FACING THE CRUNCH

With the so called ‘credit crunch’ affecting many people, we, like other charities, may find our income falling as people understandably cut back.

It is bad timing, for unfortunately summer is a particularly busy time for the rescue. More dogs are abandoned, more puppies are created, and there is more demand on our services. While we currently have good stocks of food, one of the biggest demands on our funds are veterinary fees. With around 120 dogs in our care – some coming in with illness or injury – we constantly need to provide veterinary care, but it is expensive. Even so, no dog is ever denied immediate treatment – we just worry about how to pay for it later!

To try to boost income during these difficult times, Lifeline has produced a special fund-raising pack which includes a poster, leaflets, ideas sheet, advice list etc to encourage supporters to stage their own fund-raising events among family, friends and work colleagues. A coffee morning, car boot sale, barbecue, quiz night, or sponsored event are all ways to help raise funds for Lifeline and some people have been even more inventive or daring. Parachute jumps, mountain climbing and even a sponsored silence are among ideas that have been used.

Our fund-raiser pack provides all the necessary information and advice.

Lifeline has a small and overstretched group of volunteer fund-raisers so any help others can be in staging extra events will be an enormous boost.

Please do think about it, and if you want a fund-raiser pack – or any advice – just call us on 01782 311893.

HOMING SUCCESS

The best part of being with Lifeline is the great feeling you get when a dog is happily re-homed, especially ones which have been with us for a while.
Recent homing’s include:

TIGER, an English Bull Terrier who had been kept in a cage by his previous owner. Tiger is now with someone who gives him one-to-one attention – and lots of freedom.
SASHA and JOHNSON – both German Shepherds who were playmates at our kennels for almost a year, and have now been re-homed together so they can stay pals.
CHARLIE – a Shitzu who was a naughty little dog who preferred to live in our laundry room at Serendipity where he could see all the goings-on. After some three years with us, he has been re-homed with volunteer Bryan, who got to know and love him.
INDIA, GEMMA and JADE were also an elderly trio who liked to spend time with the volunteers in our always-busy laundry room, and so too was their pal JACK> All four have all been place with new owners at different times in the past few months, and are all happy in their new homes.
STAN, and elderly greyhound-cross who had been with us for over two years, has found a new home with a Westlands family who already had several Lifeline dogs, and he has fitted in well.
GYP, a black-and-tan mixed-breed has been re-homed after 2 years with us, and so too SHEBA, a large mastiff-cross who had been at Serendipity for 9 months.
JAZZ, a 10 year old German Shepherd came to us after her owner lost her house, didn’t adapt to life in kennels and was clearly unhappy. However, after just a few days, she was given a new home with Lifeline members Nick and Cassie Fletcher.

Communication is very important for any charity, and Lifeline has recently produced a new colourful brochure which details all its various activities, and can be handed out at all our different events.

The brochure gives an insight into the rescue, provides a location map for the kennels, and covers several other aspects, including our charity shops in Newcastle and Longton.

There have already been many approving comments about the brochure and we hope that in the long term it will help promote the charity throughout the region.

OPEN DAY BOOST

Lifeline held an open day and fund-raising event at its Serendipity Kennels near Cellarhead in May, and it was a great success.

In addition to raising almost £1,000 from stalls, refreshments and competitions, a number of dogs were re-homed.

The weather was perfect for the event and scoresof people attended, and were able to meet staff, volunteers and the dogs. Many people commented on how well they felt the dogs were being looked after, and such feedback is inspirational for all the Lifeline people involved who put in such hard work and dedication.

Thanks to everyone who gave up their time setting up the event, and for being there on the day. A fine team effort – as usual!

The next open days at Serendipity will be on Sunday July 6th and Sunday September 21st, both open from 2pm-4pm.

MESSAGE FROM WENDY

TV presenter and author Wendy Turner-Webster has been patron of Animal Lifeline for several years, and keeps in touch with our activities. She recently sent us this note:

Dear Animal Lifeline Supporters

If you are reading this I think I can safely assume you are a dog lover! I am often asked if I am a cat or dog person – the answer to that is ‘both’. I am also asked if I have a favourite breed of dog. The answer to that is the Border Collie but as someone who is committed to animal rights I would have to say that I can see beauty in even the ugliest of muts!! In short I think it’s important to respect all forms of life – human, animals (and insects!) and not to discriminate between animals who are destined to be pets and animals who are destined to be eaten. I feel it’s especially important to teach children to have respect for animals and to help and care for creatures who are so reliant on humans for their well-being and survival. Whilst filming at a Veterinary Centre once we witnessed a cat having its tail amputated after some children had tied a firework to it and then lit the touch paper. Those are the kind of kids who got away with pulling the wings off butterflies... and they are the kind who will grow up to be abusive and dangerous adults. On a happier note I am pleased to say that the cat made a full recovery and adapted well to life without a tail.

Well, back to the present... summer is upon us and these long, light evenings are heaven for dog owners who need to take their pampered pooch out for walkies! Now of course dogs come in all shapes and sizes but one thing remains constant – their poop! As dog owners must be responsible for what goes into their pet, so they must be responsible for what comes out – as anyone has had the misfortune to get dog dirt on their shoes will testify! The other day I saw a dog’s lead with a trendy little plastic bone attached to it... the bone shape was hollow and in fact it housed plastic bags to ‘scoop the poop’. It was so ingenious that I nearly bought one... then I remembered we don’t have a dog. Gary and I would both love to have a dog and as you can imagine we are getting pressure from our two young boys to introduce a K9 companion to our household. Just at the moment however we have to recognise that due to our erratic schedules a dog would simply not get the attention and commitment he deserves. When this situation changes – hopefully next summer – we shall be visiting Animal Lifeline to see if we can offer a home to a dog who needs a second chance of enjoying family life. Our boys have had a thorough explanation as to why the local pet shop would not be a good place to start our search!

With love and best wishes and looking forward to seeing you at an Animal Lifeline event soon.
Wendy x

Editor’s note: Wendy has just published a new book, The Absolutely Animal-Free Cookbook (Book Guild, £9.99) which is packed with great vegetarian recipes!

OUT WITH THE OLD...

A recent letter to Lifeline underlines just how callous people can be towards dogs which are supposedly ‘one of the family’. The writer of the letter told us his dog – which had been their family pet for TEN years – was loyal, affectionate, quiet, and obedient and had given the family ‘many happy memories’. But then added that unless Lifeline could take the dog right away, it would be put down. The reason? They had had a baby and ‘couldn’t risk her health and safety’. He added ‘I hope I don’t have to take him to the vet for the last time – he has so much more life and love in him yet!’

The letter is typical of requests we get almost every week from people who decide that a devoted dog they have had for years can be discarded like an unwanted soft toy, just because their circumstances change. We find it hard to understand such an attitude.

This particular dog, and others like him, will always have a safe haven with Lifeline – it is just what we are here for. And hopefully, we will place these dogs with new owners who will give them the unconditional love they give us.

HOME NEEDED

Bob and |Jake are father and son whippets (who also feature on the cover of our new leaflet) and are looking for a new home together.

They are good-natured and friendly, aged 5 and 3, and we don’t want to separate them as there is clearly a strong bond between them. If you could give them a home.

Please call us on 01782 311893 or 638341.

AGM REPORT

Animal Lifeline held its Annual General Meeting in February and in his report, chairman Nick Fletcher told members the rescue had had another strong year, with over 300 dogs rescued and re-homed, and very positive public support.

After 13 years as chairman of the Trustees, Nick stepped down and has now taken on a new role of administrator of the group. A new Trustee, Mrs Marie Martin, was elected. The Board of Trustees now comprises Pat Lawton, Cassie Fletcher, Janet Slater and Marie Martin.