We are under no illusions that our faults are numerous. In a perfect world we would be on our knees thanking you on a daily basis. It isn’t and we don’t but occasionally we try to make amends.
Tia would not exist without you. It takes three quarters of a million every year to run this joint and we would fold tomorrow without your support. The donations are crucial believe me but also the sheer damn hard work and loyalty of special people. Some we have never even met and may never meet but still keep us going by doing what they can.
The two greyhounds that arrived this week from another rescue did not simply appear in the block. They had already been in a rescue for over three years and have sponsor dogs written all over them. They had lost their kennels, and we were able to help. The dogs had to be collected, documentation sorted, and brought up by a volunteer who stayed overnight and headed back the following day. Door to door, that is 300 miles. This happens about once a month. Either a dog is coming up (Bella) or a dog is going back down (Dora). Sometimes it takes a convoy of supporters, meeting in service stations and trying to spot each other. A quick coffee and a dog swap and then back home.
While we have been grappling with the daily crisis, a bunch of folks in Yorkshire decided that Tia had enough on our plate and got stuck into raising some cash. We are in awe frankly. £7000 has been raised simply by going back to old school measures like tin rattling and fundraising. We also have our Tia Fundraising shop, on Facebook and online raffles, all new and I thank each and every one of you. Keep going please, we need every penny.
Tia has been in Nairn for over eighteen months, and we are delighted and somewhat relieved to see our support growing locally. We were gibbering wrecks at our first, onsite, dog show, fearing that no one would show up. It was a sell-out. The bones of our future foundation are fleshing out and we are so grateful for the local support. We must know every butcher, carpet fitter, supermarket, you name it for 30 miles. A soldier from Kinloss climbed the tallest mountain in Africa, raising £1500 in the process. He barely raised a sweat. Thanks, big lad.
We frequently hear a car pulling away from the yard and discover food for the dogs, vet products, biscuits for the staff, a tin of coffee. Things no longer needed by the donors, but we can still put to use. By and large we are unable to track you down. I thank you anyway, especially for the cakes.
Some of our fellow charities didn’t make it this year. They are in our thoughts, decent people just trying to make a difference. Loss of kennels or crippling costs forced them out. Had it not been for you, we would have gone the same way and we might yet.
So, in no particular order, if you have liked, shared, rattled a tin, headed North and then South, bought a brick, made a coffee or cake, dropped off at Pickering, wrestled for a donation point in Sainsburys, fostered, adopted (especially our old friends who wouldn’t go anywhere else) transported, bought a dog time, sent a concerned text, knitted, sold stuff on
Ebay, arranged a legacy or a lottery or simply put up with me, you name it you did it and I am forever in your debt.
Thank you from all who breathe more easily because you did something.
From a distance you could say that we haven’t had a bad year. We lost Myrtle and Boe, two old stalwarts who had been in long term foster for years. Thank you to their families who gave them a chance, showering them with love until the dogs last breath. Losing Mr Mole was a huge blow and totally unexpected. The big four had no earmarks so we could only make a guess at their age. He had been such a favourite with all our supporters and messages of condolence flooded in from all over the world. We loved him and we miss him.
Sadly, years after Deb bundled her and her lambs into the pick up under cover of darkness in Cragg Vale , Ma the sheep bowed out at 13, almost twice the age of Dolly the clone. She outlived her offspring plus a few others that joined her over the years. It’s a wrench not to see her pottering about from the kitchen. We also said goodbye to Jessie and Ed the shires. Mac and Spencer, two old very much loved horses who Deb & Bob had owned for over 20 years. Old friends and a few less tons making the ground shudder as they rush up to say hello.
Meanwhile, waiting in the wings, we have three dogs in the house. It’s like a nursing home in Eastbourne. How the hell Uriah (11) is still with us we don’t know. Twenty months after his leg amputation he is still hopping about in the garden with Lana. He is beginning to struggle though.
Tarzan (12) is so wobbly and sleeps all day. Lana (11) looks sprightly and enjoys being house floozy and Mum to both of them.
Others giving concern are Michael (10), miraculously recovering from a stroke. James (13 at least) Langley (11), Harper (12), Bungle (Mr Moles brother) and Jack (11 ish). Hold on lads, we are not ready to let you go just yet.
More doves, courtesy of Scottish ninja buzzards. We like to think we are doing our bit for conservation.
We hate to tell you, but we are all getting on a bit too. That’s you as well dear reader! Even Tia adopters aren’t immune from it. Tia dogs are always a priority, and we thank our fantastic team for squeezing in yet another oldie whose owner has passed or can no longer cope.
As this is being written, Daisy the most beautiful grey Shire, Normans mom is very poorly. It’s going to be a bad year with all these oldies, but as always we will do right by them.
We can only do this with your support….Thank you Deb and all @ Tia…
Thank you to all of the Go Green for Greyhound supporters. I couldn’t do any of this without you. Thank you to those who collect recycling, drop recycling at my house, those who are collection points for me & weigh cans in. You’ve also donated goods for the Pickering charity shop, tombola prizes, Chappie & sardines, money for the Christmas boxes, caterpillars & Riaflex, all to help the greyhounds at Tia Rescue
Our recycling totals:
2019 – £305.27
2020 – £724.89
2021 – £1115.46
2022 – £1276.84
2023 – £1510.09
Programmes keep coming & going unfortunately but we can still do this.
Dont forget, any unwanted gifts including alcohol, give me a shout. We need to start building our stocks up for next years show.
He’s struggling our old boy…he’s sleeping a lot of the time and doesn’t want to go out in this rubbish weather. He was a good racing dog in his day, 83 races under his belt at Romford. He ended up being given away for flapping with a dodgy wrist. It was never fixed and too far gone by the time we got him. He’s been at Tia almost 7 years. He wouldn’t have stood a chance anywhere else. Llewin Potter….Harper. Lovely, lovely old boy…
Tarzan..
He’s nearly twelve and a half my boy. He has been at Tia for ten years now. He was I’m not gonna lie a very keen dog. Every time we thought he mellowed we would try and rehome him, only for him to turn into a ball of fury if he saw any other breed of dog.
He has been no bother here at Tia..
Today he was moved into the house/large dog kennel. He isn’t well, my boy, his back end is very, very wobbly….
I don’t think he has long, my beautiful handsome boy.
Rusheen Bouler.
Only 1 race at Doncaster then dumped at our Charity shop in Hebden Bridge.
Thanks Jason Irving. You did this dog a huge favour…huge.
