Sylvia's Diary 06-06-24

The week has started with bad news. I ask for numbers every month, how many dogs homed, how much has been spent, how many staff have been away and how many dogs have come in and how many have needed specialist consultations or operations, and then I have some idea of where I must pay more attention or raise more funds etc.  This month the bad news is we are £50,000 down and, as every month we have been down for quite a while, that is a nightmare waiting to happen.

We have auditors, accountants and an administrator but these are the people that pay the bills and keep the accounts but don’t have the worry of the bigger picture of how the rescue is truly doing.  For that you really need to know all that’s going on... every single little aspect and here at MT and that is a huge amount of info! So I apologise if you come to the rescue and I don’t remember your name (although I usually do remember your dog’s name!) but I often feel my brain has an overload of information in it constantly.  Instead of worrying I said a prayer and got on with planning the dog show I will be at this weekend. It will be really busy and I hope I may be able to get some much needed funds raised, however it takes a lot of planning and organising and days of packing three vans.

Adoptions have been slow which is not surprising as all rescues are full resulting in an abundance of dogs for prospective adopters to pick from.  Of course, the staff, fosterers and I feel ours are the most important and although I hope all staff of rescues feel the same about their charges, I  do wonder if their staff do what ours do... I will explain.

We have a staff chat group just for the staff. There we can post rota changes or anything we want the other staff to know and they can post too. I always have my phone with me in case of emergencies and all evening, every evening the phone dings with updates from the staff discussing their favourite dogs, or a cute video or picture of a dog that day, or perhaps telling early staff about what a dog would prefer for breakfast, or sharing a dogs achievement that day. The level of care that goes on whilst on their shift and in their minds all night is exemplary and I am so glad I am able to work with like minded folks.

We had a dog come in this week with a very sad tale. She is a lab and had lost her pet home and was given to a breeder to hand to me when I was up his way next. However, she was totally stressed out in the breeders kennels and barked non stop so he asked us to go and get her.  The second she arrived I could see her eyes were not right, so booked her in to see the eye specialist. The dog is called Jazz and she is very anxious, needy, scared, insecure and clingy but so loving. I cannot imagine how stressful the last months have been for her. I really felt desperate for Rowe Referrals to be able to help her.  I sat through the examination only to be told that her cataracts were not the problem, the problem was she has PRA and the condition will slowly make her go blind and indeed she is nearly blind already.  This is terrible news for her. She is a dog who is better as an only dog, as she wants all a human’s attention, so she does not even have a canine companion to live with as her sight deteriorates. On top of this it’s been suggested she will make a great companion for an elderly person, but sadly she could probably end up tripping them up so perhaps this wouldn't be right for her either. So, this special lab who enjoys her walks and attention and loves to swim is going to have a tough time finding a home.

The good news is that the little schnauzer I took along with me to the |Rowe Referrals IS a candidate for cataract surgery and though the cost is £6,000 it is so worth it. The lady who cares for nearly all our cataract dogs and is a Trustee of Many Tears and says the difference after surgery even the next day is phenomenal. These dogs get a whole new lease of life.

The week is racing by. The vans are packed for the show and I am all but ready. However I keep remembering more and more things to take and the nights (which is when I have time to think) are getting longer and longer.  I feel under pressure to raise a lot of money as this month we have had to spend so much, so I am hoping for great weather and kind public willing to buy our goods.  The show is run by Thames Agility and every year they have been SO good to us. I am hoping I can repay their kindness one year and do something for them.  The show attracts so many agility handlers, they camp at the showground at Newbury Showground and run their dogs in the classes and then have nothing particular to do for the rest of their day, so visit our stand. It's on for two days and there will be around three to four thousand dogs on site I would think (who I hope will all need a new lead collar or coat). These items are donated all year, and our wonderful volunteer Kay washes dries and packs coats ready for the show. I then store all year long to use for the two shows I attend. Both shows do not charge for the stall we have, so it’s a win/win, except all the nights I spend sorting these items and all the hours Kay spends washing and picking off dog hairs on beautiful but hairy coats.  

Last week a lovely caring council worker called about three cats that had lost their home. No cat rescue that they tried would or could help and the future was looking very grim for all. We stepped in and took them here and would have held them for the family but the council only has temporary accommodation and cannot foresee when permanent accommodation will come up, it could be over a year. So now our worry is the sweet cats and finding them a person or people to help them and adopt them to give them the love they are used to. 

One worry is being fixed today. We had tiled our front reception with donated lino floor tiles.  Sadly these,  due to wear and tear, started to come up and be a trip hazard. A lady who adopted a dog from us works for a company that installs floors and is sending guys to lay donated lino that she has arranged for us to have so I have all morning until now, moving everything ready for them.

I am very excited about this too - Bill's better! Although he is still tired he is now allowed to drive, so he’s off to pick up a dog and I am waiting for lino men.  It’s now the day before I leave to go to the showground to set up. In previous years a very big, strong man has come and helped erect the tents, but this year he’s busy, so I am worried just how we will manage.

The lino was laid by a lovely man and the company even sent a waterproof carpet to do the shop as well.  That product would be ideal for all pet lovers. We are super grateful as it looks wonderful. Next week I will tell you what’s playing heavily on my mind, but I won’t tell you unless I can think of a solution as I don’t want you all to worry too.

Thank you all for your support, it means a whole lot to me, the staff and our wonderful dogs. If you feel able to support us and help us continue by making a donation we would be so grateful
Thank you
Sylvia