BE DOG SMART Get a escue dog!

Take
The
Plunge
Get a rescue dog!
BE DOG SMART
- DO YOU KNOW
WHAT YOUR DOG
IS TRYING TO SAY?
THE MAGAZINE FOR SUPPORTERS OF DOGS TRUST SUMMER 2015
Wag!
dogstrust.org.uk
Twitter:
@dogstrust
Blog:
dogstrustblog.blogspot.com
You Tube:
youtube.com/dogstrust
Facebook:
facebook.com/dogstrust
Welcome
Undoubtedly one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced in recent years
is making sure my children and dogs live happily side-by-side without
either party getting grumpy.
In fact, as they get older my children are becoming much better at
understandingmydog’sneedsandreadinghisbodylanguage,however,the
same cannot be said of so many children in the school playground. I’d be a
millionaireifIhadapoundforeverytimeawell-meaningchildhasflungtheir
arms around Daniel the Spaniel’s neck for a hug.
Personally, I’m delighted that Dogs Trust has brought out the Be Dog Smart
guide-aimedatanyonecomingintocontactwithdogsandkids-it’s
essential reading.
A dog is for life,
not just for Christmas®
news
Wag!
Gentle Rose Blooms Once More…
HugethankstothethousandsofyouwhoreadthePuppySmugglingexposéin
thelastissueandthenwrotetotheirMP.We’restillspeakingwithDEFRAand
theEuropeanCommissionaboutthefindingsofourpuppysmugglingreport,
andhopefullywe’llhavesomemorenewstoreportinthenextissue.
Sowhatareyouwaitingfor?DiveintoyoursummerWag-it’sfullof
meaty goodness!
Editor: Deana Selby
Contributors this issue: Sarah
Graham, Jennifer Blaber, Helen Walker,
Hannah Baker, Matt Boustead, Sarah
Morgan-Davies, Carlie Horsley special
thanks to Emma Meaden
Directors of Condé Gnash: Daniel,
Daniel, Deedee, Florrie, Fynn, Gracie,
Mavis,Myrtle,Oscar,Peter,Safid.
Welcome to the board: Maisie, Molly
and Peanut.
Veterinary Director: Paula Boyden
BVetMed MRCVS
Send your entries for Readers’ Dogs
to: wag@dogstrust.org.uk Please
note we only publish photos of Dogs
Trust rehomed dogs.
Front cover: Mason, a Springer
Spaniel, by Lucy Ray at
starfishunderwaterphotography.com
Designed by: Anthony Oram
anthonyoram.com
Print by: Red Mist and Eclipse Colour.
Editorial address:
DogsTrust,ClarissaBaldwinHouse,
17 Wakley Street, London EC1V 7RQ
Telephone: 020 7837 0006
Email: wag@dogstrust.org.uk
Registered charity number:
227523 and SC037843
2
Summer 2015
Photo: Julie Broadfoot
This issue:
Deana Selby, Editor
PSOurnewDogsTrustannual
reviewisout–ifyouenjoyWag,
you might like ‘Herrroh!’
Downloadithere
http://bit.ly/AnnualReview15, or
sendanA4SAEwithLARGEstamp
for your copy.
Main: Rose while at Dogs Trust Glasgow, inset - Recovering from her injuries, inset - So happy together - Rose with her
humans ‘sisters’ Ava and Emmie
With a sweet and gentle nature, Rose the Greyhound
has endured more than any dog should, and yet keeps
on smiling.
Wag cover shoot Behind the scenes
When the former racing Greyhound first arrived at Dogs
Trust Glasgow she was severely malnourished, weighing only
17kg (a healthy female Greyhound ought to weigh 29kg),
and her body showed the evidence that she had been kept
in squalid conditions. She had painful pressure sores on
almost every bony prominence, some of which were down to
the bone.
Trust a spaniel to be up for a good swim!
Thanks to Mason, this issue’s cover shoot
worked like a dream, with the energetic
springer happily diving for his tennis ball and
zooming off for a few lengths of the pool!
Mason is currently looking for a rural home
with owners who adore exercise, especially
hiking and swimming, and live nowhere
near roads. Mason is super friendly, loves
other dogs, and is suitable to live with older
children. Call Dogs Trust West London on
0300 303 0000. To see him splashing about
go to http://bit.ly/MasonWag. Many thanks
to www.dippingdogs.co.uk.
Thanks to the care and devotion of Glasgow’s vet nurse,
Mary Ward, who changed her many dressings every day,
together with the canine carer team who ensured she always
had something super-soft to rest on, Rose has recently
turned a corner in her recovery.
As Mary explains,
“Slowly her wounds have healed one by one, helped greatly
by her lovely nature and willingness to lie and rest all day.
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She has gradually put on weight and is now up to 25kg,
and we’re still changing the dressings on her elbow daily.”
Rose is just one of around 8,000 Greyhounds which
are retired each year from Greyhound Board of Great
Britain (GBGB) tracks and approximately 1,000 from
independent tracks.
But there still remain approximately 4,500 greyhounds
which are unaccounted for every year in the UK. At just
four years Greyhounds are already considered past their
best. We continue to pressure the GBGB to improve the
welfare standards of these beautiful dogs – and crucially, to
make their registration and retirement figures available for
scrutiny.
Happily, Rose, our hardy perennial, has recently found a
wonderful new home with the Arbuckle family of Glasgow.
Mrs Arbuckle tells Wag that Rose enjoys dozing on her sofa
and playing with her new human sisters, Ava and Emmie.
If you’d like to offer a graceful Greyhound a home please
visit www.dogstrust.org.uk or call 0300 303 0000.
Summer 2015 3
Wag! news
In
Fresh air + sunshine = perfect dog
walking weather. Grab Rover’s lead
and some poop bags and you’re
sorted for the most enjoyable mode
of exercise for you and your pooch!
Out
Rescue dog procrastination. If
you’ve often thought about visiting
a rehoming centre but never quite
got around to it, now is the time!
Check www.dogstrust.org for
directions and opening times.
news Wag!
Positive Experiences
Foxface
As the UK’s largest dog welfare charity, keeping our rehoming centre staff at the
forefront of the latest developments in canine behaviour and training is essential.
Alpha
Our inaugural staff conference, kindly sponsored by Petplan, focussed on
enhancing the lives of the dogs in our care using only positive, reward-based
training methods. The theme of the conference was examining how every
second that a dog is with us can be used to help them overcome any past negative
experiences, thus setting them up for their new homes and new lives.
Dogs Trust Leeds had
a surprise visitor over
the Easter weekend
when a member of the
public brought in a
fox cub she had found
abandoned in a field,
mistakenly thinking
it was a puppy! The
gorgeous cub, named
Lily by our staff, still had
her eyes closed, meaning
she was just a few days
old. The Leeds team gave
her a good feed, before taking
her over to Selby Wildlife Rescue
for rehabilitation, and eventual
release into the wild.
Amanda Diplock of Petplan, says, “Having worked together with Dogs Trust
for over a decade we were honoured to have played a part in their first
staff conference.”
Sofa So Good
WE LIKE TO MOVE IT, MOVE IT!
Leaving your dog in the car while
you pop out for a minute. Dogs
can get heat stroke and die in hot
cars in a very short space of time
– always be super cautious in the
summer. Watch our cautionary
tale here http://bit.ly/HOTCARS
Amid the hustle and bustle of a home move, making sure the family dog’s
microchip details are up to date can be pretty low on the list of priorities.
Shaking it all about…
If your dog is
microchipped please
visit chipmydog.co.uk
to find out how and
when to contact your
chip provider and let
them know Rover’s
new address.
Shaking her thing this issue is
Dixie, a five year old super-friendly
Rottweiler from our Canterbury
centre. Dixie loves people,
training, food and playing. Call
Canterbury on 0300 303 0000.
Behaviourist Sarah Fisher explains the therapeutic
benefits of Tellington Touch for dogs.
How gorgeous does office gal Molly look
reclining on her new dog sofa? We’ve
teamed up with Sofa.com to launch the Cecil
Collection, a range of sofas designed solely
for your Rovers, ensuring evenings spent on
the floor are a thing of the past. The dog
sofas are available in a range of caninefriendly sizes and will be upholstered in a
repeat Dachshund, Labrador and Pug print
by designer Fenella Smith. Prices start at
£230 for small and go to £270 for large size,
with 10% of the purchase price going to Dogs
Trust. They’re available at www.sofa.com.
However, with close to a quarter* of the UK dog owners we surveyed admitting
that their beloved dog had strayed within just two days of being in their new
neighbourhood, we’re warning owners that they could be putting their rover at
risk by waiting to update his address information with his microchip provider.
*Survey of 3,000 UKbased dog owners
carried out by OnePoll
on behalf of Dogs
Trust from Friday 17th
February to Tuesday
23rd February 2015.
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Summer 2015
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Summer 2015 5
Thanks and Good Luck!
It is with great sadness that Dogs Trust waves a
fond farewell to Philip Daubeny, who retired as our
Chairman at the recent Annual General Meeting.
Philip has been a wonderful Chairman for the past
13 years, and on behalf of all of the staff and dogs,
we would like to say a huge Wagtastic Thank You!
Philip is now Vice Chairman for the year, and we
welcome John Gaye as our new Chairman.
Keep your eyes peeled for ticks
on mutts too, as these nasty little
bleeders can not only harm your dog,
but can also pass Lyme’s Disease
to humans. Finally, we should talk
muzzles; if you walk your dog with a
muzzle please make sure it’s the open
‘basket type’ model, as these allow
your dog to pant, which is essential
in any weather, but especially so as
the temperature warms up. The nylon
muzzles are a no-no, as they stop your
dog opening his mouth, making them
potentially extremely dangerous.
Photo: Christopher Kemp
Photo: Martin Phelps
...to protect your dog from
parasites! As our vet director
Paula Boyden says, ‘Inevitably,
with the warmer weather
comes the fleas. So if you’re
considering sun protection
for your skin, please consider
your dog’s skin too – take him to his
vet and protect him from possible
unwanted itchy guests this summer!’
‘Freedom’
feature Wag!
Brings Its Own Rewards
Our Freedom Project is a unique
service which provides foster
care for dogs (and for cats too,
in London) while their owner
leaves home to escape from an
abusive partner. Last year, we
enabled 84 families to flee from
domestic violence.
Sadly,mostwomen’srefugesandshelters
don’tacceptpets,sotheFreedomProject
providesthatcruciallegupoverthefinal
hurdle, once the victim has made the
decision to leave their abusive partner.
However,theFreedomProjectcanonly
function thanks to the commitment of our
volunteerfostercarers–andnowwe’re
asking if you can help.
Photos: Clive Tagg
WITH GREAT WEATHER COMES
GREAT RESPONSIBILITY…
“Fostering is certainly a rewarding
experience. To watch any dog arrive
anxious and confused, and then develop
into a confident and contented ‘guest’ is
very satisfying, and easily compensates
for the small amount of effort involved.”
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Summer 2015
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Summer 2015 7
Wag! feature
feature Wag!
The Freedom Project in numbers:
52% 111
of the domestic violence
clients using the Freedom
service said their pets
werealsothreatened
or abused by a violent
partner
Ifyoulovedogs,havesomeexperienceofcaringfor
themandareathomeformostoftheday,thenwe
wouldlovetohearfromyou.DogsTrustwillpayfor
all of the dog’s food and any veterinary treatment
needed,inreturnforwhichthefostercarerwill
undertake to care for the dog for as long as it takes
fortheirownertobeinapositiontotakehimback.
Foster care placements can last for anything from
twotoninemonths,buttypicallylastaroundsix
months. We’re currently seeking foster carers in
London, Hertfordshire, Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
Althoughwedon’tpayourfostercarers,theytellus
theybenefitinmanyotherways.Oneofour
volunteers, Nigel, has been a Freedom foster carer for
18 months, and tells us,
“Witheverydog,themostspecialmomentiswhen
you realise you have earned their trust. It might be as
simple as them not opening their eyes as you stand to
leavetheroomafterdaysofthemintentlywatching
your every move; taking a biscuit from your hand
withoutflinchingorperhapsnudgingyouforanother
back scratch.
dogs in foster
care in 2014
61 1,325
dogs reunited
withtheir
ownersin2014
933
dogs and cats
fostered since
FreedomProject
began in 2004
families helped
since 2004.
A lifelong animal lover, Nigel volunteered as a
foster carer on his retirement, having decided that
hewantedtodosomethingtohelpdogs.He’dlost
hisowndogeightmonthspreviously,butwasnot
intherightframeofmindtogetanewdogofhis
ownjustyet.Forhim,theprojectheldthedouble
appealofhavingadogwhilehelpingoutpeopleat
the same time.
As he puts it,
“I made a conscious decision that in order for me
toacceptmoredogsthroughtheFreedomProjectI
won’tbuyadogofmyown–I’dmuchrathercarryon
helpingthedogs–andpeople–atrisk.“
It’s a sad fact of life that such a thing as the Freedom
Projectisneeded,butneededitis.Lastyear,we
helped 84 people to escape from physical and/or
mental abuse at the hands of their partner. By the
endoftheyear,61dogshadbeenreunitedwiththeir
owners.Researchindicatesastronglinkbetween
animalabuseanddomesticviolence,withpeoplewho
are violent often threatening or harming a pet in order
to intimidate their partner.
ClareKivlehan,FreedomProjectmanager,explains
further,
“Fostering a dog through the Dogs Trust Freedom
Projectcanbeincrediblyrewarding.Overthelast
tenyearswehavebeensupportedbymanywonderful
volunteers,whohavegivenuptheirtimeandtheir
homes to care for these special dogs until their
ownersareinapositiontotakethemback.
Withoutthemtheprojectwouldnotexist,sowe
and the families they help, are hugely thankful for
theirsupport.”
Charlotte’s story
For some victims of violence, the Freedom
Projecthashelpedthemmorethantheycould
have thought possible. Charlotte* left her
abusive partner after an eight year relationship
inwhichshesufferedregularassaults.She
tells us,
“My partner actually bought my dog Buster
formeasapresent.Hewasveryviolent
towardsmeandhospitalisedmequitea
fewtimes,andalthoughhewasonlyviolent
towardsBusteronce,hebrokehisleg.It
wasverydistressingtoseehimhurtmydog
likethat.”
Eventually,Charlottefledtoawoman’srefuge
withBuster.
“IwasworriedIwouldhavetorehomehim,but
luckilytherefugeknewabouttheFreedom
ProjectandreferredBustertothem.Having
brought Buster up from a puppy I found it really
hardtohandhimover,butIknewIwouldget
him back and that made it easier - and getting
himbackgavemesomethingtolookforwardto
during my darkest times.
Charlotte’s tale has recently taken a turn for
thebetter,assheexplains,
“IgotBusterbacklastweekandithasliftedmy
spirits so much. Since I got him back it feels
likeeverythinghasjustfallenintoplace.We
have such a close bond because Buster has
alwaysprotectedme.WhenIgothimhomehe
justsettledstraightbackin.
Charlottehasthelastword,
It’sdifficulttoexplainhoworwhenthemomentwill
happenbutwhenitdoesitbringsasmileandmakes
everythingworthwhile.Iwouldencourageothersto
participateintheFreedomProject,asitdoesn’tjust
provide for the pet and the family, carers receive a
hugeamountofsatisfaction,enjoyment,rewardand
pridefromdoingsomethingsoworthwhile.”
“Freedomisafantasticproject,andit’sreally
importantthatasmanywomenaspossiblefind
outaboutit.Somewomenwon’tleavetheir
homesuntiltheyknowthereissomewherefor
theirdogtogosotheFreedomProjectcan
reallysavelives.”
Nigel is currently fostering his second dog through
theproject,afriendlyLabradorforwhomhehas
cared since January this year. Each month our
Freedomworkerwillsendafewphotosandaletterto
thedog’sownertoreassurethemthatheisbeingwell
looked after in their absence.
If you feel you could give up some time
to be a foster carer, or would like to know
more about the Freedom Project, please visit
www.dogstrustfreedomproject.org.uk or
email freedomproject@dogstrust.org.uk
*Names have been changed.
8
Summer 2015
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Summer 2015 9
Wag! feature
feature Wag!
BE DOG SMART:
The simple principles of Be Dog Smart are:
Let’s Teach All Kids to be Canine-Cautious!
There’s no doubt that owning a dog can be one of the most rewarding things
you’ll ever do in your life, but along with the fun, loyalty and companionship
comes the very real responsibility - especially as the thing you love happens to
possess a mouth full of sharp teeth.
Eagle-eyed Wag readers will have spotted the free Be Dog
Smart leaflet which we gave away in our last issue, as we’re
keen to let people know about how to stay safe around dogs.
No matter how well we think we know our dogs, there is
always a risk that someone will misinterpret his signals,
which may result in at best a nip and at worst a full-on bite.
There’s no better time than now to encourage kids to be
canine-cautious!
Our Be Dog Smart safety campaign is aimed at anyone
who has responsibility for children - not just parents, but
teachers, grandparents, childminders, foster carers and
sports coaches too. Our team of 22 education officers are
currently giving Be Dog Smart workshops in libraries,
schools and community centres across the UK. The key
message is NEVER leave your child alone with any dog, no
matter how well you know it.
Anna Baatz, our Manchester education officer, has already
given several be Dog Smart workshops in the north-west.
She explains,
“Working with children has been a real eye-opener, they are
so inquisitive and want to play but they must understand
a dog is not a toy - and they don’t always want to play.
Simply understanding when a dog says ‘enough’ can be the
difference between a bite or not. It’s essential that we all
know and teach children how to behave around dogs.”
Mindful of the fact that almost half of new parents* (46%)
found it challenging to cope with their dog and a new baby,
and one in six (17%) had considered giving up their dog
when the baby arrived, we’ve set up special Be Dog Smart
workshops aimed at parents-to-be, working together
with the National Childbirth Trust. Their
Senior Policy Advisor, Elizabeth Duff, adds,
B
Beware of disturbing dogs that are eating or sleeping
E Even if only meant as fun, don’t ever tease a dog
D Don’t approach a dog with no owner around
O Only stroke a dog when the owner says you can
G Get the dog to sniff your hand first, then stroke gently
S Strange dog approaching? Stand still, look away, cross your arms
M Move calmly and quietly around any dog
A All that hugging and kissing; you might like it but dogs don’t
R Remember, all dogs have teeth
T Treat dogs with respect and they will respect you
“A dog can be a happy part of
family life but taking a few simple
precautions will help to avoid your
child getting any avoidable injuries.
The Be Dog Smart guidance offers
parents some great tips to keep new
babies and toddlers safe around dogs and
we would encourage all parents to take a
good look.”
*NCT survey of over 1,000 expectant parents
and 1,000 new parents, December 2012.
10 Summer 2015
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Summer 2015 11
Wag! feature
feature Wag!
Unfortunately, a recent Dogs Trust survey showed that
44% of parents would leave a child under 11 alone with
a dog, while 12% would leave a pre-schooler (under 5)
alone with a dog. Worryingly, 32% of parents would let
their child approach or pet dogs they didn’t know.
As Lynn Barber, our head of canine behaviour, puts it,
“Children can come into contact with dogs every day,
and being around dogs can have so many benefits, but
the simple fact is that all dogs have teeth and any dog
can bite if worried, scared or hurt.
The problem comes when the person doesn’t understand
when the dog is trying to say ‘leave me alone’. For
instance, if you approached me and tried to hug me, I
would instantly tell you to back off, as I don’t care for
hugs from people I don’t know well. You can’t tell that
by looking at me. Fortunately I am able to tell you to
stop before you do it, so there is no harm done.
Now think if that situation were applied to a dog - he
might be using every bone in his body and pulling facial
expressions to show extreme discomfort, but if you are
unaware of what a dog looks like when he is trying to
say ‘back off’ - you’d probably end up with a bite. The
dog could well have been warning you with everything
he’s got, but if you don’t understand his language, that’s
when problems will occur.
Now imagine if you were to try and hug me, and I had
terrible toothache that day - well, you can’t see that I
am uncomfortable with hugs and also in pain - imagine
how grumpy that would make me. I’d certainly shout
at you! Again, transfer that situation to a dog - I’d be
surprised if you weren’t bitten.
Learning how to understand what a dog is telling you
is so important - and I’m not talking about being some
kind of ‘Dog Psychic’ here - but the basic, every day
signs that any dog will display when he feels worried,
scared or he’s simply had enough. I believe that
teaching youngsters and adults the doggy basics is not
just desirable, it’s essential.”
We gave you a free Be Dog Smart leaflet in your last
issue of Wag, but if you want more copies to share with
your friends, children, grandchildren or even pupils
you can download it here http://bit.ly/BeDogSmart or
send an A4 SAE with a large stamp to: Be Dog Smart,
Clarissa Baldwin House, 17 Wakley Street, London
EC1V 7RQ.
Say What?
Are you good at understanding dogs? Test your dog-reading knowledge –
and try it out with your friends! (answers at the foot of page 12, no peeking!)
1. Is this dog
2. Is this dog
a) Happy to see you
a) Wanting to play
b) Angry
b) Hungry
c) Excited
c) Feeling stressed
3. Is this dog
4. Is this dog
a) Feeling frightened
a) Telling you to leave
him alone
b) Feeling confident
c) Asking for you to
tickle his head
b) Asking you to play
c) Feeling unsure
Top Tips for Kids
If a dog is chasing you, it may be because he is interested in what you are
holding, not you. Throw your food or football to the ground. Then…
Do the X Factor!
Photos: Clive Tagg
If the dog is not distracted by your ball or food, remember the X Factor! Stand
still and upright, look away, tuck in your fingers and thumbs and cross your
arms over your chest. Hopefully the dog will soon become bored of you, and he
will walk away. But if a dog knocks you over...
Be the Rock!
Many sausages were harmed during this photoshoot!
Huge thanks to all our top model doggy residents at Dogs Trust West London
Answers:
1. B - A growling dog means an uncomfortable dog.
2. C - Lip licking when not near food is a sign of stress.
3. A - Cowering with ears back means a dog is NOT comfortable.
4. A and C - He doesn’t want to interact, so leave him be.
12 Summer 2015
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If a dog knocks you over, make like a hedgehog and curl into a tight ball,
covering your face and head with your arms and stay like this until an adult
arrives or the dog goes away.
If you would like to arrange a Be Dog Smart workshop at your
local school, community or leisure centre visit:
www.learnwithdogstrust.org.uk/workshops-tours/education-officers
Thanks to Ben, Charlotte, Caspar, Rachel and Sara.
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Wag! readers’ dogs
readers’ dogs Wag!
Readers’ Dogs
Summer lovin’
happened so fast’
Shoreham
Rothko
This ecstatic-looking
chap is Rothko (née
Fondue), who was
rehomed by Sue
and her family from
Shoreham. In the 10
years since he arrived
Sue’s two sons have
left home, and it’s
not just their mum
that noticed “When
they come to visit
he is overjoyed and
charges round the
house doing his Grrr!
routine to have his
pack all together.”
He’s also a hit in his
neighbourhood, “With
small children Rothko
is perfect, he just sits
very still while they
stroke him, staring
patiently straight
ahead.”
Bridie
Doughnut
West London
This little star is Doughnut,
rehomed by Barbara Shellard from
Harefield. In the past Barbara has
had assistance dogs to help her
with her everyday life but she says,
“Doughnut is absolutely brilliant
with my mobility equipment and
seems to understand instinctively
the implications of my condition.
He is every bit as good as my
trained dog in most respects”. He’s
a much valued member of Barbara’s
family “affectionate, gentle, and
so friendly especially with my
grandchildren, who adore him”.
Henley
When vet Richard Rawling started working at Dogs Trust
Manchester, he hadn’t banked on literally taking his work home
with him. But that’s just what happened when he met Saint
Bernard, Henley. “As soon as I saw him, I just knew!”
After meeting Anna, Richard’s partner and getting the seal of
approval it wasn’t long before Henley was in his new home: “Henley
has settled in really well. He loves a belly rub and rests one of his
giant paws on your shoulder to make sure you get just the right
spot! Other than shaking his head and slobbering up the walls as
soon as he steps inside the house after a walk, he has no bad habits
at all!”
Leeds
This adorable face belongs to Dixie (nee Tully) a five year old terrier cross
rehomed from Loughborough in 2014. Vicenta Rose was keen to find a
companion for her dad after her mum sadly passed away, and she found the
perfect lady in Dixie.
14 Summer 2015
Ted
Look at that handsome face! Gentle giant Ted likes to do things at his own speed
– a gallop! Rehomed from Leeds he adores the great outdoors and loves jumping
in water and climbing mountains. Although he’s not above stealing the odd bit
of sausage, his owners, Babs and Matthew, say, “Loyal and eager to please, he is
a wonderful companion and best friend.” We say everybody needs a best friend
like that.
“They go out several times a day for little walks around the local park and fields
and they’ve both made new friends with other dogs and their owners. Dixie is a
proper lapdog and as soon as anyone sits down she is straight on their lap. Dad
and Dixie absolutely adore each other and they are inseparable. She even sleeps
on the bed with dad at night which is very comforting for him. Thank you for
the wonderful new addition to the Rose family and for giving Dad a new lease of
life and purpose.”
Ballymena
Flossie
www.dogstrust.org.uk
This gorgeous lady is Bridie (nee Suki), rehomed
from Salisbury by Brian and Sue Reynolds. She
has been on holiday to Cornwall several times
where she loves to explore the beaches. Here she is
having a quick rest before resuming the fun. We
think she looks quite the beach babe!
Manchester
Loughborough
Dixie
Salisbury
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Flossie the Collie arrived at Dogs Trust Ballymena missing a back foot, but she
certainly doesn’t let that slow her down. Aside from being a lovely companion
to her owner Andrew and his other dog Paddy, when she is not chasing tennis
balls she likes to climb mountains! Go Flossie! ‘Flossie is the most affectionate
dog I have ever known and loves nothing more than a cuddle.” She also enjoys
photobombing, apparently.’
Summer 2015 15
Wag! readers’ dogs
readers’ dogs Wag!
Manchester
You might say these two beauties are a very happy accident. Rehomed from
Shrewsbury in 2010 their owner Pam Schreier says, “We went to get one mid-sized,
short-haired dog and left after reserving two white German Shepherd dogs!”
It was a case of love at first sight. Phoebe and Cody also first met at Dogs Trust and
have been firm friends ever since. They love their walks together and are pictured
here enjoying the beach in Newquay, Wales.
Phoebe and Cody
Fargo
Newbury
Inseparable best friends Chester and Gus from Newbury are quite the
super models. After starting life as strays they have managed to turn
their lives around thanks to Paul and Sandra and are now in demand as
models. It doesn’t quite always go according to plan though, at their last
job Gus chased some rabbits and ended up with his head stuck down a
rabbit hole. We think you are both very handsome but something about
never working with children and animals springs to mind!
Chester and Gus
Shoreham
Carrie
Bridgend
Having a good old shake off after a swim in the sea is Carrie,
rehomed from Bridgend three years ago by Emma and David.
Although her exact age isn’t known she’s about 13, but you
would never guess – she still has bundles of energy and can
run on the beach for hours. Carrie’s clearly young at heart!
Handsome boy Fargo was a long term dog at
our Shoreham centre when Alaia and Rhoda
first spotted him. Now in his sixteenth year it’s
hard to believe he was with us so long. “We have
never regretted taking him on and he is a well
loved member of the family.” After years of fun,
love and agility competitions together, Alaia and
Rhoda say, “The moral of this story is that if you
are thinking of taking on a long term dog, please
do not hesitate - as it is so very rewarding.”
Salisbury
Pablo
16 Summer 2015
Blink and you’ll miss him!
Pablo was rehomed at the
age of just 12 weeks by
Karen and Marek. After
some initial suspicion he
is now firm friends with
their two cats and they
love to play together. He’s
lucky enough to live near
the beach which he adores
(we can see that!). “He has
brought so much joy to our
home and we cannot believe
how lucky we are to have
him.” We suspect he might
feel the same way.
Evesham
Peggy and Jake
Shoreham
Looking very smart in their scarves are Peggy
and Jake from Shoreham who love to chase
balls, one ball can often come back with two
dogs attached! The only thing better is some
fuss, says their owner Lucille “They like to
cuddle up on the sofa with me or any of the
family. I wouldn’t be without them now.”
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Spirit
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Spirit from Evesham
found her forever
home with the Owens
family last year. She is
loving her new life near
the hills and makes
an excellent jogging
partner for dad. “She is
a very affectionate dog
with a lovely nature,
we can`t imagine life
without her now”.
Pictured here with Joe,
she loves spending time
with him and his sister
Maggie.
Mitzee
Ilfracombe
Active little Mitzee found her perfect family when
Ali and Dave spotted her in Ilfracombe last year.
They were told she had a lot of energy and would
need an active home. “Being well aware of her love
of walks and full of bounce and energy, we set
about finding lots of new and exciting walks, soon
to discover that Mitzee is never content unless she
comes home head to toe in mud!” Phew! We are
exhausted just reading about it!
Summer 2015 17
Wag! news
Hello Sunshine…
COME FLY WITH ME
Challenge yourself to do something special for the dogs
this summer – it’s not too late to bag a place in a major
sponsored challenge event, or, if you’ve already arranged
your own place, you could join Team Dogs Trust by emailing
fundraiseforus@dogstrust.org.uk Take your pick from…
Skydive at locations all around the UK!
1
Treat your pooch to some
seasonal produce. These fun
and fruity dog toys are fresh
off the market! From £5.99
2
Keep your dog chilled when
the weather heats up! Place
this bowl in your fridge or
freezer and it’ll keep water
cool for hours. £5.50
3
Checking into the Paw
Seasons Hotel? This travel
bag makes the perfect
accessory! £9.99
Bournemouth Marathon Festival
(5k /10k, half/full marathons)
Scottish Half Marathon (Edinburgh)
BUPA Great South Run (Portsmouth)
Royal Parks Foundation Half Marathon (London)
Lucy Jackson, taking the plunge for Dogs Trust - Go Lucy!
Santa Run (5k/10k) (London)
4
Don’t It Turn My
Brown Eyes Blue?
Tails are wagging at Dogs Trust Newbury as Molly, a
Collie with one blue and one brown eye, has followed
in the pawsteps of lookalike sister Holly and has
finally found a loving new home.
Molly, who had been struggling to find a new
home due to her unusual eye colour, had spent
over two months in the care of our Newbury
centre, while her near identical sister, Holly,
who has two brown eyes, was immediately
snapped up by a new owner.
Following a local media appeal to find the
unusual pooch a new home, Molly caught the eye
of new owners Pamela and Stephen Mallaburn
who spotted her on BBC South News. As Stephen
tells us,
“As soon as we met Molly, we knew she was the dog
for us. She is such a beautiful girl so we couldn’t
believe that she has been overlooked by so many potential
owners. In fact, we have renamed her Bella which means
beautiful in Italian!”
PS. Thank you to everyone who has been donating stamps, postcards and foreign currency to Dogs Trust. Last year
you helped raise a fantastic £19,000, and this year you’ve already raised over £14,300 to help our dogs. Please keep
them coming to Jenny Thomas, 15 Wentworth Avenue, London N3 1YA. For details, visit: www.dogstrust.org.uk/
whatshappening/blog/could-you-spare-any-stamps
18
Summer 2015
news Wag!
www.dogstrust.org.uk
1
2
3
Relax with a tasty drink in
hand after a fun day outdoors!
£5.99
If you didn’t receive a catalogue
with this copy of Wag just
call 0844 324 8520 or email
dogstrust@cbfulfilment.co.uk
and we’ll post you one. Visit
www.dogstrustgifts.com and
order online to save both you
time and us money.
4
Kickback and relax - with Rover
We’re all aware of the benefits having a good holiday can bring to body and
soul, but don’t forget the great benefits it can have for your beloved Bonzo
Dog too, for instance…
Fill up their senses - with brand new smells, new walking terrains and novel
places to get their paws dirty!
Help them learn new skills – paddling in the sea, racing around the shingle,
digging holes in the sand, playing seaweed tug-of-war and investigating rockpools on dog-friendly beaches.
Meet new friends – if your muttular mate is happy to meet new people and
dogs, holidays can be so good for their socialisation – and yours too!
We’ve teamed up with Welcome Cottages to ensure that no one misses out
on the fun of a break in a beautiful location, and the beauty of it is you’ll be
helping all the dogs in our care too, as we receive 10% of every booking fee.
To see the potential beastie-friendly adventures that await, take a look at
www.dogstrust-cottages.co.uk
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Summer 2015 19
Wag! news
news Wag!
Scratch that itch!
VIP Dinners For Our
Very Important Dogs
Put your paws together for the new Dogs Trust Scratch card
online game – brought to you by the generous people at
Postcode Scratch. Postcode Scratch have already donated
over £50,000 which goes towards helping us find loving
homes for our dogs, through donating 10% of their net
gaming revenue to us. To try Dogs Trust Scratch for yourself,
visit postcodescratch.co.uk
Wholly Muttrimony
Seventh Heaven
Wag sends huge congratulations to Mr and Mrs
Drummond on their recent wedding! The happy dogloving duo tied the knot in Loch Lomond in April,
choosing to have Dogs Trust wedding cards
displayed at all the place settings on their big day.
These elegant cards can be used in place of wedding
favours to let your guests know you’ve made a
donation on their behalf.
Some of you may recognise
this handsome fella from
our Sponsor a Dog
scheme – it is, of
course, Freddie, our
bouncy Shorthaired
Pointer from our
Snetterton rehoming
centre. When this happygo-lucky chap isn’t chasing tennis
balls or making swift work of his
Kong, you’ll find him relaxing in
the sunshine.
‘My family and I have been members of Dogs Trust
for a long time, so it was only fitting that we chose
you for our wedding day. Being the son of a vet also
encouraged the idea!’
Photos: Andy Catterall
To give a special gift to Dogs Trust on your big day,
just like the Drummonds, we ask for a minimum
donation of £1 per card. To see both beautiful
designs visit
www.dogstrust.org.uk/get-involved/wedding-favours
Look closely – can you see it? The white number seven
on Mr Handsome’s chest certainly brought him a dose
of much-needed luck when the former racing Greyhound
came into the care of our Kenilworth rehoming centre.
The five year old Greyhound’s natural numerical
marking meant he stood out from the crowd - Dogs
Trust Kenilworth currently has ten retired racing
Greyhounds seeking great homes - and was swiftly
rehomed to one very lucky new owner. There are
currently around 50 Greyhounds in our care across all
of our centres – with or without marvellous markings –
so please call 0300 303 000 to learn more.
20 Summer 2015
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Bouncy he may be, but Freddie
needs that little bit of extra TLC to
keep him happy and healthy, as he
suffers from skin and food allergies,
including hyper-sensitivity to chicken,
beef and pork. He needs to be fed
on a diet of hypo-allergenic food and
treats in order to keep his allergies
under control.
Freddie has been with us for a wee
while now, but because we’ll never put
a healthy dog to sleep, he will remain
in our care until we find his perfect
forever home. And, thanks to the
kindness of Pets at Home and their
VIP members, Freddie will continue
to enjoy tasty meals for the time he
remains with us.
Our staff have to go that extra mile to
ensure Freddie gets tasty but suitable
meals. Luckily, Freddie is always
happy to scoff the Turkey or Venison
menus from Wainwright’s.
“We are delighted with the success
of the partnership between Dogs Trust
and our VIP Club. By collecting
Lifelines every time they shop with us
and by supporting Dogs Trust as their
Lifelines partners, our customers are
helping ensure dogs such as Freddie
eat well while they are being cared
for,” says Gavin Hawthorn of Pets
at Home.
Pets at Home is kindly feeding all of
the dogs in our care for free so we
don’t have to worry about providing a
special diet for Freddie or any of the
other dogs just like him. Thanks to all
of their VIP members, Pets at Home
is able to provide Dogs Trust with all
of their Wainwright’s food we need to
cater for all of our dogs’ nutritional
needs – and taste buds.
www.dogstrust.org.uk
To find out more on how to become
a Pets at Home VIP member and to
help us care for dogs like Freddie
visit www.petsathome.com/WAG
Summer 2015 21
Wag! news
Short But Sweet
news Wag!
Is it a Husky? Is it a
Corgi? Nope – it’s a
Teddy! Looking like a
handsome Husky with the
stumpiest legs you’ve ever
seen, wee Teddy manages
to be both little and large
at the same time. At
just 18 inches from paw
to shoulder, Teddy was
originally brought into our
Basildon rehoming centre
having been found while
straying. Following an
appearance in the Mail on
Sunday, our short-shinned
‘Corgski’ caught the eye of
reader Samantha Martin,
who went on to meet him
at the Essex centre. Teddy
is now settled very happily
with Samantha in Dorset
– and that’s the long and
short of it.
Photos: Les Wilson/Daily Mail
A New Chapter for Murphy
Everyone loves a good bedtime story, but for Murphy,
an eight year old Staffordshire Bull Terrier, being read
to is helping him overcome his sadness at not having
a home to call his own. Each day, the canine carers
at Dogs Trust Manchester take turns to read a book to
Murphy, who instantly relaxes in the presence of a kind
person and a good book.
Deputy manager Lesley O’ Donoghue explains,
‘One day he saw one of our canine carers with a book
and got really excited, so we sat down and read to him
in his kennel. He loved the companionship and just
relaxed, it seems to remind him of being in a loving,
cosy home. When we read to him his smile just gets
wider and wider.’
Murphy would make an ideal pet for anyone who loves
to read aloud or belongs to a book club! You can
watch our bibliophile beauty in action here http://bit.ly/
MurphySTB, or call 0300 303 0000 for more info.
TROLLEY GOOD NEWS
If you shop at Sainsbury’s you’ll be able to help raise
moolah for our mutts simply by doing your weekly shop.
Just sign up to the Sainsbury’s prepaid shopping card,
and for every £1 you top up on your card, Dogs Trust will
receive a 4% donation. The prepaid card, which works just
like a gift voucher, will cost you nothing, while helping
us raise essential funds. Sainsbury’s are also offering five
£100 prizes that will be selected at random from all those
who top up their card between 27 July and close of play 31
August. To find more information email fundraiseforus@
dogstrust.org.uk
Can We Fix It?
Yes we can! German Shepherd
dog pups Bob the Builder and
Wendy had been abandoned on
a building site near our West
London rehoming centre in
Harefield, and were rescued
when a construction worker
spotted them on his arrival for
work one morning. Thankfully
both Bob and Wendy were soon
rehomed in the Harefield area.
22 Summer 2015
www.dogstrust.org.uk
www.dogstrust.org.uk
Summer 2015 23
events
A Legacy Legend
Mr Blue Sky, please tell us why, you had
to hide away for sooo long? Get a dose of
vitamin D and/or some rain on your face,
and meet our wonderful dogs here.
Meet Jan, one simply amazing supporter who has volunteered at Dogs Trust Shoreham
for over 13 years. Just like you, Jan LOVES dogs!
Photos: Clive Tagg
Jan sees first-hand how much of a difference gifts
in wills make to the dogs in our care. She has
ensured that her love of dogs will live on after her
lifetime by including a gift in her will to Dogs Trust.
Wag caught up with Jan at our Shoreham centre.
What is it that is so special about dogs for you?
They are faithful; you have fun with them and it’s
unconditional love they give back to you. Whatever you
do, they still love you. I like to fuss and play with them,
walking on the downs on a sunny day is such a lovely way
to spend an afternoon.
What do you enjoy most about working at
Dogs Trust?
I think obviously the puppies, and sitting with needy dogs,
especially the old ones who need a bit of TLC. I can always
find a spare ten minutes to go and sit with them. But
puppies mainly, especially the real babies, it’s so nice.
Legacy Information
Please send me a free Legacy Information pack which provides full information about how to leave a gift in my Will to Dogs Trust.
What made you decide to kindly leave a gift in your
will to Dogs Trust?
Probably because I haven’t got a lot of family, so I wanted
my favourite charity to benefit. I spend so much time here,
and you can see the money really does help.
I have already remembered Dogs Trust in
my will.
What brought you to volunteer at Dogs Trust?
A friend at work said she’d been down here because she was
a dog walker, and she said she’d been looking after some
puppies. Knowing I loved dogs, she thought it could be
something I might enjoy – so I got involved and I’ve never
looked back!
How do you imagine your lasting gift will benefit
dogs in the future?
You know, it goes a long way to providing different facilities
for dogs so I thought, well that’s going to be a good cause
to which I can leave my money. Also, a lasting memory to
me perhaps, that I’ve really enjoyed working here.
What do you do at Dogs Trust Shoreham?
A big part of my ‘job’ is washing the dogs’ bedding,
blankets toys and towels – the laundry is never ending and
the washers are going 24-7. As soon as I come in I start
the machines off and throw everything in. We also get lots
of lovely donations and they need sorting out and bagging.
If we’ve got puppies in I’ll play with them, that’s my main
thing, I socialise them and give them their first taste of nice
friendly humans. Such a tough job!
Jan’s dedication and support over the years has made the
world of difference to the dogs at our Shoreham rehoming
centre. Her continued help ensures we never put down a
healthy dog. By including Dogs Trust in her will, she is
not only making sure tomorrow’s dogs benefit from our
care, but she is also helping us strive towards the day when
all dogs can enjoy a happy life, free from the threat of
unnecessary destruction; an amazing legacy.
If you would like more information about how to leave a gift to Dogs Trust in your will,
please fill out the coupon to the right or call us on 020 7837 0006.
Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/Other
First Name:
Surname:
Address:
Postcode:
Supporter number (if known): Email:
Please return this coupon to:
RTJA-SRXG-AZUL, Dogs Trust Legacy,
Clarissa Baldwin House, 17 Wakley Street,
London EC1V 7RQ
Code: 112756
August
2
Dogs Trust Leeds’s Fun Day, 11am - 4pm.
2
Dogs Trust Canterbury’s Fun Day 11.30am - 4pm
1 - 2
Dogs Trust Kenilworth at The Pet Show, NAEC Stoneleigh, Warks CV8 2LZ
8
Bark in the Park, Dogs Trust Ballymena,
Ecos Centre, Ballymena, 12 - 3pm
10
Dogmobile at Asda, Bridge Street, Portadown BT63 5AQ
12
Pub Quiz and Pies at Dogs Trust Manchester, 7 - 9:30pm, tickets are £5, including quiz entry, pie, and short film. Call 0161 337 3605 to book.
13 Dogmobile at Tesco, Highfield Road, Craigavon BT64 1AG
14 - 16 Dogmobile at the VW Festival, Harewood House, Leeds, LS17 9LG
23
Dogs Trust West Calder’s fun day open day, Livingston College, Almondvale Crescent,
EH54 7EP, 12 - 3pm
27 Dogmobile at the Bucks County Show,
Weedon Park, Aylesbury HP22 4NN
30
Dogs Trust Evesham’s sponsored walk,
call 01386 830613
September
3 - 4
Dogmobile at St Albans Market Place,
Herts AL3
5
Dogs Trust Ballymena’s fun day, at the centre
12 - 4pm, admission is £1 per adult, 1 tin of dog food per child!
6
Dogs Trust Leeds’s sponsored walk,
call 0113 2814937 to take part.
11
Dogs Trust Ireland’s ‘Fur Ball’ in Mansion House,
Dublin - call 01 879 1829 to buy tickets
13
Dogs Trust Canterbury’s sponsored walk,
call 01227 792505 to book.
17 - 18 Dogmobile at Hitchin Market Place, Herts SG5
19 - 20 Dogmobile at Paws In The Park at
Kent Showground, Detling ME14 3JF
27 Dogs Trust Harefield dogs at the Chiswick House Dog Show, 11am - 4pm
October
3
Dogmobile at Edinburgh Farmers Market,
Castle Terrace, Edinburgh Castle
8 - 9
Dogmobile at Parliament Street, York YO1
11
Dogs Trust Bridgend’s Sponsored Dog Walk, 9am. Call 01656 728923 to book.
29
Dogs Trust Darlington’s legendary Spook Night, 6.30-8.30pm. Spooky Hallowe’en games and a fancy dress competition for children and dogs. Call 01325 333114 to buy tickets.
31
Dogs Trust Manchester’s Hallowe’en event,
at the centre, 12-3pm.
PS Huge thanks to the organisers of the VW Festival at
Harewood House, Leeds last year, for raffling a gorgeous 1967
VW Beetle in aid of Dogs Trust – the wonderful festival crowd
raised a whopping £11,277 for our dogs! Meet some of our
Leeds dogs there this year on 14 - 16 August.