Sunday 5 December 2010
















It's been such an eventful week that I really don't know where to start. There have been some legendary moments and despite the most disastrous turn out at our Christmas Fair-come-pet health clinic everything still feels rather positive.

I can only conclude that the weather put people off yesterday cos even the pet health clinic only saw 63 animals attend. In total we took £660 and that will be a profit of around £400. We are incredibly chuffed with the sum of money raised, especially in light of the weather, but really it was only all the staff and volunteers spending so much that made this result. So thank you to them all for being so generous (and my hubby for giving me his wallet) amd I cansay for sure that if nothing else we had aa right good scoff and a natter for the day.

I must, however, say a huge thanks to the wonderful cake bakers - and no, this is not some kind of euphemism. Firstly, to our wonderful cat cuddler Debs, at the cattery, for making the cutest cakes ever that said 'miaow' and 'woof' on them - superb. Also to my lovely mate Debby, for spending the entirety of Friday baking and burning and cursing me - you are a diamond. And to a lovely lady called Lisa who rang up after reading my appeal on the blog for cakes and came along with a right big armful and an offer of a home for one our bunnies. Fnatastic! And of course a massive thank you to all the other cake bakers - you all did us proud. I ate so many I was borderline sick.










So on to the animal updates. Late admissions at the end of last week were greyhounds Lady and Earl. They had been kept kennelled all their lives and were products of the racing industry. From what I know, an inspector investigated a complaint whereby a number of greyhounds were being kept for breeding. They were all ex-racers or with a racing pedigree in the family. We received a plea to take some in and we went over capacity for a week so we could take in two.

Just so you know what 'going over capacity' means, it involves hiring an extra kennel at £8.50 a day. We do this very rarely, for obvious reasons, but on this occasion we knew we had two reserves on dogs so I was hopeful it would only be for a short period.

Anyhow, the state of them when they came in shocked everyone. One was crawling with fleas, though oddly the other one wasn't. One was underweight but the other one wasn't. They both had dental issues and have had to have extractions and scale and polishes under anaesthetic this week, and above all, what was so saddening was the state of Earl's fur - as you can see he is just bald.

Already we've clocked up nearly £500 in vet bills alone helping these two beautiful, gentle souls. And whilst I don't begrudge them a penny it does really irk me that people just don't understand how much cost is involved in caring for animals. We have to find that money from somewhere and at the moment that isn't easy because our two charity shop's income (our main source of income) is at an all time low what with the with the weather and run up to Christmas.

Anyway, undoubtedly the highlight of the week for me has been striking up a wonderful relationship (albeit over the telephone) with the adopters of our dogs Lily and Max. In a nutshell, both have been hindered from collecting their dogs by external forces, not least of all the weather!

Lily's new dad made the most epic journey on Wednesday to come down from North Yorkshire to collect her. The journey was through snow blizards and ungritted roads and involved his sat nav packing up along the way too. I tell you, the effort this lovely man went to to get to Lily was just amazing. We had a team effort helping him to navigate on the last leg of the journey and it really felt like 'Challenge Anneka'!

When Lily and her new dad finally got home, thankfully in half the time, I got a phone call to say they were safe and sound and already firm friends. I soon found myself crying with the description of Lily being flat of her back on the sofa with her new dad having tummy tickles as she snoozed. This image was just so special to me because this was 3rd time lucky with a home for her after she had been returned twice before. Lily had the most terrible start in life and she deserved much better than failed adoptions. Her new dad assures me they will be together forever, and I believe him. I just bitterly regret that we got it wrong the other times.

The other wonderful relationship was with a gentleman in Newcastle who had become smitten by our bouncy boxer cross Max. In the first instance his home visit was delayed because everyone was snow bound up there. But after 5 days this took place.

But then,the crazy snow weather didn';t cease up there and it became very likely taht it would be at least two weeks before they'd be able to get out of their street to collect Max. Whilst in the meantime Max was beginning to suffer in the kennels.

We all began checking the weather daily. Max's new dad tried in earnest to shovel himself out of his drive way but his street was just simply impassable, so it came to a point where we were accepting the fact that Max would be with us for a couple more weeks but then staff member Mel came to the rescue.

Max really wasn't coping in kennels but what with being only 7 months old and having spent most his life in a backyard it wasn't really surprising. Mel decided that she would have a go at taking Max up to Newcastle and meeting the adopters within walking distance of their home. From what I can tell it proved to be a very long journey and very hard going but they made it! And much to the elation of all concerned. I'm sure you will agree this make sMel a legend and Max a very lucky, happy lad! He is pictured above in his new home and you can see he is so chuffed. Early reports also say that he is settling really well, which considering all he has been through in life so far is incredible.

Bunnies are my last feature of the week. We have been lucky enough to get press coverage in three local papers for help with rehoming the large numbers we have as a result of the case ones being signed over. As yet nothing concrete has come of the appeals but we are hopeful that one or two homes might transpire, and on Monday morning I'm off to BBC Radio Manchester to talk about our rehoming appeal too. I'm on air at 10.45am and given as this is my favourite topic I'll easily fill my 5 minute slot! Can't wait to rabbit on. (Oh dear, terrible pun).

Lastly, I just want to say thanks to the lovely people who came down to the fair yesterday to buy our Beano a Christmas present. Beano is our longest stay bunny and keeps being overlooked and so we now have him his very own 'special appeal' page on the national RSPCA's website. Let's hope we get him a home very soon because he is such a beautiful natured lad that deserves to be loved and looked after in a home more than any other bunny we have (except possibly Shady, but he's a whole other story, bless him).