Following our cancellation of January’s meeting, this month there was a very good turn out and we gained two new members. Absence obviously does make the heart grow fonder.
We were given updates on forthcoming dates and plans (subject to sufficient numbers) for a summer outing in August to Eltham Palace and possibly an historical walk around Winchester.
Our collection in lieu of sending Christmas cards, and the auctioning of a lovely blanket created by Jenny Gorski, resulted in the sum of £140.00 being sent to the Countess of Brecknock Hospice.
Now, if there is an increase in the number of rescue dogs coming to live with new owners in Abbotts Ann then the responsibility lies at the door of Oona, an adorable looking Jack Russell who accompanied her carer, Lucy Hooper, to this month’s meeting. She spent the evening in a baby sling attached to Lucy and never made a sound.
Lucy now has her dream job working for the Dogs Trust; she applied several times before being granted a successful interview. Her role at the charity has changed and she is now the Supporter Relations Officer at their Salisbury Centre based in Newton Tony.
The Charity was started in 1891 by Gertrude Stock, then known as The Canine Defence League, to protect dogs from cruelty and death. One of its policies remains never put to sleep any healthy dog and, as such, one of its priorities is to re-home as many unwanted dogs as possible. The Trust believes there is a suitable home for every dog, but it may take time to find the right match.
In 2018 the Trust cared for 15,000 dogs, they re-home most dogs within the UK from 21 re-homing centres. There are three main sources of dogs requiring re-homing: handovers, where dogs are handed in due to an adverse change in home circumstances, take-ins from other smaller charities who are unable to re-home and strays and rescues from cruelty taken in by the local authorities.
Prior to re-homing, all potential homes are inspected, and potential owners interviewed. Free advice is available to potential owners and dogs are supplied with a collar, lead and sample of dog food. Meanwhile, all dogs are vet checked, vaccinated, neutered and microchipped prior to re-homing. The Trust also provides insurance cover for a period of 4 weeks.
As for Oona’s story, she was rescued along with 50 others from an illegal Eastern European import business by Trading Standards and Oona was sent to the Salisbury Centre. She was not in good health, obviously had lots of trust issues and two attempts to re-home her failed, so Lucy offered to take her home for a week to monitor her behaviour at home. That was more than three years ago and with patience and lots of love she is now more settled but will always be a little nervous of strangers and unknown situations. Hence the baby sling.
Next month we will be following Liz Barron’s grandfather to China by train– a tale of two journeys. If this has sparked your interest, then please come to the Village all on 28th March in time for the meeting to start at 7.30 p.m.
Diary Dates:
02 March – Breakfast Club
09 March – Walking Group
14 March – Supper Club
25 March – Anton Danebury Group Meeting
26 March – Hampshire Federation Spring Council Meeting
28 March – Monthly Meeting 7.30 p.m. in The Village Hall
30 March – Lunch Club
02 April – Reading Group
