Exciting News Coming Very Soon.....

Lady's Trip Out.....

I think that of all our current dogs, the one that had the biggest reputation on arrival was Lady.  She spent the first year of her life living in a van to protect it. She had seen nothing of the outside world.

Today we took her for a little trip out.....

More Progress For Little Sky.....

I make no apologies for another update on little Sky. He continues to do well, although the shadow i mentioned has got closer. I am so proud of the way he has adapted.....

Another Big Day For Sky.....

Its been another busy day for Sky as he came and helped me and Rachel take a van load of donations down to the SHAK Shop in Blyth. It was a win win situation too as we picked up another amazing amount of bedding and food donations. Thank you to everyone who has dropped that off.

Having worked so hard, it seemed only fair to give Sky a little treat. Especially saying yesterday's trip ended in such worrying circumstances.  Cambois beach seemed perfect.....

Then of course,  when he got home it was time to play with some of his new friends.....

A BIG Day for Little Sky.....

The practical days that we have been able to enjoy since the lockdown restrictions were reduced have provided so much fun and knowledge for both the dogs and me. I still have so many great videos and images to share with you when time prevails, but yesterday's adventure was a little bit special, and not all in a good way.

Sky is  a little male Staffordshire Bull Terrier that came to us a few years ago after getting himself into trouble in every foster home he had had. Quite a little character, he quickly bonded with the team here and I am pleased to say his history has been kept firmly in the past.

Yesterday I thought it would be nice for him to get a run out to somewhere different, but also so I could assess him a little more closely and work towards giving him the second chance he has worked so hard for.

We set off in my van and parked up at a place only a couple of miles from the kennels, but far enough for him to feel as if he had travelled to the other side of the world. Miles of green grass, trees, a river, waterfalls and a fantastic view of Alnwick Castle.

We did a loop and walked for maybe forty minutes, he sniffed everywhere, passed people without showing any interest, passed dogs with no issues, he really only seemed interested in them when they were off in the distance. He was having a great time, although as we were nearly back at the gate onto the road to the van, I noticed he was panting. He'd done so well and was maybe just tired I thought.

On the road he walked a couple of hundred yards then sat down. The panting had increased, I was beginning to get concerned. He walked another couple of steps then sat again. Picking him up I hurried him back to the van to offer him some water, which he refused. I rushed him back to the kennels.

Lying stretched out on the floor of his kennel the panting was getting heavier. It was as if he was labouring to breath. I opened his mouth and his tongue had turned blue.

I quickly called Coquet Vets who went out of their way to make sure they could see him as soon as I could get him there.

The journey is a bit of a blur. Sky was on the passenger seat and I could see the tongue continue to change colour. I really did worry if I was going to get him there in time. Talking to him all the way, I gave him a step by step update of exactly where we were on his route and how far away we were from his destination.

The doors to the surgery were opening as they saw my van screech into the car park. I carried him through into the operating theatre, where Rosie and Becca were already prepared with drugs to help him. On examination his larynx was massively swollen, hence the difficulty in breathing. Steroids and an antihistamine were immediately given to reduce the swelling so they could get an oxygen tube down his throat. I could see the worry on their faces, even more so when Emily rushed into help.

I left him under anaesthetic and getting X Rays on his chest in case there was something extremely sinister going on. I was still shaking with shock all the way home. How could such a nice morning of gone so wrong.

A couple of hours later Emily called me to say he was recovering well and his colour had returned to normal. The X Rays hadn't shown any abnormalities, neither had an abdominal scan. She didn't think he had been poisoned in any way, the strongest reason for his condition seemed to be that he had developed anaphylaxis in reaction to some kind of sting.

I have to say in all the years I have been doing this I have never seen anything like this. Its frightening to think that something so simple nearly took Sky's life. Very frightening.

I collected him on my way home and let him stay the night so I could keep a close eye on him. The dog I picked up was like the one who was thoroughly enjoying his day out in the morning. I cannot thank the girls at Coquet Vets enough for saving his life. Yes getting him there as quickly as I did was important, but the way they dealt with it and were so prepared made such a huge difference and probably saved him.

Sky has always been good with other dogs, so I wasn't surprised to see that he was perfect with my oldies, but next up was the big boys.....

Once again he was perfect, the boys loved him and he loved them. It was quite emotional watching them play after thinking he was going to die in my van just a few hours ago.

I am working from home today, so Sky has another day to recover and get over his ordeal. He has been clean in the house, waking me up three times during the night to go out for a wee which was expected because of the large amounts of steroids and fluids he had yesterday, and he adores being with the other dogs.

I have a new little shadow, but I don't care. I am just grateful he is here.

Of course all of this has cost us money that we weren't expecting to spend, especially in such uncertain times. Coquet Vets give us a very generous discount which is greatly appreciated, but still we have paid £333.93.

I know it is a very difficult time still, but if anyone can donate towards his bill they can do by the following:

PayPal: paypal.me/shaksanctuary

Or via cheque (made payable to SHAK) to SHAK. Greenwell Road, Alnwick, Northumberland NE66 1HB.

Thank you in advance.

So, yesterday was meant to be a nice day out to learn a little bit more about Sky. I certainly have done, but I have also seen first hand how something as simple as an allergic reaction to a sting or bite can very nearly cause a fatal reaction. Please, especially in the summer, keep an eye out for any of the symptoms I have mentioned and if you see them get your dog to your vet as soon as possible. I wouldn't want anybody to go through what I saw yesterday.

I have learnt so much about Sky, he is an amazing little dog that does deserve that second chance. It would need to be an experienced home, but I am sure he could make that transition with the right support. For further information please email foreverfoster@shak.org.uk
 

Daisy Goes To The Seaside Whilst Dande Goes Shopping.....

Carrying on in the series of ‘Practical Days,’ yesterday it was Daisy’s turn for a trip to the seaside. Another stray with no history, we stopped her being destroyed in a local pound for allegedly being aggressive.

In all the time we have had her she has been superb, apart from her tendency to want to grab the lead as you enter her kennel. Yesterday was a perfect opportunity to see if that behaviour was caused by being stressed in the kennel environment or something deeper rooted.

Jumping into the back of the Defender herself, she never looked at the lead the whole time, in fact I’d go as far as saying she was perfect.

She loved all the smells and sights and was far more affectionate than I thought she would be, always offering cuddles and giving kisses, whether you wanted them or not.

It was fantastic watching her play with a random balloon that had found its way to the waters edge. She was so gentle and tried hard not to burst it, there was such a look of disappointment on her face when the inevitable happened.

She happily passed people and even a group of children who were doing some kind of activity digging the sand and running up and down the dunes. Not once did she react.

If she saw another dog, she was interested but by no means aggressive and even when a group of three Collies went by barking at her, she still was just curious. That incident took her focus away slightly, so we had our own jaunt through the sand dunes, which I think she enjoyed even more ploughing up and down the hills and through the grasses.

From what we saw, there was nothing to say that Daisy could not adapt to life in a home, as long as the people were experienced in American Bulldogs. I think she longs for that ‘closeness’ of someone and would be a great fun dog to have around.

You can see how much fun she had in this video, and if you would like to express an interest in Daisy email foreverfoster@shak.org.uk

 

Having been such a superstar with Nima a couple of weeks ago on a trip to the beach, I wanted to see how Dande would cope in a slightly busier more formal atmosphere.

He was still a little scared of getting into the Land Rover and continued his 100% record of travel sickness, but once we arrived at the small retail park he was in his element. By chance we bumped into SHAK volunteers Jax and Darron, and the little man was delighted to see familiar faces.

A trip to Pets at Home followed, where he made a new four legged friend and loved exploring all the isles, even if they weren’t specified for dogs! Eventually he settled on a squeaky cup cake as being the best item in store, which Rachel bought him as a souvenir.

He really did us proud, reacting once to a dog in a situation between isles where he perhaps felt a little bit trapped in, but that was complimented by being great with every person he met.

I think he was exhausted going home, even after just half an hour being out and about, but he had taken in so much and encountered so many new things. It is great seeing him progress.

 

 

Two Amazing Boys Go To The Seaside And Show Us So Much......

Today was ‘Practical Day 2’ and unlike the last fantastic day we shared with Casper and Dande, the sun decided not to join to us. Instead of the beautiful blue skies and red hot sunshine, we were accompanied by miserable grey skies and a drizzle that just showed no letting up. It didn’t stop us having an equally amazing experience with two incredible boys.

Both of the boys Rachel and I took out to assess today, have been let down by people. They have been written off and whilst they aren’t overlooked at the kennels, they get at least two walks like all the other dogs, but their quaint little ways mean that not everyone can walk them. Cheech especially lives in a very small world, that in turn made me determined to broaden that horizon today.

Rocco’s bubble is bigger, but only because of the training dummy he carries like Casper. He was booked into be destroyed at six months old and has been in rescue ever since.

Today we started with Cheech. The plan was just to get him to the beach and let him soak it all in, literally. My original plan (more on that later) was to take some different dogs out, so in my van was Nima, Sky and Sam. All really sociable and all great dogs to introduce others to company.

Putting Cheech in the crate in the van, Nima was immediately across to see him. His reaction was perfect, a little kiss through the bars. He travelled the whole fifteen minute journey in the crate with the other three loose around him. Not once did he complain. It gave me confidence that he was going to cope with the world he was about to discover.

On arriving at the beach, we decided that maybe bringing another dog may just be a little too much for him as we wanted the trip out to be completely about him. So, we set off and he pulled straight to the sea. You can see the result right at the start of todays video. On the beach less than a minute and the sea was over the top of our wellies, but we couldn’t stop laughing.

Cheech was amazing after that, sniffing and exploring everywhere. He was fascinated by the seaweed, I think he sniffed nearly every piece on the beach, which we had pretty much to ourselves.

One lady approached us; this is the first big test I thought. I shouldn’t have worried; he saw her and then quietly took himself off to as far away from her as his lead would allow. No drama, no chaos, just adjusted his course and carried on looking for things to explore.

At one point I got a call of our vet Emily and I had to stay in an area where I got reception. Cheech ploughed on, digging around the rock pools, he didn’t realise I wasn’t there. I set out to catch up, then he noticed me approach. Well, see for yourself in the video.

When we eventually turned around to head back, another lady approached with two Retriever’s off lead. Cheech clearly saw them approaching so I deliberately stood behind him and followed his steps one by one. As the contour of the beach changed, he couldn’t see them because of a rise in the sand. I nudged Rachel to watch his movement, discreetly and so quietly that you wouldn’t have noticed, Cheech made his way to the other side of Rachel, again stretching the lead to the limit. Afterwards, I explained what I had done. The fact that I had deliberately marked out where his path was going and compared it to where he was now striding ahead. Even though he couldn’t see the woman or the dogs, he had made sure he was safe.

Just as we were about to turn off the beach and trek through the sand dunes another lady appeared with a black Labrador that was off lead and a little boisterous. He ran straight up to Cheech, stopping about five feet away. I cringed thinking “here we go” but our little Staffy just froze before taking sanctuary behind Rachel. Incredible to see and a really heart-warming moment.

Back at the van the others were pleased to see him and I think that he was pleased to see them too.

That’s when the day took a worrying turn. Whilst doing a fifty three point turn to turn around down a narrow country road, it turns out that the connection from the gearstick to the gearbox had broken. A trek back up to a point where I was able to get signal to call the AA was well worth it, as the yellow van was there within the hour and he was able to make  a temporary fix which allowed me to complete my intricate manoeuvre and then make the twenty one mile drive back to my local garage.

Determined not to lose such valuable time or begrudge a dog some valuable time at the kennels, we quickly went to my house first and picked up the Defender. Dropping Sky and Sam, then the van off, we put Cheech in the back, Nima in the front and headed back to the kennels, after a brief but beautiful meeting after each other didn’t realise the other was so close.

The dogs I’d originally planned to take out would maybe not take to being lifted into a higher vehicle too well, so instead I suggested Rocco. I will take this opportunity to remind him how he was when I went to collect him.

Rocco has always been great with other dogs, but he instantly loved Nima. Getting them straight out together, it was reminiscent of Dande last time out and beautiful to see.

For maybes the first twenty minutes of his walk, Rocco checked she was ok, then Rachel, then me, at which point he would loop around behind me before striding out ahead. The only breed of dog I have ever witnessed ‘count’ so well is a German Shepherd, but Rocco was amazing. He had a job to do and great scenery to take in NOT ONCE did he look for or ask for his dummy which was hidden in the safety of Rachel’s waterproof coat.

Anyone who has walked Rocco will tell you that if you stand still for too long on a walk he will react. That usually means he will drop his dummy and try and grab the lead. Such is his power and determination that it then becomes very difficult to try and get him to let go. You can see me deliberately standing still in the video, you can also see his reaction.

Throughout his walk Rocco was looking after us. I tried walking him in several positions in our group. He always wanted to be on the outside, whether it be on my left side or my right depending which direction we were heading. He was such a different dog and so intelligent. I feel today that I have seen a side of him that would make him an amazing companion for somebody.

See for yourself how amazing they both did.

These ‘Practical Days’ are a bold step but already I have learnt so much with the help of Rachel and Nima. I am so proud of all four boys that we had out, and of my two girls for assisting. It has made me think about all four of them differently and I will do everything I can to try and help them find happiness.

This is not a direct appeal for homes, the state the country is in right now means that we wouldn’t move a dog on at the moment anyway but thinking about these two very special, but amazing boys has opened my eyes. If you have experience of Staffordshire Bull Terriers and are up for a challenge, I’d be interested in hearing from you. These boys have suffered so much, that maybe today was the best days of their lives. I will never know for sure, but I’d like to think that they could have many more to come.

(If you do know the breed and would like to introduce yourself then please email foreverfoster@shak.org.uk)

Blast From The Past.....

Was just talking about this yesterday and about how great Alan Robson was, time to share it again....

A Big Day Out For Two Special Boys.....

Yesterday it was a real pleasure to be able to do what I love doing the most, a little one on one with a couple of our dogs, that are at the opposite ends of the scale of our work.

I made a conscious decision during lockdown, that once we were beginning to come out of this, I was going to have one designated day per week, that I called my "Practical Day." These days would focus around enriching the life of the dogs, whether it be working on introducing them to new members of staff or volunteers, or like yesterday just giving them a break and doing some close up assessments at the same time.

I think it is fair to say that the majority of our dogs can be split into one of two categories.  The ones that need just a little input to try and get their lives back on track and into homes, and ones that have been so damaged by people that such an opportunity will probably never arrive.

For my first "Practical Day" I deliberately chose one from each category and set off in the van to give Casper and Dande a great day out, but also to be able to learn so much more from them.

I have a real special place in my heart for Casper. We took him from another rescue when it looked as if he was going to be destroyed. He was finding it difficult to adjust to a new beginning after a previous life of allegedly being used in dog fights.

He has a constant need to have something in his mouth, in the past it was a lead, meaning that he was unable to be taken for walks. Anyone who has had a Staffordshire Bull Terrier tugging on a lead will tell you just how strong their jaws are, and of course such an obsession had escalated into getting himself into trouble.

As soon as we got him, I gave him a training dummy to carry around with him, and he loved it. Giving him a job and a purpose seemed to take his mind off the other issues, and kept both him and the handler safe. There has obviously been a lot of psychological damage done to him too, as sometimes he just doesn't want to walk. Instead he slams the anchors on and refuses to move. I think it upsets volunteers, as they all want to take him further, it seems such a shame that he misses out on  the long walks the other dogs get.

During lockdown, I have spent a lot of time with him and we have gotten to the level where he will walk as far as I want him to. It has taken patience and resilience, but we seem to have made a connection. That's why I chose him for a day out away from the kennels. I wanted to see how he would react to not knowing where he was, all the new smells and sights. He was absolutely brilliant.

When we parked up, I got him out of the crate and he launched himself out of the van, so excited that he nearly pulled me off my feet. He had travelled exceptionally well, not crying or chewing the blankets, it was great to watch him steaming forward nose to the ground. He was so fixated on the smells that he hadn't even thought about his dummy, he just walked and sniffed until a toilet break for him broke his concentration and he looked at me for his dummy.

He walked a couple of miles to the beach, carrying his dummy and sniffing, then once he could smell the sea air and salt water, he dropped it again. It was great seeing him so relaxed, and trying to investigate the seaweed in the sea as he paddled.

We then ventured around the harbour where there was the distractions of people, fishermen, other dogs (more on that later) all the time he was close to me. I made sure that he knew he was safe. I would say that approximately 65% of the walk was 'dummy free.'

The whole time I was conscious of safety. I kept him away from others, both human and canine, nothing seemed to bother him. Even when he passed a huge fishing boat that was in a dry dock and being jet washed, he just kept walking.

Then we got to a little area where a couple were walking a pair of Collies. We both allowed each other plenty of room, but they retreated a little more. At first, I thought it was because they were wary of Casper, but then I saw why. One of their dogs was reactive and had a bark at us as we went past. That was just a little bit too much for Casper and he jumped up and grabbed his lead, even the offer of his dummy wasn't enough to distract him. Luckily, there was seat that was shaded by a wall, close by. I went and sat with him there, within seconds once he realised that he couldn't see anything and there was nothing to be afraid of, he settled right down and lay by my feet.

He got a drink from a bowl at a van selling ice creams, then we started our return journey. Once again he was calm, he walked up the high street, along a busy road, not once did he flacker at anything. The only thing we had to watch was the fact he kept dropping his dummy, he was that tired.

In total he was out walking for an hour and ten minutes, and apart from that one reaction when he was the victim rather than the instigator, he was impeccable. It was such a great thing to see and be part of, I think that he possibly had just had the best time of his life. Lying exhausted in the van as we got Dande out, he had the proudest and widest Staffy smile.

Rachel met me in the car park with her fantastic stooge dog Nima, because I really wanted to put the next dog through his paces. Dande came to us just a little while before lockdown came into force, after he was booked in to be destroyed at the vets. He was described as horrendous with other dogs and most people. At only two years old, he appeared to me as just a mixed up boy who was frightened of the world he was living in.

Having never met Nima before, I wondered how he would react, I shouldn't have worried. He was the perfect gentleman from the minute they were introduced outside the van. So good in fact, that instantly me and Rachel took turns in walking the two of them together.

We did the exact same walk, only this time it was us that stopped for a drink rather than the dogs. The two of them just sat outside the shop waiting for Rachel, it was amazing to see how quickly Dande had adapted.

Dande on the left, Nima on the right.

We continued onto the beach, passing children and dogs along the way, not a reaction. In fact the only time I saw anything from him was when a huge lorry passed and he got a fright.

Dande seemed to like the beach and was quite relaxed, sharing the attention, there was no jealousy even when Nima found her favourite thing, a stick!

Dande on the right this time.

Walking back up the high street, again his behaviour was impeccable. A young couple made a comment as we walked by, they obviously thought the dogs looked cute, but also as if we were just normal people walking our own two dogs. Quite a compliment for little Dande, but he really had settled so well.

There was a couple of more times that a noise spooked him, the most bizarre one being when I opened my bottle of Pepsi Max, but once again it was just a little slouch that he quickly recovered from.

Yesterday was a brilliant day, obviously for the dogs, but also for me to be able to see how they both adapted to the various environments and surroundings. I am so proud of them both (and Nima) for taking it all in their stride, so much so I am still glowing now even as I write this 24 hours later.

(SHAK is a small independent sanctuary for abused, mistreated and neglected dogs. We get no government funding and rely heavily on our supporters and donations. If you would like to help towards our work you can make a donation via PayPal: paypal.me/shaksanctuary )

Blyth Shop to Reopen 15th June, Plus Exciting News.....

Before lockdown we were all very busy trying to improve our facilities and with some amazing generosity from people we were getting there.

The improvements to the kennels continue with the latest being a huge clear up and landscaping at the rear of the kennel making a decent car parking area at last.

The new lighting in the individual kennels has been a huge improvement so we are looking to try to extend that if we can to the kennels on the opposite wall.

All this costs money and of course fund raising is always hard work, and we would probably not have survived in our current form without the income from our shop at Blyth where Joan has worked wonders.

With that in mind we approached some charitable trusts and succeeded in raising a grant to enable us to employ a professional shop manager and to open two more shops.

Again before the present climate took over, we completed our recruitment process and we are delighted to say we have found an outstanding candidate Geoff who will be joining us next month.

We have also identified what we hope will become our second shop premises which if all goes well we will occupy in July. We can’t share the exact location because the lease is not finalised yet, but it is in Amble and we are very excited about it and have high hopes. All being well we would look to open a third shop about six months after that.

As the government have recently announced that non  essential retailers can reopen their doors from the 15th of June, we aim to do so with our Blyth shop.

It will be great to get things back up and running again, and to see so many familiar faces in our loyal customers, but with the guidelines on how to keep people safe,  there is a lot of work to be done before we can actually open the doors.

Leave all that to us, although there are a couple of tasks you might be able to help with.....

One of our first tasks will be to recruit some volunteers from the Amble area to help us staff the new shop. We will also be looking to expand the team at Blyth.

If you would be interested or if you know anyone who would help us please contact me by email to team@shak.org.uk

In addition we will be looking for stock for the new shop. Please save anything suitable and we will let you know when the shop is open to accept donations.

Alll very exciting...... Thanks in advance for your support and we hope to see you all soon.

Stay Safe

The Trustees.

We Lose An Inspiration.....

It's really sad news I'm afraid, as we had to say goodbye to a dog that really sums up the spirit of why I formed this charity on Sunday. I know I am not just speaking for myslef when I say that I cannot believe that Oscar is gone, he inspired so many people.....

(Taken from the forthcoming book Rescue In Lockdown by Stephen Wylie.)

Today started like every other day on my team’s shifts of three at the kennels, but by the end of it we were all very flat and dejected.

One of the sights that has kept me going over the months of lockdown, has been seeing Oscar make his way around the field in his wheelchair, sniffing the air and taking in the fabulous views of the Northumberland countryside. Not once did he look like he didn’t want to go out, nor did he ever look bored. In fact, I think he lived for his duty of his own closed down last thing at night. He knew that he was the final walk of the shift, checking the gate was shut for another day and that the field was secure, meant that his job was done.


He came to us about nine years ago. He had shown some serious aggression towards people, especially when being touched around the head, his owners who were old school colleagues of mine. They had two young twin babies; the risk was just too much for having an unpredictable dog in the house.


The first time they asked me to take him, we didn’t have room. So, they went and tried everything they could. Behavioural sessions, training classes, they even bought him a treadmill to try and work off some of the abundance of energy and tire him out.


The second time they asked me they were desperate. The babies had begun to crawl and pull themselves up on things, Oscar was getting grumpier and they were worried that if either child decided to pull themselves up on him, he would react.


As it happened, I had just rehomed a big Rottweiler called King, so I had a kennel free this time. Oscar arrived the very next day.

He was as strong as an Ox and very sure of himself. The story was that he had been split from his mother at five weeks old and then spent the first few months of his life being passed around various homes until my friend took him in. He was four when we got him, they had tried so hard for three and a half years.


I believe the reason behind his behaviour and self-confidence, was mainly down to the fact that he had been separated from his mother too early. He had been shown no boundaries, had no rules installed, nor been told that biting was inappropriate. Instead he found his own way through life by being confident in his own ability to protect himself, demanding in getting what he wanted and just an all round determination and strength that his breed is capable of.


Over the years he was with us, he mellowed slightly. I used to walk him with some of my own German Shepherds, I think he quite liked Star, whilst his tolerance of people and touch also improved.


He loved playing with his boomer ball and had a great trick of collecting up to four tennis balls in his mouth at one time. There was no way he was ever going to let you take any of those. I think he was happy with us and grew into kennel life. He didn’t feel under any pressure, so we began to see the real Oscar.


As he grew old his back end begun to let him down. The German Shepherd curse of Canine Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy (CDRM) struck, but it couldn’t keep him down. He still managed to get out and about, a little wobbly, but it didn’t stop him enjoying his walks.


As the condition grew worse, we integrated a rear harness to help support him. Calling them his “Super Hero Underpants” they took some getting on, as the procedure included lifting his rear legs through holes, just like putting on underpants, then handles so that the handler could hold up and offer support to his back legs.


At first the reaction from him was what we all expected. We used to a muzzle to keep us safe, but very quickly he realised that we were trying to help him. After a couple of weeks, the muzzled was discarded and getting him out that way just became a fact of life.


Oscar’s condition got worse by the end of last summer, which meant that fewer people could walk him because of the weight and strain it put on the handler’s shoulders. It was a horrible feeling because so many people loved him, mainly for his attitude, but were now unable to spend time with him.

I had a few sleepless nights trying to think of how we could help him, each time my mind kept returning to the same answer.


Years ago, we had the biggest German Shepherd I have ever seen in Doyle. He too suffered from CDRM and we managed to extend his life by about six months by using a set of wheels that had been donated. Over the years since we had taken in another set, but they just looked so complicated when trying to get a difficult dog in them.


One Saturday I watched somebody struggling to walk him and decided that enough was enough. We had to do something to help Oscar and we had to understand that he would react, and it wouldn’t be easy.


I, Rich and volunteers Paul and Mick volunteered for the job of trying to get him in the wheelchair that Doyle had loved so much. I got it out of storage and tried to adjust the straps so that it would comfortably fit Oscar, as Doyle was so big.


The muzzle came back out, which was just as well, as we quickly found out that there was no way that Oscar was going to allow us to restrain him in such a contraption.


The design of the chair meant that he almost sat on his rear hunkers and used his front legs to pull himself along. We eventually got him in it, but he was stressed. He walked around the farmyard for a little while but was very unhappy. He would have bitten if he wasn’t muzzled and we all knew that this wasn’t the answer.


Dejected and upset, the four of us stood and looked at each other. Nobody said anything. We all knew that if we couldn’t make this work, Oscar’s time with us wouldn’t be much longer. It wasn’t fair to him to leave him struggling, but nobody wanted to mention the idea of putting him to sleep.

“Let’s go and walk others and think.” I said, desperately trying to clear my head and come up with a moment of inspiration. It was Paul that had it.


I returned to the kennels to find Paul had got the other wheelchair out and was trying to figure out how it worked. This one was different as instead of sitting in it, the dogs back legs slip through two rings and hold up the back end. It was just like Oscar’s underpants, only on wheels.


I gathered the guys together again and suggested that we tried once more but using this different chair. Everybody agreed, so out came Oscar and the muzzle.


He adored it right from the off. He struggled at first to allow us to help him in, thank goodness for a five pound muzzle is all I’ll say, but once he realised that he could go where he wanted again and as fast or slow as he wanted, he was in his element. He even learnt that he could reverse and sniff a bit he had missed. The change in him was sensational and something that I will never forget.


That Saturday afternoon changed Oscar’s life, but also extended it until today. The muzzle became a thing of the past very quickly and now there was a queue of people wanting to get him out again. He had his independence back and was always in such a hurry to get out once he saw you approaching his kennel with his wheels.


There was a look in his eyes of pride and determination. This wasn’t a disabled dog that was feeling sorry for himself, this was a dog that knew he had a second chance at going all the places that he wanted to. He could give the boomer ball holy hell again; he could do treat searches on his own. He could do what he wanted once more.

Although he had begun to look a little tired of late, Oscar wasn’t one for giving up. This morning Rachel had him out for his survey of his grounds as usual. He ate his small treat that he always demanded as reward on his return then settled down, content at watching everything else that was going on around him.


He always watched, that was the benefit of him being in the kennel right at the front. If anything was happening Oscar let you know, but for me personally it was always the fact that he knew exactly where I was and what I was doing that will stay with me. The sight of him lying on his huge mattress, chin flat on the surface but those eyes taking everything in and following you around.


It was because he wasn’t in that position this morning as Rachel passed, that she thought something was wrong. She called for me and I went straight over to see him. I instantly shared her concern and knew that something wasn’t right.


He had turned away from the front, positioning his body so that he was facing the back wall. My heart sunk as there is no way Oscar would have normally done that. Then I noticed his abdomen.


Swollen and rock hard, there was only one thing that this could be, a GDV (Gastric Dilatation Volvulus) or stomach torsion. Within minutes he was in the back of Rachel’s car and we were on the way to Emily the vets once again. Due to his condition and other ailments we all knew that this was the one that was going to beat him. It would be unfair to put him through the massive surgery and to be honest I don’t think his body was strong enough to withstand the anaesthetic never mind the surgery itself.


There were tears as I pulled away, knowing that I wouldn’t be bringing him back. The noises echoing from the boot meant I knew I had to get him there as soon as possible.


Several times on the journey, Oscar sat up and looked at me directly in the rear view mirror. His eyes had a deep and knowing look about them. I kept telling him that we wouldn’t be long and to hang on so that Emily could check him over, then he would lie down again.


The tree in Emily’s back garden now has become a place that I will never forget. Just a few weeks earlier Rachel and I had said goodbye to Sheba in glorious sunshine as the birds sang, in the exact same spot as I was standing again.


Today the skies were grey, and the rain made it feel like the clocks had been turned back to February. Because of social distancing I couldn’t hold him, but Oscar knew that I was there. 


As he slipped away, he turned and looked at Emily, then back at me. He looked at her once more, then turned towards me and put his head down like he always did. His beautiful eyes absorbed everything that was going on for the last time, then he closed them.

Oscar was a dog that gave us all inspiration. His determination and bravery meant he never gave in. The fact that he adapted to being helped and understood that his life depended on it, showed that learnt to trust. The number of friends that he acquired through displaying that trust means that we all have been left with a huge hole in our hearts.

He had become such a big part in the daily routine of some many people, that it really will be difficult to accept that he is gone. I know however, that he wouldn’t want us to be upset and moping around, that just wasn’t his style. He would want us to show the same fighting spirit that he had throughout his life, he would want us to show that determination and make sure that we get through this very difficult time, just like he did. It is that thought that I will carry around with me forever.

Competition Winners Review.....

A little while ago I ran a competition to win a signed copy of my book Its A Dogs Life. The only condition was that once read, a review was to be sent. I was open to both good and bad.

A lady called Charlotte won, and as promised here is her review.....

It's a Dog's Life

Being an animal lover & having two rescue dogs of my own I knew this was going to be an emotional read, with which I might struggle.  When on the second or third page I already had tears in my eyes (I'm a big softie), I did contemplate not putting myself through it. However, I felt I owed it to dogs everywhere, toughened myself up and finished the book in one sitting.

The book is beautifully written, the story told through the eyes of a dog in the pound. Although a work of fiction, with a lot of truths encompassed, the author brilliantly portrays how life may feel & pan out for a dog that finds itself in such a situation. A situation which is all too common & an unfortunate harsh reality in this sometimes cruel world. The author educates the reader, cleverly incorporating many truths into the story by introducing characters with back stories that detail why many dogs find themselves abandoned & unloved by those they trusted unconditionally.

This book is a must read for any animal lover and in an ideal world would be an essential read for anybody thinking of owning a dog.

It was, in one word, unputdownable, despite the occasional escaped tear and a good sob at the end. A highly recommended read... but definitely have the tissues to hand!

Very kind words indeed and greatly appreciated. If the boredom of lockdown has begun to set in, then maybe you want to give the book a read yourself and in turn help our dogs.

As we all continue to fight against this pandemic, I am still tying to help us raise much needed funds, 50% of all copies bought from my own online store www.stephenwylie.com will be donated back to the dogs. That's £3.50 per book going to SHAK. Unfortunately, my writing isn't good enough that I am able to write off the production costs.

You can buy a copy here:

https://stephen-wylie.my-online.store/Its_A_Dogs_Life/p5936357_19208140.aspx


You can buy a copy and help our dogs from the link below:

COVID-19 From Our Dogs Point Of View.....

From Our Dogs Point Of View - by Stephen Wylie.

“Nobody comes to see us anymore. I don’t know why, there used to be so many people and we used to have such good fun.

Everyday there was some one different who would come in and take us out. We never knew who it would be, but that just added to the excitement. All of us in here used to love it when they came.

Some brought cooked meat and other goodies, some took us away in their car to the seaside, others would just play with the ball with us until we were exhausted.

People still come in to see us, but it's the same ones. They work so hard for a few days, but they have all the boring stuff to do as well, like the cleaning. It takes until dinnertime because there is so few of them. Every day is the same, then they disappear too. Replaced by another three that work just as hard.

I heard one of them talking about a virus yesterday and how people aren't allowed out of their houses anymore.  But I can't believe that. All that time ago when I had a house to live in, my person would be out all of the time. Sometimes they'd leave me there alone all day or night.

It must be like being stuck in this kennel forever, I couldn’t imagine that. No seaside, no fields, no ball! Poor people how are they expected to live their lives like that? I love going out.

This virus kills people if they get too close apparently, something to do with touching each other. What if they don’t want to touch us anymore? Will that mean we won't get any cuddles? Or a pat on the head when we bring the ball back? I love it when they do that to me. It makes me feel happy that I have made them happy.

What happens if all the people die? Every single one that comes here to see us. Who will feed and walk us then? We will end up trapped inside forever like they are now.

We still get out twice a day at the moment. Once to sunbathe in the back run with a tasty treat and once for our walk around the field, it's a bit shorter but we still get to smell all the smells and look at the lambs who are even more curious and playful than us.

We get our tummies filled twice too, which is one of the best parts of the day, but it just isn't the same as it has to be done so quickly. The people seem to be under so much pressure.

One of them was talking about what they would do if things run out this morning. Laundry liquid, whatever that is, and fleece blankets. Apparently, we go through so many of them. I love curling up in those blankets, but the dog in the next kennel sometimes rips them when he gets bored.

Apparently with nobody being allowed to go out to the shops, people aren't able to donate and keep our supplies topped up. The person said he was worried that one day we might run out completely. That made me worry too, I really don’t want to sleep on just a cold concrete floor.

Life here has never been perfect, how could it be without a sofa to sleep on, a fire to lie in front of, or a family to call my very own, but it was as close as it could be. We had company and nice things, we got attention and love. Some of us in here had never had any of that before.

The man said they would do all they could to make sure we still have them, and that things would go to back to normal soon, but I could see the worry in his eyes.

I am worried and anxious too. I want things to be how they used to be and still don’t understand why everything has changed.”

The appeal we have been running so far has been an incredible success. We have seen such fantastic support for something that was launched out of desperation in a time when everyone is struggling. Thank you to everybody that has contributed, it really does mean the difference between life and death.

The worry is though that this pandemic could go on for months yet. The longer it runs, the more people may lose their jobs, the less disposable income they will have. Despite being a vast amount of money to us, what we have now will not last forever.

We have started to have to buy the things that you usually so very kindly donate, because you can no longer get out to the shops. Things like laundry liquid, bin bags, dog waste bags. They all now need bought, which in turn eats into the funds that we have.

Bedding supplies too are going down, as people can’t get out and about to donate them in the shop or the donation bins. Soon we may even have to start buying the fleece blankets that all the dogs like, spending more money.

I have to stress that we are NOT at a crisis point yet, careful planning and trying to stay one step ahead has gotten us this far through the COVID-19 pandemic. I am simply trying to stay that step ahead. The dog’s future really does depend on it.

I know things are especially tight for everybody right now, but if you can spare a little, you can make a donation via PayPal:

paypal.me/shaksanctuary

Or by sending a cheque (made payable to SHAK) to SHAK. Greenwell Road, Alnwick, Northumberland. NE66 1HB.

You can order the products we use in the safety of your home from our Amazon Wishlist:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/378KO9YKHAI9D?ref_=wl_share

Or when you do venture out for your shopping maybe you can also drop bedding donations (no pillows or duvets please for storage and disposal) and other things in our donation bins at Sainsburys Alnwick (food only please), Pets At Home Alnwick (they've kindly agreed to take anything), or outside our HQ in Greenwell Road Alnwick.

Unfortunately, we are also governed by the rules of lockdown and are unable to collect any donations apart from our designated drop off points.

The support from all of you has been magnificent. It has given us the courage and faith to go on, even in the most difficult of times. We wouldn’t still be here without it, without you. But as this awful time goes on and on, we will need you even more.

Thank you so much and stay safe.

Stephen Wylie

Founder of SHAK & Author of It's A Dogs Life.