bryn.  And we're hoping that with all the love and affection and attention he gets with us, his life will be extended and it will be a longer before he leaves to join Timba.

Thank you so much Battersea.