I think every body presumes that January is the time the post Christmas kick outs occur, the Christmas puppies or the dog bought for the family that simply hasn't worked out. However, all my years in this 'industry' tells me that February is the cruelest month. This year hasn't proved any different.
Maybe it takes a little longer for the fad to wear off, and the expense of Christmas finally catches up after being left short after the first payday, I really don't know.
At the moment I am receiving so many phonecalls and emails from people wanting to give up on their dog. I even had one yesterday entitled 'Unwanted Dog.' This was written by somebody about their pet.....
I think here is a good point to emphasise once again that being such a small charity with resources stretched beyond belief, that we simply cannot get involved with members of the public. This is due to the workload we have with the 70+ dogs in our care at anyone time. I do not even have the time to reply to such correspondence. It is not out of ignorance, just the need outweighing the reality.
Since the end of January we have taken in some really sad cases, which again adds to our workload, but for one especially the vets needle was the only other option. One didn't get on with the new puppy brought into the house, one turned up as a stray emaciated and riddled with fleas. She's not even a year old. You get the picture.....
Why am I telling you all of this? I just want people to understand the pressure that we are always under, but especially this time of year. The weather obviously makes things even more difficult, sometimes it is a real struggle.
Look at the faces below though, at just thirteen and eleven months, we were their only option.....
Of course you can help in many ways. Please keep your wonderful donations coming, or if you have time to spare and are interested in helping our severely under pressure team then please send a contact number to office@shak.org.uk
Thank you.
Maybe it takes a little longer for the fad to wear off, and the expense of Christmas finally catches up after being left short after the first payday, I really don't know.
At the moment I am receiving so many phonecalls and emails from people wanting to give up on their dog. I even had one yesterday entitled 'Unwanted Dog.' This was written by somebody about their pet.....
I think here is a good point to emphasise once again that being such a small charity with resources stretched beyond belief, that we simply cannot get involved with members of the public. This is due to the workload we have with the 70+ dogs in our care at anyone time. I do not even have the time to reply to such correspondence. It is not out of ignorance, just the need outweighing the reality.
Since the end of January we have taken in some really sad cases, which again adds to our workload, but for one especially the vets needle was the only other option. One didn't get on with the new puppy brought into the house, one turned up as a stray emaciated and riddled with fleas. She's not even a year old. You get the picture.....
Why am I telling you all of this? I just want people to understand the pressure that we are always under, but especially this time of year. The weather obviously makes things even more difficult, sometimes it is a real struggle.
Look at the faces below though, at just thirteen and eleven months, we were their only option.....
Of course you can help in many ways. Please keep your wonderful donations coming, or if you have time to spare and are interested in helping our severely under pressure team then please send a contact number to office@shak.org.uk
Thank you.