The future isn’t bright. Like most rescues, we are very close to closing, just at a time when we are really needed. We are aware of over 100 greyhounds in urgent need of a rescue place, dogs, we are simply in no position to help. We have the room for a few, more than most rescues perhaps, however the cost associated with any increase in numbers would quickly put us out of business.
We have brilliant, fully committed staff who care about the animals and also our little shop in Pickering keeps doing its bit. Our man in the office is holding the fort, and a small army of financial wizards keep the bills as low as possible. We cannot afford to lose any of these people, even if we can’t afford them!
The fixed costs are staggering. The list is endless.
Vets Bills; £54,908
Insurance; £10,654
Wages; £183,000
Financial services; £15,300
Utilities and rates ; £16,000
A trainer we have known for years, has just asked us to take twenty ex-racers. We have the capacity to take them all but dare not as it would be the final nail in our coffin. Another trainer has asked for help, she needs more racing strength as she needs to pay her mortgage! I may have told her to get a proper job.
Some news of our recent guests. Fern, the stray lurcher who came in a week before her brother (also straying) is trying her luck down in Yorkshire with Becca. There is more chance of her finding a home there due to her type. Sammy(Bandicoot Sammy) seems to have fallen on his paws, with two adoring whippet girls to look after. They were smitten. He went off without a backward glance and hasn’t found time to write. Tommy, (War Zone Tom) his old kennelmate still awaits his chance of happiness after four months. Someone will come Tom, trust me. Too beautiful to fail. Presley and Marley are plain, straightforward black dogs without a sexy back story.. They may meet their families in time, we hope though their colour is against them.
We have just said goodbye to Malcolm. Dumped after his last race in a wood three years ago. Malcolm arrived just in time to hop on the transporter to Scotland. He proved too lethal to re-home but lived out the rest of his life with us, swapping racing stories with the other wrecks. He slipped through our fingers a few days ago, joining four others this year Tinkerbell, Tarzan, Little Jack & Maha. When you provide a sanctuary for oldies, your heart strings better be in good shape. That is really what we are at the minute a sanctuary for all the animals that are lucky enough to be here. Uriah & Langley are really struggling and i doubt they will be here by the end of the month.
On a positive note Alison and a few volunteers in Yorkshire have taken on the the rehoming and are doing brilliantly. So now as well as having the farm, we are rehoming direct from the trainers…A new venture which is at least still getting some dogs rehomed but still has associated costs.
No real news on the horse front. Tallulah the teeth, continues to terrorise the rest of the herd, the old bat must be well over thirty by now. Her legendary disposition has not been improved for having been grounded through laminitis. Think Arya with a dash of Karen and a side order of Virago! Scottish air certainly suits Squirt, the gypsy pony who could only find ragwort to eat, effectively poisoning herself for life. Against the odds, she is still going strong but gives the foul tempered Shetland a very wide berth. Odin, may well end up the largest Clydesdale in the UK. Twenty hands so far and has still to fill out after his shaky start in life. Odin still isn’t too thrilled about his feet being touched. The first lot he had had been welded on so perhaps he has a point.
The empty kennels look like missing teeth in a dentist’s advert. They continually sharpen the stab of conscience. Truth is we have to look after the “family” for now. It is imperative we don’t let them down.
With your help we can do just that, please stick with us.
£1,111 a day it costs to run Tia, a staggering amount, even i am beginning to have sleepless nights.
Next year Tia will have been going for 30 years.
Still there isn’t a problem with greyhound racing is there? Yes there is, a huge massive problem, still.