A huge thank you to everyone who purchased a heart for our memory tree.
We managed to raise an amazing £1298 in total, and we’re sure you’ll agree that the tree looked fantastic.
Charity Shops
The two charity shops have been something of a mixed bag this year.
Our little shop in Pickering continues to earn its keep, and we’d like to thank everyone who has donated and purchased items – you are amazing. And of course we must give a special thanks to our manager Emma, without whom there would be no shop.
The Pickering shop is currently closed for the Christmas and New Year period, but will reopen on the 6th January; we hope to see you there.
Sadly, the Nairn shop has not been blessed with the same good fortune. It’s been a difficult year – a great first 6 months, yes – but since then we’ve had issues with the roof, and staff illness. When combined with rising costs, it became apparent that it was no longer viable to keep the shop open. So, with a very heavy heart, we made the decision to close a few days ago.
Thank you to everyone that was involved this year; donors, customers, volunteers, and those who supported us in other ways. There will be a closing down sale next week, on the 3rd/ 4th January. Donations for the animals can still be made at the farm.
Both Deb and former shop manager Hazel wish you all the very best for 2025.
If anyone is interested is taking over the shop, please ring Deb on 07974 960684
Tinkerbell
Many of you will know that Tinkerbell, one of our long-term residents, hasn’t exactly been 100% recently.
She’s been in and out of the vets a few times since the beginning of this month – we weren’t sure what was up with her at first, and was hoping it was just a nasty infection, but we have now found out she has a tumour on her side.
We’re absolutely gutted. She is on pain relief and eating well, but it’s growing…
Poor, poor little Tinkerbell.
One Eyed Jack
One eyed Jack. After his new family saw him on Facebook they just fell in love. He was whisked up to Scotland just over a week ago. That sounds easy, it wasn’t, but thanks to all the chauffeurs involved.
He wasn’t with us 24hrs…
What a lucky, lucky greyhound boy…I absolutely adore this. If only they all were so lucky…
Conrad
Conrad, our big teddy bear, came back home over Christmas. Sadly, his new Dad’s asthma kicked off with a vengeance. Anyone who suffers knows that it’s no fun at all.
Selfishly, we are relieved. He is a lovely lad, and no bother at all in the kennels.
Collection Bins
We have the collection bin back in at Tesco’s Inverness… thanks to our new collectors. We do get a lot of donations; they are really worth having. We should be getting the one back in Elgin too in the New Year.
We’ve also had a lot delivered and was well stocked up for Christmas.
An annual report. Just to spend a few moments remembering the animals who have checked out for the bridge.
The doves left us for a few days but swiftly returned when they failed to find richer pickings. We counted them back like wartime pilots over the white cliffs of Dover. God knows what that was about. Then just as swift, half left never to be seen again.
We lost Daisy, Norman & Sydney’s mum and Bea the shire at the start of the year. Daisy was 25 years old and had been part of Tia for a long time. The sweetest of shire girls she slipped through our fingers blithely munching an organic carrot. A good life, and we have to thank her for Norman & Sydney. Bea on the other hand was only 12. It was a huge shock to find her in her box that morning. Bea had her health troubles but had given us no cause for alarm. No sign of a scuffle and we are grateful that she went in her sleep.
James and Harper. Stalwarts. Written into the constitution of this charity. James the lurcher who flatly refused four excellent homes was a huge loss, though not unexpected. Harper – Llewin Potter. Psychopath. Killer. Sweet natured. First dog you would hear as you approached the kennel. We miss you kid.
Plenty of dogs are waiting in the wings though and visitors to the kennels must wonder at the tribe peering through our house gate. As I write Uriah looks hopefully at me while Tarzan shifts position next door. Lana keeps a watchful eye from the corner. I am not fooled. At five o’clock, the fridge door opens, and each gets three slices of a “taste the difference” honey roast ham. I swear it has prolonged their life by eighteen months. Tink is giving us the most worry and I don’t know if the lass will be here in January. Prognosis is not encouraging but we shall fight for her last breath.
We do not suffer alone, and our Tia of Joy Facebook page regularly informs us of your Tia dogs that are no longer with us. Giving your heart to a dog to tear is a very foolish thing isn’t it, yet we pay the price gladly. If you are grieving and ready to fit in another, get in touch. Contrary to rumour we are still successfully rehoming.
Our thanks to our back-room girls and boys for sorting out a new way at a time when we were swamped with drama. A lot more on them and our fantastic volunteers tomorrow.
We are selling Tia Rescue pullovers and zip-up hoodies for £35, available in a selection of colours and sizes. All profits from sales of these go to Tia Rescue.
If you are interested, please get in touch with Jess via the Facebook page here.
Sityu produce a beautiful range of Greyhound themed products – benches, planters, garden decor, wall art. They have generously pledged to donate 10% of purchases from this page – quote TIA10 if ordering via phone.
You can check out some of their products below, and at the link above – thank you!
Perhaps like many, you now work remotely, and find yourself printing more and more at home. Or maybe you just print a lot anyway? Regardless – don’t throw your old cartridges away!
If you can send them to either of our charity shops – Pickering or Nairn – we can recycle them. If you’re local you can drop them off, or you can post them if that’s preferable to you.
You probably know all about our “Sponsor a Dog” scheme, but do you know you can also sponsor a horse? Similar to our dog sponsorships, you can sponsor any of our horses for £52 for a year, or £26 for six months. You can also sponsor a stable for £150. Company sponsorship is welcomed, as is sponsorship as a gift, or in memory of a loved one.
All sponsors receive a certificate of sponsorship and an optional birthday card from their chosen sponsor horse. Stable sponsors will have their certificate displayed on their stable for a year.
If you are thinking of sponsoring as a gift for Christmas, today will be your last chance to do so to ensure it arrives before the 25th!
Another successful foster last week, with Nancy dropped off in Perth. She’s off to live with our gorgeous Wilbur… foster parents are worth their weight in gold. Please let’s get some more dogs out of these kennels for Christmas.
Greyhound Racing Banned In New Zealand
Fantastic news from down under – it was announced just last week that greyhound racing is to be banned in New Zealand. You can see the announcement below. Wonder when this will catch on over here…? Don’t hold your breath…
Slippers and Boots
[Story taken from Woodhaven Second Chance Rehoming Facebook page]
“On 04/11/2024 a member of the public arrived at our kennels with a greyhound that she had pulled OUT of a canal. This greyhound was given the name SLIPPERS (red coat in photos). A few hours later we received a call from the dog warden regarding a second greyhound that had been pulled out the same canal. We went to collect the second greyhound from the finders (blue coat and first photo). This greyhound was given the name BOOTS. We were able to trace through their microchips that they are both ex racing greyhounds. Both boys are incredibly lucky that there was people around that spotted them and pulled them out to safety.”
We do know who the dogs are, who trained them and probably who rehomed them. Further details will follow. And that I promise…
And if anyone gets really bored over the holiday period, you could always read the 76 page New Strategy document from the GBGB, titled
”A Good Life For Every Greyhound“
Greyhounds deserve the highest level of care not only during their racing career but also in their retirement that follows.
The Government recognises the genuine concerns some people have about parts of the sport and I’m pleased to see this five year plan set out how everyone involved in greyhound racing has a role to play in improving welfare.
The Government welcomes the “Good Life for every Greyhound” strategy and the positive progress the Greyhound Board are continuing to make. The Rt Hon Lord Goldsmith, Animal Welfare Minister
Me thinks not…
Have a Heart
Another thanks to everyone who has bought a “heart” for our Christmas tree. So far you have raised £750, and we still have lots left (as well as room on the tree!). If there’s someone you want to remember – pet, friend, loved one – or perhaps you just want to send us Christmas greetings, then consider buying a heart for £5 here. We’d love to crack £1k before the month is over.
