Meet Sweet Abbie.....

Little Abbie arrived last week after a few days stay at a local vets. We are lead to believe that she was a stray that wondered into somebody's garden and that their dog didn't taken too kindly to her intruding. The evidence is clear on her front left leg as to who came off worst.

Despite such a horrific injury, Abbie is such a sweet little soul, and has gone into temporary foster (with 3 other dogs despite her ordeal) whilst she recovers and her leg heals properly. We are however looking for a permanent Forever Foster home for her, so if you would like to offer this happy little girl somewhere to call her own, then please get in touch via email foreverfoster@shak.org.uk

Abbie has also been treated for a flea allergy.

Kai's Trip To The Seaside.....

A short and light hearted film of Kai's trip to the seaside. Although it doesn't show the seriousness of some of the other films I've made, its just as important as it shows the social life our dogs have away from kennels.....

SHAK TV & SHAK In Motion.....

People have been very kind about the videos I've uploaded to try and show you the work that we do on a daily basis. Also to try and show you the full extent of the conditions we have to overcome as our relationships with the dogs grow. You can watch them all on our sister blog "SHAK In Motion".....

http://shakinmotion.blogspot.co.uk/

However, in the meantime in true  TV style, here is what you may of missed on SHAK TV!

Hannah arrives in a terrible state:

Zach's Story.....Part One and Part Two:

Ryder, Huey and Jack set off for new starts and homes:

Kash and Mia arrive:

And the follow on showing the desperate state of Mia:

Little 'Laser' On The Prairie.....

Another dog very close to my heart that as been enjoying the sunshine is Laser. Here he is in full "House On The Prairie" pose. I know, I know I'm giving my age away there.....

Woody's Holidays.....

Here's Woody's photo's from his latest holiday in Scotland. He really does have such a busy social life, and looks so great! Thanks so much Kate and Ant!

Makes a change from Ant being drunk under the table!

Cooper Has A Driving Lesson As Fraser Goes To the Beach.....

I think the warm weather we've been having up here has had everyone thinking of going to the seaside..... Well on Saturday Rich attempted to take Cooper out for a paddle in the sea. However, Cooper didn't quite get the hang of being in the boot, and Rich had to turn back as Cooper was determined he was going to drive!

 A quick change of plan saw Fraser get the day out instead, and as you can see he had a brilliant time and an Ice Cream! Thanks Rich for giving him a break from being in kennels, but also a chance for us to have a look at he handled the outside world..... With ease!

4 Years On For Zac.....

Things have been so busy of late, as you will have seen on the videos, that I haven't been able to update this site as much as I'd like, or at least as frequently. It doesn't mean though that I have forgotten important dates, and on Sunday the 14th of June it was 4 years since we lost a really special big boy, Zac. I often think of him, and can still hear his bark. I still miss you Z Dog.

Here's what I wrote all those years ago.....

"June 14th 2010.

SHAK lost one of it's old gents this morning as I arrived at The Rescue Place this morning to find Zac collapsed in his kennel. I tried to get him up, and had to carry him to my jeep to take him to the vets, but he passed away in my arms.

We are not sure the cause, possibly a mass in his stomach or even a twisted stomach, and it was decided that the money it would cost for an autopsy would be put towards saving more lives. Nothing is going to bring Zac back.

Zac arrived with us because nobody else would take him. Despite being a handsome old boy, he wasn't Rotti enough or German Shepherd enough for a breed rescue to take him. I was called 2 hours before the pound he was in were going to take him to the vets to be destroyed. Thanks to Peter (you know who you are) he travelled north to us instead.

Zac had the deepest bark you have ever heard. He was a real old fashioned crossbreed in my eyes. Big, black and tan and just loved the simple things in life. Seeing him half heartily running up the fence barking at another old timer, his kennel neighbour Smokey, is something that will always bring a smile to my face. He was young at heart, just his body didn't quite have the same spirit.

Run free at the bridge Zac, I'm sure you'll be cocking your leg on everything you can. I will miss you, as will all of SHAK, but I know Smokey will miss his sparing partner."

And It's Home For Good For Layla.....

It is also great to see Layla relaxing in her new home. Thanks to Beth and everyone at our friends Huskies In Need for helping us out with this beautiful girl when she needed it the most. Yes we saved her from being destroyed, but Beth and the team took her on and found her a home. In fact her fosterer's fell in love with her so much they kept her. You can see why.....

Blade Looking For A Home Of His Own.....

Speaking of Blade, he is doing exceptionally well in his temporary foster home. He has recovered from a skin infection (possibly some form of pollen allergy, all vets tests proved negative for anything else) and is coping well with the other dogs and cats!

Here is a little message from him.....

"I'm an affectionate boy who loves walks. I would love to be the centre of attention in a special home. Im currently staying with my foster brother and sisters but would love to have my own human to call my own. I'm really loving my daily brushes now too. I'm a little cheeky character who is very playful. I can be a little strong on the lead but I'm learning to walk on this thing they call a halti. And apparently I'm learning well! I adore cuddles on the human thing they call a sofa. As you can see from my pictures, I like to know what's going on around me! I'm spotless in the house which they say is great. I live with 2 small creatures called cats. They are interesting things that run. Sometimes I will chase them but I don't hurt them. They are used to dogs like me. I could happily live with another one after careful introductions... See... I'd really just like a home to call my own."

If you would like to offer Blade a Forever Foster home (Akita experience preferred) then please either have a look at the next step on our Forever Foster page, or email foreverfoster@shak.org.uk for an application form.

A Great Day At Hillheads Dog Training Club.....

I'd like to thank everyone at Hillheads Dog Training Club for another fantastic day on Sunday at their fun day. As usual it was a great family day out, for everyone four legged and two! This training club has shown great loyalty and support to us for a good few years now, ever since we helped with a dog that they knew of that was due to be destroyed. I don't have to tell anyone how great Grace has turned out to be since then!

Thanks to Brian and all his team and members for all they do for us!

It was also great to see so many SHAK dogs there,, past and present, a few of which are below.

(L-R Penny, Blade, Kayla)

A real superstar..... Lucas

Roxy Ready For The World Cup.....

Another one of our dogs that is doing really well in the outside world, and looking fantastic is Roxy. Here she is with her favourite toys.....

Elmo's Holidays And A New Job.....

It is also great to see Elmo enjoying his summer holidays. Another skinny and unwanted Lurcher that has turned out to be such as a superstar.....

And just to prove how fantastic he is, I'm very proud to say that he has a certificate and a new job to prove it, as he is officially registered as a PAT Dog! (Pets As Therapy.) Well done Elmo and Julie!

Maisie Looking Amazing.....

It's great to see little Maisie looking so well and content after such a difficult start to life. Her Forever Foster mam Sheilagh has done such a fantastic job turning her from this.....

Into this beautiful girl......

Well done and thank you to you both!

Our Beautiful Girl Mia.....

I've had a lot of people both congratulate us and say how upset they were when they saw Mia arrive on Thursday. People are very interested in seeing how she is doing, well here is part 2 of her story.....

And for those who missed her arrival, here is part 1.....

You can see all of our videos on our SHAK In Motion Blog.....

http://shakinmotion.blogspot.co.uk/

Please Don't Forget.....

Always a good family doggy day out:

Two More Arrive.....

Kash and Mia arrive, as Spencer, Amber, Kes and Trigger go south.

I Still Miss My Best Friend Who Started All This.....

8 years on from the day I lost you, I still miss you Shak x

Update On Zach.....

Zach has made tremendous progress over the 6 days he had been here when this video was made yesterday. He is so intelligent, and making new friends.....

Here's Part 2 of his story, and if you missed it Part 1 is below:

Tia Looking Good.....

Another SHAK dog that is doing really well is Tia. As you can see she looks great, and is making a lot of new friends.....

Thank You.....

I wanted to say thank you to Suzanne and her 3 dogs, and her friend Sharron who very kindly completed the Great North Dog Walk on Sunday to raise funds for us. I've also uploaded a photo of one of her girls sleeping with the house rabbit! Simply awesome.....

Bathtime and Sunshine.....

Though I'd post another few pictures of Fagan taking it easy after another medicated bath at Sheena and Roger's. As you can see he takes it all in his stride, and its great to see him mixing with our very own Penny. Little Flossie is the other dog snoozing, another of Sheena's SHAK fosters!

And speaking of Sheena and Roger, look at how big the little puppy Snoopy is that they did such a great job raising before he moved to Forever Foster.....