News

Hello, hope you and your four legged friends are all well and have enjoyed the snow.  It may be disruptive on the roads but the majority of Springers think it is just fabulous.  The dogs in the kennels are no different and have had a great time frolicking about with great big grins on their faces.  Quite a lot has happened since the last newsletter, we’ve had our open day, one or two of our regular faces have found homes and we had a bit of an adventure on our January walk.  As usual many of you came to see us at our open day, thank you.  It was great to see you all and find out how all the Springers were getting on in their homes and of course all the gifts you brought for both the Spaniels and fundraising purposes will be of a great help as we continue through 2009. 

A couple of days prior to the open day our gorgeous Sam, 12 years old but still young at heart found a new home.  He’d been with us months, and was very down, being put in kennels after 12 years in the same home is a shock to an old boy.  We were worried about an old dog being in kennels for the winter period but he struck lucky and is now spending the winter nights tucked up by the agar.   Our longest residents Freddie and Buddy also got a chance of a new home after years in the kennels it is still early days but Buddy seems to have settled in OK so far (there is an update from him further on).  Freddie’s new family aren’t finding it quite so easy and he has been severely testing them but they already love him and are persevering so we have our fingers crossed that it will all work out in the end.  We know they are doing everything possible to make it work and cannot thank them enough.

We had a quick flurry of re-homing after the open day and so at Christmas had only four dogs in kennels (the lowest number that we can ever remember), but things quickly picked up as we headed into 2009, a number of dogs have found new homes already but there are a few more still looking.  

Our January walk was quite an adventure, Fudge got a real treat and we found out exactly how unfit we are!  We had decided to walk on the Trans Pennine Trail but whilst loading the dogs into the van Fudge made a bid for freedom.  He set off at full pelt, and believe us for a tubby looking dog with little legs, he can’t half move.  We had our hearts in our mouths as he crossed the road but he made it across OK and ran in to the woods - with us in hot pursuit.  We chased him both foot and in vehicles and Carl eventually cornered him after around an hour (which was quicker than we expected) and we got him safely back to the kennels. 

At sometime during the hour he’d had a swim so was dripping wet and we thought he’d probably had his quota of exercise so  while the other dogs had a delayed walk and lots of praise for being so good (they were in the van all the time we were in pursuit), Fudge got towelled down and a stern talking to (not that he cared, he’d had the best time ever and had a grin from ear to ear!).  Why not join us next time, although we can’t promise the same level of excitement every time.

Congratulations

 We’d like to say a huge congratulations to Brian and Frances Taylor on their diamond wedding anniversary.

Thanks

Thank you to Dan Brooks who recently completed the Tuff Guy Challenge and raised £213 for us and also a thank you to everyone who sponsored him.   Dan completed the course in 575th place in a time of 2.05.01 hours.  He has promised us his thoughts on the event and photographs so we will update everyone who sponsored him as soon as we receive them.

Bereavements

 As usual we’ve had tears as well as smiles and our thoughts are especially with Mike, Tom & Ed Geall following the death of the lovely Karen and would also like to thank everyone who complied with Karen's wishes and made a donation to rescue in lieu of flowers at her funeral.

We also send our condolences to the families of the following dogs:

Sally Young, Cracker Hewgill, Bracken Lowe