Feb 15, 2024 | News
Plan Impact 1.07.2013 – 15/02/2024
The judge had retired to the bar by the time Michael crossed the line, a mere eighteen lengths after the winner. His Trainers were already there, recovering from the shock. Michael’s dad wasn’t cheap! Royal Impact sired some of the fastest dogs to chase a hare around a stadium. Derby winners, Group winners, Track record holders you name it. Mum won twelve Open races and took a Group 3 for good measure. The family reads like a greyhound’s Who’s Who.
Yes well, what is the saying about plans and God, Michael showed up at Tia a few months after. This isn’t a horror story; the trainer wanted the best for him and made damn sure he got it. There was also a problem. Michael had a skin condition which made him look pretty ropey, almost bald. Add that to big, black, shouty and male and you end up with a blueprint for a sponsor dog. They had tried every medication going to no avail but were still determined to give him the best life possible.
We managed to improve his hair a little after time and he settled to our world. Michael didn’t take kindly to his one shot at a sofa and blotted his copybook in a marked manner. Having returned under a cloud and lots of stitches, he was so relieved to be home, we bowed to the inevitable and asked for sponsors. Perhaps that was his destiny anyway.
The vet has just left us. A series of strokes pulled Michael down, his skin condition flared with a vengeance, and we knew we hadn’t long before he slipped through our fingers. We also know his time with us was a happy one, relishing the comings and goings and racing the tractors in his pen. Michael had an army of supporters including Nigel who came up especially to say goodbye a few weeks ago. We loved him and it is hurting. He was put to sleep in his bed, with his friends around him, the vet and veterinary nurse ( from Moray Coast ) were lovely and of course Deb was stroking his head….he slipped away very peacefully.
It’s been a terrible day, a terrible, terrible month and there’s more bad news to come….but for now Michael sleep tight big fella.
Feb 15, 2024 | News
Daisy…Goose Green Starlight
Mother to Norman & Sydney….20/05/1999 to 13/1/2024
We knew Daisy was poorly and on this sad day, in January, she couldn’t get up. She went to sleep munching on a carrot whilst I stroked her beautiful face.
Bea…Hartcliffe Beyonce…3/05/2012 to 9/2/2024
We never saw that coming, she had a few problems but to find her dead like that in the stable, no sign of a scuffle, nothing….it must have been a heart attack.
I have no words…Deb
Feb 4, 2024 | News
I know a lot of people have been worried that we won’t be rehoming anymore..
We are, it’s just done in a different way. Fortunately with all the people I have met, owners and trainers and of course our amazing volunteers, over the past 28 years, we have all pulled together to make that possible.
This weekend alone…Queenie, Diablo, Blaze and Wilfred have been rehomed direct from two trainers, in Nottingham and Derbyshire. Queenie went to live with Ranch who had been adopted previously from the same kennel.
Good luck everyone…Deb
Feb 4, 2024 | News
We have 8 empty kennels in the new block and 23 kennels in the old shed that need to come down.
That’s potentially 62 greyhounds who’s lives we could save immediately.
As it is we are struggling massively, financially, so these kennels won’t be filled anytime soon. It is breaking my heart. There are thousands of dogs backing up in trainers kennels and there is nothing I can do about it..
Sad, sad, times….Deb
Feb 4, 2024 | News
You can take the lurcher out of Doncaster….
Feb 3, 2024 | News
https://www.facebook.com/reel/906092947711260
Some of the girls coming in for their tea..
Rose-Mary ( Williams mom who is at Royal Park Shires ) Lizzie, Phyllis and mother & daughter, Beth & Isla..
Jan 21, 2024 | News
https://fb.watch/pIQJ9NuxL5/
Jan 1, 2024 | News
To the backroom boys and girls.
We are under no illusions that our faults are numerous. In a perfect world we would be on our knees thanking you on a daily basis. It isn’t and we don’t but occasionally we try to make amends.
Tia would not exist without you. It takes three quarters of a million every year to run this joint and we would fold tomorrow without your support. The donations are crucial believe me but also the sheer damn hard work and loyalty of special people. Some we have never even met and may never meet but still keep us going by doing what they can.
The two greyhounds that arrived this week from another rescue did not simply appear in the block. They had already been in a rescue for over three years and have sponsor dogs written all over them. They had lost their kennels, and we were able to help. The dogs had to be collected, documentation sorted, and brought up by a volunteer who stayed overnight and headed back the following day. Door to door, that is 300 miles. This happens about once a month. Either a dog is coming up (Bella) or a dog is going back down (Dora). Sometimes it takes a convoy of supporters, meeting in service stations and trying to spot each other. A quick coffee and a dog swap and then back home.
While we have been grappling with the daily crisis, a bunch of folks in Yorkshire decided that Tia had enough on our plate and got stuck into raising some cash. We are in awe frankly. £7000 has been raised simply by going back to old school measures like tin rattling and fundraising. We also have our Tia Fundraising shop, on Facebook and online raffles, all new and I thank each and every one of you. Keep going please, we need every penny.
Tia has been in Nairn for over eighteen months, and we are delighted and somewhat relieved to see our support growing locally. We were gibbering wrecks at our first, onsite, dog show, fearing that no one would show up. It was a sell-out. The bones of our future foundation are fleshing out and we are so grateful for the local support. We must know every butcher, carpet fitter, supermarket, you name it for 30 miles. A soldier from Kinloss climbed the tallest mountain in Africa, raising £1500 in the process. He barely raised a sweat. Thanks, big lad.
We frequently hear a car pulling away from the yard and discover food for the dogs, vet products, biscuits for the staff, a tin of coffee. Things no longer needed by the donors, but we can still put to use. By and large we are unable to track you down. I thank you anyway, especially for the cakes.
Some of our fellow charities didn’t make it this year. They are in our thoughts, decent people just trying to make a difference. Loss of kennels or crippling costs forced them out. Had it not been for you, we would have gone the same way and we might yet.
So, in no particular order, if you have liked, shared, rattled a tin, headed North and then South, bought a brick, made a coffee or cake, dropped off at Pickering, wrestled for a donation point in Sainsburys, fostered, adopted (especially our old friends who wouldn’t go anywhere else) transported, bought a dog time, sent a concerned text, knitted, sold stuff on
Ebay, arranged a legacy or a lottery or simply put up with me, you name it you did it and I am forever in your debt.
Thank you from all who breathe more easily because you did something.
Deb and all @ Tia
Jan 1, 2024 | News
From a distance you could say that we haven’t had a bad year. We lost Myrtle and Boe, two old stalwarts who had been in long term foster for years. Thank you to their families who gave them a chance, showering them with love until the dogs last breath. Losing Mr Mole was a huge blow and totally unexpected. The big four had no earmarks so we could only make a guess at their age. He had been such a favourite with all our supporters and messages of condolence flooded in from all over the world. We loved him and we miss him.
Sadly, years after Deb bundled her and her lambs into the pick up under cover of darkness in Cragg Vale , Ma the sheep bowed out at 13, almost twice the age of Dolly the clone. She outlived her offspring plus a few others that joined her over the years. It’s a wrench not to see her pottering about from the kitchen. We also said goodbye to Jessie and Ed the shires. Mac and Spencer, two old very much loved horses who Deb & Bob had owned for over 20 years. Old friends and a few less tons making the ground shudder as they rush up to say hello.
Meanwhile, waiting in the wings, we have three dogs in the house. It’s like a nursing home in Eastbourne. How the hell Uriah (11) is still with us we don’t know. Twenty months after his leg amputation he is still hopping about in the garden with Lana. He is beginning to struggle though.
Tarzan (12) is so wobbly and sleeps all day. Lana (11) looks sprightly and enjoys being house floozy and Mum to both of them.
Others giving concern are Michael (10), miraculously recovering from a stroke. James (13 at least) Langley (11), Harper (12), Bungle (Mr Moles brother) and Jack (11 ish). Hold on lads, we are not ready to let you go just yet.
More doves, courtesy of Scottish ninja buzzards. We like to think we are doing our bit for conservation.
We hate to tell you, but we are all getting on a bit too. That’s you as well dear reader! Even Tia adopters aren’t immune from it. Tia dogs are always a priority, and we thank our fantastic team for squeezing in yet another oldie whose owner has passed or can no longer cope.
As this is being written, Daisy the most beautiful grey Shire, Normans mom is very poorly. It’s going to be a bad year with all these oldies, but as always we will do right by them.
We can only do this with your support….Thank you Deb and all @ Tia…
Dec 30, 2023 | News
There are so many things I could say about this and I don’t normally hold back, but I wouldn’t know where to start.
Apart from the abhorrent behaviour, entirely the solicitor’s doing, what if this wonderful person had family and they never received a thank you?
Thought we didn’t care?
We do care and we do thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
Deb & Bob and all @ Tia.
