DBARC CORNER
These articles features some of the animals at the centre looking for a home, and is very successful in helping them to find a new home
December 2008
As Christmas makes yet another rapid and unexpected appearance upon the horizon and you visit those darker reaches of the loft in search of tree ornaments and the fairy lights, please spare a thought for any household pets when planning your festive decorations and festivities. Although pets are almost invariably willing to enter into any new family pursuit, the fundamental comfort of their lives tends to be based upon familiar routines, not only in terms of a normal day's activities and the expected complement of family members, but also in respect of the home's usual fittings and furniture. At Christmas time, that comforting familiarity can be suddenly shattered by the appearance of strange furnishings, twinkling lights and quite often an influx of strangers. Such changes in the norm may well, of course, be extremely disquieting for timid animals, but, particularly if associated with some previous trauma, can provoke unexpected reactions even from normally confident pets. Sometimes problems can materialise from the other end of the spectrum as a family pet immediately enters into the playful spirit of the season and finds that trailing electrical lead to the fairy lights an irresistible new chewing toy, or elects to climb the tree that has magically sprouted from the hall carpet to claim that sparking fairy sitting at the top. Perhaps more pragmatically, the pet may be delighted that its family has thoughtfully provided this magic tree in its tub of earth as a snug convenience and that those toilet treks into the cold night air are obviously a thing of the past! Please make certain your pet is familiarised with the Christmas transformation of the house in your company and ensure that its training is appropriately extended, particularly to the "don'ts" associated with these tempting delights. When you pop out to collect those mince pies, it's prudent to ensure any free-roaming pets are isolated in the kitchen, or somewhere else where decorations are securely out of reach. And when the great day finally dawns and you drop into a comfortable chair to enjoy all those television repeats, do bear in mind that many of those tempting morsels that reinforce your turkey dinner, particularly chocolate and raisins, can be absolutely lethal if eaten by your pet. A small dish of cold turkey, on the other hand, might well be precisely what they ordered from Father Christmas!
At the Hurst sanctuary, Donna Penfold, our Chairman and Janet North, the Sanctuary Manager, are already hard at work making arrangements to provide each and every animal with a Christmas dinner and a present. These two ladies quite cheerfully add Christmas Day to all the other days they selflessly dedicate to the animals' care and comfort and deserve our very special gratitude. In carrying out this particular act of kindness, they participate in what is almost a definitive version of the spirit of Christmas in which their gifts of food and a toy are given and received with love, absolutely untainted by any ulterior motive. The sheer delight with which the lucky recipients greet their tasty dinner and tear the wrapping from a squeaky toy is truly a joy to behold!
On behalf of everyone at the Hurst sanctuary, may I extend our very best wishes to you all for a happy and joyful Christmas and the sincere hope that 2009 will prove to be a year that will live in your memory with fond recollection.
November 2008
It is mentally quite daunting to even pen a few words about animals as I currently stumble through an anguished despair created by the loss of my treasured companion, Jack. The very constancy of his friendship and companionship has, in itself, created a void in which I expect to see him at every homecoming, every turn and every now solitary expedition into the garden. Jack, a German Shepherd Dog, provided a definitive example of how a rescued animal that has encountered some of the horrors inflicted by that brutish minority in our society, can rise above such an experience to offer an enormous depth of affection and loyalty to a new and loving home. When he arrived at the sanctuary, Jack was indeed in a desperate state, emaciated, bald, covered in sores, ears swollen with infection and with numerous wounds to his hind quarters, but, shining brightly through that awful montage of neglect and abuse, his large brown eyes and instant enthusiasm for any sign of kindness or friendship proclaimed a wonderfully gentle and loving nature. I was lucky enough to be the first person to tend to him and I think we both instinctively knew we'd found a very special friend. Jack, eventually restored to full health by the sympathetic skills of Mark Oakley and Nick Tremlett, two local veterinary surgeons, enthusiastically dedicated his new lease on life to a demonstration of just how much joy and affection could be packed into each and every day.
The passing from your life of any valued companion evokes some measure of grief and it is an inescapable fact that the magnitude of that sorrow is directly proportional to the love and joy one derived from their friendship. The very essence of that inverse relationship, however, provides some solace, in that the deeper the sorrow, the greater the comfort one is able to retrieve from the fund of stored memories. When those moments of grief hold you tightly in their grip, one must force oneself to answer the question "To have avoided this moment, would I rather have never known the joy and delights of their friendship?" The inevitable response to that query launches one into a kaleidoscope of treasured memories and moments, which, though they will never eliminate the ache, gradually begin to act as a balm.
If, indeed, a life has to be tainted with an episode of trauma, it is perhaps better for that distress to be at an early stage which is then followed by a residual, restorative period of loving care and happiness. This is perhaps particularly true in the case of animals, who so often demonstrate an astonishing retention of trust in the human race, even after quite vicious abuse at their hands. Such animals gift a truly remarkable love, characterised by an absolutely unshakeable faith in and devotion to their benefactors. To be the lucky recipient of such a love is an unforgettable experience. How exceedingly fortunate I was to meet my lovely boy on that cold January day!
Never again will I experience that deep, shuddering sigh of contentment which Jack invariably used to express how much pleasure he took simply by being in my company, but that wonderful sound will delight my memory for ever.
October 2008
A million social miles away from the media pictures of financial traders drowning their sorrows in magnums of vintage champagne, DBARC and other rescue organisations are beginning to see far more poignant scenes which confirm the arrival of the "credit crunch". As many people, particularly the elderly living on fixed or meagre pensions, struggle to cope with an almost daily surge in the price of fundamental commodities such as food, heating, transport and taxation, those with family pets are sometimes beginning to find they lack the funds necessary to provide even the basic necessities such as pet food, let alone expenses such as veterinary treatment.
There can be few experiences more disturbing than the spectacle of an elderly person obliged to surrender the comforting friendship of a treasured pet, which, on some occasions, may be the only companionship they enjoy on a regular basis. DBARC is, of course, well accustomed to dealing with such scenarios in cases where incapacity has obliged owners to move into specialised accommodation where pets are not permitted, but the extension of such distressing incidents to occasions where an owner is obliged to surrender their friend for purely financial reasons and then return home alone is particularly harrowing. With current economic indicators seemingly predicting further financial stress, it would seem such wretchedness may unfortunately become an increasingly familiar part of our activities. Oh for that fabled magic wand to cure all ills!
Partly as a result of these trends, the sanctuary has recently become home to a number of older pets and our cattery presently features a number of guests whose comfortable and loving lives have suddenly been affected by various forms of adversity. On some occasions, the abrupt transition from a familiar homestead to what, of necessity, is a rather institutionalised environment results in the animals exhibiting all too familiar signs of distress and bewilderment and not even the loving and devoted care provided by our sanctuary staff can persuade a tail to wag, or coax a purr from a new arrival. People who are kind enough to offer a home to such unfortunates, however, frequently report back that, after an appropriate settlement period, the animal responds to its renewed good fortune by releasing a huge reservoir of loving devotion upon its new owner. After our rather less than balmy summer and with the imminent onset of those chilly Winter days, if you feel your life would benefit from a massive injection of friendship and affection from a new, but constant friend, you could do far worse than pay a visit to the Hurst sanctuary!
May I take this opportunity to express our very sincere appreciation of the donations we have received from readers of the Parish Magazine and to assure those kind people that their gifts, like all donations received, will be used entirely to provide care and comfort to the growing number of animals who sadly find themselves in need of our assistance
September 2008
Visitors to the Hurst sanctuary often ask about Diana Brimblecombe, the lovely lady who founded and masterminded our activities for over 40 years and now lives just across the road from the sanctuary, still taking an active and welcome interest in our activities. We find even old friends often know relatively little about the Lady herself and her quite astonishing career in animal welfare. For most people, charitable works form an aspect of their activities that sits comfortably and conveniently with their normal routines and way of life. That has certainly not been true in Diana's case in that she willingly forsook a life of considerable privilege and ease to devote her assets and, indeed, her very existence to animals in need.
Born Diana Molloy, she and her younger brother, David, were raised in a rather affluent style by their mother, Sylvia and father, General Roy Malloy of the Royal Marines, who was The Commandant at Chatham. Even in those early days Diana's preoccupation with animals in distress became evident when she was "confined to barracks" for smuggling injured animals past the sentries! In 1939, Diana "came out" as a debutante, being presented to George VI and the Queen Mother at Buckingham Palace and most young ladies in such a privileged situation would have subsequently devoted themselves to a life of ease punctuated by social events! Not so our Diana! Having arrived in Wokingham to stay with her Aunt, Mrs Pelly of Claire Court, Glebelands Rd, Diana spent the dark days of the Second World War working in factories and driving ambulances. During that time she met and married Bill Brimblecombe and their house in Crescent Road rapidly became a haven for many unfortunate creatures. Diana took on her first formal animal welfare position by becoming Honorary Secretary of the local RSPCA, but, with Bill's health giving rise to concern, the family moved to Cornwall in an effort to ease his problems. When they returned to Wokingham a few years later to look after her elderly parents, Diana began to indulge her passion for animal welfare in earnest and, having moved into Britton's Farm in 1960, she rapidly converted it into an animal sanctuary. In 1969, the activities were formally organised under the banner of The Wokingham Animal Rescue Group, which became a registered charity in 1988.
Over the last fifty years, Diana has literally devoted her entire life to assisting tens of thousands of animals in trouble. Holidays were a rarity and it was not just her waking hours involved as distressed animals frequently demanded the benefit of her loving attention during the hours of darkness. She received the willing and enthusiastic assistance of many hundreds of volunteers over the years, but, as perhaps befits the daughter of a General, always led her small army from the front! Her efforts have received recognition in many different ways, having, for example, been the subject of the BBC's programme "Down Your Way" in 1969. In 1998 Diana was honoured by her fellow citizens with a Civic Award and, in 2001, Her Majesty The Queen was pleased to award her the MBE. The most poignant and priceless tribute to her lifetime's dedication, however, must lie with the absolute multitude of animals that, having had their terrors calmed and their injuries healed, have been helped to find new lives in loving and happy homes.
August 2008
What a great pleasure it was to see so many people having an enjoyable day out at DBARC's annual Fun Day on Sunday the 20th July. As the fickle weather sprites cast their ever more bizarre spells over mid July, invoking monsoon-like rains and near-arctic winds, we had all peered anxiously at the weather forecasts as the day approached, fearful that the only class in our dog show would turn out to be "The Strongest Swimmer"! As the due day approached, however, the predictions eased from "heavy rain" to mere "blustery showers" and actuality proved to be just a cloudy sky garnished by a wind that had patently just arrived from some frozen Russian steppes!
The event was held this year at Moss End Garden Centre in Warfield, where the proprietors very generously provided the showground and facilities without charge and over fifty stalls, offering both traditional carnival amusements and a very wide range of goods and services, competed with our Dog Show for the attention of over twelve hundred people. The Dog Show, which is perhaps not entirely for the serious breeder, offered a broad range of classes aimed at establishing such essentials as "The Dog with the Waggiest Tail" and "Best In Fancy Dress" and we were absolutely delighted to see hundreds of dogs that had previously spent time with us at the Hurst sanctuary competing for various titles. These returnees confirmed how retentive a dog's memory can be, with many enthusiastically greeting staff members who had cared for them at the Centre and two even recalling that my right hand trouser pocket almost invariably contains some tasty gravy bones! Although the event is naturally an important fund-raising activity, we originally resolved that the fundamental objective would be to provide a fun-filled day for our members and supporters and were delighted to be told by numerous visitors that this aim had been well and truly attained. Thank you so much to our staff and volunteers who worked so very hard to prepare and operate the facilities and to the many organisations that so kindly denoted prizes and facilities. I hope they will take great comfort from the fact that their efforts and generosity generated sufficient funds to enable the rescue of a great many animals
DBARC, like many voluntary organisations, experience considerable trouble in recruiting certain specialised talents necessary to properly conduct the Charity's affairs. We are very much in need of an experienced Treasurer who would be able to devote the four or five hours per week necessary to supervise and report upon our financial activities. If there is anyone out there who has the time and talent to assist a friendly team of volunteers in caring for animals in need, we should be delighted to hear from you. If you feel you might be able to help, please either telephone the sanctuary and ask to speak to Gerry Newman, or email gerrybnewman@aol.com.
July 2008
It was so heartening to realise happy endings to two potentially distressing situations which recently materialised as a result of rather dissimilar domestic upheavals. In the first instance, the unexpected death of a lady who had cared for her sick husband suddenly rendered two elderly tabby cats homeless. When the two lassies arrived at the sanctuary, it was obvious that one was not in the best of health and a pronounced abdominal swelling gave rise to ominous suspicions. The Vet's almost inevitable diagnosis was a tumour, but the resultant operation thankfully turned out to be the removal of a painful, but benign growth. To round off the sequence rather nicely, the lassie made a full recovery and, only a few minutes after her stitches had been removed, a lovely lady arrived at the Centre and offered both cats a delightful new home.
The second situation arose when a couple decided to terminate their marriage in circumstances which left no place for their elderly pair of dogs, who were merely discarded along with the unwanted furniture and other accumulated detritus. The poor old things clearly appreciated life had suddenly taken a massive turn for the worst and, in an effort to minimise their patent anxiety, our Manager made special arrangements for them to be housed in our demonstration section. This certainly had the desired effect of easing their apprehension, but led to a pitiable situation in which the eldest dog found it could put its front paws on the Office window ledge and stare mournfully at the Manager whenever she sat at her desk. It was extremely unlikely we would identify a suitable home for two such elderly friends, but, just as Janet concluded she would never again be able to eat another biscuit with her morning coffee, some visitors to the Office were greeted by those large brown eyes peering despondently at them through the window. Absolutely bowled over, the visitors insisted upon meeting the duo, who promptly embarked on an absolutely irresistible charm offensive. The visitors, who had only just adopted another DBARC dog, promptly decided three dogs were actually the optimum number and drove off with the happiest trio of dogs you could ever wish to see! The Manager retrieved her biscuits from the bottom drawer and indulged herself without the constraint of those covetous brown eyes!
It seems that, regardless of the security it provides to animals in need, the sanctuary can offer no such immunity to the effects of an economic slump. Our political masters elect to say that a recession could well lie ahead, but the hard facts clearly evident to us and other similar charities is that it has, in reality, already arrived. During the first few weeks of May, we experienced a sudden and marked decline in the number of enquiries regarding adoption and a significant number of applicants visiting the sanctuary mentioned some degree of concern regarding the additional costs of properly maintaining a new pet. More worryingly, we have started receiving requests, particularly from elderly people on fixed pensions, to provide shelter for patently much-loved family pets as they begin to experience serious budgetary difficulties. It would be foolish to pretend that things are unlikely to get worse and we are therefore considering how best to batten down our hatches and prepare for whatever the future holds in store.
June 2008
News from the sanctuary has been dominated this month by Alan Junior, a tiny, one-year-old, black and tan Terrier cross who was admitted to the Sanctuary after spending some time in veterinary care. Little Alan, whose emaciated condition and absolute terror of human beings only served to underline how defenceless he is, was savagely beaten and kicked by his previous owners, suffering a number of horrendous fractures and injuries in the process. The most severely affected area was his rear left leg, which sustained three fractures of the femur and a badly damaged kneecap. Attempts to repair this damage by pinning the bone fragments together and using an external fixator for support all failed, but Alan Junior, rapidly bonding with sanctuary staff as he regained his trust and regard for human beings, continued to bounce around dragging his totally useless leg behind him. This situation demanded an absolutely horrendous decision from two of our senior members of staff, both qualified and experienced veterinary nurses who faced the distressing task of deciding what was the best course of action to take in respect of his future. There was always the possibility that further surgery to the femur might possibly succeed where previous efforts had failed, but, even if it did, Alan Junior's shattered kneecap was likely to present insoluble problems. The dilemma hinged upon Alan's marked ability to move around so adeptly upon his three sound legs and this factor led to the distressing, but almost inescapable conclusion that his best future interests would be served by the amputation of his injured leg. When Alan, who by this time had bonded with just about every member of staff, returned from his operation, it became almost a daily competition to see who got the pleasure of tending to him and, within a week or so, Alan was dashing around with gay abandon! Needless to say, this lovely little laddie very quickly found a new home and as he departed for his new life on Saturday morning, several members of our staff were in tears. We all wish him a very happy future.
The sadistic savages who seemingly took such merciless pleasure in inflicting such terrible carnage upon this young and amiable puppy are shortly to appear in Court charged with cruelty. They will doubtless face the full wrath of the Law, be told what a bad lot they are and quite probably banned from keeping animals for a few years. Perhaps better to make no comment!
We were also a little sad to bid farewell to Serena, a lovely old tabby who had been with us for some considerable time. Serena was brought into care when her owner died and, for some reason we couldn't really understand, it proved difficult to identify a suitable new home. But then a lady seeking a companion visited our Cattery and it was patently love at first sight! Serena is a truly delightful old lassie and we wish her many happy years with her new friend.
May 2008
I really am old enough to have known better, but, almost as soon as I'd put ink to paper last month and sounded off to you all about how Pasty, the tiny Terrier puppy, was recovering from her multiple ailments, cruel Fate stepped in and taught me, yet again, never to boast about how well things are going! Two of her recent companions, very young puppies rescued locally, unfortunately turned out to be infected with the dreaded Parvovirus disease and Pasty, seemingly not content with her cocktail of infections and physical abnormalities, decided she'd go that extra mile and develop this usually fatal condition. Very sadly, it proved to be just too late to save the two newcomers and, despite intensive nursing from the DBARC staff and the superb veterinary skills of the team at Active Vetcare, they died shortly afterwards. Pasty, however, was determined to prove that the age of miracles is still very much with us and, completely disregarding her already weakened condition, fought determinedly for her life during ten days of alternating progress and relapse. Her indomitable fighting spirit, however, ably augmented by the prayers and affection of everyone who'd met her, finally won the day and the tiny mite survived against all the odds. She has now fully recovered and everyone at the sanctuary bade her a rather reluctant and sad farewell as she moved off to her new home with a delightful local family. We all trust her future will not only be extremely happy, but also healthy!
The Parvovirus outbreak meant that the sanctuary had to shut down for almost three weeks, so the first few months of 2008 have not been precisely as we should have wished. One aspect, however, has brought enormous joy to those of us who merely operate upon the peripheral fringe of the Charity's activities. In a society so often demeaned by selfish and materialistic behaviour, it was truly inspiring to see the devotion and kindness of the people who staff the sanctuary. Volunteers, who turned out day after day, sometimes after hard work elsewhere, to clean and disinfect our animals' living quarters. Lowly-paid employees who showed quite remarkable dedication and who, without any thought of additional financial compensation, voluntarily extended their duty shifts, sometimes throughout the night, to nurse sick or dying animals. What a privilege it is merely to be associated with such genuinely lovely people. Very considerable and sincere thanks to each and every one of them.
I'm delighted to say Diana Brimblecombe has now fully recovered from her fractured arm, sustained in a recent fall and, shrugging off that injury, an infection of mange caught from a rescued puppy and her advancing years, is back to her usual vitality and full daily programme. With that particular Lady setting the benchmarks for so many years, it is perhaps no wonder we're blessed with such a sanctuary staff!
April 2008
The Web Site Manager has suggested that visitors to the site might be interested to see a regular review of our activities. Volunteers working for any Charity tend to believe that everyone has a profound interest in their chosen cause, but I do hope you will find these notes to be of some interest.
For those people who are unfamiliar with our organisation, it would perhaps be useful to offer a brief review of our history and aims. Diana Brimblecombe opened a sanctuary for stray and unwanted animals in the rear garden of her farmhouse some fifty years ago and, with the help of her husband and friends, provided a continuous and totally dedicated service of care and comfort to thousands of animals until a generous legacy enabled the Charity to relocate to a superb new facility at Nelsons Lane, Hurst in 2003. Diana, who was awarded the MBE for services to animal welfare in 2001, relinquished her day-to-day management when the new sanctuary opened, but, to our great delight, remains in frequent contact with our activities. She recently suffered a fractured arm, but is fortunately now well on the way to a full recovery.
The present sanctuary at Nelsons Lane, Hurst, provides what we believe to be a very high standard of loving care to well over a thousand animals each year, identifying new homes and secure futures for almost all of them. The sanctuary is staffed by a small and extremely dedicated band of employees and volunteers, who provide round-the-clock care to our animals.
During many years of service to the cause of animal welfare, DBARC has rescued and cared for abandoned animals, injured animals, sick animals, deformed animals and young animals totally at the mercy of their environment - and then, two weeks ago, along came Pasty! She, poor little soul, didn't fit into just one of these categories, but embraced all of them! Fate finally smiled on Pasty at literally the very last moment, just as two lovely ladies went to tend their horses shortly before sunset on an evening destined to plunge into sub-zero temperatures. They noticed movement on a grass verge beside the pavement, investigated and found a barely conscious Pasty, who would certainly have perished during the following hours of darkness. Upon arrival at Hurst, Pasty was rushed to the Vet where she was found to be suffering from severe Mange, an additional skin infection causing bleeding lesions, inguinal hernias requiring surgery, infections in both eyes, a deformed front paw caused by malnutrition and, just for good measure, a severe infestation of worms. I'm delighted to report that Pasty, a brown and white terrier cross who delights everyone she meets, has astonished us all with the transformation in her appearance and condition since remedial treatment commenced. The most serious conditions were the hernias and paw deformity, but, whilst nothing can yet be done about the former, the latter has responded remarkably well to Calcium injections and Pasty's gait has already improved out of all recognition. Keep your fingers crossed for Pasty and let's hope her current excellent progress is maintained to a full recovery.
Our best wishes to you all for a most happy and contented Easter.
March 2008
It's certainly an extremely mixed bag of news from the sanctuary this week, with top honours vying with wretched adversity for your consideration. As I've never really grown out of that childish habit of eating all the unwelcome items on my plate first, I'll deal the awful news first.
Unfortunately the sanctuary has been reeling from a continual barrage of body blows which have made the first few months of 2008 one of the most difficult times DBARC has faced. In the latest, the dreaded Parvovirus infection has sadly exacted its usual savage penalty on two young puppies that were probably carrying the deadly virus when they were rescued from a local encampment. Not even the dedicated nursing and treatment they received from our staff and the veterinary experts managed to save them and their deaths have cast long and gloomy shadows over everyone. It was patently necessary to take drastic action to prevent further infections and the resultant closure of our canine facilities for several weeks has not only placed additional demands on the sanctuary staff, but also seriously compounded the adverse financial effects of the quite exceptional veterinary costs we've incurred during the last few months. With the latest veterinary tests showing all our dogs are now free of the accursed virus, our fingers are now crossed for a continuation of this situation which will enable us to re-open shortly.
Fortunately there is better news of another patient. Taz, a German Shepherd Dog who lives permanently at the sanctuary, gave great cause for concern when she suddenly started treating visitors with nonchalance, as opposed to her usual immaculate imitation of the Hound of the Baskervilles. Other, rather more physical, symptoms gave us considerable pause for thought and her great buddy Daniel courageously volunteered to take her to the vet. It transpired, however, that Daniel's bravery gave the vet quite a false sense of security as, after he'd left, she elected to remove Taz's muzzle, vainly believing that a single dose of anaesthetic would be enough to keep the old girl out for the count. The good news is that Taz stayed out just long enough for the examination to be completed, the vet's hand is healing nicely and Taz is responding admirably to her treatment! Even better news for Taz is that her refurbished kennel, complete with all mod cons, will shortly be ready.
You might have been forgiven if you'd thought the earthquake season had extended to the Wokingham area on Thursday evening. Dozens of watchers, all glued to their TVs, suddenly erupted in a crescendo of applause as Amy, a tri-coloured Border Collie, who was adopted from DBARC by the Burton family in May 2002, won the Young Kennel Club Agility "Dog of the Year" award at Crufts. Amy, an extremely timid young lassie, was petrified by most human beings when she was rescued, but formed one of those instant and empathic bonds with young Dan Burton as soon as they met. That friendship has blossomed into a perfect partnership as Dan trained Amy in the considerable skills necessary to become a Crufts' champion. Our most heartfelt congratulations to them both upon such a wonderful achievement
February 2008
I regret that the main news from the Hurst sanctuary this month is particularly distressing in that the most determined and committed efforts of our staff to save Holly's New Year pups proved to be in vain after they were found to be suffering from a yet unidentified illness. The first pup died shortly after being rushed for veterinary treatment after suddenly collapsing and a second died during the early hours of the following morning. Totally dedicated nursing, particularly by Janet, our Manager, who stayed with them night and day for three days, initially seemed to have done the trick and the five remaining puppies appeared to be rallying successfully. It was not to be, however, with the dreaded symptoms suddenly erupting again and, one by one, the little souls lost their lives. It is sadly evident how devastated Janet and her colleagues are at having lost their battle, but they should truly take great comfort from the fact that they could not possibly have done more to help. An interesting footnote to this depressing episode was the behaviour of Holly, who somehow seemed to be intuitively and acutely aware of the reality of the situation. After some initial attempts to comfort and nurse her puppies, she seemed to instinctively accept they could not survive and, even after the remaining five seemed to have turned the corner, she remained sorrowfully distant.
Yet again these recent events have emphasised how extremely fortunate we are to benefit from such a dedicated staff. They offer many advantages because this eclectic mixture of volunteers and employees also provide a multitude of talents. They not only provide the tender and devoted standards of animal care our animals enjoy, but, it seems, can offer whatever other skill is required merely upon request - ranging from the culinary delight of Monique's muffins, through the horticultural fund-raising of Caron to the artistic skills design of Daniel Dorman. Daniel is a remarkably gifted artist who can turn his hand from the variety of animal portraits that adorn various walls in the sanctuary, to lightning sketches at Fun Day, or his extremely humorous cartoon strips that appear in various publications. More recently Daniel has designed the range of Christmas greeting cards sold by DBARC each year and we understand that, determined to be in the van of Christmas offerings for 2008, he has already started designing not only his next card, but also a calendar. We thank our lucky stars for such a talented and dedicated staff.
Right at the other end of the human spectrum are the almost unbelievable sadists who, it seems, attempted to cut their dog's microchip out of his neck before dumping him at the roadside. Tatters, an extremely affectionate yellow Labrador, was found with an horrendous wound to the back of his neck and must have suffered tremendous pain and distress. Fortunately he is now well on the road to recovery and has found a new home with a delightful family in Reading. If there can be any good news emanating from such an event, it is that the savages who carried out these despicable acts failed to remove the microchip, have thus been identified and now face prosecution. They will, of course, face some ludicrously inadequate penalty, but hopefully will be the subject of some publicity which might shame even them!
January 2008
DBARC's very own nativity story came to the happiest of conclusions on Saturday afternoon, when Holly, a Collie cross who is about twelve months old, gave birth to seven lovely puppies. Holly came to our attention on Christmas Eve when another rescue organisation rang to say a heavily-pregnant dog had been found tied up to some local railings. They have no whelping facilities of their own and were greatly concerned as it was felt a birth might well be imminent. We gladly offered our help, emphasising that, most appropriately for the date, our whelping unit was located in the sanctuary's Stable Block! Having turned a deaf ear to some of the almost blasphemous suggestions for the lassie's name, we settled upon "Holly", who was hurried across to Hurst by a volunteer who kindly agreed to forgo his Christmas celebration. Holly seemed delighted to be with us and quickly charmed everyone in sight, but steadfastly refused to enter into the throes of motherhood. Eventually, more than a fortnight after arrival, she decided a Saturday was auspicious and rapidly produced seven delightful pups, quickly settling into her new role as a proud and doting mother. Once again, it is not only Holly who has cause to express gratitude to Janet North, our Manager and Donna Penfold, our Chairman, who began work at 5 am settling in some new arrivals and finished at 10 pm after safely delivering Holly's pups. Our admiration and respects to both young ladies! May we also express our gratitude to the staff of Moss End Garden Centre who so very kindly made a collection to fund Holly's expenses.
Holly, however, was not DBARC's first Mum of the year as Daisy, a pregnant Guinea Pig who was brought in just before Christmas, produced her baby, Smarty, shortly into the New Year. Other arrivals just before Christmas included a most unusual number of cats who sadly were unlucky enough to lose their homes just before the Christmas holidays. They, however, joined all the other sanctuary animals in partaking of a splendid Christmas Lunch, cooked, as always, by Donna and served with a selection of toys, tasty treats and other comforts. Our very considerable gratitude to all those lovely people who sponsored these lunches at Wokingham's Winter Carnival - we hope you enjoyed your seasonal fare as much as our animals delighted in your generosity!
We are hoping that Skipper, a truly lovely Collie who came in during November with a potentially serious leg injury, is facing a brighter future. Acting upon veterinary advice, it was decided that a proposed operation to reset his bone injury was probably not in his best interests and it seems likely that we have identified a lovely new home for this lovely laddie. Thank you so much to those most generous people who helped to sponsor his rather expensive medical treatment.
Lastly and by no means least, I should like to express our heartfelt appreciation to both our lovely volunteers, who turn out in all weathers and circumstances and to our dedicated band of employees, who together staff the sanctuary and provide such loving standards of care to our animals. May you all enjoy the happiness you so richly deserve in 2008.