The Farmhouse

Fen Bank, Friskney

Lincolnshire

PE22 8PS

Tel: 01754 820593

Tel / fax: 01472 822979

Newsletter

November 2010                                       The Archives

It is a very long time since the last Newsletter and we have been extremely busy at the kennels and there was an unprecedented explosion of good homes offered in July August and  September, and although it has slowed down a little now, the kennel population has almost entirely changed apart from the oldies, Jack and Honey , both thirteen, who have been with us over 8 years now. To be honest we don’t quite know what to do about our sponsoring programme as these two are all that is left of the original five. Within a few days of each we lost Molly and Queenie which was very hard to bear as they were both such special old ladies but we are sure they are both at Rainbow Bridge and both of them will be keeping the other greyhounds in order. It is a great privilege to be able to care for older dogs and we are all saddened by their passing.

The new kennel block is at last complete apart from a lick of paint in one or two places, and very smart it is too, but more importantly the dogs adore it, and we have heard there is a black market raffle going amongst our kennel dogs to see who can get in there next!! It is hugely over budget, so we are still desperate for funding for it so if you haven’t bought a brick yet, please consider it, perhaps as a Gift for a friend or work colleague at Christmas? They might also like something from our gift section on this site, and there are still a few Calendars and Christmas cards left as well!

We have had some staff changes too, and said goodbye to Nicky  whose hours have been allocated amongst the remaining staff and with the help of some of our long term volunteers and Stella, the kennel trustee , have managed to keep up the excellent standard which since 1998 has been the hallmark of the Sanctuary. Recently we have welcomed Andy as a part time member of staff whom all the dogs love, and who in the past has been a sterling fundraiser for us, and we hope he will be again in the future.

Of course we are totally full at the moment ,and there are still one or two lucky dogs going out to homes before we stop homing for the Christmas period , but  there are already dogs waiting to take their place. We should particularly like to home some of our older dogs, so if you are considering an addition to your family at this time please look at Badger, Rory, Andy, Gemma who are all over 5 and in desperate need  of a warm hearth  and a special person to love for their remaining lives (which could be 8 or more years!)

We are all looking forward to the annual Christmas Party which is a golden opportunity for owners to get together, drink some mulled wine and chat about their dogs- and for the dogs its an opportunity to scoff sausage rolls, get a present from Santa Paws and Mother Christmas (alias Mr Paddy and our Patron, Daphne Ledward) and perhaps bid for something at the Auction which will have some super Greyhound items, as well as things of more general interest. There is a Christmas present Tombola and a “guaranteed to win” Bottle stall as well as the hugely popular Greyhound Merchandise stall where you can buy almost anything for your hound. And Finally the Fancy Dress competition for dogs and owners! You can’t afford to miss it! It starts officially at 1.00 p.m.at New Leake Village Hall just before you get to the kennels. We have had as many as 90 dogs in the past and not a cross word amongst them! That’s Greyhounds for you……………………………

Sandra