May 2000 

1 May 2000 : Rabbits, rabbits, rabbits! Arrived Lilliput air strip 2:00am - Greeted by LPRL rep's who were most excited and pleased to hear that the first consignment of Lilliputs were adopted so quickly. Must get some sleep, been travelling 2 days. Ran into problems with Customs and Excise en route. Was questioned about importing last consignment of dogz - was told I will need a special Customs and Excise license next time!. Pesky spider'z stowed away in my suit case. Just can't get rid of him!

2 May 2000 : Ah! nice sleep - It is  a gorgeous sunny day here in Lilliput. Must visit LPRL Headquarterz to see what the current situation with Lilliputs is. Also urgent visit to Excise Office to obtain Export License for next consignment. (Otherwize might get into deep probz with next lot - not good). :-(

3 May 2000 : Gosh busy day yesterday, LPRL Headquarterz woz invaded by demonstrators who disagreed with exporting of their native dogz! Eventually sorted out the prob, We explained that it was for the good of all the little guyz because the Lilliput Authorities would have them exterminated if their numbers were not reduced. Demonstrators eventually realised we were doing it for the best reasons. Then had to wrangle with Excise Office - explained needed License urgently. They were in no hurry to issue the certificate, said 'come back next week'. btw only got a short glimpse of the next consignment of petz - some really cute onez waiting tho'.

4 May 2000 : Eventually found time to eyeball LPRL Headquarterz. Wow! I like these guyz - you'll love 'em. Ten Lilliputs now in the compound & more expected soon. A rumour circulating that a giant strain of Sheepiez living in the hillsides north of the city! Must find out more - We have arranged to visit the area and treck up into the Lilliput Mountain range tomorrow. Hope to pick up trails of the Giant Dogz. Some of the locals say they are as big as elephantz!, But if they do exist we will just have to wait and see. Still no joy from Excise Office.

5 May 2000 : Early start today, Took two helperz and Titch in the Jeep (Titch is my good friend who I found on my last trip to Lilliput). He's is a Lilliput Miniature Lhasa type and has been given the job to audit the LPRL Compound area - Good move - he knows all about the Lilliput Dogz and is most helpful. We expect to be up in the mountain range for at least 3-4 dayz looking for signs of the Giant Sheepiez. Titch will be a good tracker for us AND he should be able to talk their language. btw here are some pic's of Titch. 

Arrived Mountain range 4pm. Wonderful views across Liliput and can see right out to the coast. Set up camp and all fed and watered. Will start our expedition at first light tomorrow. ( Just a thought - If the Giant Sheepiez are as big as they say - how would we get one back to LPRL H.Q). Set up lap-top  before retiring to bed (Must conserve batteries-Only use when essential).

6 May 2000 : Woke 6am. Set off up mountain trail- passed thro' native village at 7:00am. Good place to make some enquiry's about the Giant Sheepiez... Muttering amongst tribes people... then an old man appeared who spoke in a sort of broken- English manner.  ' U seekie um Emasivo el Shep? ' . After a little thought I nodded in agreement! The old man pointed along the road towards a dense tropical forest -' em lives in dare ' he muttered. I beckoned for him to come and show us, but the whole tribe mumbled and dragged the old man back. They were obviously very frightened. Titch ran ahead, and within 20 min's we were in the rain forest. Could hear Titch barking and yapping ahead. He was obviously very excited about something! What could it be? omg - look what he's found - I cannot believe it!!
Paw marks, but just look at them! ... and more - C.. c.. could it be?....  Each paw mark in the soil was nearly as big across as Titch. Quickly we took out our casting kit, and took some plaster moulds. Decided to photograph moulds to email back to expertz in UK for analysis. [Photo's attached here]
    
Good time for hasty retreat back to base camp - Will return tomorrow after some serious thought!!

7 May 2000 : Arrived in Forest 9:00am. Located tracks we found yesterday. Titch is sure they belonged to young Giant Sheepiez. Indicated he could smell it... Huh? Oh well. Eventually found more paw tracks after long search- only two... but jeez they are even bigger! 
1.00pm heard low pitch growling noises from upper mountain slopes - Headed that direction with extreme caution. Saw nothing. Titch returned after scouting up ahead... panting. Looked rather 'sheepish' (Sorry about the pun!)  {¦o)
We assumed he MUST have seen a Giant Sheepie... If only we can eyeball one I would be able to take a photo just to prove that they actually DO exist! Scouted around for next 3 hours - heard the growlz but still seen nowt! This is getting frustrating, but Titch is convinced he saw something. We are getting exhausted in this tropical forest... the atmosphere is stifling. Must return to base camp... at least we think we are on to something, but only one day left up here... Must help out LPRL with the Lilliput Miniatures down in the City. Best get back to camp and email latest pic's of paw prints to expertz in UK. [More photo's attached].

8 May 2000 : received reply from UK expertz today which read.. 'Studied pawprintz but they are a complete mystery. They appear to be canine in appearance, but unbelievably large. Could possibly be a Bear species of some sort' Well, I suppose that is one theory, but the local inhabitants seem quite certain that the strange animal is a Giant dogz. Titch hardly slept all night - just whined and stirred till dawn. He was dreaming a lot. We only have today up here in the rain forests to try to discover something about this strange phenomenon!
Returned to the same area as yesterday in one last effort to track down the Sheepiez. Ran into a couple of the local natives who said they had heard the growling noisez and later spotted what they believed we were looking for. We followed their directions and Titch became very excited, sniffing the ground and running ahead. As we approached a clearing we could not believe our eyes.. There right in front of us were two absolutely massive Sheepiez, We could see they were only young, and they were not even afraid... I think we were the onez who were affraid!! 'Tis true they were as bigger than big ol' grizzly mountain bears. Titch sidled up to them, and began some sort of dogz coversation with them. He looked lost beside them. Then the Giant Sheepiez started to move away slowly and wanting us to follow. About a mile further on we were just stunned to see about 50 to 100 more Sheepiez - some even bigger than the first two. And would you believe it, right in the middle of them was a young girl who came up to meet us. She quickly explained that her family had always lived with the dogz, but now the pack was in danger of becoming extinct because of lack of food. She had heard about the rescue of the Lilliput Miniatures and begged us to try to find a solution for the plight of the Sheepiez. Seems she couldn't trust the Lilliputian people because some years previous a hunting expedition came up the mountain and many of the dogz were shot!! None died directly from the shooting spree, but many died later of their wounds. NOW FACED WITH ONE ALMIGHTY PROBLEM... what next? We must keep this discovery to ourselves for the time being. We will report that on this occasion we found nothing of the Giant Sheepiez, but promised the girl that we would make every effort to organise some sort of relief effort for the dogz. Even if we supplied food it would not last for ever - No, we must think of a way to find new homes for these fantastic creaturez.

9 May 2000 : Arrived back at LPRL H.Q mid morning. Thoughts raced through my mind during the whole journey. What to do for the best?? There is no immediate solution for the Giant Sheepiez, and (btw...  we still have to organise the next consignment of Miniatures that we had traveled to Lilliput for). Even if we could get the authoritiez to agree to issuing permits to us to transport some Giantz out of Lilliput, it would still take an enormous amount of organising both here and back home. That reminds me... Still got to get the permit from the Excise Office to export the Miniaturez .  Titch had made good friends with the lovable Giants of Lilliput. Yes they were a bit clumsy, but wouldn't we all seem like that if we were as big in our own speciez! At least they were friendly to us and appreciated that we had promised to do our best for them. Jeesh! I just wish that I could have brought one or two out this time. Glad I remembered to take some photo's. Just hope they develop OK - will have to develop them myself - can't take the risk at this point of someone questioning what is on the prints!. 
Back at LPRL H.Q things have been progressing. 4 more Lilliputs arrived at the compound from the Volutary Society of Detz Loverz. One or two of the little guyz really look like Pedigree's but we know they are all mixiez. These petz should soon find homes when they get put up for adoption.

10 May 2000 : Beginning to suspect some sort of corrupt goings on down at Lilliput Excise Office. LPRL H.Q has intervened now to see if they can help out, but just more excuses from Excise Office for not issuing export permit... don't say I'm going to have to go along with a bribe for them to issue the permit for the Miniaturez!!  Developed the photo's this morning.. You just would not believe the one of Titch trying to converse with the Giant Sheepie - we nick-named the Sheepie 'SHEP'. Must paste a photo copy in this diary soon. 

11 May 2000 : Spent all day at the LPRL compound checking over the Lilliput Miniatures and making necessary records. Need to record their names and allocate adoption numbers etc. Some of these guyz are even smaller than the last consignment. Looking forward to bringing these dogz back for re-homing. Just look at these 'actual size' pic's of some that arrived on Tuesday !! 

'Come on lil' guyz don't look sad - won't be long now !'        

12 May 2000 : Still making good progress at LPRL H.Q....  A lady visited from the Voluntary Society of Dogz Lovers - She has heard that some men from the Excise Office are involved in illegal trading of the Miniatures with those section of the society who participate in eating dogz. I will have to tread carefully here!! This must be why they are not issuing the export certificate- They don't want the dogz exported because they will lose the the money they are  making from illegally selling the dogz as a delicacy FOOD! Yes, must be careful from now on ... btw Click on the thumbnail to see pic of the Giant Sheepie puppy with Titch- (Use back arrow to return here.) What do you think of that! 

13 May 2000 : Another 8 Miniatures arrived today  - looking good :)
Can't get those poor Giant Sheepiez off my mind. We may have to consider a 'smuggling' expedition to save both the Lilliput Miniatures and the Giants!! Don't want to break the laws here in the Land of Lilliput , but unless we get some cooperation from the Excise Office, can't see much alternative! Course, I could end up in pretty hot water if I'm not careful. Perhaps we could arrange for a ship to pull in one night and save them all in one swoop. Just not sure who to trust in this place at the moment, but got to do something for all these helpless dogz.

14 May 2000 : Held a meeting at LPRL H.Q - Also members of Voluntary Society of Dogz Lovers were there. It was agreed that if we could not get the necessary papers to export the Miniatures within the next few days, we will arrange for a boat to secretly pull into one of the bays up country, and load the entire new consignment of little dogz ourselves. Of course this will need to be done in the utmost secrecy and carried out very swiftly. We will then report the Excise Office to the ISPCP (International Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Petz). Hopefully they will help resolve the question of the crooked workers in that office and force the Lilliputian Government to arrest and prosecute them for their wrong doings towards the poor little dogz they help sell off for food to those wicked people who eat them.!! I will try one more time tomorrow to obtain the necessary papers before it is too late.

15 May 2000 : It was a narrow escape today!! When I arrived at the Excise Office to try to get the papers, two men said I was UNDER ARREST for illegally dealing in animal trading. Of course this was all an excuse to try to prevent me bringing the Lilliputs back to the UK. LPRL H.Q were able to secure my release through their legal department, but it is now obvious that they will do anything possible to stop us saving the Lilliputs!!. OK we will play them at their own game. I will pretend that I have been scared off - I will leave the country by air for the nearest Island to the North, and secretly return by boat. Most of the present consignment of Miniatures are nearly ready to travel now. In a few days time we will  move them by truck to the bay up north. Then at a pre-arranged time the boat will arrive and we will load them all on as quickly as possible.

16 May 2000 : Arrived back at Lilliput very early today and hid out in the mountains where the Giant Sheepiez live. Have been keeping in touch with LPRL H.Q by using my laptop comp. Rebecca, the young girl we met living with the Sheepiez was very pleased to see me again. She offered all the help I needed, and I enjoyed today in the company of these huge Dogz. This is a good place to organise our secret campaign from. It is only about an hour from here to the coast where we will meet the boat and all the little guyz who are coming with me. If all goes well it will only be a few days  to go now.

17 May 2000 : My dear brothers Birthday today - E-mailed best wishes and kept him informed on what we are doing up here. LRPL have made secret arrangements to transport all the Miniatures up north to the coast by truck. I have to signal the boat crew to arrive at an exact time when the trucks pull in. Titch made his own way up here to meet me and has been a good companion this past couple of dayz. His job will be to keep guard when we are all busy getting the others petz on board. Wow this is exciting stuff!! Just hope my luck holds out.  btw - Titch arrived back from a scouting trip today with two more Giant Sheepiez puppiez of a kind we had not yet seen! You MUST see these to believe it!! (Click on the thumbnail to see pic)
 
18 May 2000 : Today was the big day. All plans set for Midnight. Trucks arrived dead on time! We had to keep the dogz quiet. The boat crew signaled by torch light as they sailed in and all looked well. One by one we loaded the Lilliputz on board. Then Rebecca arrived pleading with us to take one or two Giant Sheepiez with us too. I promised that we would if there was enough room left once all the Miniatures were safely on board ship and settled down. Yes, this could be our chance to save a few of the Giants also!! We managed to fit in four of them.  We were about to set sail when someone said hurry!! there are vehicles approaching along the coast road. It was the crooked men from the Excise Office. If they caught us now everything would be doomed. I would be unfairly jailed and all the Lilliputs would be returned to the city - their fate would be sealed. We started the boat engines as quickly as possible but the vehicles were getting closer by the second - lights flashing and men shouting!. At last we pulled away from the shore and all looked well.... In all the commotion we had forgotten about Titch keeping guard along the coast road!! I had promised to take him with us and now the poor little fellow was stranded on the beach. I MUST do something to help him...

19 May 2000 : Titch looked forlorn standing there all alone on the beach last night. Rebecca could see what was happening from the cliff top... She was shouting 'Use the Sheepiez... Use the Sheepiez'. Then it dawned on me what she meant. I could not possibly swim back and save Titch myself, but with the help of the Giant Sheepiez I COULD! With two of these gentle giants I dived overboard hanging on to each of them as we reached the water. They were powerful swimmers, and we soon reached the shore. Titch was barking and trying to escape the nets of the Excise men - we scrambled onto the beach and the men ran towards me as I tried to get Titch. Oh no, if they get us now everything will be doomed! Then, like bolts of lightening the two Sheepiez bounded towards the men. They were putting their lives at risk to help me save Titch. The Excise men suddenly stopped in their tracks - they had never before seen anything like these massive dogz! They all turned tail and ran up the cliffs to the safety of their vehicles - the Sheepiez in chase!  Within seconds the vehicles were started up and they sped away into the dark night. I collapsed on the beach in hysterical laughter at the sight of it, and Titch and the Sheepiez were soon re-united with me at the waters edge. All we had to do now was make that same swim back out to the boat and we were on our way. As I looked back in the moonlight I could see Rebecca waving from the cliff top . YES - WE ARE ON OUR WAY! - UK here we come.

20 May 2000 : We sailed up to the Island of Lillipo Minor I could not help thinking about all the little Miniaturez and the Giant Sheepiez who remained on Lilliput. The next rescue expedition may be even harder unless the ISPCP (International Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Petz) can resolve the question of those crooked Excise men.  At Lillipo Minor we all disembarked from our rescue boat. Some of the LPRL team met us as we scrambled ashore. From here we are hoping to board a Jumbo Transport plane laid on for us by the ISPCP  - Then it's - next stop UK! Once we land it will just be a matter of setting up the Adoption process at the LPRL website. Let's hope there's lots of people waiting to take on one of these brilliant little Miniatures and provide a good and loving home! What to do with the Giant Sheepiez? - just don't know at this time....

21 May 2000 : LPRL H.Q forwarded a message today... They are trying to arrange with Rebecca for all  the Giant Sheepiez at Lilliput to be secretly transferred to Lillipo Minor. There they should be safe from the crooked Excise men who now know that the Giants exist in the Lilliput mountains - After the despicable way they have treated the Miniaturez, who knows what their evil plans would be for the Giants! Good news from LPRL - They think that arrangements for the Jumbo Transporter are going as planned. Lets hope it is quick, because although all the dogz appear quite happy at this time, they understandably also seem a little confused with all this travel and excitement.

22 May 2000 :  Transport arrangements have been confirmed for departure with the Lilliputz over the next few days!! We had a visit today from delegates of the Lillipo Minor Town Council. They confirmed that facilities would be made to accommodate the Giant Sheepiez on this Island, where they would be be safe from the dangers in Lilliput. Apparently they are not unfamiliar with large dogz of this kind here, and told me that the breed originated many years ago right here on this Island. They also said that over the next few days they would disclose some interesting information with regard to the Giant breedz in general. We are expecting to see Rebecca again before we leave. She is planning to come to Lillipo Minor to live with the Giants, and this is really good newz.

23 May 2000 : Jim Bean from the local council came to see me again today. Told me some fascinating facts about the origins of the Giant breedz. Seems that back in 1700's some kind of comet from outer space exploded in the atmosphere over the islands in this region of the world. It had various affects on the plant and animal life here, one in particular was to cause a genetic change in the canine population that lived here on Lilipo Minor at that time. Apparently most of the dog breedz here gradually increased in size until they eventually all finished up as big as the Giant Sheepiez. He also told me that there were other similar breedz still living on the Island, and that he would take me to see some of them before we leave... can't wait to see them. I will attach a pic on this diary page if I get a chance to photograph them. Then he revealed that the Miniaturez at Lilliput were affected in a similar way by the explosion from the comet, but the result was to cause the dogz on Lilliput to decrease in size! This will explain a great deal for the expertz back in the UK. When I asked why very few people seemed to be aware of this he went on further to explain that because hunters came to the region to kill the Giantz and take home their heads as trophies, the people from Lillipo Minor decided to keep the Giant breedz hidden up in the high grounds where the hunters would not find them. Then they spread stories that the dogz had all been killed or died out. One particular breed - the Sheepiez - were all taken to Lilliput by Rebecca's ancestors, and that until recently they had survived quite happily in the Lilliput Mountain range. Now the folk from Lillipo Minor were quite happy to see the Sheepiez return to their place of origin. They are determined to care for them the as best they can. I promised that if we were allowed to take a few of them home with us that I would never reveal the secret of where they could all be located, and that I would ensure that they would be well cared for in the Petz Community....

24 May 2000 :  Today we went to see some of the Lillipo Giants Dogz. One in particular really took my fancy. It was a Big Brown mixie Puppy named BigRita. I just couldn't resist taking photo's of her with Des and Dalette. Just have a look at these two pic's.
(Click on thumbnails) BigRita and Dalette -  BigRita and Des . Can you imagine what BigRita will look like when she is fully grown? I hope to take some more photo's before we leave Lillipo Minor. Rebecca arrived today with a troupe of Lilliput Giant Sheepiez - it took one massive boat to transport them, but they are all safely here now. The Miniaturez are all doing well but they will soon have to be prepared for the last leg of the trip home to UK. I can't wait to arrive back at the LPRL Office where we can prepare all these little guyz for their new homes and post there pictures on the website Adoption Catalogue page. Slight delay in finding an Airline Company who can take all the dogz in one trip but we are confident this can be sorted out soon. Watch out folks we'll soon be with y'all !! This has been one heck of a trip so far... Surely there can be no more difficulties from now on...

25 May 2000 : We woke to a beautiful summers day - I can't forget how pleased I was yesterday when we watched the steamer pull in at the dock. Rebecca was frantically waving to us from on board. Then the boat docked and one by one the fantastic Sheepiez came ashore. A good meal was waiting for them all, and following that they were all taken up to the highlands to their new home. Some of Rebecca's distant cousins were delighted to know she had decided to live at Lillipo Minor and they escorted her upland with the Sheepiez. We all helped settle these Massive dogz in and we took a few of the Miniatures with us just for the trip out. Before she left Lilliput, Rebecca had heard that the International Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Petz(ISPCP) were already starting an investigation into the actions of the Excise men there. Up to now they had met with a wall of silence because everyone was too frightened to come forward to give evidence. It seems I am the only one who is prepared to stand up in court and give the evidence against them... This will have to wait... It is much more important to get the Lilliputz back to UK. I will have to decide what to do after this present consignment of Lilliputs have all been adopted. We must then try to resolve this situation - it is bad enough for the Miniaturez just having to face the unfortunate Lilliput culling order.

26 May 2000 :  We are now making last minute arrangements for the air travel boxes for the Lilliputz. The journey back to UK should only take a few hours. I think it is best if we do not feed them until we land. Then we we can arrange for a meal to be waiting in UK. Went to say farewell to Rebecca - it was sad really but at least she is happy again now that she is living in Lillipo Minor with all the Giant dogz. I told her that we would meet again. When I visit Lilliput in future I will stop over to see her and all those fantastic Sheepiez etc. en route. Took one last pic of BigRita - She was showing us one of the newly born Giant pupz - Poor little Grace could not believe her eyes when she saw the pup. matter of fact... neither could I!! Click on small pic to view photo.

27 May 2000 :  Arrived at Hedgerow Airport UK in early hours. The dogz were all fed on landing and swiftly taken through the quarantine section. Representatives from the ISPCP ensured we had no trouble with import papers and we proceeded straight to LPRL Office. All the Miniaturez were checked over by the LPRL vetz and the necessary neutering and spaying was carried out. Hopefully during the next few days all the pic's should appear in the Adoptionz Catalogue at the Lilliput Miniaturez website. Lots of work to do now to ensure everything goes well. Note: Forgot to mention something - During all the excitement of the last few weeks - I'm sure I heard a rumour of Miniature Catz in the Land of Lilliput - This could be very interesting!! (or is it all in Sandy's dreams?) Click thumbnail pic to view.

28 May 2000 : Preparation for the Miniaturez Adoptionz has gone well. There will be about 60 dogz available for adoption in this consignment. We felt obliged to bring 10 of the Larger Lilliputz back this time so that they too could have the chance of a better life in the Petz Community. Most of the admin work is now completed, but we will wait until they are all available to be posted on the Catalogue Page in one go. That should not be much longer now. All the staff have worked hard to meet our deadline for the end of May and the Miniatures are all getting excited now at the thought of going to their new homes.

29 May 2000 : See - told you late May - couldn't be much later hehe. But we made the deadline :).All dogz were put up for adoption last night at 9.30pm GMT. Gulp 16 gone before I could catch a breath!!! Didn't even advertise that they were going up. Lots of nice requests and replies. At 1a.m GMT decided to let my typing fingers cool off! Going to catch up on some sleep and will risk looking in my inbox in the morning. hehe... I love it!!! Goodnight guyz - seez youz all tomorrow.

30 May 2000 : Another busy day. 37 little fellas have gone off to their new homes now. Amazing!!  Seems like I will be off to Lilliput again before long. Keep on adopting guyz - only a few more to go.

31 May 2000 : Only 15 Little Lilliputs left now from the  60 rescued by LPRL this time - Lots of nice replies and updates. Some fantastic pic's sent in of the petz in their new homes. It's good to know they will all be looked after from now on. It has been a really worthwhile experience bringing these guyz into the petz community. I am sure they will soon all forget their sad little past lives and live happily ever after. A big thanks to all concerned!!

Many thanks for your interest in the diary  - See y'all at the website  - Kind Regards - Sandy@LPRL.