New Change Lives Monthly Standing Order Appeal.....

SHAK isn’t like any other dog charity, we are different. Different because we help the dogs that really need it the most, dogs like Rio on the front cover. Unlike the majority of dog rescues, SHAK isn’t a rehoming centre, instead we offer sanctuary to abused, mistreated and neglected dogs that have suffered so badly at the hands of humans that they need somewhere to start their lives all over again.

After spending time in our care, some of the souls we save move onto other more specialised rehoming charities, others go through our own Forever Foster scheme. However, some are so badly damaged that the only option they have is to stay with us. Either way there is no pressure on the dog. All of our work is done in their time.....

On average at any kennels you’d expect to pay at least £5 per day to keep a rescue dog safe, that’s £35 per week or £140 per month. We operate with at least 50 dogs in our care at any time..... 50 x £140 = £7,000 per month. You can see why we need your help.....

If you can spare even £5 a month it will keep a dog safe for a day, if everyone helps then we can help even more dogs. Dogs like Rio that had nowhere else to go.

Please complete the Standing Order and send it to your bank. If your a UK tax payer then your kindness can mean even more to us. Email us at shak@shak.org.uk and let us know that your generously donating along with your address and we can claim gift aid meaning we can claim 25p for every £1 you donate.

THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR WONDERFUL SUPPORT.

Oscar And A New Friend.....

I love this picture of Oscar with Jenny, as not only does it show two happy faces, it shows just how far Oscar has come.

I can still remember the look on Jenny's face the first time I got him out for her..... it was nothing like the one shown in the picture below!

Pastures New For Layla.....

A little bit of mixed emotions as Layla moved to her new temporary foster home with Lesley whilst she looks for a permanent abode. Layla has been great fun with us after we stopped from being destroyed after needing her ear canals removed.

She became great friends with Fraser,  and despite being deaf she has shown great ability in being able to adapt.

Really proud of her, and Fraser isn't the only one that's going to miss her.

Thanks to Lesley for giving her this chance, and also to Geoff for providing her chariot to get there!

Change Lives Appeal For Doyle's Medication.....

After the success of the Change Lives £5,000 challenge, tonight see's another Change Lives Everyclick appeal. However this one is a smaller appeal, but as vitally important.....

Everybody who has heard of SHAK knows of Doyle. The ex scrapyard dog that came up with north with his brother Bodie in a horrific state and just hours away from being shot. Today Doyle is one of the first SHAK dog a new team member meets, such is the transformation in the biggest German Shepherd I've ever known.

Old age is catching up with Doyle, and examination and tests reveal he is suffering from a horrendous condition called "Anal Furunculosis." The condition is one that I haven't personally come across before, but is quite well know to German Shepherds. Anal Furunculosis is a chronic, progressive inflammatory disease that results in ulceration and inflammation in the area surrounding the anus.

The condition can be treated medically, surgery is a very last resort, but the drugs are extremely expensive. This is where we need your support once again.....

It has been estimated by the vets that the cost of the drugs a dog of Doyle's size would need is £195.38 per month! We desperately want to give him the best treatment possible, but the sad fact of the matter is we do not have a spare £200 per month.

Since being diagnosed people have been very generous, but having just paid for his next months tablets, it would be fantastic if we already had next months medication paid for.

So, we're asking if you can help us raise the £200 we need in the next 28 days until we have to buy more.....

You can donate towards Doyles medication via the link below, and thank you in advance.

http://www.everyclick.com/doylesmeds

Spring Has Sprung.....

It was really nice to catch some real springtime sunshine last night with Star, Laser and Bandit! I name the three because I couldn't get Bandit to stay still enough to get a photo! However, that is his tail in the first photograph of Star!

Star And Bandit's Tail!

Laser Enjoying The View.

Heidi Enjoying Her First Run!....

This video really makes me smile, as this is the first time Heidi has had since she had her operation. She is doing really well and has had all her stitches out. I miss her so much, as does Star, but she has such a great home now, I'm so grateful and so proud of her!

Tigger Finds Home.....

I'm delighted to say little Tigger has also found his Forever Foster home after arriving as a stray. His new mam and dad are really smitten and have even changed their car to get an estate. I'd say that's love.

Message From Blade.....

It was really nice to have a visit from Blade on Saturday, and it was made even nicer to hear that he had finally found his Forever Foster home..... Jenna, Sarah and Lewis have done such a fantastic job with him, I really couldn't ask for a better home!

"I've had such a busy day at kennels.... My foster mams have told me im staying forever. They said other people might not love me for having poorly skin and been a terror on the lead, so I can stay here forever and they promise to help me as much as possible... Thanks for finding me uncle Steve and giving me a chance... Mr Bear x"

Ben's New After Shave.....

Looks like Ben had his selfie stick out again at the weekend and donned his new after shave.....

Layla Smells Ben's Aftershave.

She Doesn't Like Old Spice!

Tia Is Desperate For A Sniff.

Oscar Is Desperate To Get Away From The Smell.

"Can I Borrow Some" Pleads Buster.

Kia Is Smitten.

Emotional Times.....

Thank you to everyone for all their kind words about Hugo after the shock of Thursday. Words aren't enough to describe the big hole that he has left in the lives of everyone connected with SHAK, in fact so big is the void that it just doesn't feel the same anymore.

From a personal point of view the hole experience has touched some really fresh and raw nerves as this weekend signifies some very significent memories.

On the 7th March 1999, a little scraggy delinquent German Shepherd Cross walked out of the pound and into my life. He was called Shak.....

Whilst 3 years ago on the 7th too, I lost Dudley a German Shepherd with neurological problems that had taught me so much and got me through a very difficult part of my life.

Then a year ago today I lost my constant soul mate Oskar.....

Memories and emotions for Hugo, Shak, Dudley and Oskar over a 4 day period, very emotional times indeed.....

Here's Dudley and Oskar's story.....

It's a year today since I lost one of the most influential dogs I've ever been lucky enough to meet. Dudley was dumped in a field in the middle of nowhere, left to die as he couldn't stand. He wasn't ready to die though, and he battled through CDRM and Arthritis, and lived with me for 5 months. He enjoyed swimming twice a week and massages, and stuck to my side from the minute he saw me. Dudley taught me so much, he inspired me to go on when times were tough, and was everything you could ever dream of in a dog. Ironically he died 13 years to the  day that Shak walked into my life, and left as big a hole in my heart as the dog whose death started all of this.

Its with great sadness this morning that I have to tell you that our big brave boy Oskar lost his fight against cancer late yesterday afternoon. Having been diagnosed with a hemangiosarcoma (a very nasty tumour on the spleen) just before Christmas resulting in the removal of his spleen, we were gutted to find secondary tumours 11 days ago. To explain what a ruthless and aggressive cancer this is, please follow the link below:

What Is A Hemangiosarcoma.....

Despite never being a SHAK dog, Oskar was the dog the who made me realise I needed dogs in my life after Shak died, he helped so many in so many ways. From sharing his home with so many, even just the over night stays, to walking and teaching others how to socialise, Oskar was responsible for some of the best work we've done.Like Harvey before him, he was a great teacher, and one who we all will miss dearly.

Oskar (centre) showing Kai the ropes.

Oskar (second from the right) with Doyle, Star, Laser and Murphy.

Oskar (centre) leading the way with Melissa walking 5 dogs together for the first time.

With his big mate Doyle.

Personally I do not think myself or my family can believe he's gone. As I wrote the post about Shak and Dudley yesterday I was nursing him, knowing that the clock was ticking down and that he wasn't getting any better. I knew this was coming, but I just didn't want him to go.

My daughter Neve used to call him "Boss of the Dogs" and you know I think that he truly was. That quickly earned him the nickname "Boss Dog" and watching him roam nobly around the countryside off lead where we live, you couldn't disagree.

My heart was in pieces when Shak died, Oskar glued them all back together as one the very first time I saw him. We now need to show the same bravery he has done and try and stick them all back together ourselves this time. Right now it feels like walking on water would be easier.....

I'll leave you with some pictures of how I like to remember him, taken just last Wednesday.....

Oskar..... The Constant in my life.

I Can't Believe He's Gone.....

A really sad day. I really don't know where I start. I had to rush Hugo to the vets today with what turned out to be a prolapsed disc in his spine. He was clearly struggling to stand, to walk and for the first time ever I heard him cry.

Hugo had recovered well from his cruciate ligament operation last year, but had struggled with MRSP since.  This meant surgery on his spine today was a no go as infection in his spinal column would of been disastrous. 

I had no option but to let him go on vets advice, as he literally deteriorated in front of us.  It all just seems like a bad dream.

When he was recovering from his cruciate operation I promised him I'd take him to the seaside, I'd like to thank Emily at Moorview for allowing me to take him for an hour this afternoon, where I took the photos below. The others were taken before we left the kennels this afternoon.

I collected Hugo as a stray many a year ago, he'd been left abandoned tied to a tree. He was horrific for jumping to bite the lead and a 45kg American Bulldog jumping towards your hands isn't ideal. For that reason alone, not aggression he was muzzled when walked, after years of work the muzzle was dropped, today he was at the beach off lead.....

  We are all  shell  shocked and distraught. It feels as if he has so cruelly been taken away us far too early. In the world we live where his breed gets such bad press, Hugo was simply magnificent. We all now value the time we had with him so preciously, tonight that hour at the beach feels like it's worth more than gold to me. How can he be gone.....

A Night At Guides.....

Rohan,  Sky and myself had a great night last night with the girls from Rothbury Guides. Lots of great questions, and as you can see lots of cuddles.....

Events In 2015.....

Please check out where the fundraisers will be in 2015 and events such as the one below on our "Events Page".....

Two German Shepherds And A Boomer Ball.....

And then what happens when you give two German Shepherds a Boomer Ball.....

When your Doyle and Anja, a great game begins!....

Two Become One.....

The Stand Off.....

Twister.....

Head To Head.....

And The Winner Is.....

Fun In The (Freezing Cold) Sun.....

Don't let the blue skies in these pictures fool you, we've had snow today! Still despite being bitterly cold, it looks like Kai, Maisie and Carlos had fun.....

Carlos and Maisie......

Play Time.....

We're Off.....

Ah Man, You Kids.....

Me And My Shadow.....

Kai Would Rather Chase A Ball.....

And Show Off His Skills.....