Basset Hound & Rhodesian Ridgeback Breeders/Exhibitors Forced to Abandon Homes

Two exhibitors forced to leave homes as flood levels rise: Bassets transported on JCB

TWO EXHIBITORS have been evacuated from their homes due to the flooding.
One of them is DOG WORLD’s Basset Hound correspondent Sandra Thexton (Barrenger), who was battling to stay at her property in West Yeo in Somerset, which is next to Moorland and Fordgate.
Water had continued to rise threateningly to within a metre of her house and was creeping nearer when on Sunday she was forced by the emergency services to evacuate.
She was the only person still in her hamlet.
Her 15 Bassets and 11 cats were put in cages and loaded onto an industrial digger – the only way of getting them out, as the water on the two miles of lane between her and Burrowbridge had become extremely deep and a strong wind was blowing.
"We left about half an hour after the animals, on a boat crewed by two great guys from Somerset Fire and Rescue,” said Mrs Thexton, who also breeds British Shorthairs.
"All the gang survived the journey and some are now with very kind friends. The kindness and generosity of everyone is very humbling. My vet has seven of my cats and one of the nurses has two of the Bassets for a few days.
"We are now based in Wheddon Cross on Exmoor staying with friends who have welcomed five Basset Hounds, two cats and six kittens into their home. We have gone from the lowlands the highlands!
"Tremendous thanks to all who engineered and carried out our rescue. We look forward to the days when the Somerset Levels are green again and full of Bassets baying.”
Another exhibitor among the hundreds of people stricken by floods on the Somerset Levels is Janet Nolan (Harambee) who has been marooned since Christmas. She lives in Muchelney a few miles away from Mrs Thexton, and things had begun to improve a little for her, her husband and their ten Rhodesian Ridgebacks, until the rain swept in again at the weekend.
"We’re not going anywhere today,” she said on Monday. "There’s been more rain and gales overnight which have blocked our exits again, so will just have to sit tight and enjoy the Olympics on TV as long as the power holds!”

Mrs Nolan was present when Prince Charles visited the area last week, arriving in his Wellingtons on the back of ‘the village taxi’ – a trailer pulled by a tractor.
He talked to residents and visited flooded houses, and afterwards launched an outspoken attack on what he perceived to be the authorities’ slow response to the flood crisis, saying the tragedy was that ‘nothing happened for so long’.
Residents are furious that the rivers have not been dredged in recent years and that the Environment Agency has taken no action to do so.

"Prince Charles’ visit was quite brief, but at least he understood the plight of the farmers, especially how badly the floods are affecting everyone,” Mrs Nolan said.
"However, since his visit the situation has altered, the flood waters are deeper, and he wouldn’t be able to ride on our village taxi!
"He got a comfortable garden seat to sit on – we just get soggy bales of straw!”
Mrs Nolan brought the dogs in from their kennels weeks ago and now has them with her in the bungalow permanently. She is struggling to keep the bedding dry. At its worst most of her two-acre plot was underwater, and in places ten or 11 inches deep.
"We’re still relatively dry here on our bit of the Levels, but dreading the next few days of stormy weather which is forecast,” she said. "We’re just off to try to stock up with more supplies. My Wellies have sprung a leak!
"We’ve just come back from walking the dogs, but no self-respecting Ridgeback likes wading through water and they don’t like mud either.”
The situation is causing the Ridgebacks stress due to lack of exercise and change in routine.
"They’re losing condition – they were very fit dogs,” Mrs Nolan said. "I just hope we can get to Crufts – it would be nice to be able to get out. I’m still aiming to get there – even without dogs – so fingers crossed.”
Sheila Cooksey, who lives in a bungalow on Ham Island, Berkshire, has had to be evacuated with her two Rhodesian Ridgebacks. On Sunday she was told it was too dangerous for her to stay so she, Kasi and Tigi are now with a friend in Chorleywood, Hertfordshire.


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Awful!