Jam Jar Army.....

Local followers could really do us a favour by buying this weeks Northumberland Gazette and voting for us in there Jam Jar Army vote. It could be worth at least £10,000 to the charity. Please buy a paper and vote, and get all your friends to too! Thank You. 

Book Officially Released.....

Thanks to everyone who has pre-ordered the "Its's A Dog's Life" book, your orders are packaged and will be posted tomorrow. Thanks again for your support.

The book is now released and in stock, you can get yours from:

Order Your "It's A Dog's Life" Book.....

 

First Copies Due Tomorrow....

Abandoned by the people you trust,left on your own without the family you adore. Everything you've ever known gone forever. Surrounded by strange places and strange people. Your whole life turned upside down. How would you cope?

But every cloud has a silver lining and for this dog the emptiness is gradually replaced by new friends, best friends, all with their own story to tell, and perhaps all facing the same fate.

It’s A Dog's Lifeis an insight into the frightening and heart-breaking world of a stray dog – a Rottweiler’s view on life in a pound after he loses everything he's ever owned,loved and cherished, and his battle to try and understand why.

Written by myself, Stephen Wylie, each copy sold means a donation to SHAK.

FIRST COPIES DUE TOMORROW!!!

Order Your Copy Here.....

It's A Dogs Life The Radio Show.....

Please don't forget to tune into "It's A Dogs Life" The SHAK Radio Show on Thursday from 9am - 11am on Lionheart Radio 107.3 fm. Or listen live on line at www.lionheartradio.com.

Theres some great stories and some fantastic tunes lined up, so please tune in.

Any requests or if you have A Waggy Tail please email lionheartradio@shak.org.uk

Great News For Maisie.....

I'm delighted to say that little Maisie now has a new Forever Foster home, and a trip to the vets today disclosed that she is now a whopping 9.3kg! Thanks to Sheena and Roger for giving this little girl the chance to rebuild her life, life begins now little Maisie.

Never Out Of Thoughts.....

The very special Harlie would of been 6 today if she was still with us. Never forgetten, still loved and massively missed. Happy Birthday brave girl.

An Old Handsome Friend.....

Another old favourite that is doing very well and much loved is Sam (now known as Stan.) Sam and I go back a long way, and he always was an amazing dog. Through his trials with the Police to being chased by a heard of cows, Sam was a star. Thanks to Barry and Dorothy for showing so much understanding and love to a very special SHAK big boy.

Postcard From Spike (aka Wilf).....

Dear Geoff and Steve

Time is whizzing by and I thought I'd give you an update and some recent photos of Spike.

We recently went up to Scotland to stay in a log cabin, so that was probably Spike's first holiday. I've attached a few photos for you. He found it all a bit mind blowing (SO many smells!) but was very well behaved, all things considered. In the cabin he took his cue from Anya, and wherever Anya's bed is, that's home, so they settled down immediately.

He definitely likes his exercise; we used to think that we gave Anya quite a lot of walks but Spike has raised the game by a long way. One day in Scotland we walked 11 miles - Martyn Anya and I were just about on our knees when we got back but Spike was obviously just getting warmed up and ready for the next 11!

I have enrolled him in a beginners agility class with Raven River Agility to start in a few weeks' time - I think he will love it and I'll let you know how he gets on. He is very very bright and we're looking at other ways to keep him stimulated so we're getting a back pack for him so that when we can only do shorter walks in the mornings, he will be working just that bit harder. With the dog walkers pack, he has a great time with Jeff the border collie and Muriel the greyhound who both like to play as rough as he does!

Just looked at your website tonight and saw the sad news about Nina; I'm so sorry to hear that, but it's nice that she chose her own time and went peacefully. Although we didn't meet her I know she was a hugely important part of what you do, and many thanks are due to her for living with Spike and teaching him about life. I just hope she wasn't missing him too much.


I hope everything is going well for you, sadly you're never going to be short of dogs but yet again on behalf of Spike, thank you.

Summer In The Winter.....

Love these photos of Summer sent by Lesley, she looks so relaxed. I equally love Lesley's description of Summer enjoying the snow..... "She`s never been so happy than she was scooting through the drifts, looking like a hovercraft as her little legs disappeared!"

The Beautiful Ava.....

The beautiful Ava enjoying a walk on the hills this afternoon in what remains of the snow.

Could You Help Nanuk?....

Nanuk is only about a year old, and has learnt a lot since he arrived with us. We are looking for an experienced home who can help this sociable little fella continue his new start in life. Nanuk lived with Gemini for a few months so he may like a girlfriend to play with. If you feel you could offer Nanuk a home please contact foreverfoster@shak.org.uk

Nanuk Has Ride In The Sunshine.....

Nanuk enjoying some sunshine on my passenger seat during a trip to the vets with me this morning. For nothing major, just to get some ear drops.

Introducing Thelma And Louise.....

Life goes on, and today I can introduce you to two real characters in Thelma and Louise. These girls (we think they're sisters) were found as strays, very smelly and Thelma had a skin infection. We have since been told that they lived outside. Two playful and cute young girls, if you are interested in offering them a home please contact foreverfoster@shak.org.uk

Farewell To an Amazing Lady.....

Words can't describe how we're all feeling today, as we discovered the beautiful Nina had passed away in her sleep. She looked peaceful, but it shard to believe that she has gone. Nina was a brave girl, you'll remember she survived a massive pyometra in the summer, so if there was anything sinister happening she never let on.

Used and abused before coming to us, she was another Daddy's girl who would deliberately misbehave so I'd go and carry her home to her kennel. She helped so many dogs in her time with us, and shared kennels with George, Wilf and right to the end with Bobby. In fact in the 6 weeks or so she lived with him, Bobby was the happiest I've ever seen. Below are her playing with Jetta who was due to be destroyed for being dog aggressive.

 We're all going to miss her, perhaps me more than most, and we'll all never forget her that's for sure. Nina had been badly abused, but allowed us into her life and with it came love and trust..... from both sides.

Sky, Brookes, Dusty and now Nina all in two weeks. I think my heart is beyond repair.

Here's how we will all remember an amazing dog, and an amazing friend.

 

No Radio Show Tomorrow.....

Due to the disruption caused by the waist high snow drifts I have, I'm afraid I've had to cancel tomorrows radio show. Really sorry.

"It's A Dog'sLife" Update. Delivery Expected 31st January.....

Abandoned by the people you trust,left on your own without the family you adore. Everything you've ever known gone forever. Surrounded by strange places and strange people. Your whole life turned upside down. How would you cope?

But every cloud has a silver lining and for this dog the emptiness is gradually replaced by new friends, best friends, all with their own story to tell, and perhaps all facing the same fate.

It’s A Dog's Lifeis an insight into the frightening and heart-breaking world of a stray dog – a Rottweiler’s view on life in a pound after he loses everything he's ever owned,loved and cherished, and his battle to try and understand why.

Written by myself, Stephen Wylie, each copy sold means a donation to SHAK.

PLEASE NOTE AT THE MOMENT THIS IS PRE-ORDER ONLY. RELEASE DATE JANUARY 2013.

Pre Order Your Copy Here.....

And The After Effects.....

Scout, Haden and Lennox.

No words needed. This picture says it all.

Why I Do What I Do.....

A lot of the stuff that comes on here can be sad or when a dog arrives in a desperate state. Today I enjoyed an amazing walk with my dogs, 5 of which are SHAK Forever Foster dogs. So I thought I'd let you see some happy dogs enjoying themselves the way they should. Long time follows will remember the stories of Star, Ava, Lennox and more recently Scout and Haden. Here they all are with Oskar and Sky (both fom different rescues). This why I do what I do.....

3 Legged Hadem (left) with Sky and Star.

Haden and Star Could Be Twins.

Haden and Star.

Happy Haden.

Haden With Star, Sky and Oskar.

Contented.

Just Catching His Breath.

Wheres Star Gone?

The Beautiful Ava.

The Grandma.

Lennox.

The Oh So Handsome Lennox.

Haden and His Big Brothers Lennox and Oskar.

Lennox Keeping An Eye On Things.

Mirror Image. Lurcher, German Shepherd x2, Lurcher.

My Two German Shepherds, Oskar and Scout.

Scout.

Scout Looking Happy.

Polar Bear!

Scout.

Star and Sky Make Scout Nervous!

I Got Away From Them Dad!

Airborne.

Sky and Star.

Star and Haden.

Haden Taking A Well Earned Rest.

My Latest Two Friends, Scout and Haden.