SANCTUARY
NEWS 2010
Right before you
ask if I have been 'airbrushed', no I
haven't, just not such a recent photo!!
For those of you
who don't know me, I'm Rio and the
longest resident of the Sanctuary, I have
been here since April 2004 and will be 10
next March.
As with all us
'black beauties' we loose our colour
quite early in life and often look older
than we are plus being black we are the
most unpopular and hardest colour to
home, mind you mum and dad are the
exceptions to that rule as they have 7 of
us black guys including my good self.
I'm a pretty laid
back sort of a guy and have always been
quite popular, but had to give up my
blood doning, P.A.T. dogging and
attending fetes due to my epilespy. I am
now on tablets and am counting the months
since Iast I fitted and touching wood
each time. I loved doing the fetes and
mum says if I go a real long time without
being poorly she will let me attend some
next year, so it's paws crossed.
Right let's get
down to the matter in hand, or is that
paw! anyway I've been told I have to fill
you in on what we have been up to this
year.
I think it is
important to include the happy events as
well as the sad, and once again these
have been losses both within the
Sanctuary and to our owners but the most
tragic shock was the loss of Jude,
Alison's mum.
Over the years she
helped us in so many ways and whether it
was assisting us at fetes or shows, or
looking after Alison's brood whilst we
attended an event, she was always there.
A small lady with a big heart, we miss
her and will always remember her and we
were so pleased she was part of what we
do.
Jude with Harlea at
the Living Legend
2010 has also seen
us lose 4 of our brothers and sisters
here at the Sanctuary and we have also
said goodbye to 6 of our owner's dogs and
mum's special sponsor dog up in
Aberdeenshire.
We pay tribute to:-
Tia
 
Tic Toc and Tolly
 
Blue Magic and
Dudley
Our own losses:-
 
Dilly and Hawk
 
O. B. and
Littlewoods
and mum's sponsor
pooch up in Scotland
Mr. Scoots
Hey guys we love
and miss you all.
Right now down to
what this year held for us. I have been
told to mention the economic climate not
really sure what that means, but I like
summer best!!!. Anyway it's not a good
climate apparently as we didn't home as
many dogs as last year (well one less)
and we didn't collect as many funds but
all in all we didn't do too badly.
We started our
events way back in March with the first
of our two Open Days. This is always such
a good event and it makes mum clean and
polish so much harder!!! This year Aunty
Hilary and Aunty Donna made some of those
biscuit treats from Malarky's famous
recipe in the 'A la Bark' Baking Book and
Aunty Nicky, well she just keeps
producing those wonderful cards and
bookmarks.
Nicky, Hilary and
Donna they'll hate me for putting this
photo on but here they are and all of
them sober!!
I think the
highlight of our year had to be the Great
British Greyhound Walk or as we called
it, our very own Itex Walk. This was an
event where not only greyhounds could
participate but also lurchers and
whippets and all over the U.K. on the
same day and at the same time these guys
were raising money. Aunty Alison and mum
didn't stop smiling all day and were so
proud of all their owners that turned up
and supported us.
Here are just some
of us at the start of the walk
In between all this
excitement mum managed to find us a field
to go to. It's not our very own field
unfortunately, but most of the time when
people see we are in it they will either
go in the other field or wait 'till we
have all been put back on our leads. It
makes such a difference as it means that
some of our gang that don't ever go off
lead can have that luxury. Not telling
you where it is!!!! We would still very
much like a field of our own, so anyone
that can oblige please get in touch.
Safely back on our
leads at the end of our walk
Ruby and Quinn
enjoying their freedom
Shows cropped up
all year round, I did get to go to a
couple but only for a short while at the
end just in case I was poorly. I believe
that Gump and Ziggy have been a big hit
this year at the fetes and various other
events so it's good to know they have
been successful as, although I say it
myself, I am a hard act to follow!
The Trinity Show
was back on but only for two days, it was
really windy and cold the first day but
the second was good. We also had the West
Show which meant we didn't get to go to
Guernsey as they were the same weekend -
hopefully we will go next year. Animal
Day in the Royal Square was a great hit
and I got to stay for longer there. Even
when all this was going on dad was still
going over to England and bringing dogs
back for homes both in Jersey and the
other Channel Islands.
Charity week was
amazing, mum and Alison usually hold this
at the beginning of April but this year
they had been allocated a spot in
September. Initially I know mum wasn't
too happy about this but hey, what a
cracker of a week it turned out to be.
Sadly this event
was marred by the loss of Jude so Aunty
Alison couldn't be with us.
Each day I went to
pick mum and Donna up with dad so I got a
few strokes without having to be there
all day.
 
Aunty Trish and
Aunty Donna with Malarky, Ziggy, Fonz and
Gump
and on the right
with dad waiting for mum to pack up - oh
yes the hairy thing well that's our
sister Kentee!
Following this came
our second Open Day, not so busy which in
a way was nice as we got to sit and talk
to people. Sponsorships were good and
Christmas cards were selling well. We
have a couple of school assemblies and a
W.I. to go to in the New Year maybe I
will get to go to one of those.
Then came the
proudest moment since the start of
Greyhound Rescue Jersey nearly 15 years
ago. Mum has been making a pest of
herself (nothing new there) applying to
Barclays Wealth hoping that if she
pestered enough they would consider our
charity for a donation. Last year Aunty
Al and mum put on their glad rags and
headed for the Pomme d'Or hotel as they
were short-listed for an award. Alas it
didn't happen but this year well what can
I say, take a look at this!
£1.000.00 awarded
to Greyhound Rescue
Over 40 charities
applied and only 10 were given awards and
we were one. Well Aunty Al said mum was
rendered speechless now that I would have
loved to have witnessed!!!!
Al and I looking
extreemely proud of ourselves
So there you are
what a wonderful way to finish off the
year. We still did events right up to the
end of November but then we all said mum
and Aunty Alison could have December off.
Not strictly true as there are always
sponsorships to do they prove very
popular as Christmas pressies.
So many people to
thank the list is endless but these are
just a few. Chris our pilot who must be
near entering the Guinness Book of
Records for greyhound flown back to the
Channel Islands. Pat at Hall Green,
Nicky, Hilary, Donna,Danny, Trish our
wonderful owners, our sponsors, New Era
Vets who allow us to sell cards and pens
at their St. Brelade branch, and members
of the public who never cease to amaze us
with their generosity.
It only remains for
Fonz, Malarky, Danny, Peanut, Ziggy,
Gump, Star, Nog, Silks Kella, Ruby, Pola
Bear, Quinn, Kentee, Gail, Mal, Alison
and of course yours truely that's me Rio
to wish everyone a
VERY HAPPY
CHRISTMAS
and we look forward
to seeing you all in the New Year
Rio
Editor Sanctuary
News 2010
A TOTAL OF 24 DOGS
WERE HOMED IN THE ISLANDS THIS YEAR ONLY
1 DOWN ON LAST YEAR SO THRILLED ABOUT
THAT.
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