Viva Lewes Issue #160 January 2020

BITS AND DOGS
PETS OF LEWES
Roma, 20 months, Romanian street dog.
Loves: damsons, Blenheim Palace, the pursuit of happiness.
Hates: magpies, persistent skin blemishes, coloured
grouting, Cubists.
Story: Roma came to England from Romania at four and
a half months after a traumatic (and completely legal) van
journey. She was kept by charity Asociatia Paws United
(paws-hope.com/asociatia-paws-united) for two weeks, to gain
weight prior to rehoming as she was very thin. Nowadays, she loves haring through flooded fields,
mousing and extending her pan-Asian cuisine repertoire.
Sadly, dogs are just as susceptible to PTSD and anxiety as humans. Your dog won’t get it because you
tapped his nose a little too zealously after he ate a whole roast chicken and grandpa’s moccasins, but
a serious accident, abandonment, the loss of an owner, or physical or emotional abuse could lead to
a range of behaviours from howling to soiling in the house. All is not lost, however. Desensitisation,
(where the aim is to get your dog to associate their anxiety trigger with treats, not trauma) and
positive reinforcement training can do wonders.
Words by @dogsoflewes
This painting is of Roma, by his owner Pat Thornton
my vet’s open
all night
Susan Hart, Lewes.
The Coastway Vets’ veterinary hospital
in central Brighton is open 24 hours a
day for emergency cases and provides
cover for most of the region’s vets every
evening, weekend and bank holiday.
For more details call:
01273 478100
coastwayvets.co.uk