Tails Magazine Summer/Autumn 2023

TAILS MAGAZINE

Summer/Autumn 2023

In this issue...

Pets looking for homes

Latest news

Events guide

Behaviour corner

Plus much more

10 - 11 Current appeals

12 - 13

Can you secure our future?

Hello...

Welcome

We start with some fantastic news for animal welfare - microchipping will become a legal requirement for pet cats and electric shock collars will be banned from use next year. We take in so many stray cats that are not microchipped and therefore it is very difficult to trace an owner – especially for black cats that have no distinguishing markings.

It is still quite unbelievable that people still use electric shock collars on dogs but hopefully this ban will reduce the suffering of so many dogs going forward.

We are celebrating more long service awards for our wonderful volunteers this summer. We are so lucky to have such a huge number of dedicated and hardworking volunteers, without them we wouldn’t be able to help so many animals.

Rehoming has been very difficult this year as we have a large number of dogs with quite specific behaviour requirements and therefore need experienced people to adopt them. This has disappointed a lot of people who want to adopt from us but are new to dog ownership or have only had very well behaved dogs before. Trying to weigh up being a responsible organisation and also making sure we are as flexible as safely possible is a constant struggle. It is

Helping your pets stay cool in the summer heat

Upcoming events

however amazing to watch our dedicated staff working so hard to rehabilitate these dogs and gain their trust after being treated so terribly by humans.

It is also heart-warming to see some of our nervous and under-socialised cats begin to trust humans and realise the enjoyment of a cuddle and fuss. Page 5 highlights some of our achievements this year.

Over the last few months our fab fundraisers have been busy raising some much needed funds for us. It is fantastic to see the innovative and fun ways people can drum up sponsorship and support for Gables and we are so grateful to everyone who chooses to help us this way.

My favourite part of this magazine is reading the happy ending stories. We have some wonderful updates for you on pages 16 & 17. It is always heartwarming to read how we change the lives of animals so dramatically with your help and support each year. For this I am truly thankful to you all.

I hope you have a great summer and enjoy reading our magazine.

Claire Sparkes General Manager

Microchipping law for cats comes into force

10 June 2024

Earlier this year the government announced plans to introduce mandatory cat microchipping by the 10th June 2024 in England. That means as you’re reading this it’s less than a year until it comes into effect, improving the lives of cats and their owners alike. Microchipping is hugely beneficial for us both, as it makes it much easier to reunite lost or stray cats with their owners. You can rest assured any animal adopted from Gables will already come microchipped and registered included in the adoption fee, that’s how vital it is to the safety of your pet.

At Gables we understand all too well how devastating it can be if your precious pet is missing. Outdoor cats who love to roam can become lost, injured or stolen. Even indoor cats who are huge homebodies can sometimes escape and as they have little experience outside they can easily be spooked. Microchipping is the best way to ensure you and your beloved pet are reunited as quickly as possible. It also eases the strain placed on rescue centres such as

ourselves. It has already been compulsory for dogs for many years, and the benefits have been clear to see, such as a decrease in the number of dogs held as strays by local authorities. It is estimated that as many as a quarter of owned cats in the UK are not microchipped, meaning this is a huge victory for feline welfare, to bring it in line with our canine friends. It’s great to see the wellbeing of our furry family members being taken seriously.

Microchips are simple, easy to implant and effective. It really isn’t much different to your cat receiving their vaccinations. It is a small chip that is implanted under the cat’s skin that will last their lifetime. It will soon be compulsory from 20 weeks of age and won’t harm your cat at all. The microchip gives your cat its own unique code, which is linked to your details via a database. Any lost pets brought to vets or rescue centres can quickly be scanned and matched to your details.

Even if your cat is already microchipped it’s probably a good idea to check they are registered with the correct details. It’s quick and easy to do this online. If you have yet to microchip your cat don’t wait till next year, do what’s best for your pet. We are hopeful that with this new law we’ll be seeing a lot more happy reunions in the future.

Did you know that here at Gables we can microchip your cats for you for just £12.50? We can microchip your pet and register the chip with all your details. The going rate for microchipping at vets can be anywhere from £20 - £30 so it is always worth checking if your local animal charity, like Gables, can help. We will also be running microchipping information evenings closer to this law coming into effect, please keep an eye on our social media for updates about these events.

At last, a ban on electric shock collars in England

The Government has laid legislation which will completely ban the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024, following a ten year campaign by many welfare organisations.

The ban will cover electric shock collars activated by hand-held devices, sparing half a million dogs from the painful devices which inflict pain for up to 11 seconds.

The wide-ranging evidence demonstrating the detrimental effect that these electric shock collars have on the welfare of dogs made it impossible for people who use them to continue to justify their use. In 2019, a study carried out by the University of Lincoln showed that electric shock collars compromised a dog’s well-being, even when used by ‘professional’ e-collar trainers, and were no more and mostly less effective in training than positive reinforcement methods. Disappointingly the ban will not extend to the sale of these awful devices, nor to the use of electronic containment fences, but it is a step in the right direction.

Long Service Awards

Volunteer Long Service Awards

Dee Bartley – 12 years

Over her 12 years as a volunteer Dee has worn many different hats for us. Foremost she is a qualified dog groomer and assists us with welfare grooms for new arrivals (sometimes cats too!) Spending so much time at Gables helping us inevitably led Dee to welcoming some Gables dogs into her home. She has adopted two dogs, Murphy and Annie from us and also opens her home up to foster puppies to give them a loving start to life. We are so grateful to have Dee’s support, thank you for 12 years and here’s to the next 12!

Cathy Mitchell – 5 years

The fantastic Cathy has been volunteering as a cattery assistant for over 5 years. She has two cats of her own at home, but adores animals so much she chooses to spend her spare time providing love and care to the cats here at Gables. She has formed close bonds with many of the longer term cats, and they always enjoy her cuddles. Thank you so much for your dedicated support Cathy, we all appreciate you so much!

Charlaine & Laura Moreno-Chamorro – 10 years

Charlaine and Laura have been wonderful volunteers for over 10 years. They helped out at many events being reliable ring stewards for our dog shows. They’ve now gone from ‘Scruffs’ to ‘Crufts’ as they have a little Jack Russell puppy of their own who has been winning awards at dog shows across the country. We wish you the best of luck and thank you for volunteering for so many years.

Jill Hetherington – 5 years

Jill has volunteered for over 5 years at Gables fostering kittens until they were ready to go to their forever home. She eventually had to stop fostering due to adopting her own cat who quickly became the boss and doesn’t like sharing his home. However Jill still continues helping out at events and we’re so grateful for all the time she has donated.

Cautious cats given a second chance

If you were to ask the animal care assistants at Gables “what is the best part of your job” a lot of them would say it is being able to help nervous and under-socialised cats and dogs find their feet and watching them improve to the point that are able to find a forever home. Here are the tales of three particular cats. They all came to us in a similar way, incredibly shut down and terrified of people. Fast forward to now and due to the hard work and dedication of our team, the improvements they have made are amazing.

Santa

Santa (as the name might suggest) came to Gables around Christmas time last year. This poor boy hadn’t had the best of luck before he arrived with us, he had been surviving on his own for years and no-one was able to get close enough to catch him so a humane cat trap had to be used. Once he had been trapped he was taken to a vets where it was confirmed that he wasn’t neutered, an unfortunately common occurrence in very long term stray cats. When he first arrived he was incredibly shut down and scared, he would spend his days tucked away in his bed with his head down not even wanting to lift his

Footie

Footie is one of our longer term cats, he has been with us since July 2022! He came to us from a multi cat household where their basic needs weren’t being met. The situation he was rescued from left him incredibly fearful and untrusting of people. At first we could not interact with Footie at all, if he saw one of us entering his pen he would do everything he could to escape. Luckily because of how our cattery pens are designed with two separate sections, we were able to work around Footie and give him the space he needed to begin to acclimatise. Fast forward a couple of months and although still very cautious

of people Footie no longer was actively trying to avoid us, this was around the time that animal care assistant Cass began training in the cattery. She has worked at Gables for 3 and a half years and in that time has spent most of her time working with our dogs. Cass heard about Footie and knew she really wanted to try to bring him round, slowly over time she was able to convince Footie that people aren’t so bad at all. She fondly remembers the first time Footie sat on her lap and now there’s no stopping him! He continues to gain more and more confidence and has turned into a lovely affectionate boy.

Fred

The last story we want to share is that of the very handsome Fred. Arriving at Gables in late November 2022 he had been a long term stray, no-one was quite sure how long he had been straying for. After a well needed stay with the vet where he received a full check-up, he began his road to recovery. The biggest challenge we faced with Fred when he arrived with us was that he wouldn’t use a litter tray. It took nearly three weeks of trial and error, different numbers of trays, different types of cat litter and trays in different locations, but eventually he started to get the hang of it. We initially thought that Fred was going to be best suited to a stable/barn home where he could come and go as he pleases and not

head to look at us. Slowly over the last few months the cattery team have been getting Santa used to human company, they would sit with him and talk to him, just let him get used to us being around. Slowly over time he has started to come out of his shell, first of all it was letting us give him a stroke on the head, then he discovered how nice grooming is and now when the mood takes him he is quite partial to a cuddle. Santa has built a lovely bond with one member of our team and that confidence has allowed him to start opening up to other people.

have too much interaction with people. However it didn’t take us long to start to see small parts of his personality come through. We quickly discovered how much Fred loved to be groomed, which is very lucky considering how long his fur is, this bonding time with people led to him really learning to love affection. Demelza who is a member of our cattery team quickly saw the potential Fred had and so her extra time was spent giving him lots of love and attention, which he very quickly grew to love. Fred’s story comes with a happy ending as after seeing his beautiful personality develop Demelza couldn’t resist, she has given him his forever home!

Fab fundraisers

We would love to be able to list all of the donations we receive from our wonderful supporters but there simply isn’t enough space. Here are a few highlights of recent donations and fundraising events held to raise funds for Gables from our fantastic community.

Plymouth Community Homes

We were very lucky to be Plymouth Community Homes’ charity of the year for 2022. Throughout the year they held various fun events to support us including ‘bring your dog to work days.’ We were also invited to turn on their Christmas lights at the end of last year! The staff have regularly put together donations of food, treats, toys and bedding for our dogs and cats which have been delivered to us throughout the year. Whenever they do make the trip out to drop off donations we are sure to reward their efforts with lots of dog cuddles. Thank you so much to everyone at Plymouth Community Homes for choosing us as your charity of the year, we had a great year with you all.

Adam Barnes

In November 2022 Adam took part in the Sidmouth 10k, which was his first ever race, and he came 7th overall. He raised £300 to help the animals in our care. Adam has been in recovery from an injury recently and is very keen to get out and start fundraising again. What a fantastic achievement and thank you so much for doing it for our animals.

Devon Howlers

Peter Howse runs this South West based group for dog owners who love to race with their pooch. They hold events throughout the year featuring canicross, bikejor, and all kinds of active fun for dogs and owners alike. At their most recent event this Easter they raised a fantastic £168 to help the animals in our care. Huge shout out to Peter, and all at Devon Howlers who helped a good cause, and had a fantastically fun time doing so!

Ward Williams Associates

Staff from Ward Williams Associates, Plymouth office, swapped their suits for gloves and active-wear to get some much needed projects done on site at Gables. They kindly volunteered for a day in April to plant trees and paint fences for us. They were rewarded for their efforts with cake and lots of puppy cuddles. Thank you so much for volunteering your time to help us!

Complete Business Solutions

Rob and Vicky from Complete Business Solutions popped by this month to drop off the £330.11 they raised for Gables in their office. We have been getting our stationary from Complete for many years and are so grateful for their ongoing support.

Joey Rogers

Joey is a superstar for taking part in the Ocean City Schools running challenge. He will be running over 12 miles in under 12 weeks! When his Mum asked him what he’d like to raise money for he didn’t hesitate in saying, “for the stray cats and dogs.” Joey still has yet to complete his last few miles and he’s already raised £141… and counting! Well done Joey and thanks for your amazing support!

Steve Maltby

Steve become a Trustee at Gables a couple of years ago and for his 70th year decided to challenge himself by running the Plymouth 10K on 14th May to raise money for Gables. He raised a wonderful £803.83 to help towards our energy costs –a concern close to his heart. Well done Steve – what a fantastic achievement.

Behaviour Corner

by Dog Behaviourist Jodie Harris

Precious Lady – Three years on.

In our spring edition of 2020 you read about a very special girl called Precious Lady.

She is a beautiful Border Collie who had arrived at Gables in poor condition, both physically and emotionally. She had spent her life in a barn with other dogs but isolated from the outside world which had left her terrified of humans and unfamiliar environments.

She had never walked on a lead and she was so shut down her personality couldn’t shine through. After months of intensive rehabilitation here at Gables, Precious Lady was adopted by one of our amazing volunteers, Sue, who she has now been living with for the last three years.

Since her adoption we have kept in regular contact with Sue and Precious offering help and advice when needed. Although Sue had seen some tiny amounts of progress with Precious, her issues were so deeply ingrained that she still took solace behind the sofa for most of the day and night. When in the garden she would run in circles rather than settle, but this was her only form of enrichment or exercise. After a conversation last summer we were concerned that even after 2 years in her new home there was still no sign that Precious would ever be able to go for a walk. I felt that with some extra support I may be able to help so we had weekly consultations where we planned to start working with Precious in our secure paddock in order to expand her horizons and hopefully teach her how to walk on a lead, so that she and Sue may be able to go for walks in the future.

We are lucky enough to have vehicular access to one of our paddocks so Sue drove her car directly into the paddock. Sue was able to get an anti-escape harness on her which has three straps for extra security. We attached a long line to the harness and stepped away from the car to allow Precious to come out and explore.

Precious was unsure and cautious when out of the car so she opted to stay at the far end of the paddock to us. It took us a few weeks to find a routine to get her back in the car that didn’t cause her stress, but we quickly realised that her bond with Sue really shone through and with the right approach she would not run away from Sue. After a few weeks we saw her confidence build and we were able to start working on her short lead walking in the paddock. We were very surprised to see how well she adapted to this. Once we were sure that Precious was comfortable with walking on a short lead we bravely decided to walk her out of the secure paddock and a short way into the field behind. Each week we walked further and further with her until she was able to walk around the whole field.

I worked with Sue and Precious for around 6 months where I worked on building both their confidence. I was able to give Sue advice about how to put Precious at ease with her body language but also help them both feel like they were working as a team. Our end goal was that Sue would be able to take Precious for a walk on the moors.

Sue has worked so hard with Precious and as a result she has achieved her goal of being able to take her to the moors on a regular basis.

Amazon wish list

We have a wish list of items we urgently need and/or regularly use on the Amazon website. If you would like to support us this way, please visit www.amazon.co.uk and search for our wish list. Your gift items will be delivered directly to us so we share them with the animals in our care straight away. Our current wish list – If you can help by donating any of these items we would be very grateful

• Hard rubber or plastic squeaky dog toys.

• Tennis balls.

• Cat toys

• Cardboard cat scratchers.

• Catsan litter.

• Royal Canin Hypoallergenic dry food (dog & cat).

• Royal Canin Hypoallergenic wet food (dog & cat).

• Tins or pouches of cat and dog food.

• Washing powder.

• Primula cheese.

Easyfundraising The simple and free way to fundraise for Gables

There is a great way that you can help to support us as a charity and it’s free! You start by registering online with Easyfundraising and then just shop online, it’s as simple as that. Easyfundraising is a completely free service that has over 2,700 retailers, including Tesco, Apple and Boots, who will all make a donation to a charity, group or good cause every time you make a purchase with them. This is a way for them to say thank you for your custom so please encourage friends and family to register and they can easily raise donations for free too.

Current appeals

25 vulnerable puppies rescued from bleak conditions

We have taken in 25 puppies and dogs from a terrible situation where they had no food, water or shelter from freezing conditions.

A few months ago on a bitterly cold Saturday morning Gables were called to help remove these poor dogs. Deputy Manager Ruth Rickard and General Manager Claire Sparkes jumped in their vehicles and made the 90 mile trip. On arrival they were horrified to see the living conditions these vulnerable creatures were having to endure but they started to get them out one by one.

We took 9 young puppies that were around 8-12 weeks old, a 6 month old puppy with terribly matted, sore and infected skin and 3 mothers each with large litters of puppies.

When Ruth and Claire arrived back at Gables our wonderful staff had stayed late to help unload all the dogs and get them tucked

up for the night with plenty of food, clean warm bedding and heating. The 3 mothers and litters of puppies went home with Ruth to her on site bungalow so she could provide nursing care throughout the night in a warm calm environment. One tiny puppy appeared to have lost the will to live and was rushed to the vets to have some warm fluids injected under the skin. It was quickly established that the mothers were too stressed to care for their puppies and 2 weedy ones kept being trampled so Ruth had to remove them to start hand rearing them and give them a fighting chance at survival.

After 3 weeks of round the clock care and love these puppies and their mothers are doing really well thanks to the dedication of our Gables team but we now need your help.

It is estimated it will cost £6,000 for all the intensive care, neutering, other surgery

needed such as hernia repairs, skin infection treatment and basic care such as vaccinations, flea and worm treatments.

If you can help to ease our financial burden by making a contribution to the ’25 Puppies Rescued Vet Appeal’, please call 01752 331602 or cheques can be posted to Gables Dogs and Cats Home, 204 Merafield Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 1UQ. Alternatively, visit justgiving. com/campaign/25puppiesrescued or paypal.me/gablesdogsandcats or gablesfarm.org.uk/how-can-you-help/ make-a-donation-2/ to donate online.

You can also donate via text:

To donate £1 text GAB25PUP to 70201

To donate £3 text GAB25PUP to 70331

To donate £5 text GAB25PUP to 70970

To donate £10 text GAB25PUP to 70191

* Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate. org

Aye Aye the geriatric cat in need of lifesaving care

We have recently taken in an elderly cat called Aye Aye. The lovely elderly girl was found lying in a road in a collapsed state. She was extremely cold, underweight and lethargic and was taken to a local veterinary practice where it was found she was hyperthyroid and in need of urgent medical care. Sadly she was not microchipped so we had no way to trace her owner.

When Aye Aye arrived at Gables she was clearly very underweight with a body score of just 2 out of 9, and in a very poor condition. She was not underweight due to just being old, she has untreated medical issues and has not been fed properly. She is already starting to put on weight due to receiving 6 small meals a day of a top quality

veterinary diet in the short time she has been with us.

Once she is strong enough she will need a dental to remove some very rotten teeth and a tumour on her jaw inside her mouth. She will also need a heart scan and bloods taken to assess how well her hyperthyroidism medication is working. In the mean time she will still enjoy plenty of attention from our staff and lots of good food.

Now she is in our care we can effectively treat her conditions and the goal is to find her a new home where she will be comfortable and happy. She has such a lovely character and she will be a lovely companion for someone very lucky.

It is estimated it will cost Gables £4,000 for all the treatment and medication that Aye Aye will need now and into the future, as well as basic care such as flea

and worm treatment and vaccinations. As she is an elderly cat Gables will continue to support her new owners with her veterinary care.

* Fundraising, payments and Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), network rate. For Terms & Conditions,

Aye Aye the geriatric cat

If you can help to ease our financial burden by making a contribution to ‘Aye Aye’s Vet Appeal’, please call 01752 331602 or cheques can be posted to Gables Dogs and Cats Home, 204 Merafield Road, Plympton, Plymouth, Devon, PL7 1UQ. Alternatively, visit https://www.justgiving.com/ campaign/AyeAye or www.paypal.me/ gablesdogsandcats to donate online. You can also donate via text:

We have recently taken in an road in a collapsed state. She local veterinary practice where care. Sadly she was not microchipped

To donate £1 text GABAAYE to 70201

When Aye Aye arrived at Gables 9, and in a very poor condition. medical issues and has not been receiving 6 small meals a day

To donate £3 text GABAAYE to 70331

To donate £5 text GABAAYE to 70970

To donate £10 text GABAAYE to 70191

* Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see www. easydonate.org

Once she is strong enough she her jaw inside her mouth. She hyperthyroidism medication our staff and lots of good food.

Now she is in our care we can where she will be comfortable companion for someone very

* Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be network rate. For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org

It is estimated it will cost Gables now and into the future, as well she is an elderly cat Gables will

If Gables is lucky enough to raise more money than appeals, it will go towards helping the other animals

If Gables is lucky enough to raise more money than is needed for these appeals, it will go towards helping the other animals in their care.

Appeal updates

Busted boiler appeal

During the winter months at Gables it is vital that our dog kennels and cat pens are heated for the welfare of our animals, especially as this past winter was uncharacteristically cold. We are very lucky to receive donated blankets, duvets and coats for the dogs which we are hugely grateful for and helps keep the animals cosy and warm. It was in the depths of this very cold winter that our trusty boiler broke, and needed to be repaired urgently. Thankfully our amazing supporters quickly banded together to raise funds for this essential replacement to be installed.

Our amazing supporters raised an incredible £7,306 to repair our busted boiler. Thank you so much to everyone who supported this appeal.

Valentine’s Raffle

Each year we hold a variety of raffles to raise funds for the dogs and cats in our care. Our first raffle this year was for Valentine’s Day. With some fantastic prizes made up of items donated by our incredible supporters, we were hopeful that we would generate some good interest (and subsequent ticket sales).

Our Valentine’s Day raffle managed to raise an impressive £1,212! A big thank you to everyone who bought tickets for our raffle and keep your eyes peeled for our sensational summer raffle coming soon…

Can you help to secure our future?

Since our humble beginnings in 1907 we have helped thousands of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats in the South West. More than half of these animals have been rescued, cared for and rehomed thanks to gifts in Wills.

Sadly we have to accept that our vital work will be needed for many years to come. Yet as a charity that relies entirely on public donations, we can only keep helping the growing number of unwanted and abandoned dogs and cats if we continue to receive support from people kind and generous enough to leave a gift to Gables in their Wills.

Most of the success of our work is the result of extraordinary volunteers who have selflessly given their time and skills for free over the years – and of course the dedication and love of our incredible staff. In fact, every single animal brought to Gables will find itself in the arms of more than one of these amazing individuals.

From hand-rearing tiny kittens and puppies, to ensuring the oldest cats and dogs are loved warm and comfortable, our staff and volunteers transform the lives of every animal in our care.

A gift in your Will is a special way you can join forces with these incredible people and help them care for even more dogs and cats in the future.

From essential supplies of food, blankets and medicine, to specialist cat pens, dog kennels, equipment and buildings – your gift could help to provide the resources we need to carry on helping these wonderful creatures well into the future.

We specialise in caring for elderly dogs and cats like Mr Keen.

He came into our care at the grand age of 13 with a lot of painful medical problems that had been left untreated for years. His nails were so long they had grown into the soft pads of his feet and his coat was in a terrible condition. He had an enlarged heart and a perineal hernia, causing him a lot of pain and discomfort.

We were able to treat his sore feet and operate on his hernia thanks to the incredible kindness of people who leave gifts to Gables in their Wills. He went off to a wonderful home and enjoyed his retirement being loved and happy.

Many people think that without a Will, their estate will automatically pass to their loved ones, but this is not always the case.

Making a Will, or adding a codicil to your existing Will is the only way to ensure that those you love will be taken care of, including your pets.

Having an up to date Will allows you to make sure that your money benefits the people or causes that you really care about. It also takes away the burden of sorting out your estate from your loved ones at a very distressing time.

Anyone can leave a gift to Gables and every single gift, no matter how large or small, genuinely makes a huge difference to the lives of the dogs and cats we help.

If you don’t already have a Solicitor then we have partnered with Curtis Whiteford Crocker Solicitors who provide free Wills.

Already made a Will

Many people make a Will and assume that’s all they need to do. However, circumstances can change over the years and so it is always advisable to take a fresh look at your Will every few years to ensure it meets your current needs.

There are many reasons that you may wish to change your Will. For example there may have been a major change in your life, such as a financial windfall or the death of someone you had named in your Will, or you may wish to add a charitable gift.

The easiest way to make a change to your Will is to use a codicil (an additional instruction that you can add to your existing Will). A solicitor will be able to advise you of the best way to do this, depending on your circumstances.

Will a gift in my Will reduce Inheritance Tax?

Inheritance Tax is a tax on the estate (the property, money and possessions) of someone who’s died. There’s normally no inheritance tax to pay if either:

• the value of your estate is below the £325,000 threshold

• you leave everything above the £325,000 threshold to your spouse, civil partner, or a charity

The portion of your estate over this amount will be subject to 40% inheritance tax. £325,000 may sound like a large sum of money but if you own property, have savings or investments, you may find that your estate is worth more than you thought.

There are ways to minimise the tax you have to pay on your estate but for more information, please seek professional advice.

However, one way to reduce the amount of inheritance tax you may have to pay, or eliminate the tax altogether, is to leave a gift in your Will to charity. Generally, gifts to charity are 100% inheritance tax free and are taken out of your estate before any tax is calculated, so it may well mean that leaving a gift to charity reduces, or may possibly eliminate, your estate’s liability to inheritance tax.

The estate can pay inheritance tax at a reduced rate of 36% on some assets if you leave 10% or more of the ‘net value’ to charity in your will. (The net value is the estate’s total value minus any debts.)

Who will look after my

pets when I am gone?

Like any responsible pet owner you probably worry about what will happen to your beloved pet if you were to pass away suddenly.

Thankfully Gables offers a free service that aims to give owners peace of mind and their pets a secure and happy future. Not only does this free service offer owners peace of mind it also takes the worry away from friends and family at such a distressing time.

When your dog or cat is brought into Gables they will receive a full veterinary assessment. We will make sure any medical treatment needed is given and then start to look for a new loving home for them. We never put a healthy animal to sleep so we promise to take care of your beloved pet for as long as it takes to find them a suitable new home.

Peace of mind for you

Security for your pet

Pets Looking for homes

We would love to be able to list all the animals we have looking for a new home but there simply isn’t enough space. Please log on to our website www.gablesfarm.org.uk to see all the dogs and cats currently looking for a new home.

Joy

Joy is a 10 year old crossbreed. She is a very loving, cheeky girl who lives up to her name. She may be an older girl but don’t let that fool you, she certainly still has a spring in her step. Joy does have arthritis so we have to be careful with her exercise, this doesn’t stop her enjoying her walks and play time.

She enjoys spending time in the company of other dogs when she is out and about, often going for walks with her doggy friends but she can be a little worried about sharing her things with them which is why she would like to be the only dog in the home. She is unable to live with any cats or other small animals and any children in the home or visiting need to be 10+. Joy cannot be rehomed to the Torquay area as this is where she came from.

Benji & Chantelle

Benji and Chantelle are a pair of Chihuahuas searching for their forever home together. Benji is 2 years old and Chantelle is 4. When they arrived at Gables they were both very scared. It has taken them a long time to come out of their shells and learn that humans can be good. Both Benji and Chantelle can be quite shy when meeting new people, however once you have earnt their trust they are very silly and affectionate.

Given their past Chantelle is quite reactive towards strangers and other animals. Therefore they are looking for a new owner who has owned small fearful, reactive dogs in the past. They require a nice quiet calm home environment with absolutely no children living in or visiting the home and no other animals either. Although it will be a challenge, Benji and Chantelle’s forever family will be very lucky to have two such special dogs. They cannot be rehomed to the area of Torquay as this is where they came from.

Bonnie & Clyde

Bonnie and Clyde are a brother and sister pair who are also searching for their forever home together. Both are domestic shorthairs with distinctive looks; Bonnie is a blue tortie and Clyde is a grey tabby with pale ginger markings. They are definitely seeking a quieter life and approach the world with lots of caution, however the best things in life cannot be rushed, and once they warm up to you they are a very loving pair.

They are searching for a home in a safe location where they can start exploring the big wide world together. They also have some issues around food guarding, which any potential owner will need to be understanding of. They also need to be given their monthly flea treatment on time as their skin gets quite unhappy if they are bitten by fleas. They would prefer not to live with other cats, dogs or children and cannot be rehomed to Plymstock as this is where they came from.

Special Friends

Some of the dogs at Gables stay here a little longer than others. This can be for a number of reasons. They may be nervous, have behavioural problems or medical issues that need to be addressed, or just simply get overlooked by people. These dogs need extra time and love so to help them during their stay with us all the staff are given a ‘special friend’.

Katie has worked at Gables for just over 6 months now and in that time has worked mainly in our dog intake unit, caring for dogs when they arrive at Gables. Her current special friend is Phillip, a 3 year old Shih Tzu. Katie sets aside time every day to give Phillip some extra attention. This usually involves walks out in public to improve his confidence or a good play in the paddock. Phillip adores Katie and the feeling is mutual!

Phillip is looking for a loving new forever home so please see our website for further details.

Filham Park Veterinary Clinic Godwell Lane, Ivybridge PL21 0LE 01752 892700

Purpose built small animal facilities at our Filham Park Clinic Surgery Appointment Hours Monday to Friday 9am 11:45am 2pm 3:45pm 4:30pm 5:45pm Saturday 9am 11:45am 2pm 4:10pm

24 hour emergency services provided by our designated partners

No answerphones or remote call centre

Trained veterinary nurses, providing the best possible care

News of happy endings

Kaiser

Now for a very long happily ever after spanning nearly thirteen years! Kaiser (or Kai) was a young ten month old German shepherd puppy when he was adopted from Gables by the Ministry of Defence Police. He had a successful career as a Police dog until he was six, when an unfortunate leg break forced him into early retirement. Luckily he was adopted by his handler, and became a much loved pet for Heather and her family. Kai has been there to see in many milestones; from being a guest of honour at their wedding, to the birth of their son, and welcoming two more little doggy brothers into the family. He most recently has appeared in dog shows representing a charity which supports Police dogs who retire with medical costs. This is one pooch who’s truly been everywhere and done everything, it is so heartening for us at Gables to see how wonderfully varied his life has been. Kai will be celebrating his 13th birthday this summer, and what an incredible thirteen years he’s had!

Tiffin & Twiglet

Tiffin and Twiglet (formerly known as Gary and Gavin) were rescued as young kittens with their mum from Langage power station. They were adopted by the wonderful Rachel, and quickly welcomed into her family of animals. As is expected from their unsettled start in life they can still be a little nervous at times, but they have relaxed into their new home so well they now love cuddles with their human and furry family members alike. In fact they’ve done such an amazing job at winning round all of Rachel’s other pets that she did not hesitate at all about introducing a new dog into the mix, a clumber spaniel called Peggy. Tiffin in particular formed an immediate bond with Peggy, sleeping in her bed when she’s not there, grooming each other and happily playing together. It is so wonderful to see Tiffin and Twiglet both loving life in their new home. We are so grateful to Rachel who put a fantastic effort into ensuring Tiffin and Twiglet had a smooth introduction to their new home.

Dash

Dash was a cat well known for his vibrant and outgoing personality during his time at Gables. Luckily Deb and Lee agreed to take on the challenge of adopting Dash, and now feel honoured to have such a special cat in their lives. Dash is an independent soul, who is greatly appreciative of just being left alone. Something his adopters have found hard to resist, as he is just so cute! But by allowing him to settle into his home and giving him the space he needs they’ve found his more charming side has started to flourish. In the evenings he loves lying on the rug in-between his owner’s chairs, doing roly-polies on the floor and he is quite content sleeping in their bedroom all night. He is so thankful to have found owners that respect his space so well, and he genuinely does love being around them. Not all cats are cuddly, some really enjoy their own space, but this doesn’t mean they don’t have boundless love and appreciation for their owners, just like Dash.

Porta

Before Porta was adopted she was our longest term cat, having been with us for nearly two years! She had a list of medical issues which made her a bit trickier to rehome. Here’s what her new family have to say about her.

“As you can see she has settled in well, she is in fact ruling the roost. She’s a joy to have and has brought a lot of happiness to us. Since we have had her the vets are very happy with her progress, her tablets have been cut down to half and her steroid is now being given every other day. We are also now giving her injections at home. We are just glad that we have been able to give her a happy and safe home”.

Moose (Meatloaf)

Meatloaf (now known as Moose) is a gentle giant Dogue De Bordeaux who was adopted by Lou and her family earlier this year. Unfortunately due to his tough start in life he was very wary of strangers, particularly men. His large size and deep bark could make him seem very intimidating to passers-by. Luckily Lou was up to the challenge of taking on Moose, and introducing him to their other dog, fellow giant breed, and new big brother, Ghost. They bonded instantly and Moose’s confidence around strangers grew so much under the guidance of Ghost. Lou and her family live by the sea and Moose has taken to his new lifestyle like a dog to water. He loves playing on the beach and enjoys going out for boat trips. Lou likes to credit us here at Gables for his new found confidence and sociability, however once animals are adopted it is up to their adoptees to continue their training. So Moose’s new outgoing personality is just as much a testament to Lou, Ghost and the whole family’s efforts. We don’t think Moose could’ve found a better forever home.

Helping your pets stay cool in the summer heat

During the hot weather it is important to know how to keep your pets cool and comfortable. Below are some top tips to help them enjoy a happy and healthy summer.

Dogs

• Provide shaded areas away from direct sunlight & encourage them to use these areas.

• Put damp towels down for them to lie on or use cooling beds/mats.

• NEVER leave your dogs in cars, even for a few minutes - it can be fatal, even parked in the shade with windows open. Always plan so your dog isn’t left alone in the car or any other enclosed spaces.

• Ensure your dog always has access to plenty of clean drinking water. If out and about with your dog, always have a bottle of water and bowl for them.

• Avoid taking your dog out in the midday sun - early morning or evening walks will be cooler. A few shorter walks during the day are better than one long one.

• Introduce new games that don’t involve lots of running around such as hiding toys/treats, freezing food (Kongs or ice cubes with food inside) or using food puzzles.

• Keep a paddling pool in the shade for them to splash about in.

• Protect your dog’s paws from hot surfaces such as tarmac and concrete; if they’re too hot for you, they’re too hot for them.

• Apply children’s sun cream to the hairless areas or pink parts of the body.

• Be particularly careful with short nosed dogs, dogs with thick coats, older and/or overweight dogs as they are more prone to heatstroke.

• Watch out for signs of heatstroke, such as vigorous panting, drooling, darker gums, reluctance or inability to get up and disorientation.

• If you are concerned move your dog to a cooler place, place wet cloths on their feet and around their head and neck, give them water but do not force them to drink and then contact your vet immediately.

• Keep on top of grooming.

Cats

• Use children’s sun cream on their most exposed areas, such as the tips of ears and end of the nose, especially if these areas are pink or hairless.

• Ensure your cat always has access to plenty of water and keep refreshing it to keep it cool.

• If you have an indoor cat, keep inside cool as well - invest in a fan or netting frames over doors/windows so that you can open windows safely.

• Don’t overexcite your cat on hot days; keep it relaxed and avoid any stress.

• If you have a shed/ conservatory/greenhouse and it’s been open, check that there isn’t a cat hiding inside before you lock up.

• Keep on top of grooming.

• Be particularly careful with flat-faced breeds, fluff y cats, older cats or cats with health problems, and overweight cats.

• Encourage cats to play with ice cubes.

• Move your cat’s water bowl away from their food bowl. Cats prefer their water separate and this will encourage them to drink and stay hydrated.

• If you have any concerns about your cat, contact your vet immediately.

• Make sure there are lots of shaded areas in your garden to give your cat options for a place to shelter.

Upcoming events

24th June - Stall & Collection @ The Original Factory Shop, The Ridgeway 10am – 3pm

25th June - Stall & Collection @ Sainsbury’s, Marsh Mills 10am – 3.30pm

1st July - Stall & Collection @ Matalan, Transit Way 10am – 3.30pm

JULY

8th July - Stall, Collection & Dog Show @ St Levan Fun Day, St Levan’s Park 11am – 5pm

15th July - Stall & Collection @ The Original Factory Shop, The Ridgeway 10am – 3pm

22nd July - Stall & Collection @ Otter Garden Centre, Plymouth 10am – 3pm

26th July - Stall & Collection @ Yealmpton Show

29th - 30th July - Stall, Collection & Dog Show (Sunday only) @ Saltash Regatta, Saltash 10am – 4pm

AUGUST

5th August - Stall & Collection @ Matalan, Transit Way 10am – 3.30pm

12th August - Stall & Collection @ The Original Factory Shop, The Ridgeway 10am – 3pm

27th August - Stall, Collection & Dog Show @ Central Park Fun Day, Central Park Events Field 11am – 3pm

SEPTEMBER

2nd September - Stall & Collection @ Matalan, Transit Way 10am – 3.30pm

10th September - Stall, Collection & Dog Show @ Doggy Summer Fete, Mount Edgecombe 10am – 4pm

17th September - Stall, Collection & Dog Show@ Big Bark at the Races, Exeter Race Course 10am – 4pm

23rd September - Stall & Collection @ The Original Factory Shop, The Ridgeway 10am – 3pm

7th October - Stall & Collection @ Matalan, Transit Way 10am – 3.30pm

14th October - Stall & Collection @ The Original Factory Shop, The Ridgeway 10am – 3pm

4th November - Stall & Collection @ Matalan, Transit Way 10am – 3.30pm

18th November - Stall & Collection @ The Original Factory Shop, The Ridgeway 10am – 3pm

2nd December - Stall & Collection @ Matalan, Transit Way 10am – 3.30pm

DECEMBER

16th December - Stall & Collection @ The Original Factory Shop, The Ridgeway 10am – 3pm

It costs £2,000 - £2,500 a day to run Gables and care for all of our animals! As we receive no Government funding we totally rely on the generosity and support of the public through donations, sponsorships and legacies. is is why we need your help and support.

It costs £2,000 - £2,500 a day to run Gables and care for all of our animals! As we receive no Government funding we totally rely on the generosity and support of the public through donations, sponsorships and legacies. This is why we need your help and support.

ere are several ways that you can make a donation

There are several ways that you can make a donation

• You can donate by card over the phone - please call us on 01752 331602 or 01752 342410.

• You can donate by card over the phone - please call us on 01752 331602 or 01752 342410.

• You can donate by cash or card in person.

• You can donate by cash or card in person.

• You can send a donation by cheque - please make cheques payable to Gables Dogs & Cats Home.

• You can send a donation by cheque - please make cheques payable to Gables Dogs & Cats Home.

It costs £2,000 - £2,500 a day to run Gables and care for all of our animals! As we receive no Government funding we totally rely on the generosity and support of the public through donations, sponsorships and legacies. is is why we need your help and support.

• You can set up a standing order - please complete the standing order section below.

• You can set up a standing order - please complete the standing order section below.

• You can donate by debit/credit card - please complete the card payment section below.

• You can donate by debit/credit card - please complete the card payment section below.

ere are several ways that you can make a donation

• You can donate by card over the phone - please call us on 01752 331602 or 01752 342410.

Your details Home Tel No

Your details Title First

• You can donate by cash or card in person.

• You can send a donation by cheque - please make cheques payable to Gables Dogs & Cats Home.

• You can set up a standing order - please complete the standing order section below.

• You can donate by debit/credit card - please complete the card payment section below.

Your details

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Donate by Standing Order

Donate by Standing Order

To the Manager (Bank or Building Society name)

To the Manager (Bank or Building Society name)

Of (Bank or Building Society Address)

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Donate by Standing Order

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To the Manager (Bank or Building Society name)

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Of (Bank or Building Society Address)

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e sum of £ on the (day) of (month) 20 and on the same day of each succeeding month/year (please delete as applicable until further notice.)

Please pay Gables Dogs & Cats Home Account No. Sort Code

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The sum of £ on the (day) of (month) 20 on the same day of each succeeding month until further notice.

For o ce use only

Please pay Gables Dogs & Cats Home Account No. Sort Code

e sum of £ on the (day) of (month) 20 and on the same day of each succeeding month/year (please delete as applicable until further notice.)

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Help more dogs and cats by boosting your donation by 25p for every £1 you donate

Help more dogs and cats by boosting your donation by 25p for every £1 you donate

Gi Aid is reclaimed by Gables Dogs & Cats Home from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your full name and address is needed to identify you as a current UK tax payer.

In order to Gi Aid your donation you must tick the box below:

Gift Aid is a scheme that allows charities to reclaim tax on a donation made by a UK taxpayer, which means your donations will be worth 25% more to us at no extra cost to you. If you Gift Aid your donations we can claim back from the government 25p for every £1 you donate to Gables Dogs & Cats Home.

I want to Gi Aid my donation of £ and any donations I make in the future or have made in the last 4 years to Gables Dogs & Cats Home. Date

Help more dogs and cats by boosting your donation by 25p for every £1 you donate Gi Aid is reclaimed by Gables Dogs & Cats Home from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your full name and address is needed to identify you as a current UK tax payer.

Please notify Gables Dogs & Cats Home if you:

1. Want to cancel this declaration at any time.

In order to Gi Aid your donation you must tick the box below:

2. Change your name or home address.

3. No longer pay su cient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

Yes, I would like to gift aid my donation of £ I am a UK taxpayer and would like Gables Dogs & Cats Home to reclaim the tax on all qualifying donations I have made, as well as any future donations, until I notify them otherwise. I understand that if I pay less Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax than the amount of Gift Aid claimed on all my donations in that tax year I may be asked to pay any difference.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gi Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue & Customs to adjust your tax code.

I want to Gi Aid my donation of £ and any donations I make in the future or have made in the last 4 years to Gables Dogs & Cats Home. Date

No, I am unable to gift aid my donation.

Please notify Gables Dogs & Cats Home if you:

1. Want to cancel this declaration at any time.

ank you for making a donation, please return this completed form to: Gables Dogs & Cats Home, 204 Mera eld Road, Plymouth, PL7 1UQ or info@gablesfarm.org.uk

2. Change your name or home address.

3. No longer pay su cient tax on your income and/or capital gains.

Thank you for making a donation, please return this completed form to: Gables Dogs & Cats Home, 204 Merafield Road, Plymouth, PL7 1UQ or info@gablesfarm.org.uk

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gi Aid donations on your Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue & Customs to adjust your tax code.

ank you for making a donation, please return this completed form to: