The Farmhouse
Fen Bank, Friskney
Lincolnshire
PE22 8PS
Tel: 01754 820593
Tel / fax: 01472 822979
Newsletter
Autumn / Winter 2009 The Archives
HELLO FROM THE DOGS!
Our Sponsor dogs are getting on now, and both Jack and Woody have been ill, Jack has recovered, but Woody is not looking good and he is such a dear old man now, and weighed down by his years. The girls, Honey and Molly ,have been joined by Queenie, another sweet brindle girl who could not accustom to life in a home after ten years in kennels. All are, touch wood , holding their own and are as bright as ever.
Many of our long stay dogs have found a home this year, but two especially nice dogs still languish in kennels one is DANDY who is now in year two with us, we homed his kennel mate some time ago, but 7 year old Dandy is still hoping that someone will give him the home he so richly deserves…….. he is good with other bitches and would make a lovely family pet.
Spotsy too, needs a home desperately as he came in from one and was very much loved. He too has been with us over a year. He is an ideal pet for an older person who can give him the love and devotion he will reciprocate a hundred fold, and very pretty too!
Of the relatively newer arrivals, two beautiful blue boys, JOE and BOBBY are hoping someone will come along and find them irresistible! Neither is particularly good with small breeds and whilst Joe is confident and outgoing Bobby would need a quiet home where his fear of things being thrown would not be a problem. (He goes to pieces if you throw a toy for him in the paddock- something has happened to him at some time in the past, and his fear is very deep rooted).
Fawn BEN has been with us for some time as well and he is a real sweetie as is SAMUEL who also came from Cork Animal Rescue –as always the boys linger for ages whilst the girls fly out!
LEO a newly arrived drop dead gorgeous white and black boy is also looking for a home…..
LUCY a sweet shy little girl who is unraced is growing in confidence daily and would like a quiet family home to finish off the process!
DRUMMER a fabulous 2 year old black girl also unraced would suit an active family or single person to give her devotion to- she is housetrained, strong willed but very obedient if you take charge of her, and will make a wonderful pet.
JENNY - another black girl who has just arrived but is giving off all the right vibes!
PENNY a white and brindle girl who is not tolerant of small dogs, but is otherwise lovely
Is also hoping for a home!
And there are many others- please look on our website or better still come and see us- we would love to show you around!
KENNEL NEWS
It has been busy since June and the girls have been flying out one or two have been in for less than a fortnight! Just time to spay them! One or two boys have found homes too, but there is a terrible misconception that girls are easier than boys and try as we might we cannot get the male homing figures up! We love our boys and they are sometimes a lot easier than the girls!!
Elsewhere in the newsletter and on the website I have written about the building project to replace 4 of our outside kennels with a single block and a bathing/treatment room for the dogs and Jenny has spent a lot of time sorting out the best deals from a variety of builders, plumbers, roofers, electricians etc.etc. and hopefully this will save us some money in the long term, but is a horrible pressure on us at the moment.
We have had some reorganisation too, as the building project has meant that we had to reduce kennel capacity by eight dogs, and consequently required fewer staff and volunteers whilst the work is going on. Young Sean who has been with us for 3 years and has been an invaluable help has decided it is time to move on, and at twenty he has the whole world in front of him and we all wish him well in the future- whatever that may hold for him! Tim who is now much better has restored himself to his normal part time hours and is now joint Manager with Jenny with responsibility for the nuts and bolts part of the Sanctuary, and also deputises for Jenny on her precious time off (when we can persuade her to take it!) and when she is out on homing visits which can sometimes take a whole day. Nicky who has been with us for some time has increased her hours and between the three of them and our regular long term volunteers including two lads from North Sea Camp, the dogs are well cared for over the 24 hours. They are walked in the morning after breakfast and in the afternoons. After dinner they have grooming sessions followed by a play period in the paddocks (or at least in the one paddock the builders haven’t so far infiltrated!) However we have decided to institute a visits-by-appointment regime as incidental visitors , welcome as they are, seriously disrupt the kennel routine, especially when there is only one person on duty! If we know you are coming we can work round your visit! We are hoping that the kennel work will be completed by Christmas at least - there are plenty of dogs waiting to come in!
Regular visitors to the website will know about Rusty, the greyhound found near to death and whom Jenny worked night and day to bring round - the good news is that he is fully recovered and happily living with Janice one of our volunteers and her mixed brood of greyhounds and German Shepherds - and he now looks wonderful! Completely unrecognisable in fact, as a recent email asking me to “guess who this is?” proved. I had to be told it was the dog I took into Fen Bank near to death!
Another success story was “Annie” featured in the last Newsletter who found her way to Scotland eventually via the Grimsby Dog Warden (when I lost her!) and a good friend of Keith’s who on Jenny’s instructions drove her all the way to Scotland singing to her to restore her lost confidence - and was so successful that by the time he got to Aberdeen little frightened Annie had enough confidence to press herself against him as he walked her on the beach. Annie is now homed with Ann Phillips of cake fame, and has completely transformed from the poorly limping old lady of four into a bright eyed mischievous sleek girl who sleeps on her mistresses bed, takes the washing off the clothes line, streaks out into the garden with absolutely anything she feels like pinching and is currently excavating the garden to a foot deep in a number of places – and Ann describes her as delightful!!! Lucky she certainly is, and it is no less than this poor girl deserved - what a lovely ending- and safe for life!
NEWS OF THE CHARITY
All the Trustees have been involved in the reorganisation and development project and there has been a real push on fundraising which has resulted in a pleasing £8,000 over the year . However we desperately need a volunteer fundraising coordinator as our Treasurer Jill has many other jobs to do and needs help. It involves arranging events and co-ordinating volunteers to attend with their dogs - so lots of telephoning and standing outside stores and at Shows - if you feel you could do this please get in touch with Jill Kirby or Bill Simpson, our Chairman, for a chat! We will be delighted to hear from you and you will have lots of support!
Sandra Davis, Founder , FBGS.