Last week I had the pleasure of doing an interview with our good friend Yvonne Bell on Radio Tyneside.
The topic of conversation was 'Rescue In Lockdown' and in case you missed it, here it is.....
The book itself will be available from our stores in Blyth and Amble once they are allowed to reopen in December.
However, if you can't wait until then you can order on line here.....
https://www.shakshop.co.uk/Rescue_In_Lockdown/p168627_20794420.aspx
Continuing on with my post last week about trying to remain positive and make people smile at the work we are doing, I am delighted to announce the launch of our new retro 'Choose Life' T Shirts.
Now, not only can you travel back in time to the 1980's and relive your youth, you can support us in doing so!
As all our dogs were once facing destruction, by finding their way to us and giving them a chance we do indeed 'Choose Life'
Numbers of these Tees are limited so hurry to get yours from:
Carrying on with trying to be positive during the latest Lockdown, today is Competition Time!
Rescue In Lockdown has been around for a couple of weeks now, and sales have far exceeded my original expectations! The reception to the book has been brilliant, I really appreciate all the kind words and support I've received.....
"70 days in the life of a dog sanctuary founder during a pandemic, I found this read very fitting during this current time of uncertainty. Everyone is worried about the human race and how we are all going to survive, but who thinks about the animals in a charities care? This book helps you understand the troubles and struggles many animal welfare charities are facing right now, and it goes deeper, hitting home the struggles of mental health which many people are facing, even more so now. An inspiring read, a reminder to never give up when times are hard, inspiring from both the author and the stories of his beloved dogs who are no longer with us. You don't have to be a dog lover to get caught up in this book, but it will certainly pull at your heart strings if you are. I highly recommend you to buy a copy of rescue in lockdown, even better still you are contributing to saving a dogs life when you do."
"Anyone who follows SHAK will be interested in reading this book. It gives an interesting insight to the struggle & determination that helped SHAK survive the last lockdown . Makes a nice Christmas Gift too."
So today we are giving you 48 hours to enter a competition to win a signed copy worth £11.99. All you need to do is pay a £2 entry fee via PayPal paypal.me/shaksanctuary and in the comments section of your payment tell us in no more than 10 words why we should make you the winner! Easy!
The author Stephen Wylie will pick his favourite and announce the winner on Friday afternoon and a signed copy will be posted out.....
Thanks for your support and good luck!
When the world went mad and the whole country descended into lockdown. There were some who didn’t understand what was happening. When the routine they’d grown to love disappeared along with the ones they’d learnt to trust, they had no idea why. With their entire future in doubt, their lives at stake as the whole world stood still, they still craved the care and attention of before.
Rescue In Lockdown is the story of how a sanctuary for abused and neglected dogs in Northumberland called SHAK try their best to survive a devastating global pandemic.
Following the days told by the charity’s founder, Stephen Wylie, this book is a true account of running a rescue whilst the whole country is in Lockdown. It highlights the desperation for money and the need to adapt. The stress and worry coupled with an instinct to survive.
The real story of the biggest threat to human civilisation which many of this generation have ever faced.
Will the rescue make it through this, but more importantly will the dogs stay alive?
So once again we find ourselves in the very worrying position of facing at least a month in Lockdown, a situation out of our control but one which will hopefully save the lives of people and reduce infection rates.
It seems so long ago in one sense when we were facing this for the first time, but on the other hand Boris Johnson’s announcement on Saturday evening brings back so many dark memories.
This time though it is different.
The support we received from you all during the original Lockdown was nothing short of incredible. You all reached deep and supported us in anyway you could, without you we would no longer be in operation.
This time though, it seems unreasonable to come to you cap in hand again. Everybody is feeling the pinch of how the world has been since March, some people are still not working, and everyone is concerned for their own futures. Then of course there is Christmas.
The reality for us though is if this second lockdown goes on longer than the four weeks initially announced we could be in real danger of closing once more. We are having to close both of our highly successful stores tomorrow (more on those later) meaning we will have no self-generated income to see us through and pay our bills. The jobs of our very experienced staff could be in danger, the rents of the properties we need for the charity to run will also have to be paid. I don’t need to spell it out, the charity could collapse and leave the lives of our dogs in the balance. So many would have nowhere else to go.
Such a devastating thought, and one I really do not want to dwell on, instead I am putting all my efforts, along with the rest of the team, into making sure the above is simply not an option.
This year we have pushed the boat out trying to introduce some new products with the Christmas market just around the corner. Unfortunately, such a market is something we will now be denied. So, with that in mind, please allow me to reintroduce you to our online merchandise shop, www.shakshop.co.uk.
This has been around for a lot of years, but with the imminent restrictions on high street trading, I have stripped it down ready for the new merchandise and to make it all easy to find.
There is my book ‘Rescue In Lockdown’ which documents how we faced the first Lockdown and survived to tell the tale. We have also introduced new style hats to the range, as well as the 2021 Calendars and Diaries.
The ‘Oscar’ T Shirts will be online for the first time in the next few days, with just limited numbers and sizes left. I will also be releasing a new retro style T Shirt which I think people will like. The current situation is delaying printing at the moment.
There may even be more products to follow.
Again, remaining positive rather than submitting to the fear which is driving us all on, we are looking to celebrate the rebirth of the online store by giving you the opportunity to still be able to purchase your Calendars and Diaries. We understand you too are suffering from the constraints of the situation; how can you go through 2021 without being able to look at one of our beautiful dogs every day?
So with that in mind, we are offering a FREE POSTAGE on all Calendars and Diaries bought from www.shakshop.co.uk between now and midnight on Sunday 8th November!
Giving you an opportunity to support us and get your SHAK fix, its something we have never done before. However, in these times we feel we have to do all we can.
Of course, you still have time to pop down to our stores in Bowes Street Blyth and Queens Street Amble. Blyth is open until 3pm, Amble 4.30. So much work goes into the operation in these two shops, it would be fantastic for the volunteers to see how much their efforts are appreciated by sending them off with a great day tomorrow.
Despite what I said at the start of all this, some of you of course may still just want to make a donation. If so, there are several ways you can do.
PayPal: paypal.me/shaksanctuary
Cheque (made payable to SHAK): Posted to SHAK HQ, Greenwell Road, Alnwick NE66 1HB
Or via bank transfer: Sort Code 30-95-76 Account Number 01990158
Thank you in advance for your support and for taking your time to read this. If we all come together, we will survive Lockdown once more.
Stay safe and see you on the other side.
Stephen Wylie
Founder of SHAK
We have limited number of these shirts, in Emerald Green and Heather Green, so due to limited sizes etc they are currently only available in the SHAK Shops at 12 Bowes Street, Blyth NE24 1BD or at 46-48 Queens Street, Amble NE65 0BZ.
If they sell well we may extend the range, but with current uncertainty within the retail sector we decided to keep things small.
So hurry down to either store to pick up your own one of these vibrant tees and remember "Never Give Up."
We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join our experienced team at our kennels North of Alnwick, Northumberland.
In the role of a Kennel Cleaner it will be your responsibility to make sure our dogs have a clean and comfortable home to call their own.
Hours we are looking for are from 8am until 12pm, 5 days per week (days may vary) with the successful applicant being paid the national minimum or living wage depending on age.
Whilst this is not directly a hands on role with the dogs to begin with, opportunities to help with our work should develop over time.
If you are interested in taking the first step to work with our dogs, then please send a covering letter and an upto date CV to office@shak.org.uk or in the post to SHAK HQ, Greenwell Road, Alnwick NE66 1HB.
(Please note because of location and no public transport your own form of transport is essential.)
WE HAVE HAD A DELIVERY....
LAST CHANCE TO PRE-ORDER BEFORE THEY HIT THE SHOPS.....
Pre-order my 4th and brand new book, Rescue In Lockdown, now from www.shakshop.co.uk
When the world went mad and the whole country descended into lockdown. There were some who didn’t understand what was happening. When the routine they’d grown to love disappeared along with the ones they’d learnt to trust, they had no idea why. With their entire future in doubt, their lives at stake as the whole world stood still, they still craved the care and attention of before.
Rescue In Lockdown is the story of how a sanctuary for abused and neglected dogs in Northumberland called SHAK try their best to survive a devastating global pandemic.
Following the days told by the charity’s founder, Stephen Wylie, this book is a true account of running a rescue whilst the whole country is in Lockdown. It highlights the desperation for money and the need to adapt. The stress and worry coupled with an instinct to survive.
The real story of the biggest threat to human civilisation which many of this generation have ever faced.
Will the rescue make it through this, but more importantly will the dogs stay alive?
EXCLUSIVE.....EXCLUSIVE.....EXCLUSIVE.....EXCLUSIVE.....EXCLUSIVE.....EXCLUSIVE.....
When the world went mad and the whole country descended into lockdown. There were some who didn’t understand what was happening. When the routine they’d grown to love disappeared along with the ones they’d learnt to trust, they had no idea why. With their entire future in doubt, their lives at stake as the whole world stood still, they still craved the care and attention of before.
Rescue In Lockdown is the story of how a sanctuary for abused and neglected dogs in Northumberland called SHAK try their best to survive a devastating global pandemic.
Following the days told by the charity’s founder, Stephen Wylie, this book is a true account of running a rescue whilst the whole country is in Lockdown. It highlights the desperation for money and the need to adapt. The stress and worry coupled with an instinct to survive.
The real story of the biggest threat to human civilisation which many of this generation have ever faced.
Will the rescue make it through this, but more importantly will the dogs stay alive?
I am delighted to say my fourth book 'Rescue In Lockdown' will be hitting the SHAK Shop shelves very soon. You can however, pre-order your copy on line now.....
To be one of the first to read how we during the most difficult time we have ever known, follow the link below. Thanks for your support.
BE ONE OF THE FIRST TO GET YOUR COPY OF RESCUE IN LOCKDOWN HERE.....
(Books will be dispatched once they arrive from the publisher. With the current COVID-19 restrictions delivery may take a little longer than normal. Thanks for your patience.)
However, my practical days have provided me with a much better insight into some of our dogs, and allowed us to try and correct some behaviours whilst encouraging others.
All of our dogs have a story to tell, some are more horrific than others, but some could be ready to make the step back into the outside world if we can find the right people to guide them.
As I said at the start of this post, making that change now is not the right time, but it has given me an idea.
Whilst we wait for the madness in this world to pass, I thought it would be good to gather some experienced homes ready for when the time is right.
It is our policy not to rehome with children or other animals unless we have prior history of the dog living with them before, and for accessibility the homes must be relatively close to us (we're in Northumberland) so home visits could work.
If you are interested in offering yourself as an experienced Fosterer (be in temporary or forever) then please email foreverfoster@shak.org.uk telling us a little bit about yourself and the experience you have.
It may take longer than we hope for this to pass, and I understand you may find your new four legged friend from elsewhere in the meantime, but it would be nice to have homes in mind for the dogs which are really making us proud.
I look forward to hearing from you and stay safe.
I think its fair to say the retail sector has taken a huge hit throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, with so many units empty on the High Street. Its quite sad seeing established businesses closed, the road to recovery for many will be a long one.
However, thanks to incredible hard work and dedication from our retail team of volunteers, the two shops which provide a lifeline for the dogs in our care continue to thrive.
In the short time our Amble store has been open it has produced fantastic results. A great team has been assembled and it feels very much a huge part of the charity's future.
After taking a little while to find its feet after lockdown our Blyth store has really taken off once again, producing record figures on some days.
This in turn has lead to an exciting opportunity for anybody who has time to spare and wanting to regain a little but of normality in these crazy times.
We are looking to recruit a couple of new volunteers for our Blyth shop, covering shifts from Monday to Saturday. Obviously we are COVID-19 compliant and all applicants must adhere to the guidelines set out by the Government.
If you'd like to find out more about the role then please email joan@shak.org.uk
During lockdown our good friend Dominic Hodgson asked me if I'd be interested in contributing to a book he was putting together for rescue dogs.
It was good an opportunity to miss the chance to combine my passions for dogs and writing, so I gladly accepted the challenge.
Writing alongside some great dog trainers, I feel very proud to be asked to contribute and hope I've played my little part in a fantastic publication.
Below is an interview I did with Dom to celebrate the release of the book last week.....
More great news on this, is the proceeds of every sale are being shared amongst all the rescues Dom visited (including SHAK) during his Tour De Rescue last year!
To assist all the rescues in such difficult times, and to get some great tips on helping your rescue dog you can buy the book in either paperback or kindle format below.....
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1912713241/ref=cm_sw_r_wa_apa_i_lrdDFbN8QR51D
So, what seems like a long time ago during lockdown I was very proud to be asked to be one of 11 people to be asked to contribute to a very special project.....
Giving me an opportunity to combine my passion for dogs and writing, more details will be available on Friday!
It seems so long ago since we were all plunged into crisis at the start of lockdown and we wondered how we could get through.
We did, thanks to your support, in fact I'd say we've come back an even stronger and more efficient organisation.
One thing which helped massively was the generosity of our supporters buying things such as laundry liquid, dishwasher tablets, cod liver oil etc. All things which we use on a daily basis but cost money. Such was your support, we have only now started to see spaces in our supplies as your donations have all been used.
We know things are still uncertain, it is still a very worrying time, but as we are often ask what we need it seemed right to let you know how things stand.
Currently we are short of laundry detergent and dishwasher tablets. We have bought some to tide us over, but if anybody could donate some it would mean our money could go elsewhere.
We have an Amazon Wishlist with everything on we use:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/378KO9YKHAI9D?ref_=wl_share
Or of course you could drop things off in either of our shops at 12 Bowes Street, Blyth or 46-48 Queens Street, Amble.
Thank you in advance for remembering us in these times. Your valuable support really does make a difference.
It was another great practical day yesterday as I was joined by Rachel and Nima and we ventured off to a new beautiful place to explore.
I'd decided to give Axel a run out as and with their being two of us, Tye came too so he could have a break from kennel life.
Nima is a wonderful 'stooge' dog, so I wasn't to worried that she wouldn't get on with them, I was more concerned about Tye accepting Axel.
I shouldn't have worried though, all three were impeccably behaved, and its incredible to think that they had never each other before!
We enjoyed our walk so much that we decided to go back to the kennels and treat another two dogs.
This time it was two who had met Nima before but hadn't met each other, Sky and Rocco. As you can see, all three had an amazing time too.
We are so proud of all of them, its an amazing experience watching dogs that have been written off by so many others interact with each other and look to passers by that they are just 'normal' pets.
All four boys were in bed when I left the kennels, content and tired, even Nima was worn out!
Next up was a sleep over for Tia as she's at the vets to be speyed today. She is still a little whirlwind, but she has come on so much in the time we have had her, I knew she would enjoy the company of my dogs.....
I was lucky enough to enjoy another great practical day yesterday and got Benji and Tia to the seaside.
It was a huge step for them both, but they behaved impeccably, ignoring the crowds of people, children and dogs.
Whilst he enjoyed himself, I think its fair to say the big wide world blew Benji's head a bit. Tia on the other hand just dragged me to every rock pool she could find!
