Dec 20, 2020 | News
UDATE 20th December 2020…
Who can believe that this was almost a year ago…these are the dogs that broke my heart into tiny pieces. Not because we couldn’t fix them, i knew we could. But the state that they had been in for so many years, so much neglect and sadness. It was at this point that i realised that even though Tia has been going for 24years and with all the other Independent greyhound rescues out there, that have equally been going for years….in the words of a long gone greyhound trainer, who i met right at the beginning…” you’ll never change it “
Maybe we have, maybe we haven’t….we have changed it though for the tens of thousands of dogs we have rehomed over the years. In spite of the racing industry.
The horrors of that place will never leave me, the dog mess so deep i couldn’t easily open the doors of the sheds. Ramble who came flying out of his kennel with his bowl in his mouth, Stilton and Babybelle who i couldn’t get on the first trip and their faces when i walked away….and of course Mr Mole who was doing the wall of death up to his belly in his own faeces..
There are many times i have wanted to give up and just walk away from it all, from the horrors, the bullies and the lies…but fear not i am not going anywhere. In fact it makes me even more determined…
What i didn’t tell anyone at the time: The GBGB ( Greyhound Board of Great Britain ) had also been notified about these dogs. They were absolutely fuming when we got to them first….one of the stewards was under strict instructions to get into our kennels and find out if any of the dogs were registered dogs, check their earmarks..i lost track of the amount of times he turned up…needless to say he didn’t get in. He was however obviously relieved that the deceased owner of the dogs wasn’t a registered trainer..
There isn’t a problem with greyhound racing is there? Oh yes, there bloody well is…
Deb
Friday 27th December i got a phone call to say that an old guy had died and he had left 13 greyhounds on an allotment in Sheffield. They are all old dogs and there is no one to look after them.
When i arrived there on Saturday i was prepared for what i would find, 24 years in there’s nothing much shock or surprises me, or so i thought.
The dogs were spread over 3 separate gardens…The first 10 i got on the van and i had to leave the other 3 for the second trip.
I don’t have the words…i hope the pictures will tell the tale.
Thanks to all my staff and volunteers, some who came in at short notice. The dogs were all bathed, claws cut and taken to their new fresh, clean home.
They are all on good food and antibiotics. Chris our vet is aware and making urgent arrangements to come and do the dentals in our onsite vet room…
The eldest blue girl with the awful teeth is 12yrs old. She is the happiest.
There is a younger black boy who is a wreck….he has bad eyesight as he has been locked away so long..i didn’t know if he was going to bite me when i went into his “kennel” he was messing himself, absolutely terrified trying to escape….no escaping me mate…he didn’t bite.
So here they all are….they just need names, i doubt they have ever had any.
The sad, sad thing is that these dogs have been in a bad way for a long, long time.
If only he had asked for help….Tia would have helped, because that is what we do.
We don’t judge.
They didn’t go out yesterday but they have all been out into the paddocks today.
Welcome to your new life…for the time you have left you will be absolutely ruined…
Jun 1, 2020 | News
I want to thank everyone for inquiring about rehoming. We hold our hands up, we are behind in our responses and the reception is a bloody nightmare here anyway. We have to concentrate on Thomas at the moment, more on him later.
Can we ask that all enquiries are sent via the rehoming email …..(
rehoming@tia-rescue.org)………and our resident grown-up will contact you as soon as we get back to normal. My mobile line needs to be kept free for emergencies anyway, especially now.
Sorry about this, we need you to cut us some slack for a while………and could someone turn off the heat, please.
No-one is going out in this.
May 1, 2020 | Uncategorized
Breed: Lurcher
Sex: Male
About Me
“It was May 2018 when they threw me out of a van in Doncaster. I remember it was blazing hot and I was running in the fields for what seemed like days.”
“Three days I slept when I came to Tia, three whole days. You said you didn’t know if I was going to make it. I did hear you even though I couldn’t keep my eyes open. I took your tablets and ate the food. The vet room is a lovely quiet place.”
“So, you’ve rehomed me 4 times now. Which bit of I want to live at Tia don’t you understand?!”
“So this is the thing….do not rehome me again. I want to be one of those sponsor dogs….”
Oh James…. welcome to the fold!
Nearly 5 years James has now been under the care of Tia. He is showing his age and has given us a scare recently. He is a lovely old boy, no bother. He loves his safe life and the fresh Scottish air.
James and Kiah, although they have their own kennels are inseparable…
Feb 2, 2019 | Dogs for Sponsor
Breed: Greyhound
Sex: Male
About Me
I’m Freaking Out dob 15.9.16
Three trials at Nottingham where he did not exactly impress.
A real dark Knight
We have had Hubble since January 2019. Despite numerous offers of a home, Hubble has never managed to get himself a home. He is still as keen as mustard. A recent trip to Brodie Castle only reinforced that fact. He is a lovely, lovely dog but just doesn’t like other breeds. He is coming up seven years old, he could be rehomed to an experienced home but I think Tinkerbell would be mortified. They are like an old married couple.
May 23, 2020 | News
Sixty Nine!! That is the number of Tia dogs that have gone up the drive into temporary or permanent homes, in the last 9 weeks. We shouldn’t crow, it’s not nice, but lets give credit where it is due. You lot out there, our fantastic supporters who overlook our many peccadilloes (God knows you don’t have to look far) and still come to our side. Tia has an outstanding set of fosters, volunteers and backroom boys who roll up their eyes, sleeves and the carpet and just get on with it. They reach for the bank card and the laptop, the car keys and the spare lead and get straight over to us.
I wonder if you have any idea how rare that is. Rescues attract a lot of folk who really don’t understand the blood, sweat and tears that go into keeping the show on the road.Tia is a bit too red pill for some and yeah we get things wrong but hell, the animals come first. Humans are about fourteenth. Ask Bob.
A brief update on the industry for those you have better things to do than watch a slow motion car crash. Peterborough Stadium has closed permanently and set to be going for housing. That is only 90 miles away. It held four meetings a week, a big beast. Some trainers will move to other tracks but many have thrown in the towel or as we have just read…….hung up the leads and gone fishing. There are too many straws in the wind about another track in the South. Like a thumping great hayrick. The silence from others is deafening. Poole Track has just gone as i type. Thanks to you we are ready. A thought please for the independent rescues including those under the GT umbrella who will bear the brunt of these closures. Up North, we just don’t know yet, it’s feels like the calm before the storm. Like Dunkirk. Seven dogs are on their way here tomorrow. An elderly trainer downsizing as he can’t get staff. Do not get me started on that one.
Meanwhile back at the ranch,Tia would like to wave goodbye to some dogs who did not give a backward glance as they left in their new families swanky cars. Welcome to the Failed Fosters Club (honestly some people have no willpower at all), the new families of Dwight, Duade, Daisy, Denahi, Lorretta, Lachlan. Behave guys, especially you Loretta. Remember you are a lady, well just try. Bonnie, Skye and Stanton have just gone out on their holidays promising to write. So far, so good.
We need to know how many spaces will be available when “it” happens so if you can’t bear to part with the roaching farting fostered athlete on your sofa, please let us know and we will get the paperwork off to you asap.
Once again thank you. Make no mistake we are still here and ready solely down to your unfailing support.
Deb
May 3, 2020 | News
Great News
Mr Mole and all the Tia sponsor dogs would like to say a big thank you to all the wonderful supporters who have
Sponsored a Tia hound. In April we had an amazing 60 new sponsors which is fantastic news for Tia, especially at this difficult time,
having had to close our charity shops whose income we rely on heavily. Your support will enable us to continue to provide
Sanctuary for all the animals in our care.
Thank you so much.
Apr 25, 2020 | News
It’s like the Marie Celeste……
..or Flannon flaming Isle. That’ll take a few of us back. Whilst there is no chance of an untouched meal around here, an over-toppled chair would not look out of place.
A walk around the blocks last night doing checks revealed how fantastic you lot are. I was like a pea on a drum, rattling around with just one packet of biscuits. Rows of empty kennels, like missing teeth in a smile. Frankly, it was horrible and we desperately miss some of the usual suspects, the characters, the boomerang dogs, the family. It makes one realise how tough it must be for families that are separated by this hateful thing. Just as well dogs don’t do Facetime or I would never be off the phone.
Two Poole racers ended up at a vets down south, you might have heard. Thankfully, their euthanasia was prevented by a few phone calls and a Staffie rescue have them safe. The dust-up may prevent the more unscrupulous in the game from trying that move up here. We have excellent contacts and thanks to you guys, we are ready to step up.
It is a bit unnerving to have so many gone, but the staff and I are so grateful to you all. Rogart went out a few days ago, this dog has touched a nerve with us. Best behaviour big lad. Baby Belle and Stilton are packing excitedly. The brother and sister are off on their first-ever holiday at the grand age of 10. They had to be prised from my hands like a toddler’s toy. Oh, and Denahi has gone off too. It really gladdens the heart to know so many are in homes. It must be a paradise for some of them.
James blew it. Again! I must find out how many times he has done this, he must hold the record. We have plenty left by the way, just in case. Anyone up for Spot and Dot? Brenais, Skye?
Through your generosity, the strain has been eased.
Thank you, everybody.
Thank you
Apr 24, 2020 | News
Thanks to the generosity of our fantastic followers we actually have a few spare kennels. If any of our owners are in trouble (hospital, strict isolation, NHS workers etc) and need the dogs out and safe please ring me.
We have two in already due to this crisis.
Tia dogs only obviously and genuine situations, please.
Deb
Apr 21, 2020 | News
We are seeing a few straws in the wind regarding some trainers throwing in the towel. One guy we have known for years, he has stoutly defended us from the day we started. He has stood between a freezer and a rival trainers dumped racer on countless occasions. If he quits the industry we will be honour bound to help him and that is what we will do. Payback time for Tia.
Understandably, we are getting our house in order. Should this happen, we would be hit with some thirty racers and that is just the start. No-one is advertising dogs for sale on Data, something we have never seen before. What lunatic would buy them anyway? It is unrealistic to believe that all of these tracks will survive this crisis and thanks to our fantastic fosters, volunteers, staff and generous well-wishers we are in a fairly sound position to deal with this situation.
We still have too many in kennels Some of these should be getting a taste of their future lives and getting to grips with sofas, learning that eating the remote control is not a good way to endear yourself or that plate glass windows are more than a match when pursuing next doors cat!
Every kennel has a backlog of dogs that aren’t going anywhere. Velcro dogs is a name that is banded about, it’s true, overlooked through age perhaps or in Tia’s case too many to choose from. So it’s a special plea to our backroom supporters. If you can help out for a few weeks by fostering these dogs, please give me a ring. It’ll push a few on towards their permanent families. Some of the overlooked are as follows.
Dot and Spot need to be out of here together. Stanton, Skye (not yet two) Mora who raced twice in one day and then got dumped and for pities sake could someone give Denahi, coming up 9yrs old, a chance, he has been here over two years. Arthur, Hubble and Kamil also heading for 2 years (although their prey drive is challenging) they still need a chance, over thirty to choose from.
Tia is looking to our previous adopters in this case or as we put it, the old and the bold, the backroom lot. Please give me a ring and we’ll go from there.
Deb@tia
Apr 16, 2020 | News
We love having updates on the horses and ponies in their new homes.
This is Sir Henry who was adopted back in February with William where they both joined the Royal Park Shires team over in London.
Think it’s safe to say Henry has found his feet and loving his new job.
We cant wait to see William in action next.
Well done Tom and the team at the Royal Park Shires.
