Newsletter Jan 2010
Message from Sue Williamson Charity Chairlady
As a founder member of Cliff Top Kennels Re-Homing Centre, I was delighted
to be elected Chairlady at last year's AGM. I have always been a committee
member since the Charity was formed in 2005 and served initially as secretary.
I have always been fortunate to be able to keep a dog. When we were growing up it was a Collie but, when I had been married only a fortnight, my husband was given a dog by a customer that otherwise would have had to be put down. That dog was a Boxer called Buster and I have remained faithful to the breed and continue to be owned by one some forty years later! The companionship I have had from my dogs has taught me many things and brought me endless fun, love and laughter. I hope that my involvement with the Re-Homing Charity helps to bring that same sort of joy to anyone generous enough to re-home one of our abandoned dogs. The committee members of the Charity are always trying to think of ways to raise funds, and if anyone reading this has any ideas then you would be welcomed with open arms! We always have dogs to re-home and the committee work tirelessly to ensure that they are safe, warm and well fed while they are in our care. As a charity, we rely on public donations and our heartfelt thanks go to all of you who have ever helped us. I look forward to any help or assistance you think you can give us in the future.
Tale of the Hot Cross Buns by Maureen Chambers
Last year, Charlie a black Labrador retriever joined us. He had been found
straying in Scarborough and taken to Cliff Top Re-homing Centre. Having
had him checked by the vet it is thought that he is about three years old.
He joins Polly, also a black Labrador retriever, who we have had from puppy.
Polly has never been a food “pincher”; not so Charlie. Within
a few days he had taken 8 hot cross buns from the table and all had disappeared.
How many Polly had eaten
with him we don’t know. He also climbed on the work surface and took
a bun and an apple watching us out of the window as he did it!
We quickly learned not to put temptation in his way. However, one evening I went out and did not shut the larder door properly. When I returned a tray of dried fruit was on the floor, with various packets of currents, sultanas and mixed fruit either empty or with a lot less fruit in them than previously. There was also a packet of bread buns gone! I cleared up the mess and thought little of it. We discussed it when David came home but just agreed we must both be more careful in the future. In fact we laughed that having an obvious taste for hot cross buns and there not being any about, Charlie had decided that bread buns plus dried fruit is as near as you can get to the real thing so he made the two of them a treat.
The following morning both dogs were quite sick with every bout of sickness containing a lot of undigested dried fruit. This progressed throughout the day to both ends! Our response at this stage was that this would hopefully teach them a lesson but we had no idea at this stage that it could have been a very tragic one. When the sickness continued throughout the day, especially for Polly, we were becoming more concerned. By mid-afternoon I was becoming concerned and ‘phoned the Filey vets, who look after both dogs.
The receptionist said that they would usually have the dogs in to make them sick but as this had already happened she would speak with the vet and see if we should be doing anything else. Within minutes the vet was on the ‘phone telling us that dried fruit is highly toxic to a dog and we must keep a close eye on them to make sure they continue to urinate and not drink to excess.
About 15 minutes later the vet was back on the ‘phone. She had contacted the veterinary poisons unit who had advised that the dogs should be put immediately on drips to ensure that their kidneys continued to function. Dried fruit is so poisonous to dogs that there is a very significant risk that they will suffer renal failure resulting in death. At this stage we thought that we would lose both Polly and Charlie.
We rushed the dogs to the surgery where they were given blood tests. At this stage the results were normal. They were then put on drips for 48 hours with blood tests following this, and further blood tests 48 hours after that.
We were very lucky as all the blood tests were normal and Polly and Charlie are still with us. The speed at which the Filey vets acted saved their lives. We heard stories of other dogs that had not been so lucky especially one young dog that had been fed currants as training treats and died very soon after.
Needless to say the dried fruit is now out of reach in a sealed container with the larder door closed!!
Having done some more homework on what is and is not safe I have found
that the
following are some of the items which are potentially poisonous to dogs:
Chocolate,
Dried fruit, Grapes, Onions, Coffee, Tea, Macadamia nuts, Tomatoes, Avocados,
Nutmeg.
While I think most dog owners are aware that chocolate is dangerous to
dogs some of the others in the list I am sure would not feature on anyone’s
radar as far as their dog is concerned.
Polly and Charlie want owners to know that all the things on the list are
attractive to them but they didn’t like what they did to them so listen
to them! Thanks to the Filey Vets they were brilliant.
Kennel & Charity News from Rosemary Croizat Charity Secretary
We’ve continued to have considerable success with our fund-raising
activities. One of the Charity’s most pressing problems has been the
need for more accommodation for our rescued dogs. With this in mind, David
Chambers, one of our valued committee members responsible for corporate
funding, applied to the Kennel Club for a grant with which to purchase some
mobile kennels. David’s detailed submission was successful and we
subsequently received a generous donation. Siting of the kennels will take
place once the warmer spring weather arrives.
We have
continued holding our tombola and tabletop sales which have proved to be
as popular as ever. When possible we have taken Misty, the new Charity mascot,
along with us. She is a Lurcher who is now a long-term resident in our kennels.
Originally found in appalling condition, she has been successfully nursed
back to good health following extensive surgery. The photograph shows Misty
at Pets at Home together with committee members Louise and Rosemary, and
the Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Scarborough who visited our tombola stall
at the recent open day celebrating the first anniversary of the store’s
opening.
Helen Pennock, who has worked at the kennels for many moons, has decided to try new pastures and has been appointed as of one of Scarborough Council’s Dog Wardens. This has, unfortunately, resulted in Helen having to resign as Kennel Co-ordinator. The Committee wish Helen every success in her new job, and thank her for all the hard work she has done for the Charity in the past.
The Annual General Meeting of the Charity will be held at Cliff Top Kennels on Monday 22 February 2010 commencing at 7.30 pm. We are always looking for volunteers with previous administrative experience to serve on the Committee. Please telephone either Jill or Suzanna on 01723 870456 if you would like to help us.