We have a fantastic team here at OneKind Towers, everyone is supportive and we’re all working towards a better world for animals.
Two members of our team are particularly supportive – always by your side, making sure you go out for fresh air... the only thing they can’t manage is making cups of tea. Yes, you’ve got it, Esme and Paddy. The office wouldn’t be the same without the canine presence.
OneKind supporters who have been following us for a while will know that my Esme is a staffy. She loves coming into the office. We get the bus in the mornings and she practically jumps out the door with excitement. Esme is really pleasant and gives everyone a lovely greeting. Even Bill Oddie gave her a cuddle!
If everyone could watch Esme’s typical daily routine, and got to know her character, they would see that the ‘fearsome’ staffy image is indeed a flawed one. A number of dog breeds are presented negatively in the media, the staffy being the main feature, and there has been an upsurge of them, the Rottweiler, and the Akita among others in rescues.
It’s a shame that wonderful dogs are abandoned, some people take them on not knowing how best to care for the breed. Some people own staffies for all the wrong reasons; because they are strong and determined to please humans, they think they can make them fight. Because of their muscular look they are often seen as status symbols.
At OneKind we believe every animal can be amazing. Keeping in mind the breed (or some guesswork if it’s a Heinz 57 varieties) and what it needs to be happy, underneath their furry exteriors each dog has a personality and feelings. Not so long ago, the staffy was known as the ‘nanny’ dog for their gentle manner with children.
Personally, I love staffies because they love being beside you. Esme is well-known for her comedic antics, between stealing food and making herself comfy on whatever she can find, to taking a ‘mad turn’ around a dog show ring and leaving me to run after her!
The RSPCA has made a wonderful video about staffies and how they are viewed. The star of the video is particularly cute. If you have a spare 4 minutes, it’s well worth checking out.