Catching up!

Hi all!

It's been a busy time here at Wiccaweys, and I'm just catching up with myself now.

We are sure everyone is aware that we lost our beloved Grandad Brynn just over a week ago. Last weeks Wiccaweys show was dedicated to him. Our compere for the day, Liz, made a very beautiful, moving and emotional speech about Brynn before the Veteran class. We are still finding it very hard to come to terms with, and Brynn's loss has hit us terribly.

Brynn was such a special dog.

Show News

The show was a fantastic success and we truely believe that Grandad was smiling down on us all that day. The weather was amazing - beautiful sunshine - and so hot for September. We had amazing demos and it was wonderful to see all our 'babies' with their new families. So this is a HUGE "thank you" to everyone who came.

It was a fabulous event, and everyone we've spoken to said they had a great time. Hopefully, we'll be able to have another event like it next year.

There was a wonderful write up on the show in 'OUR DOGS' last week, thanks to our wonderful Judge Nick Mays, and hopefully there will be further coverage this week. We are currently compliling an "Online Show Photos Scrapbook". We have hundreds of photos to add, so please bear with us.

HAUNTED HALLOWEEN GHOST WATCH

The tickets for the Haunted Halloween Ghost Watch being held at Donington Le Heath Manor in Coalville, Leicestershire are now on sale. Remember though that the places are strictly limited (only 35 places available) and there has been a lot of interest so order your ticket now to avoid disappointment.

The event is on Saturday 28th October. and will start around 7pm and go on until around 2.30am!

Ticket price is £50 and includes a buffet and hot/cold drinks, a keepsake momento for all fearless attendees. We have Mediums and Spirtual Communicators attending.

Tickets will be allocated on a first come, first served basis.
Payment for tickets can be made via PAYPAL or NOCHEX to: wiccaweys@aol.com
If you prefer to pay by cheque, please email: wiccaweys@aol.com for details

I'm really looking forward to this event - it should be a really good evening.

Van News

Regulars to the Wiccaweys site will know that Wiccaweys doesn't seem to have much luck with vehicles, and as you may have read, the Wiccaweys van has broken down again. We're now fundraising to try and buy a new one. We are loath to waste another large amount of money fixing her again for basicaly the same problem. We have been advised that it is now a money pit.

We have been lucky enough to secure a set of new cages for a new vehicle at a bargain price, and now we just need to secure a new van! We have seen one we have our eye on, but we need to raise £3,000 very quickly in order to secure it. If you are in a position to help (large or small), we'd love to hear from you. Remember, even ordering a ticket for the Halloween fundraiser will help us enormously. :)

If it helps, you can make a donation online via PAYPAL or NOCHEX to: wiccaweys@ aol.com

Smudge Survives living Wild

Last week we were called out to help a little collie who had been running wild for several weeks after being abandoned. The little collie was seriously let down by the local authorities in the area who would not help to bring her into safety. Luckily a local couple took pity on the little collie and fed her, whilst trying to find out who could help.

Paul and I arrived at the house of the chap where the dog has been visiting.
We arrived to the sound of a dog barking, and I crept round the back of the house. I caught a glimpse of the collie, a little tiny Red & White one as they scurried off in the the bushes and then the field behind the house.

We went in to talk to the chap. It was obvious that we were not going to get near the little soul. We were armed with ACP and a can of Butchers Tripe. Luckily the Smudge, as the couple have named her, was used to coming up to the house and the people there had been feeding her. The man had made a makeshift shelter round the back of the house and near to the field that Smudge would come into to sleep. Smudge always stayed within a specific area, so we were confident that we could drug her and she wouldn't go too far.

A bowl of laced Butchers Tripe was put out, and the man tapped the bowl with a spoon. We waited. 5 mins later a little nose appeared and scoffed down the goods...... and scurried off quickly. Now we had to wait.....

While we are waiting the man told us the story of Smudge, - and the storm from hell starts up. Thunder, lightening, torrential rain like I've never seen before! Smudge has been running loose since the last horse fair. This location is very close to 2 busy roads, not least the A46 - which is as good as a motorway. The chap had contacted the council and the local dog warden who wanted nothing to do with it. They would not help at all. He was even told that it would be best all round if Smudge was knocked down!

We give it 25mins, the ACP should be working - but no let up in the storm. The chap goes out to check if Smudge is in the temporary shelter. Smudge is used to him coming and going, so we do not want to alarm Smudge if the ACP hasn't kicked in enough.

The chap comes back to say Smudge is there, she was thinking about bolting, but when he walked back to the house, she stayed put. He said she was very unsteady on her legs and looked dozy.

We give her 10 more mins for the effect to maximise. The storm is continuing like nothing on earth and the thunder and lightening is directly overhead. The rain is coming down in sheets.

We go out to see if we can get Smudge.

Oh no! - Smudge is not in the little shelter!

Then Paul spots Smudge - the storm has sent her to hide under the base of the Oil Tank! With no way of reaching her, as the base is brick and slabs, concreted into the ground.

The rain is hammering down, but there is no-way we are not going to get her now. We could see from Smudge's eyes that she was terrified. Poor little soul.

Gem-Gems goes in under the tank to try and tempt Smudge out, but she is too scared.

We know Smudge is still very hungry, so we throw in some more Butchers Tripe. Smudge edges forward. Good.
I put in some more, laying a trail to just outside the base and I wait by the side.
As Smudge edges forward, Paul is pushing wood in from the side of the base to stop Smudge retreating back.

A little nose pops out, grabs the butchers tripe and retreats again quickly.

I put down some more... Smudge leans out again, but as I move slightly, Smudge ducks back in.

More tripe goes down, this time a little further away. I have a slip-lead waiting, but I realise I am not going to be able to get this over Smudge's head quickly enough. It's going to have to be hands-on.

Smudge comes out further and eats more, I don't move this time. Smudge retreats a bit and waits.

I put down more tripe, in the same position. This is it.

Smudge comes out, head and shoulders. I make my move and grab Smudge on the scruff.

Poor Smudge is so terrifed at being handled. She does what any terrifed dog would do, and turns round and sinks her teeth into my offending hand. But I am not letting go now! I'm hanging on for dear life. Paul rushes round and gets the slip lead over Smudge's head, and I quickly wrap Smudge up in a blanket. We hurry to the car and get Smudge safely into a crate.

Mission Accomplished!!

We were both soaking wet through, and I was dripping blood everywhere - but Smudge was safe.

Please say hello to Smudge on the website. You can get up to date on her story on this thread:

http://www.wiccaweys.com/forum/index.php?topic=637.0

And see the progress she's made on this thread:

http://www.wiccaweys.com/forum/index.php?topic=689.0

A happy story that keeps getting better.

Lumps & Bumps

This week we have taken in 2 lovely collies who have been saved from pounds. Both are middle aged collies, and on close inspection, both have been found to have rather nasty lumps in places they shouldn't have lumps. Both are booked in the vets this week for investigations and we are keeping our fingers crossed for them.

Robbie News

On a final happy note, I'm sure you all remember "Robbie" who came in with those terrible wounds on his neck. Well, this weekend, little Robbie went off to his new home. It's rather like seeing a child all grown up and leaving home for the first time. He's been adopted by a regular on the Wiccaweys forum, so everyone can keep up to date with his miraculous progress on the site.

Oh well, feeding time beckons - back to the rabble!

The Heart of Wiccaweys has stopped beating.

Our beloved Grandad Brynn passed over the Rainbow Bridge this morning.

I can't say anything else at the moment because my heart is breaking and I feel like my soul has been torn in two.

Brynn.....Brynn.... We love you.

Run Free Basil

Our latest update starts with the very sad news that Basil has left us and passed over the Rainbow Bridge.

Basil crossed over the bridge at around 2pm on Friday afternoon - but he chose to make his journey naturally and without help, laying in his own bed.
We'd just arrived at the vets, and I had carried him and his bed into the surgery.
Basil decided that was the time for him to leave us.

I held his paw and stroked his head as he slipped away.
Run free old friend. I hope your last weeks with us were happy ones.

It never gets any easier with old collies - only 2 days before leaving us Basil was marching around the garden and eating sausage and chips! He just went to bed and never got out again.


On Saturday, Paul & I had a day off. We both needed to get out for a while. Mr & MrsB, and Nina from James Wellbeloved kindly invited us to attend the first ever 'Tails of Achievement' Awards at Newbury. Tigger had made it through to the final 15 and we went along to support him. It was a lovely day out - even better because a cooked meal was thrown in too! Peter Purves was the compare for the day, and what a lovely chap he is with the dogs. Tigger was a little woofy with Peter, but they got there in the end, and we have the photos to prove it. Paul and I were extremely proud of Tigger on the day. He coped with all the bustle brilliantly and took it all in his stride. He made a new friend in the shape of another deaf dog - a rather pretty Boxer girl. Although Tigger didn't win any of the top prizes, Paul I were just over the moon that he'd made it through to the final 15. 6 months ago, Tigger wouldn't have been able to attend such an event - he just wouldn't have been able to cope mentally. The fact that he could was a tribute to Mr&MrsB love, care, patience and devotion to the imcomparable MrT. Tiggs was the true winner in our eyes. :)


The van is still dead, so nothing to report there.
We really don't know what to do at the moment. It is very frustrating.


It's only a few days to the show and preperations are now in manic mode.
The term 'Blue Arse Fly' seems to spring to mind at the moment.
We hope that lots of folks turn out to support us.
We are hoping to have a parade of rehomed Wiccs dogs, and I would love to get them all together in the ring for a giant group shot. :)
We are still desperate for the loan of some agility equipement. If anyone knows anyone they can butter up to help, we would be very grateful. :)


We are very worried about Grandady Brynn at the moment. He is not feeling very well. He had finally lost his sight, bless him and he is find that very confusing. It is breaking my heart to see him. He is having trouble settling at night, and is calling for me. I'm sleeping on the floor with him at the moment, as that is the only way he will settle. Mostly, I'm not sleeping - just watching him and crying a lot. :( I can't bear to think about him not being here with us anymore. Brynn is the heart of Wiccaweys, and it feels like that heart is about to stop beating.