****Merry Christmas****

****Merry Christmas****
to all our friends, vounteers, supporters, followers
and all our dogs & their families.

Thank you to everyone who has sent or delivered cards, letters, photos, presents and donations. 
Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts,
we appreciate everything that everyone
does for the dogs, and for us. 
To our special secret Santa - the card arrived safe and sound - thank you.

Wishing everyone a wonderful christmas
and a peaceful new year.
With much love to you all,

Sarah & Paul

Its that time of the year............so herrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre's Bamley!!

Letters to Santa Paws

 WoofWoofWoof!!
(translated as HoHoHo!!)


This year I've been very creative with my paws and set up a Facebook page so doggies all around the world who are computer literate can post their Christmas letters to me there. Last year was a bit of a disaster as the ElfPups got into the mailbox - and there was a snowstorm all over the place! They were on the naughty list I can tell you!!

Here is the link to my Facebook page info,
click on the wall to see the Letters from the Doggies
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Letters-to-Santa-Paws/152741761494245?sk=info

So, come on, join in, send me your letters and let me know if you've been naughty or good! Good I'm sure! Don't fib though, because I know things! I am Santa Paws!

And because its the season of good will, I'm asking all my doggy kin to spare a thought for all those dogs in rescues around the world, and if you can spare a few treats for a local rescue, and/or your human could spare a few pennies or pounds to support a local rescue, I am sure those homeless dogs would really appreciate your Christmas spirit.

Lots of love to all & Merry Christmas!!!
WoofWoofWoof!!!
Santa Paws
xxxxxxxxx


Santa Paws (when not in the North Pole) is a resident at Wiccaweys.
His identity is a strict secret!
Please visit his friends at: www.wiccaweys.co.uk

If you would like to make a donation towards Santa Paws and his friends at Wiccaweys, you may do so via PAYPAL using the email address: wiccaweys@aol.com

Or you can email him at the same address
for details of other ways of making a donation.

Wiccaweys Rescued Border Collies and Working Sheepdogs
www.wiccaweys.co.uk

Wiccaweys Christmas Cards

Wiccaweys Christmas Cards are available from the lovely Diane (Smirnoff).    Please send an email to Diane at smirnoffandco@doglover.com if you would like some. Thank you xxxx

 

Romania Trip - not long now.

Only 2 weeks until Sarah leaves for Romania to meet and assess dogs over there, working with The Romanian Underdogs.  Wiccs volunteers, DJ & Eleanor are going with Sarah to provide support and backup.

There is still time if anyone would like to kindly donate a dog coat or two for the girls to take out with them, or to make a donation or provide some sponsorship for the trip.  If you would like to help out, or donate a dog coat, please send an email to: wiccaweys@aol.com so we can send you the postage address.  If you would like to make a donation or provide some sponsorship via PAYPAL, the address to use is: wiccaweys@aol.com

We are hoping that a laptop will be joining the girls on the trip to Romania and we'll try to keep people posted on their mission and adventures daily while they are there.

Congratulations to Ellie!

A very big congratulations, well done and thank you to Ellie Camacho who ran the Chester Marathon in aid of Wiccaweys.  She completed the course in a time 6h 12.50 mins and raised a fantastic £400!!! 

Sarah is going to Romania!!

Sarah is heading off to Romania in November, in conjunction with Hauser Bears Charity & The Romanian Underdogs, to work with and assess Romanian strays and unwanted dogs.

We are starting a collection for dog jumpers and coats for Sarah to take out to Romania with her. We would particularly like to take out the polar fleece type dog  jumpers. All sizes required. There are lots of elderly and frail dogs who would appreciate a little extra warmth when the temperatures drop well into the minus'.

If anyone would like donate a coat or jumper, please call us on: 07905 203254 or email us on: wiccaweys@aol.com

Thank you. xxxx

Halloween Sponsored Walk!! Sunday 30th October 2011

Halloween Sponsored Walk
Wicksteed Park, Kettering, Northants

Date: Sunday 30th October 2011

Venue: Wicksteed Park, Kettering, Northants.

Organiser: Vets4Pets, Kettering. Tel: 01536 511500

Start Time & Meeting Point: Meet in the car park at 2pm, walk to start at 2.30pm.
The walk will last rough an hour in duration.

Parking Availability: Plenty of parking, special £2.00 admission rate for walkers.

Duration: 1 - 1.30 hours.

Hazards: The park asks for Health and Safety reasons that all dogs are kept on leads for the duration of the walk.

Facilities: Toilets, food, coffee, etc available. Wicksteed is also amusement park with funfair rides should people wish to make a day of it. We advise checking ride availability with the park should this be the case.

Walk Description: A slight change from the normal Wellies and Paws walks. This is a sponsored walk organised by our lovely vets, Vets4Pets, Kettering in aid of Wiccaweys. There will be lots of prizes to be won on the day and each walker will be given a free raffle ticket which will allow them to enter our fantastic prize draw!

Fancy Dress: As it is Halloween we would all love it (if you dare) for you, or children or your dog to wear fancy dress! We will have our cameras at the ready! There will be prizes for best dressed dog and child! 

Fundraising & Sponsoring: Vets4 Pets ask that there is a minimum donation of £5 on the sponsor form with all money raised going to Wiccaweys. Please contact the practice on 01536 511500 if you are able to participate so they can add you to the walk register.

Download sponsor form here: http://www.wiccaweys.co.uk/gallery/sponsoredwalk2011/sponsorform2011.docx

***** TAZZIE FOUND *****
Just had a call from Harborough Dog Warden.
Laura on route to pick her up as I type.
Found in her home village.
*******************************

Missing Wiccaweys Dog - Fleckney, Leicestershire. LE8 8TN

Tazzie is a small red tri colour collie x kelpie type.
She has speckles on her legs and chest.
Tazzie went missing from her adopters garden around 3pm, Sunday 18th September after child left gate open.  She has been in her home a year so will know the area.
Adopters out looking for her. Advice given on scent trails etc.
Tazzie is microchipped to Wiccaweys.   Details on Doglost.
Tel: 07905 203254 / 07952026427

Massive Thanks!!

Paul & I would like to give massive thanks to everyone who made this years show a success! 

Not even a rainy day could stand in the way of Wiccs Magic and we were absolutely overwhelmed by the fact that almost everyone visitors, guests and volunteers stuck with us during the day and had a fantastic time, damp or not!   Wiccs folks are a hardy bunch!!    

It was wonderful to see so many of our beloved dogs again, and Paul & I were over the moon to see some of the dogs that we rehomed right at the start of Wiccs, 8,9 10 years ago - including a couple of dogs and families that had not been able to make the shows before - so lots of tears of joy there - especially as the dogs remembered us!!   I remember homing those dogs like it was yesterday, even down to what happened on the homechecks!  LOL!

Thank you to everyone that gave up their time to keep everyone fed and watered, man stalls, run the ring, take photos/vids, keep things running and generally just muck in where needed. 

A very special Massive thanks must got  to our 'Hero of the Year' winner, Julia, for holding the fort back at Wiccs so everyone else could be at the show, although we did manage to get her to the show under false pretenses for a little while so we could give her her award......................

It was a brilliant day.  Once again the Wiccs family have shown they are second to none!!   Thank you one and all - and SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!

Darker nights are coming....

So Paul has designed some fantastic Glow In The Dark & Reflective T-shirts!!

Take a look at them at the Wiccs Online Store.

Stay safe, look cool & help raise funds for Wiccs.

Ladies reflective T-shirt

Mens reflective T-shirt

Ladies Glow In The Dark T-shirt

Mens Glow In The Dark T-shirt

Warning to All.

 I have just received a report that a 10 week old collie pup (none Wiccs) was stolen from a garden in Kettering yesterday and was later found dead, with a similar aged lab pup, at a farm in Isham. Owners in the area please be aware!
PLEASE, PLEASE - DO NOT leave your dogs unattended in your gardens.   Especially if you have fences that people can see over, or gate access to your gardens.  It isn't worth the risk.  We say it until we are blue in the face and people think we are over zealous or being ridiculous!   BUT it does happen and it only needs to happen once.  Run free little ones.

Rescue Dogs aren't broken

"Rescue dogs aren't broken. They've simply experienced more life than other dogs. If they were human, we would call them wise. They would be the ones with tales to tell and stories to write. The ones dealt a bad hand who responded with courage. Don't pity a rescue dog. Adopt one. And be proud to have their greatness by your side."

Shamelessly borrowed from the DDA watch facebook page

Mitch

 Mitch is about 14 years old, and he was abandoned in his owners property when they moved out. 

He was abandoned with his mate, a GSD x, a cat and two hamsters. They were in the property for days before neighbours became concerned that no-one had been back to the property as the dogs were constantly barking.

The neighbours had keys to the property and entered, they found the dogs in the kitchen locked up with excretement everywhere and no food or water.  The neighbours called the local Dog Warden who attended straight away, assessed the situation and gave them food to feed the dogs. 


The Dog Warden immediately contacted the Animal Welfare Charity responsible for this kind of situation (as frequently advertised on TV) to request they attend.  They refused point blank to come out, despite being phoned several times, from various sources and official help being request by the Dog Warden of Local Government Authority.  As you can imagine, the Dog Warden involved was not best pleased, or impressed.

The dogs had to legally remain in the property for the next three weeks while the Dog Warden tried get the relevent authorities to attend and arrange for permission to remove the dogs.  The Dog Warden provided the neighbours with food for the animals and attended the house daily.

In the end the Dog Warden had to ask the housing association to intervene to be able to legally remove the dogs that way.  

After the dogs had been in the pound for a further 2 weeks their owner eventually phoned the housing association to say she wouldn't be coming back and to do what they wanted with the dogs!!!

Because of all the stress, the GSD had started to pick fights with poor Mitch and it was a relief all round when the Dog Warden was finally able to get them out and into kennels.

Mitch is such a lovely old chap, a true gentleman.  Despite his difficult past months he bares no grudges to anyone, whether they by human or dog.  He is an absolutely angel and has a real spirit of life about him.  He has settled into Wiccs fantastically and has charmed everyone he meets.  He has even found himself a new love, and flirts shamelessly with Bella, our older lady collie looking for a home.  They are about the same age, enjoy quiet walks together and spending time together.  Its so sweet - like two OAP's finding love at the age of 90 in an old folks home.  Bless!!

The years Show!

Don't forget to check out the events section on the website for details of this years show in September.  Lots to see and do!!

In memory of Michael, an Irish Collie

We think that this boy, who Eila called Michael, deserves to have his story told as a tribute to his memory.

He had been living in the woods for over five years, presumably he was dumped there as a young dog unwanted and most certainly unloved.
He existed by scavenging in the wild for food, occasionally thrown the odd scrap or two by people in the locality who knew of his existence.
Over that long five years, during the hottest days of summer and the coldest dark nights of winter Michaels life must have been a struggle to survive.

Recently Eila was alerted to his plight and so began the long and slow process of trying to rescue him.
Night after night she went to the woods, left him food and water and tried to coax him to come to her, but life had taught him to be wary of us humans.
Days became weeks and months and slowly Michael began to emerge and on rare occasions allowed his head to be rubbed, this was without doubt the only affection he had ever known.
Eila sent us regular reports of her progress and would ring full of joy when Michael had eaten from her hand.  We were all waiting for the day he would come in from the woods, and he would come over to Wiccs to start his new life.

At last perseverance paid off and on Tuesday last week Eila managed to rescue him.   Michael came to her and told her he was ready to come in. 
He was too scared to walk, so Eila carried him through the woods and to the car.
The hope was that with proper nourishment,veterinary care and lots of love finally this boy would get the chance he deserved. 

But sadly and cruelly fate intervened and on Friday Michael was rushed to the vets.
On examination it was discovered he had a very large tumour in his abdomen. His system was so weak from years of neglect that he would not have survived surgery.
So the heart breaking decision was made based on what was best for Michael, but definitely the saddest for Eila to end his suffering and put him to sleep.
Last night Michael returned to his woods to be buried in the soft earth sheltered by trees in that place he called home.

May you sleep softly sweet boy, free now from pain and hunger and never to fear us humans again. 
You would have made such a wonderful pet for someone if only you’d been saved earlier. 
Run free Michael, never know sorrow or pain again.

Michael, you are remembered and you are honoured.
We know that you touched Eila's heart and soul, and she loved you very much.
She gives thanks to St Michael that you trusted her enough to let her take you in so you weren't all alone when you crossed the bridge.

________________________________________________________________________

From Eila as posted on the Wiccaweys Forum:
Thank you all so much for the kind words for my beloved Michael.  I loved him so much I felt as though he was my own.  My friend Susan was so good, she came down night after night, lying with us in the dirt and mud to show Michael we weren't all bad. 

It's been 4 days since we said good bye to Michael but still my heart feels as if it's in a thousand pieces.  Yesterday, in the supermarket I saw turkey legs on sale and thought "Michael would love those" I started crying and had to go home. 

Why is life so unfair - in the last few years I've seen a lot of cruelty and hurt but I've never felt like this.  I feel numb inside and wonder did I do wrong by taking Michael out of the forest. Deep down I know it was the right thing to do, no dog or animal deserves to be alone like that.  Vivien, thank you for such a beautiful tribute to Michael, he would be very happy. (Wiccs supporter and adopter Vivien has started a little Fund in Michael's name) 

Every night I told Michael a story about Wiccs, I told him who'd gone over there and how they were doing and I told him all about Sarah & Paul and the Wiccs dog walking team.  I promised Michael that he would never know sorrow or pain again.  The day he finally let us take him to safety & warmth, I held him in my arms and held him really close and whispered, Michael, you have your whole life ahead of you, you will be so happy at Wiccs until you find your new home. I didn't know how short lived my happiness would be. 

Thank you to all for caring so much about Michael.  He did not die alone, we were with him at the very end, we owed him that.  Run free Michael and say hello to the lovely Elliott and so many others who have gone before you.

Eila

Forum Maintenance

Just a quick message to say don't panic, the forum hasn't disappeared, it is down for essential maintenance and may be down for a while as these things rarely run smoothly.

Please spare a thought for Maeve

This lovely old lady is Maeve.  Please spare a thought for a dear little old Irish lady who has had a horrible life.

 















Maeve has spent, at least, the last 5 years locked in a shed and never been outside.  When our Eire volunteers got her, her nails were deeply embedded into her pads, she was extremely thing and she had mammory tumours.  Originally because of her condition, our Eire Co-ordinator thought that Maeve would have a week or so of pure love in a foster home, being fed good food and then make a decision with the vet to send her her over the Rainbow Bridge.
 

In the tradition of a true Wiccaweys oldie, Maeve is having none of it!!  She laughed at the thought of a walk across the Bridge just yet.  She's out and her life starts here!!

Our Eire vet says she's actually around 14 or 15 years old.  He said her heart is good and strong and she does have tumors underneath.  He wouldn't like to investigate the tumours as it would disrupt them and he'd need to do a complete mammory strip both sides and he doesn't know if she'd be able for that.  He reckons she'll live a few years happy enough as she's been like that for a very long time and she's got this far despite all the hardship.  The vets advice is to  let her live out her years with them.  He doesn't think he'd be able to do such a big operation on such an old lady. 

Maeve has come round lovely and will wag at her Eire foster mum and come for cuddles.   We had hoped that we could find her a permanent retirement home in Eire, however despite Eila's best efforts there are no takers.  

Maeve is so sweet and so brave, she deserves a couple of years happiness to potter around in.  She has some arthritis in her back legs but nothing that stops her getting around, so she is coming to Wiccs to join our retirement home.  She will have whatever she wants, for as long as she needs.

Watch out for a new Matriach on the yard!!

Very proud of Midge & Daddy again today

This was posted on the Wiccs forum this morning - how wonderful!

Midge and I have just got back from his invitation to visit the local primary school to talk about our adventures, his book and Wiccaweys.

He had a ball of a time. He was SOOOOO well behaved, as he always is but especially when young children are around. I gave the talk while some children looked after him and afterwards they lined up to say hello. At one point I lost him in a crowd of admirers - he was totally mobbed and surrounded by about 20 children but he sat there in the middle just soaking up the admiration.

The head teacher gave him a goody bag of two toys and some snacks as a thank you.

The teachers who had dogs were in great admiration that a dog could be so well behaved. I demonstrated some of Midge's commands to whistle (left, right, come in and down) I was amazed that he did them without hesitation even in front of 100 kids in a hall - he has never been asked to do this before. A couple of children who are nervous of dogs were introduced to him to give him a fuss - they actually asked to meet him having seen him be so gentle.

Needless to say it was all a  moment

It was generally agreed that Midge is a complete star and a great ambassador for Wiccaweys.

Don't forget.....

....To check out the Walkers Blog for all the weekends comings and goings....

To the dogs mystery friend...

To the dogs very kind mystery friend. 

The card arrived safe and sound.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

Sarah & Paul, & All the Dogs at Wiccaweys

xxxx

I'm Back!! Thank you!!

Dear All,

Thank you for all the good wishes and support.  I really appreciate it.  I'm getting back to normal - even if I am being watched like a hawk by Paul, the volunteers and all the animals.

I'm able to do the calls now, though bare with me if I'm a bit slow sometimes - it depends on how long it is since I've taken certain tablets!    LOL!

We've got so many lovely dogs waiting for homes right now - it would be great for them to find new families for the summer.  :)  

Give us a call, have a laugh at me on the other end and find yourself a new family friend. 

Love to all,

Sarah

xxxxx

Sarah Update

Sarah is home from hospital.

Thank you everyone who has sent emails with messages of support, good wishes and healing thoughts.  These have been very much appreciated and Sarah will respond to everyone in person as soon as she can.

She is under strict instructions to take it easy, has enough pills and potions to start her own chemist and is feeling tired and drained.  She is however, very pleased to be back home and received a very warm and happy waggy welcome from the dogs.  Its amazing how many dogs, cats and horses here seem to think they are 'doctors' of some kind at the moment!   If it not one us humans nagging Sarah to take things easy, there is a four legged person of some descript also pointedly getting the message across!

Once her voice is back to normal, Sarah will be allowed to do something, by catching up with the calls.

Thank you once again to everyones concern and support.

URGENT - PLEASE READ - PHONE CALLS / EMAILS

URGENT NEWS

Please note, Sarah was taken into hospital urgently on Wednesday 22/4/11 and we are not sure when she will be out as yet. This means Paul is dealing with most of the day to day work at Wiccaweys himself, with the help of some very extra special volunteers who are giving up their time whenever they can and going above and beyond to support us and the dogs.
Working with the dogs as normal, plus going backward and forwards to the hospital means that phone calls and emails are backing up. This is unavoidable and cannot be helped.

The welfare and care of the dogs must come first, visiting Sarah and keeping updated on her progress comes second.  This means that phone calls and emails come third.

We are NOT ignoring calls or emails. Paul is getting back to people as soon as he possibly can, following our standard protocol of returning calls to people, in turn, in the order they called in and are on the calls list. All phone messages left are logged in the calls book with dates and times. If you call once and leave a message you WILL be logged into the calls book for a return call. You do not need to ring several times.

Paul is still making calls and dealing with calls well after our normal cut off time in the evening to try and keep up.

At this very difficult time we certainly do not appreciate people ringing constantly and leaving stroppy and aggressive messages because their call has not been returned the same day, or even within the same hour!!

We have now taken the decision that due to the pressure and distress we are under at the moment, we WILL NOT be returning calls to those people as that kind of attitude goes against the ethos of Wiccaweys and does not deserve one of our dogs at all, or our time and money spent calling them back to spend hours on the phone giving advice that will probably go unheeded. That attitude means our help would not be appreciated anyway.

For all the other folks who are following the phone call instructions on the website, we very much appreciate your patience and understanding at this difficult time and will be in touch with you as soon as possible to help where we can, as soon as we can.

Wiccaweys life is going on as normal, just at a slower pace than usual.
Dogs still need rescuing and dogs still need homes. If you want to offer a home to one of our lovely dogs, please do call, and we will be in contact with you as soon as we possible can.

Thank you for reading.

Calling All Walkers!!

Want to get out in the fresh air, keep fit and have lots of fun at the same time?  All of this in good company, both Human and Canine?  

Come volunteer dog walking at Wiccaweys!!

Its a great day out at the weekend, you won't know where the time goes - it just flies past.  Lots of happy faces and waggy tails are just waiting to meet new friends to play in the fields with.

We might have to make a confession about the promise of getting fit - Homemade Cakes are usually the order of the day during lunch and tea breaks, but the walking soon works them off again!

If you are interested in joining our happy band, just drop us an email at wiccaweys@aol.com and we will send you all the information for coming and joining in the fun.