WAG! Autumn 2013

THE MAGAZINE FOR SUPPORTERS OF DOGS TRUST

f o n o Seas and mists me l l o w n e s s l u f g o d

Plus 50 shades of Greyhound Search for our Pupparazzi Star photographer Keep our Canines Cosy

AUTUMN 2012

Hello from the Editor!

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News

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Wishing you and your pets a very happy Christmas and a wonderful new year.

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elcome to your autumnal issue of Wag! This Wag is packed with plenty of your favourite successful rehoming stories, fun items from our Christmas gift catalogue, a report on Greyhound welfare, appeals for knitted dog jumpers to help homeless dogs feel cosy – and of course it’s jam-packed with fabulous dogs on every page!

Look who got left out in the rain Bilingual Babushkas Greyhound industry agrees to inspections Search for the Pupparazzi star of 2012 Keep Our Canines Cosy

Deana Selby Editor

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Feature

Snooping Around Loughborough

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We’ve Got Christmas All Wrapped Up

PS Thanks to everyone who wrote saying Wag should not have carried the ‘hot dogs in cars’ warning article.

I will never second-guess the British summer again!

Why not follow us on...

Facebook: facebook.com/dogstrust Twitter: @Dogstrust Read our blog www.dogstrustblog.blogspot.com

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Attention, Bookworms!

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Jingle’s Christmas Appeal

A dog is for life, not just for Christmas®

Behind the scenes this issue...

Lizy, Bea and doggy Myrtle wonder how many more times they have to run over the hill

The Tail End

Volunteer dog walkers on the Harefield field

Copyright Dogs Trust 2012 This issue: Editor: Deana Selby Contributors this issue: Sally Wright, Hannah Baker, Matt Boustead, Amanda Francis, Sarah Morgan, Philip Simmonds, Annie Holland, Michelle Persaud Veterinary Director: Paula Boyden BVetMed MRCVS Designed by FP Creative Printed by Red Mist Editorial directors for Condé Gnash: Bear, Daniel, Deedee, Dennis, Fifi, Freddie, Gracie, new girl Myrtle, Razz, Safid, Smudge and editor-at-large Manky the bald cat.

Send your dog photos (former Dogs Trust residents only please!) to: wag@dogstrust.org.uk Tel: 020 7837 0006 Registered charity 227523, SC037843, CHY16218 www.dogstrust.org.uk

Springer spaniel Myrtle, springing

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Myrtle’s cream-crackered after all that zooming

Front cover: Myrtle (ex Dogs Trust Evesham) with Elizabeth and Beatrice Evans by James Lincoln

Wag! News Photo: Ross Parry Agency

All that’s going on in the world of Dogs Trust…

Look who got left out in the rain…

Dogs Trust ‘at home’ to Pets at Home

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eep your eyes peeled for the new Dogs Trust “adoption and advice centres” based at the Pets at Home superstores.

Earlier this year we joined forces with the nationwide chain of pet superstores to give free advice and handy tips on choosing and caring for a dog - at three of its branches – Birstall (Leeds), Barnstaple (N. Devon) and Telford (Shropshire). Dogs Trust rehoming centre staff are on hand to let shoppers know all about some of the fantastic dogs needing homes at their nearest rehoming centre.

Helen Woods, who works at Dogs Trust Leeds and also at the advice centre in Pets at Home in Birstall, explains, “We take a different dog into the store every day and it’s good to speak to so many customers who didn’t even realise they can get a gorgeous dog just a few miles away.

I get such a kick when I know that someone I’ve spoken to has gone back to the rehoming centre and actually booked a dog. It’s even better when they visit us again with their lovely new rescue dog in tow!”

'You and your puppy’ Our new easy to use pup training app is available on all smartphones, tablets and now also on Android devices. Visit your app store now for our essential guide to all the early training and socialisation your new puppy needs. It costs £1.99 for iPhone, £2.99 for iPad, £1.80 for Android phones and £3.20 for Android tablets.

On one of the wettest days of a very wet year, a 12 week old puppy was abandoned by its owner on a Leeds street.

A kindhearted passerby took pity on the pup, taking her to the local dog warden, who then brought her to Dogs Trust Leeds, where she was swiftly dried off and warmed up. Staff were amazed to see that the Staffy cross had not a single hair on her body. As manager Amanda Sands says, “Poor Splash had endured an awful day by the time she was found. The rain was relentless, and as she is only 12 weeks old she would have been terrified by all the water and noise.”

At the time of going to press, Splash was recovering very well from her ordeal and was receiving treatment for her skin condition. Thanks to an appearance on ITV’s Daybreak and Calendar, Splash had already been offered a myriad of homes from the brilliant dog loving British public.

Amanda is confident that she’ll be well enough for rehoming fairly soon, so we’ll keep you posted.

‘Him off telly’ checks out Bally Here’s Eamonn Holmes and his son, Jack, checking out the gorgeous dogs during their recent visit to our Ballymena rehoming centre. Wag hopes they’re pointing out a potential playmate for Maggie, the bouncy terrier cross he and wife, Ruth Langsford, rehomed from our West London centre last summer.

Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Wag! News

Bilingual Babushkas Say ‘Strasveetye’ to Lena (5) and her daughter Mishka (2), two lovely German Shepherd lasses, who baffled our Snetterton staff by appearing to be slightly dim and/or disobedient – both highly unusual traits in a GSD. All became clear when a letter from their previous owner arrived days later, explaining that the dogs only understood Russian. The dogs had been handed over when their heartbroken (Russian) owners had a change in circumstances and felt they were no longer able to look after them. Luckily, Snetterton receptionist Mel’s partner speaks the language fluently, and was able to supply a list of Russian words which the girls might understand.

With the language barrier well on the way to being overcome, Lena and Mishka are now looking for homes, preferably with new owners who don’t mind learning a little Russian to help them feel at home!

Says Diane McLelland Taylor, Snetterton manager, “Our staff are adept at teaching hand signals to help deaf dogs, but this is the first time they’ve had to learn a whole new language.

As both dogs are still relatively young we’re hoping that with a patient owner they will be able to grasp English commands and become bilingual!”

Please call Dogs Trust Snetterton on 01953 498377 if you would like to learn more about either dog. Spaseeba!

Lena checking her dictionary for ‘I’d love a new home please'.

Ollie ♥'s Paws for Progress It seems that Ollie’s time on the Paws for Progress scheme at Polmount Young Offenders Institute provided the perfect stepping stone to finding a permanent home.

Ollie the pup had been rehomed three times by our West Calder team, but each time had been returned for reasons such as chasing cats and just being too much of a mischievous pup. He was then at the centre for several months looking for a home but kept being overlooked by visitors, despite his friendly nature.

West Calder’s behaviourist, Julie Morrison, felt Ollie would really benefit from the one to one attention he would receive if he joined the Paws for Progress scheme. How right she was. Ollie thrived on all the extra mental stimulation and thoroughly enjoyed all of his training sessions with the young offenders.

Once he’d finished the 6 week scheme he eventually met his ideal family, the Melroses.

The Melrose family are besotted with Ollie, who now leads a very active lifestyle surrounded by children, cats, dogs and horses!

50 Shades of Grey(hound)

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ith his limpid brown eyes, dashing stripy coat and ‘old school’ manners no wonder the staff at Dogs Trust Glasgow call this dapper chap Gentleman Jim. Retired racer Jim proved his gentlemanly credentials by visiting elderly residents at the Croftbank care home in Uddingston, and was such a big hit that he has been invited back for more cuddle and stroke therapy just as soon as

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his social diary allows it.

According to supporter relations officer, Vicky Kelly, who was Jim’s chaperone for the day, many of the home’s residents were delighted to meet Jim, and their faces lit up when he came over for a stroke – as can be seen from the photos.

Gentleman Jim and nine other sweetnatured Greyhounds are available for rehoming at Dogs Trust Glasgow, please give them a call on 0141 773 5130.

Wag! News

Greyhound industry agrees to inspections

D Cassie opens swimathon!

Collie cross Cassie was guest of honour at the Canine Swimathon held at the Rainsbrook Veterinary Practice this summer.

Eighteen dogs swam in Rainsbrook’s new hydrotherapy pool over a period of 12 hours, raising £800 for Dogs Trust and Dogs for the Disabled.

Regular Wag readers will recall Cassie, the Falstaffian Fido who had been fed on human food all her life and was so large she could barely walk. Staff at Dogs Trust Kenilworth worked very hard to help Cassie shed her excess weight, with regular hydrotherapy sessions at Rainsbrook playing a vital role in her recovery.

As Alison Coxon, veterinary nurse at the vet practice, explains: “We were thrilled to invite Cassie back to kick start our swimathon - she’s the perfect ambassador for the benefits of hydrotherapy.”

ogs Trust welcomes the news that the Greyhound racing industry’s governing body, the Greyhound Board of Great Britain (GBGB) is to inspect all kennels at trainers’ premises at least twice a year.

It has also promised to make funding available for an extensive programme of kennel repairs. Until now there was no way of ensuring consistency in kennel inspections, but the board has agreed to set up a working committee to look into all aspects of inspections, as well as the standards of care given at each trainers’ premises.

Given that a racing Greyhound spends the majority of his life at the kennels of his trainer, the news that their premises will now also come under regular inspection is warmly

welcomed by Dogs Trust, which acts as the chair of the Greyhound Forum.

Furthermore, the GBGB’s equivalent in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish Greyhound Board, is now making greater efforts to rehome their retired dogs in Ireland, instead of shipping them to the continent. Dogs Trust is pleased they have recognised the need to tackle their welfare problems at home rather than export them overseas.

As regular Wag readers will know, Dogs Trust has worked closely with the racing industry for many years, in order to improve the lives of these beautiful dogs ‘from cradle to grave’. We will continue to work with the industry until we are satisfied that Greyhound welfare is protected at every stage of their lives.

Groom for improvement at Waitrose Waitrose is now stocking the Dogs Trust grooming range, specifically the anti-odour shampoo (£6.99), conditioner (£6.99) and dry shampoo (£5.99).

All items are on sale at most Waitrose stores around the UK, and a third of all profits will come to Dogs Trust. Every product in the Dogs Trust range, including the unique snout balm, is not tested on animals and paraben-free. The full range is also available at www.dogstrustproducts.com Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Wag! Feature

h c r a e s The t x e n e for th " i z z a r a "pup

Our junior canine carer competition returns!

Photography James Lincoln

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alling all budding David Baileys!

If you’re a keen photographer - and animal lover - aged between seven and 13, then this is the perfect competition for you!

At Dogs Trust we know that dogs and children can often make the perfect partnership. We’re here to help young people understand both the joys - and responsibilities - that come with properly caring for a dog. Our youth education officers give school and youth club talks throughout the year, encouraging the dog owners of tomorrow in making the right choices today.

Top tips from Pentax 1. Keep your hands nice and steady when you’re taking your picture so it doesn’t blur.

2. When capturing your pet’s movements try and take two or three shots quickly one after the other. You can then stop, look through them and choose the best one.

3. Keep your photos simple, don’t put lots of things in the background that will take away from your main focus.

What to do..

We’re asking you to take your camera and capture your image from “a day in my dog’s life.” We don’t mind whether your dog is in your picture or not, as long as it follows the theme.

If you don’t have a dog of your own we’re happy for you to snap a friend’s dog – please remember to ask their owner first!

All you need to do is upload your photos to our online Flickr gallery at www.flickr.com/ groups/jcc2012 and then add your short comment explaining the ‘tail’ behind your picture. You could also send a print to Dogs Trust head office.

The winners will also each receive a fabulous Pentax Optio RZ18 digital compact camera, worth £149.99. This funky camera features an Upgraded Pet Mode, which can detect the faces of dogs and cats with great accuracy, and takes exceptional images thanks to the combination of 16 megapixels and a high performance zoom lens.

The categories A prize will be awarded to each of the following age groups: 7 years, 8 years, 9 years, 10-11 years and 12-13 years. Please remember to clearly write your date of birth by your entry, and let us know both your email and postal addresses.

Closing date The closing date for entries is 1st December 2012.

The prizes Five lucky winners will get the chance to become a Junior Canine Carer for the day at their nearest Dogs Trust rehoming centre.

• You’ll be able to groom, feed, train, play with and generally have fun with the dogs in our care.

• You’ll get to see what life is like as a canine carer, and get the chance to be really hands-on with some of our dogs.

Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Wag! Feature

Dogs Trust helps in South Africa

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ogs Trust has recently committed to helping the Mdzananda small animal clinic in South Africa.

Based in Khayelitsha township in Cape Town, the clinic operates out of six metal sea containers, and carries out some excellent animal welfare work in an area where poverty and unemployment are rife.

Over a period of 12 months Dogs Trust will be helping the clinic to extend its opening hours from five days a week to seven, allowing staff to perform even more operations.

We will also be helping to improve their basic facilities, upgrade their veterinary equipment, including an improved anaesthetic machine and biochemistry equipment.

Additionally, we will be increasing their outreach capacity, allowing their mobile clinics to spend longer with each patient and have

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more regular visits into the townships.

David Newall, International Director for Dogs Trust, visited Mdzananda recently, telling Wag, “I saw a long queue of people holding their dogs waiting for the clinic to open, all so keen to have them vaccinated. The local community is very supportive of Mdzananda, and I was overwhelmed by their commitment to ensuring their pets’ health, despite all the other pressures in their daily lives.�

The clinic was founded in 1996. By creating jobs, running fundraising schemes and holding one-day initiatives, the clinic aims to engage and empower the local community while at the same time helping to improve animal welfare.

For more information please email international@dogstrust.org.uk or visit www.mdzananda.co.za

Lazola Sotyingwa, animal welfare assistant, an d friend.

"One basic animal clinic for 1.5 million people and their dogs; we are thrilled to be able to help" David Newall, Dogs Trust

Wag! Feature

! y s o C s e n i n a C r Keep Ou

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lease pick up those knitting needles and knit one, purl one in order to help homeless hounds really feel the benefit this winter.

Your ravishing Rover-shaped jumpers will be added to the canine hampers that we distribute, as part of our Hope Project for homeless people’s dogs, each year.

Non-knitters can also contribute to the hampers by buying toys and treat stockings for the homeless dogs from the website www.whatidlove.co.uk and look at list no.99188. Don't forget to give the Dogs Trust address as the delivery address!

Regular Wag readers will already know about our Hope Project, which offers free and subsidised veterinary treatment to dogs whose owners are homeless or living in temporary accommodation. Many of the owners have been forced to choose this life because they have found it difficult to find accommodation where dogs are accepted.

Clare Kivlehan, Dogs Trust Hope Project Manager, explains: “The bond between any

dog and owner is a strong one, but for some homeless people their dog can be their only friend. We hope this year that we will be able to make their festive season a little brighter with the addition of some cosy dog jumpers and fun toys.”

So before you set your needles clicketyclacking, please have a look at our sweater suggestions: The jumper design should be practical for a dog to wear, so please no dangly adornments that a dog might chew off and swallow!

Many of the dogs helped by the Hope Project are medium to large in size, so we would especially appreciate jumpers that would fit ‘dogs of stature’!

Wag reader and keen canine knitter, Linda Dennis, urges people to get involved: "These animals are a great comfort to the homeless and deserve the best we can do for them.”

For free dog jumper patterns, type “Dog jumper patterns” into your internet search engine and you’ll be shown many options. Or

"I have been knitting dog coats for the Hope Project for about 12 years and I like to think it helps keep our four-legged friends warm through the cold winter nights" Linda Dennis, Wag reader

email hopeproject@dogstrust.org.uk.

If you have no internet please call Dogs Trust customer services on 020 7837 0006 for a free pattern. Jumpers should arrive at Dogs Trust Head Office, 17 Wakley Street, London, EC1V 7RQ, no later than 23rd November.

Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Wag! Feature

Snooping around ough r o b h g u o L

Berry welcomes you to Loughborough. P.S. he belongs to Nico, our behaviourist.

"We’re looking for another Lurcher to join our family” say Eva, Ruby and Lula

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Roll over Rover, time for a vet-check

Wussell has pinched Nico’s walkie talkie

Wag! Feature

Splish-splash, she was taking a bath

Clutching Lurcher pups is all in a day’s work for Nikki Smith with canine carers Aimee Turner and Marie Cover

A quick chat with Nikki Smith, Ma

nager

Poppy and Benji are all ears in the training barn with behaviourist Nico

Loughborough’s been open a few weeks, what’s been your highlight so far?

There have been so many! Maestro was our first dog to be reserved, which was brilliant. It was also lovely holding the official opening ‘do’, and showing so many local people around our amazing centre.

What would you love to happen this weekend? Chuck and Izzy, our longest staying residents, to be reserved by brilliant new owners.

Favourite canine resident? I had a soft spot for Bob T Labrador as he had "Leicester is deaf so we've been "What an excellent centre. You hear so many shown how we can train him bad things about kennels but you don’t feel using sign language." sorry for them here as it’s so much like home."

Jim and Beth, Loughborough The Brooks Family

such a lovely face and carried a toy everywhere! I also fostered Caspar, a beautiful Staffy who liked to sleep on my bed, and I’m currently fostering Mork, a Jack Russell cross, whom I hope to rehome myself very soon!

Funniest moment? That would have to be having our staff photos taken with the different dogs in the centre - we snuggled up for closeups with our canine pals and most of us got lots of licks and kisses with slobber, hair and mud everywhere by the time we’d finished! The photos are fab!

What advice would you give anyone thinking of visiting the centre?

Just come! Our building is amazing and well worth a visit and if you’re looking for a dog we’ll really try to find you your perfect match.

Thanks Nikki – get back to work now!

Visit Dogs Trust Loughborough at Hill Farm, Wide Lane, Wymes Wold, Loughborough LE12 6SE, or call 01509 880070. We’re open every day from 12 – 4pm EXCEPT Thursday when we are closed to the public.

Summer Autumn 2012 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Photos: Martin Phelps

Nikki what are you up to right now?

I’m currently working with my team on refining the centre’s daily processes to make sure the dogs are given all the behavioural and veterinary support they need. I also helped take in 14 new dogs at 7.30pm last night.

Wag! Feature

Readers’ Dogs Beau

Darlington

Marilyn and Ray tell Wag, “Beau settled into our home immediately and is the most loving dog you could ever wish to meet. His favourite place is lying on our bed, although he sleeps in his own bed all night, just as long as he has four toy pigs with him.” Daniel, the editorial spaniel, always sleeps with two pheasants. Each to their own.

Is there anything better than a nice cup of tea, a Hobnob and pages of wonderful readers’ dogs?

These hairy beauties have all been given a second chance by you, and rehomed from Dogs Trust rehoming centres.

Put the kettle on…

Caspar Shoreham

Graeme and David would like to introduce Caspar, telling Wag, “He has had a very nice lifestyle (as you can see) and loves the beach here in West Sussex.

We would be so chuffed if you could include him in Wag as he turns 13 very soon!” Chuff away, and happy birthday Caspar!

Lucy

Newbury

Carol and Ken Malone took this beautiful shot of Lucy frolicking among the daffs last spring.

“Lucy is doing really well with her training and also responds well to commands. She is very sociable with other dogs and has a few friends that she sees daily at the local dog walking field. Thanks for taking such good care of Lucy whilst she was with you, we can’t imagine not having her here with us now.”

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Wag! Feature

Angus Evesham

Ian and Viv Ballinger tell us Angus used to be quite nervous, but now he loves to play, eat and sleep – and not necessarily in that order!

“He gets a lot of love but also gives a lot of love in return, and we would not want to be without him.”

Meadow Kenilworth

“We had a dog from your good selves over 12 months ago, and what a great dog ‘Meadow’ has turned out to be. She is loving, caring, very tame, so we thought we would send the attached picture which hopefully shows just how happy she is.” Thanks, Paul Betts and Sue Hallow, that’s our smile of the month!

Molly

Bridgend

Molly (she’s the one on the right) is having a nice nap next to owner Martyn Jones. Martyn tells Wag, “According to the book, Bull Mastiffs are calm, quiet and stoic. Sadly, Molly hasn’t read the book.” Molly is our official 'big-bonced honey' of the month!

Molly’s head is ten times bigger than mine

Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Wag! Feature

Alfie

Ilfracombe

“We were so lucky to find Alfie at Ilfracombe, we’ve had him for over two years now and he is such a lovely boy.

He loves his daily walks on the beach and adores a swim in the rock pools too. He’s so full of love, we feel blessed to have him as part of our family.”

Suggs

Ilfracombe

Isn’t he lovely? Photogenic Suggs is the adored family pet of the Robinson-Walshes, and as mum Dawn adds, “When we moved to Devon, we were thrilled to be able to go to Ilfracombe Dogs Trust and find a family pet. Suggs had been found lost and hungry, and had been at the kennels for a week by the time we arrived. He loves playing ball and jumping the waves. This photo is a professional one taken by Morwenna Photography in Bude.”

Trixie

Glasgow

Millie Brown, aged 12, tells Wag, “We collected Trixie, my collie-cross from Glasgow Dogs Trust three years ago when she was seven years old. When we were being told about her by the carers they said Trixie liked tennis balls; they were not wrong, she goes nuts for them! She is a big softy and always has a big wet lick ready for you when you come home from school.” Awww.

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Wag! Feature

Junior

West Calder

Here’s Junior with Tracey Scott’s neighbour’s children, whom he adores. Tracey believes Junior might be a Nova Scotian Duck Tolling Retriever, just like Millie from Wag spring 2012, but the jury’s out on this one. Either way, the verdict on Junior is he’s one lovely looking dog.

Dr Spencer Reid Kenilworth

Oodels and Tess

Wag can’t resist a dog with a title, so meet Dr Reid, who is living proof that you can indeed teach an old dog new tricks. Eleven year old Dr Reid had been in our care for over a year, and was not too keen on other dogs.

However, Steph and Alec tell us, “After 6 months of plenty of love, routine and a bit of training he is now the best gentleman in the park. He even has a favourite lady friend! We named him Dr. Spencer Reid after one of the best, intelligent sidekicks on the TV, and he has certainly lived up to his name!”

Shrewsbury

Sylvia Davis wishes to thank canine carer Tracey Casewell, of our Shrewsbury centre, for finding Oodels and Tess for her in 2009.

Oodels was a black collie cross with a sad past, Sylvia says, “He could easily have been mistaken for a grizzly bear, but one look into his beautiful brown eyes and I fell in love with him.”

She also rehomed his kennel mate Tess, a wiry terrier, and the two were the best of pals for over 18 months. When Oodels passed away last year both Tess and Sylvia were heartbroken. “He may only have been with us for a short time, but that time was a world of love, happiness and security.”

The Davises are a motorbiking family, and Tess now enjoys regular rides on Sylvia’s specially converted pillion.

Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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The Tail end!

How you are all helping to help Dogs Trust

We’ve got Christmas all wrapped up

Our Christmas catalogue is back and better than ever. We have a fantastic extended range of products so you will be able to find that pawfect gift. There’s even more choice online, with new gift ideas being added all the time on www.dogstrustgifts.com If you didn’t receive a catalogue with this copy of Wag! just call 0844 324 8520 or email dogstrust@cbfulfilment.co.uk

Sprout Sprint Crackers £12.99 A cracking way to start the Christmas dinner and maybe even a sprout to the finish.

Cuddly Dog Toy Zoo £4.50 When your canine companion finds this squeezy canvas toy in his stocking he’ll be sure to send a bark of thanks to Santa Paws.

Stop. Raffle time!

Doggy All Stars £5.99 What better way to say Happy Christmas to friends and family than with these cheeky canine cards.

GIL1247 Winter Raffle ticket art v3_GIL1247 Winter Raffle ticket art v2 31/05/2012 10:51 Page 1

Winter Raffle 2012

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Be a lifesaver this winter...

Please play our raffle and help Dogs Trust to care for us this winter. At just £1 a ticket, you could win one of our pawfect prizes below!

Megan of bubbly like Miss L Hamish Jake Smith from Fife, who Thank you We hope you’re a winter winner! won our special prize 1 £7,500 £5,000 £2,500 £1,000 £750 £500 £250 draw! Unfortunately raffle books can not be sold or bought by persons under the age of 16, are only available to residents of Great Britain and not available to residents of Northern Ireland. On behalf of all the dogs in our care thank you for your support and good luck! st

PRIZE

nd 2PRIZE

3rd

PRIZE

th 4PRIZE

th 5PRIZE

th 6PRIZE

To get your paws on more books, please call our ticket hotline on 020 7833 7672.

7th

PRIZE

Registered Charity Numbers 227523 and SC037843

You could be lucky like our Spring 2012 Raffle winners: 1st Prize £7,500 Mrs I C Wood, Aberdeen 2nd Prize £5,000 Mrs J Jackson, Hertfordshire 3rd Prize £2,500 Miss B Read, Northumberland 4th Prize £1,000 Mrs S Hard, Dyfed 5th Prize £750 Mrs M Goodlad, Surrey 6th Prize £500 Mrs H Ashton, Salisbury 7th Prize £250 Mrs J Lynch, Berkshire

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Photos: Martin Phelps and Tim Lloyd

Our Winter 2012 Raffle is now open, so get your skates on for your chance to win one of nine tinsel-tastic prizes. Not only could you win BIG but by supporting our raffle you are helping us to care for even more stray and abandoned dogs.

For more information on how to play or if you would like to get your paws on additional raffle books please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk or call our ticket hotline on 020 7833 7672.

If you’re our top ticket seller you could be celebrating with a magnum

£5.99 After the Twelve Days of Christmas enjoy the 12 dogs of the month with our Dogs Trust 2013 calendar.

Wag! The Tail end!

Old dogs teach new tricks

A welcome break with your four-legged friend!

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veryone needs a holiday – so this winter why not stay a little closer to home?

Thanks to Welcome Cottages, you can take your favourite four-legged friend away on a pet friendly holiday in one of their beautiful cottages. A cottage holiday is both relaxing and great value, especially when you save on those kennel fees and you don’t get charged for your pet!

Discover quaint thatched cottages, luxurious mansions and even the odd castle.

Choose from properties with good facilities, an open fire, a beautiful garden, a swimming pool, and even a great pub close by. There really is something for everyone.

You can take a short break of two, three or

four nights, or get away for a week or more.

All the cottages on offer are maintained to the highest standard, providing everything you need to ensure your holiday runs totally smoothly.

Welcome Cottages will donate to Dogs Trust for every booking made. So - while you are escaping the everyday and enjoying the freedom of doing what you want, when you want, on your holiday - you also know you are helping Dogs Trust look after even more dogs.

Search and book securely online at www.dogstrust-cottages.co.uk to find your perfect cottage. Alternatively, call our friendly sales team on 0845 604 3933.

Attention, bookworms!

We’ve teamed up with GreenMetropolis to give you a new way to buy, read and recycle your books. Here’s how you can support Dogs Trust through GreenMetropolis: • Help raise money for Dogs Trust by buying and selling books • For every book you buy or sell on behalf of Dogs Trust – 50p or £1.00 is donated

• Because all books cost just £3.75 (most include free delivery) you’re sure to bag a bargain in the process!

So whether you choose to buy or sell with GreenMetropolis you can sit back in the comfy chair and relax in the knowledge that your book reading isn’t costing the earth. Start shopping now at www.greenmetropolis.com

A trio of very old dogs have taught Amy Leadbeter if not quite a new trick then something even better; a love of dogs.

Like many people, Amy was scared of dogs.

Although she’d never been bitten she would always give dogs a wide berth, crossing the road to avoid contact with them. All that changed when she met Cola, an elderly dog owned by her friend Laura.

Laura is one of Dogs Trust’s Dogmobile drivers, and had rehomed Cola from our Kenilworth centre, knowing that Cola had cancer and her vet had estimated that she would have three months left to live.

Happily, Cola lived another 18 months with Laura and her partner Helen. It was during that time that sweet, affectionate Cola totally changed Amy’s mind about dogs. Cola’s gentle manner allowed Amy to see that not all dogs were aggressive. Fairly swiftly, Amy switched from being disinterested in Cola, to stroking her, to taking her for walks. Eventually, she and her partner Simon agreed to look for a dog of their own.

The Dogs Trust website showed that there were two older chaps, Jake (16) a Bedlington cross, and his son Alfie (13), at the Oakfield Old Dogs Home (part of Dogs Trust Shrewsbury) seeking a quiet home. Amy and Simon fell in love with them as soon as they met. Now, thanks to Cola, Jake and Alfie, Amy has transformed from someone who was terrified of them to being the proud of owner of not one, but two, senior boys!

Amy has the final word: “I’ve realised that it wasn’t dogs that I was scared of, but dogs that were allowed to leap up by thoughtless owners.

I’m definitely a dog person now! When Alfie comes bounding up to greet me when I come home from work it’s the most wonderful feeling.”

We still need your used first and second class, foreign and old stamps! But ‘no thanks’ to standard issue Queen’s head ones. Please send to….

Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Wag! The Tail end!

Events

Getting to know you, getting to know all about you…

Rehoming Centres

Key Dogmobile Event Meet our dogs Bring your own dogs

Ballymena

028 2565 2977

Bridgend

01656 725 219

OCTOBER 20 - 21 Countryside Live show, Yorkshire showground 24 - 25 Morrisons, Moreton Park, Darlington Darlington’s Spook Night, an evening of spooky fun for children 30 and dogs, call 01325 333114 to book.

31 - 1 Nov Tesco, Shrewsbury

Canterbury

01227 792 505

NOVEMBER Pet photographer at W. London 10-11 14 – 15 Abingdon town centre Ilfracombe’s Christmas Fair, Braunton Parish Hall 17 Morrisons, Johnstone, Glasgow 20 -21 22 - 23 Tesco Middlewich, Cheshire 22 - 23 Asda, Livingston 24 - 25 Pet photographer at W. London Glasgow’s Christmas Fair 12-3pm 25 Shrewsbury’s Christmas Fair, 12-4pm 25 27 - 28 Melton Mowbray High Street 28 – 29 Morrisons, Bulwell, Nottingham DECEMBER Bridgend’s Christmas Fair 11-3pm 1 Merseyside’s Christmas Fair 12- 4pm 1 Darlington’s Christmas Fair - 12-4pm 1-2 Loughborough’s Christmas Fair 12 – 4pm 1-2 Kenilworth’s Christmas Fair 12-4pm 1-2 Leeds Santa Paws Weekend 12-4pm 1-2 Shoreham’s Christmas Fair, 11am-1pm 2 Newbury’s Christmas Fair, 10am -12pm 2 Asda, Rugby 5-6 Leeds Santa Paws weekend 12-4pm 8-9 Pet photographer at W London 8-9 Salisbury’s Christmas Fair December 12-3pm 9 15 - 16 Pet photographer at at W.London Snetterton’s Boxing Day Walk 10.30am 26

Darlington

01325 333 114

Dublin

00 353 1 879 1000

Evesham

01386 830 613

Glasgow

0141 773 5130

Ilfracombe

01271 812 709

Kenilworth

01926 484 398

Leeds

0113 281 4920

Loughborough

01509 880 070

Merseyside

0151 480 0660

Newbury

01488 658 391

Salisbury

01980 629 634

Shoreham

01273 452 576

Shrewsbury

01952 770 225

Snetterton

01953 498 377

West Calder

01506 873 459

West London

0845 076 3647 For the rehoming centre opening hours please visit www.dogstrust.org.uk

WEST CALDER

GLASGOW

BALLYMENA

DARLINGTON

LEEDS DUBLIN

MERSEYSIDE SHREWSBURY

Holy muttrimony Congratulations to David and Michelle Franklin (née Powell), who tied the knot in July, and were delighted when their dogs Simba, Scruffles and Thomas made a surprise appearance at the reception, courtesy of their cunning colleagues from Dog Trust Kenilworth. The happy couple first met and fell in love while working as canine carers at our Kenilworth rehoming centre.

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Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

LOUGHBOROUGH KENILWORTH EVESHAM

BRIDGEND ILFRACOMBE

NEWBURY

SNETTERTON

WEST LONDON CANTERBURY

SALISBURY

SHOREHAM

Wag! The Tail end!

photo: Martin Phelps

The gift that keeps on giving…

O

ver the past year we have been extremely touched by the huge amount of our supporters who have pledged to leave us a gift in their wills. We would like to say a heartfelt thank you to all of those who have taken the time to consider not only their own futures, but the future of Dogs Trust.

Like our four-legged friends, these very special gifts have come in all shapes and sizes and have helped to contribute in some way to life at Dogs Trust. From bedding and biscuits to an entire veterinary suite, these are just some examples of what is a wonderful way people have left a lasting memory of their love for dogs.

Leaving a gift in your will is an amazing way to ensure that your support can continue, even after your own lifetime. For further information please fill out the coupon below or call us on 020 7837 0006 to speak to someone in confidence.

Legacy Coupon Please send me a free legacy information pack which provides full information about how to leave a gift in my will to Dogs Trust.

I have already remembered Dogs Trust in my will

Sound of silence

Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms (Please circle)

Huge thanks to Eve Godwin, aged 8, who did a sponsored silence for a whole hour – which was very difficult as she is a proper chatterbox - and raised £46 for Dogs Trust as a result. Many thanks too to Katie Pittel, who bravely skydived and managed to raise over £1,100.

Many thanks indeed to Eamonn Holmes, who kindly nominated Dogs Trust as one of his charities during his presidency of the Television and Radio Industries Club. He has very generously raised £5,000 for Dogs Trust.

Special thanks to everyone who has run, jumped, walked, swum and generally supported Dogs Trust this year! If you fancy challenging yourself by running a 10K race or even a marathon, skydiving, cycling from London to Paris or trekking in Peru (phew!), please get in touch at fundraiseforus@dogstrust.org.uk or call 020 7837 0006.

Address:

Full Name:

ver to help her reco Eve hugs Bobby silence. 's ur ho r he m fro

Postcode: Supporter number (if known): Email address: Telephone Number: All information will be treated as strictly confidential Please return this coupon to:

Legacy Information Dogs Trust, Freepost WD360, 17 Wakley Street, London, EC1V 1NA

Autumn 2012 www.dogstrust.org.uk

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Give the gift of...

love

to an abandoned dog this Christmas

warmth

yummy Christmas dinner

cosy bed You may already know what you’re hoping for this Christmas…

W

hat are we hoping for? The answer is simple. We want the dogs in our ristmas care to have a special Ch and filled with love, warmth fear e th m happiness, safe fro in the t and loneliness of life ou is busy cold. The festive period ntres. for our 19 rehoming ce lebrate ce But it’s also a time to e because we truly can giv ey th as tm ris our dogs the Ch to ks an th deserve and it’s all your suppor t.

Please send a donation today. Thank you

love