Blind border collie gets his own guide dog…

A blind border collie has found a new lease of life thanks to his mate – who acts as his guide dog. Black and white hound Clyde is totally blind and relies on his partner and fellow collie Bonnie to guide him everywhere.

She stays inches from Clyde’s side while guiding him on walks or to food or water, and lets him rest his head on her haunches whenever he becomes disorientated.When they are together five-year-old Clyde seems as capable as a fully-sighted dog, but he refuses to move unless two-year-old Bonnie is nearby to guide him.

The inseparable pair were rescued as strays three weeks ago and are now looking for a new home.

But Cherie Cootes, 40, at the Meadow Green Dog Rescue centre in Loddon, Norfolk, said Clyde would be lost without Bonnie and the dogs had to be re-homed together.

She said: “If Clyde’s unsure where he is he will suddenly go behind her and put his face on her back so she can guide him where he is going.

“He totally relies on her the whole time. When she walks she tends to stop and make sure he’s there – she does look out for him.

“When Bonnie’s about you wouldn’t necessarily notice Clyde is blind, but when she’s not about he refuses to move without her.

“There’s absolutely no option of homing them separately – they have to go as a pair.

“She’s just so good with him. They really are the most lovely pair of dogs. We’ve got to find them a home.”

Bonnie and Clyde were rescued after being abandoned on a street in the middle of a storm three weeks ago.

A member of the public spotted them running though the rain in Blundeston, Norfolk, and when she opened her car door they jumped straight in.

Waveney District Council placed the dogs, who have no identifying collars or chips, with the rescue centre but no owners have come forward to claim them.

Cherie described the dogs as “typical high-spirited collies” and said they would make ideal pets in a home with a large, secure garden away from busy roads.

Long-haired border collie Clyde has a friendly face while short-haired Bonnie is much smaller.

Cherie said: “They’ve got very nice manners and they walk well on the lead. They really are a very sweet pair of dogs.

“Clyde’s going to have to have a more rural type of home purely because of traffic. It would be fantastic if someone had a large garden so he can have his exercise.”

Sue Cootes, 59, who runs the rescue centre with her daughter Cherie, said it was incredible to see how Bonnie took care of Clyde.

She said: “She’s a little darling and he just follows her everywhere.

“It’s just instinctive with them to help each other and it’s marvellous to see animals doing this together.

“We get them outside and on walks as much as possible because Clyde may be blind but Bonnie certainly isn’t. We have large paddocks and they potter around together out there.

“Without Bonnie Clyde would be lost. They can’t be separated, we need someone to take them both on.”

The Cootes family took over the rescue centre five years ago and now look after 45 abandoned dogs.

Vicky Bell, a spokeswoman for Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said she had never heard of a dog voluntarily acting as a guide dog for another dog.

She said: “This is a very unusual case – it’s such a lovely story.

“Some dogs take to guiding better than others because they naturally have the right temperament.

“It very much depends on the individual dog.”

Taxes you pay this year are based on the value of your home two years in the past. For most of us, that means paying on values that are no longer close to being accurate.  There are several things you can do to contest the taxes you are being charged.

First, compare any listed tax exemptions you think you qualify for with what is listed on the bill. Exemptions vary depending on your location, but you can find that information on your local tax assessor authority’s website. Make note of any differences for presentation later.

Next, examine property values or sales prices for similar properties in your area. Find this information using either your local tax assessor authority’s website or a local REALTOR. Tax assessors make property value public information, so the information is available to property owners.

And then… Analyze the appraised value of your home compared to the similar properties researched. Any sizeable difference should be noted and prepared as evidence in presenting your case. Consider hiring an independent appraiser (that’s where I come in) to assess the value of your property. Doing so gives you further supporting evidence. You can then decide if there is enough difference in your original appraisal value, and what you have concluded is the correct appraisal of your property to contest your property taxes. Go ahead and contest the taxes if you find an exception error.

 The much anticipated HVCC (Home Valuation Code of Conduct) is now in effect, assuming the failure of last-ditch efforts to delay implementation by the NAMB (National Association of Mortgage Brokers) and NAR (National Association of Realtors.)  All 1-4 family loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are subject to the HVCC.  The actual document can be found by clicking here.
 
So what is different today from yesterday?  There are quite a few things that haven’t changed, for instance the HVCC still does not apply to FHA and VA loans and it also does not apply to jumbo loans, loans over Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac limits.  Any such appraisal assignments that you undertake today can be performed exactly as one which you completed yesterday.  Obviously any private assignments are completely unaffected, so those divorce appraisals, bankruptcy appraisals and tax grievance appraisals can be completed the same way you did them yesterday.  These types of private appraisals are also going to be increasing for several reasons:
 
–Existing and pending legislation promises to restrict real estate agents from performing BPO’s, and restricts broker market value estimates to listing activity only, not allowing them to provide market value estimates for mortgage, legal or tax related purposes.
 
–Potential congressional action could allow bankruptcy judges to modify the terms of troubled homeowners’ mortgages.  Any such action would likely increase the need for appraisals for this reason.
 
–The decline in property values has not been properly accounted for by many assessing jurisdictions.  This will surely lead to a great increase in the number of tax grievance and tax appeal appraisals as homeowners look to reduce their property taxes. 
 
With regard to Fannie and Freddie and AMCS:  As we and many others have repeated, there is no mandate within the HVCC for the usage of appraisal management companies.  This is amongst the many myths that have developed surrounding the HVCC.  Question 35 in Fannie Mae’s Home Valuation Code of Conduct Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) asks: “Is a lender required to use an AMC for ordering appraisals?”  The answer: “No.  A lender may order appraisals directly from an individual appraiser.”  A link to Fannie’s FAQs can be found here.  A link to the Freddie Mac FAQs can be found here.  Lastly, a link to the Appraisal Institute’s HVCC Myths and Realities document can also be found here.       —www.fhaappraisernewsletter.com

Magnificent Estate Home in Belleair, FL

We are a full service residential appraisal service in Tampa Bay, FL. Our practice includes the following Florida counties: Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, and Hernando. We are FHA Certified and provide excellence analysis and unrivaled customer support.

Call us during regular business hours (M-F, 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Eastern) at (727) 422-5629.

Appraisal Questions? Email us at topdogappraisals@gmail.com or  Fax your order 24/7…  (727) 230-7475.