Change Lives

Change Lives

Wednesday 8 April 2020

We Are Still Here.....

I just thought I would give you all a little update to say that we are still here and doing our best to survive in these worrying days. I hope everyone out there is safe and well too.

The response to the appeal I launched (which seems like a life time ago) has been nothing short of sensational.  The generosity of people from all over the world means we now have the resources to go on for several months, by which hopefully this terrible time will have improved and we can start looking at going back to normal. We have also been successful with an application to Support Adoption For Pets through being partnered to the Alnwick Pets At Home store. An emergency grant should be arriving in the next few days.

Knowing all of that gives us inspiration to continue to do our work the best that we can.

We are already setting things in place for the recovery period, with big news on our retail side, a new book called 'Rescue In Lockdown' and an amazing opportunity to win a Porsche 911 Cabriolet that has been donated to us….. See I told you the support has been amazing!

On a daily basis, the lockdown has hit us quite hard, as we  work along side the government's guidelines for social distancing.

All of our volunteers have been very understanding, although it is very frustrating for them to have to stay away. The staff have also made some great sacrifices by either reducing their paid hours or volunteering more depending on what they are contracted to. Including myself, this has then provided us with two teams of 3 that work 3 days on and then  3 days off. Very hard work, but essential to try and reduce the risk of spreading any virus.

It is a great testament to everyones dedication that, despite having 50 dogs to look after, their routine of being fed twice and outside twice has continued. Whilst there isn't as much contact as normal, the dogs seem extremely happy still. It's as if they know that something in the wider world is going on and we are doing all we can.

We have stocked up on all supplies and have an abundance of food, so again we should be ok for a while, although I think the Amazon drivers are sick of  driving to my house!

So all in all, things are ok for now. The uncertainty of when this will be over or when lockdown conditions will ease, means that nobody can really stop worrying. Pulling together as a team of supporters and as the teams at the kennels means we are doing all we can whilst we wait. The charity and the dogs will always be grateful for that.

If you would like to donate to help us in this time of crisis, you can by sending a cheque made payable to SHAK to SHAK HQ, Greenwell Road,  Alnwick NE66 1HB or via Paypal:

https://www.paypal.me/shaksanctuary

Stay safe, stay indoors and thank you.

I took this photo at the kennels a couple of weeks ago. I didn't realise the poignant message it would display back then.