The first load left 3 weeks ago…Bob’s tractor and the new kennel partitions that were made eighteen months ago. We have had vans and wagons up and down the motorway since then. It’s all systems go. I will keep everyone updated…
I think we have had a Charity shop in Halifax for around fifteen years and we have been in the one at Southgate for over ten years. It has always been a decent shop, income wise. However come this April when everything goes up it will no longer be viable. We all know that everything is going up but they are even taking money off charities, all of us.
We used to get over half of our income from the shops which basically paid for the staff at the farm. It doesn’t take much working out that Tia is at the “End of an Era”….the whole model is having to change.
We have always had 100% rate relief on the shops but come April we will have to find 36%, as well as everything else. So yesterday the 28th January we closed our doors.
Thankyou to all our supporters/ donaters and shoppers over all these years. It is very sad.
But don’t worry, I have a plan. I am not giving up on these dogs, no matter what it takes, or where it takes us.
We currently have a number of hounds in foster homes and received an update on how Cecil is doing.
Cecil has spent 3 weeks in foster now and I’m pleased to say we have had no issues with him and he is adapting to home life wonderfully. Cecil is house trained and sleeps through the night and is ok to be left as long as he has something to keep him busy, we’ve gone for using a Kong or his favourite teddy (which he carries around the house with him). Cecil loves his lunchtime walks and enjoys going to the park and playing with a tennis ball. Hes friendly with other dogs, doesn’t pay them much attention but I wouldn’t recommend him being rehomed with a small fury or a cat, oh and he LOVES squirrels, he gets very excited around them :’)
I’ve included some photos of him over the last week. His sleep troubles have stopped, he sleeps through the night now and hasn’t growled at us for a while, I’ve heard a few barks at Cali but nothing I am worried about. Cecil has a big personality; Hes very playful (already throwing his tedding around the room and making the squeaker squeak), he is very cuddly and chilled also. Hes such a fabulous dog. We’ve mastered the stairs fine and is happy jumping up and gets into the boot when he wants to. Hes fine with noises just isn’t too keen on the hoover. We tried crate training him but he was petrified of it, so we decided against it. Would maybe try again in a few weeks once he is settled and has a home routine.
Hes very inquisitive and active, which I think he would be suited to a more active family as he loves to be in the garden sniffing and investigating, but he isn’t hard work he has even started giving kisses.
We have 22 dogs here for rehoming at the minute….obviously that doesn’t include the other 40, the sponsor dogs and the naughty dogs… We don’t know a massive amount about them as they haven’t been here long…and funnily enough not 1 of them qualified for the £400 from the Greyhound Retirement Scheme… Especially Logie…. Logie is only 12 months old, he came over from Ireland on Thursday..via a transporter…he has injured himself slightly and couldn’t begin his race career….thank fully the trainer sent him here…..and here is probably where he will stay. He is an absolute nervous wreck…the worst we have had in a long, long while…even worse than Mr Mole…
It’s very sad but we had to say our goodbyes to Matilda on Monday evening, peacefully, with the help of a great vet and her humans at her side.
Osteosarcoma is nasty and aggressive and even Matilda with all her determination and stoicism could only fight it for a short time.
We miss our morning snuggles in her bed and all the different looks she gave when she wanted you to do something for her, “is that steak going spare?”, “I could do with a neck scratch”, the paw for more, the head nudge, the lean, the harrumph. We already miss her presence, the counterbalance she brought to a crazy world.
The gentlest of souls, but we all knew (especially Max our other greyhound) that she was the boss.
TIA’s Poster girl, calendar girl (twice), loved by everyone she met and protector and mentor of Max, who is a bit lost at the moment.
We are heartbroken, but not far underneath the grief is a smile and a glow of happiness, she lived 12 ½ years and 7 of those with us and 6 months loved and restored to health at TIA Rescue beforehand. She made her own luck by her trust and her determination to overcome her fears.
Her indomitable spirit will live within us and inspire us forever.
Rest in Peace sweetheart. Much loved and forever in our hearts.
