Sylvia's Diary 19-12-24

Recently, the enormity of the worry has truly hit home. I am seeing the true cost of running this Rescue and the impact the new government will put on us in black and white. The more I learn the worse it is. To start, the vet surgery is crucial and without it we would have to pay the mark ups on everything used from drips to eye ointments, antibiotics to all the things needed for surgical procedures to ear ointments. Vets’ practices are apparently allowed to put whatever markup they choose on these things, and we see dogs that have been to vets that have ointments, lotions, potions, pills etc that have had a 300% markup on them. Then there are the operations that would cost so much, and lastly scared unsocialised dogs that would have to be transported by a staff member to busy vets. This would cause a great amount of emotional inconvenience for the dogs and would cost a great amount for us, making it all impossible. So, the vets must clearly stay. However, one vet has two vet nurses, sometimes there are two vets working, every vet needs to get through 8 operations a day, which is possible except, the dogs we receive are very often dogs with problems. Literally every day we see dogs with inguinal hernias, entropians, terrible teeth, terrible ears, and mammary tumours. These can range from one lump to a whole string of them, warranting a whole mammary strip, which is a very long procedure, and that is just to name a few complications and procedures we see daily.

This week the two old Staffies that came into the Rescue both had to have this procedure which took up a complete morning. Three other dogs this week had this, one was neutered and had a nasal wedge as well. One had entropian surgery. Five had bad ears to assess and make a plan. Two needed x-rays, and the list goes on and on. The adoption fees minus the tax we have to pay don’t come close to a dog’s actual cost of coming here. And unlike nearly all rescues we pick up 95% of the dogs ourselves. Our electric bill jumped to over £5000 this month, and disposal of rubbish, which is 98% bedding is over £2000 a month. I rack my brains trying to think how to make this work. I cannot bear to leave any dog, so when going to a breeder I pick up all that I am asked. Not just the ones that don't have any physical complications and that are ready to be made available upon arrival, but the old, the disabled, the blind, every one.

However, I have thought up a way to let us keep doing what we do. I wrote a letter to big firms and anyone willing to help. You could help too by sending the letter to anyone who is interested, but certainly to any company around you. Maybe you work for a company with a lot of employees who all may like to help. If we all do something, together, we could save them all. The cost for a year of picking up the dogs’ from Northern and Southern Ireland is enormous at £159,792. This amount pays for the ferry, passports and vets visits for the southern dogs, wages fuel, and overall wear and tear of the vans. To collect 50 dogs from Northern Ireland it amounts to £1,320. The cost to pick up 50 dogs from Southern Ireland is £5,998. These are not estimated costs but taken from audited accounts for last year.

You could say, “well leave the southern dogs if they are so expensive’’, but to me a dog is a dog and all deserve the Gift of Life!

If you want to help, please either print our letter, which can be saved above. Or you can send via email to maybe 5 companies. Please let us know which companies you have reached out to, by emailing and we can tell you if any want to help. Alternatively you could ask family and friends to sponsor a trip, or perhaps do some fundraising towards one. You see, if we all work together we really could save them all.

If you would like to sponsor a dog yourself or on behalf of a family member or friend, please visit the above page where you can find details of how to sponsor and what your sponsorship will do.

Now, to give you some nice stories - my niece who is hand raising three Golden Retriever pups has found a new helper. Her boyfriend adopted a beagle pup that she also hand raised, and in true gentle beagle style she offered to give a paw to raise the pups and is offering her body warmth, love and affection to these only days old pups.

Another lovely story is about a little boy who desperately wanted a kitten and was finally allowed this week. It appears that little kitten desperately wanted him too.

This week we had a distraught young lady who was having to leave her house and was to become homeless. Her mum had offered her a place to live but unfortunately, without her 5 dogs. She had tried all near her for help and eventually came to us with some terrifying news, saying her mum had agreed to pay to put the five dogs to sleep. I was so sad as we had no room at all, and these dogs were nearly all lurchers. I offered for her to come and live with her dogs at Many Tears until kennel space was found, and even offered for Bill and I to pay for her food. Days passed and since we were at max capacity, I put an URGENT plea on the Many Tears Foster Forum to hopefully find some temporary homes for some of our dogs here. The fosterers were amazing, and 37 dogs went to foster homes to make space for the desperate. We called the young lady and eventually and luckily got through to her. We made a plan and met her and the five dogs on the trip home from the foster run. Joyce, the diver and Kirsty, the foster coordinator got home at 6:45pm and at last, we unloaded and settled the dogs in. Joyce left her home the next morning around 3am, collected the van again and drove to the midlands, and picked up 4 more desperate dogs.

Without the amazing foster family we have, these lives could not be saved. The mere fact these fosterers give up their homes and hearts to these homeless dogs, many who have never ever set foot in a house is incredible, but to let them go to new homes after loving them, rehabilitating them and caring so deeply is super brave too. Thank you, I am humbled by your strength, dedication and support. 

On Saturday I was part of a group chat where I followed two dogs, Nux and Jessie’s journey from Korea to us. The people who saved these two dogs straight from a meat farm are all volunteers who care for 150 dogs. They reach out to all to help and manage to save what they can. They said the ban for meat dogs, though passed, is not going to be put into play for some years. The organising to get these dogs here, the care and work it involved and the people along the way who stepped forwards is amazing. There were flight buddies, porters and transporters, vets in Korea and all those who cared for these dogs, and also fostered just to be sure the dogs were rehabilitated enough to make this huge journey. Nux had been rescued with a limp. She had lived in a floating cage system. A wire mesh cage with no floor so pee and poo falls through the floor. Her leg whilst growing, and being flattened possibly got caught. In Korea, once rescued she was x-rayed then sent to physio classes, however she still walks with a limp. I was amazed at how many great people around the world with their time and love all chipped in to help. Thank you all! The dogs are wonderful, gentle, kind and loving. They do not need homes together and they really don’t know each other that well as they were in separate foster homes, but seem to get on well with each other here.

As I am sure you are aware, Christmas is approaching and the calls are stacking up, the worries are too. I dream of the year I could have Christmas to ourselves, just family, decorations and that special meal. Bill and I have never done this, and I have not had a Christmas day off for over 35 years. I tell myself it’s a day like any other, but I want the dogs to feel It’s a special day. One person made over 100 individual turkey and vegetable dinners for the dogs, they are in the freezer awaiting that day. I could see they felt like I do too, just wanting the dogs to have a special day. I am hoping people will come and take the dogs for long walks that day, maybe burn off some calories too.

It’s been a whole week of hand raising frenchies that Chelsea took on board, and who come to my sitting room when she’s working. In fact they are next to me now, I can hear them sucking each other’s ears. Another group of 8 week pups from elsewhere and two adults, all frenchies! The adults, although ex-breeders, have come to us from a family situation. Pinky Winky the male is a sensitive soul and with his friend, Millie, makes a perfect pair, though they do not need to be housed together. I better go to work now and write later, as I have a list as long as your arm I need to get through today.

But first, to share some more great news and to my surprise - the auction raised approximately a wonderful £7,113.00. Thank you to all who contributed and to those who took part.

One more amazing bit of news is Lux, who we have mentioned in the past. The poor liver shunt pup who so wanted to live, and who had a huge operation is mending well! He is very lively, in fact he is just full of joy. This could have never happened without everyone's support. Specialist vets are VERY expensive and all of the donations and support has helped save this wonderful pup!

It's Thursday morning, the day I send the diary to the Support Team to post on the site. But before I do this I must talk about Jake. Jake is a collie - a working sheepdog and Jake was born to work. Somehow he ended up in a pound in Ireland and was to be put to sleep as no one came forward to claim or adopt him. Our agent out there rescued him and asked for our help. He stayed here for a little while, then was adopted into a home. He was returned for barking at children and dogs and generally being too much for the collie loving adopters. The first thing we did was teach him to wear a muzzle and did this with the help of Arden Grange’s liver paste. The muzzle training is to keep him safe, not because he bit, but in case he was in a situation that he felt threatened. Muzzles can save a dog’s life. As you know, I have a Russian black terrier. A huge black dog that was bred to bite by the Russian army. If Stanley knows you, he is as gentle as a lamb, but if not, he used to bite. We were originally so surprised at his actions and immediately taught him to wear a muzzle. When the public are about, he wears a muzzle when walking and he has done so for around 9 years. And this is because he is very loved and we want to keep him safe. 

However, back to Jake, who so desperately wants to herd. He was born for this; however, some collies make great sheepdogs, others don’t know when to stop and are sheep worriers then. It’s a thin line between the two, and if not trained well, unfortunately around here unless we are called they are shot. Especially at this time of year when young collies start on their career and prove some disobedience to carry on. Jake needed a job, but he was disobedient and getting attention could only be done on a lead. Once he was away from you, he played deaf. I started his training with ball throwing until he was exhausted and this is something he enjoys, no surprise there. Then when all played out the treats and training began. One of the staff took him out yesterday and was amazed at how clever he is. But believe me everything you do with this lovely dog has to be done with canine ideology. He must learn the clicker way. He thinks it's his idea, but it’s really mine (don’t tell him that) and it works so well and slowly he will get hooked. So, what he needs is someone more savvy than he is on the end of the lead. Someone with ambition, someone with time love, and a clear direction they aim to move in. Believe me these sorts of people are a rarity, so his stay may be long.

The reason I tell you all of this is so you can see that we don’t just have ex-breeders who are often shut down. But also dogs with the opposite problems to educate. This place, with its love, its staff, its fosterers and supporters …. Boy it’s a special place.

Thank you for your time, love and support. Please send out some of my plea letters next year or catch your boss at the Christmas party when hopefully everyone is full of Christmas spirit and give him or her a letter.

Together we can save them all. 

Sylvia x