I just wanted to say thank you to you and Bob for all the work you both do. I’d never had a dog before I came to Tia. When we first came to look at dogs with you, we weren’t entirely convinced we were ready for a dog but you saw something in us and entrusted us with Rocket.
Within days of having Rocket (Wyatt) at home I was hooked and knew I needed to have more greyhounds in my life. That’s when we came back to you to meet some more dogs, and River chose us. Sadly not long after then, we lost Rocket to bone cancer so we brought River back so she could choose another buddy, Ramodi (Carter).
As you know, I lost Ramodi 2.5 years ago, again to bone cancer, but thankfully River was not left without another dog for company for long as we then moved in with Billy the black lab.
I’ve had a lifetime to remember with River. Together we’ve experienced 5 house moves, 2 dog losses, lots of wonderful holidays, a divorce, some bad dating choices, a marriage this year and finally, the birth of my daughter, Earla.
After 9 years together on this journey, I lost River today aged 13 years and 9 months. She has lived a full and happy life in my care, but sadly today was her last.
Thank you for trusting me with your dogs. My life and theirs would not have been the same had we of not found each other.
I will be in touch again when Earla is old enough to know how to behave around these beautiful animals, as I want her to grow up with them in her life given how much joy they bring.
I’ve attached a few pictures of River (2010-2023). RIP my girl 🌈
Where to begin…It feels a bit like Groundhog Day, this is the 3rd time we have demolished buildings, at different farms, to build new kennel blocks. I have to say we have got it down to a tee.
To cut a very long story short, we have managed to raise £79,300 through the Brick Appeal. We have been pledged £35,000 from a grant giving charity.
So that leaves us around £60,000 short. However we are selling a field to our neighbour so that will also help.
Whilst the greyhound industry is in crisis with probably thousands of dogs backing up in kennels, it doesn’t take much working out what is going to happen to the majority of those poor souls. There are many more Rebecca Perkins out there, but obviously they are trying to keep it all under wraps.
I had a very good friend on the phone yesterday, from another Independent rescue, crying down the phone. The amount of dogs she has to help, the pressure from the trainers to offload, is immense. And of course the huge financial pressure.
They will blame the cost of living crisis when they destroy the greyhounds. And make no mistake they will.
We too are under intense financial pressure and I honestly don’t know how long we can carry on, the only reason we are still here is because we moved and huge thanks to my friend Cynthia when she left us her legacy.
And obviously massive, massive thanks to everyone who has and still are supporting Tia.
These past 2 years have been incredibly hard and we wouldn’t be here without you all.
And as for the pathetic ex member of staff who reported us to the council earlier in the year, as the dogs had pyjamas on, yes really. It is people like you and the Rebecca Perkins of this world and the poor, poor dogs, that keep me going.
We at Tia Rescue are deeply committed to the well-being and welfare of Greyhounds and Lurchers. It is with a heavy heart that we address a recent incident that has shaken the community. A news article published by Hull Live has brought to light a distressing case involving Rebecca Perkins, a greyhound trainer with 17 years of experience. The article reports on her conviction, imprisonment, and lifetime ban from keeping animals. The severity of the situation reminds us of the continued importance of animal welfare and the critical role we play in rescue and rehabilitation efforts.
According to Hull Live article, inspectors made a shocking discovery at a farm associated with Rebecca Perkins. Tragically, they uncovered deceased dogs on the premises, highlighting the harrowing conditions in which these innocent animals were kept. The details revealed in the case serve as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges we face in ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable animals.
At Tia Rescue, we strive to provide a safe haven and a second chance for Greyhounds and Lurchers who have experienced neglect, abandonment, or mistreatment. Incidents like this reinforce the importance of our mission and the urgency of our work. By rescuing and rehabilitating these magnificent dogs, we aim to counteract the cruelty they may have endured in the past and give them an opportunity to thrive in loving and caring forever homes.
The Rebecca Perkins case serves as a solemn reminder of the ongoing need for vigilance and advocacy when it comes to animal welfare. We encourage everyone to read the full article published by Hull Live to better understand the situation and the challenges faced by organizations like ours. By shedding light on these distressing incidents, we can collectively work towards preventing such acts of cruelty and ensuring the well-being of every Greyhound and Lurcher.
The first load left 3 weeks ago…Bob’s tractor and the new kennel partitions that were made eighteen months ago. We have had vans and wagons up and down the motorway since then. It’s all systems go. I will keep everyone updated…
I think we have had a Charity shop in Halifax for around fifteen years and we have been in the one at Southgate for over ten years. It has always been a decent shop, income wise. However come this April when everything goes up it will no longer be viable. We all know that everything is going up but they are even taking money off charities, all of us.
We used to get over half of our income from the shops which basically paid for the staff at the farm. It doesn’t take much working out that Tia is at the “End of an Era”….the whole model is having to change.
We have always had 100% rate relief on the shops but come April we will have to find 36%, as well as everything else. So yesterday the 28th January we closed our doors.
Thankyou to all our supporters/ donaters and shoppers over all these years. It is very sad.
But don’t worry, I have a plan. I am not giving up on these dogs, no matter what it takes, or where it takes us.
