Dear Friends

Well, here we are, our Silver Jubilee year and we started the celebrations in style at Crufts with the award of Young Volunteer of the Year to Lydia Stone (17) who walks two dogs every Saturday – Tosca for Joy Saunders and Jack for Mr Taylor. She’s been exceptionally reliable and consistent for over two years and thoroughly deserves this accolade.  Then came the launch of the second edition of Pet Friendly Care Homes – Star Rated! and the announcement of the contenders for Pet Friendly Care Home of The Year Award.  To crown the day a presentation to demonstrate our work in the Main Arena which could be seen worldwide on the Internet.

We wanted to put on a real show, so twenty five dogs, their owners and their volunteers – a total of ninety six people came to the NEC.  A suite was set aside for us and a chance for all the owners and volunteers to meet each other over a buffet lunch.  Then the daunting task of shepherding this huge group complete with wheelchairs and walking sticks through the crowds from the suite to the arena – Marnie in the lead clearing the way in a most impressive fashion!  The dogs were absolutely wonderful – all beautifully turned out and they really did seem to be enjoying this very new experience, taking everything in their stride, each accompanied by their owners and protected (or carried!) by their volunteers.

We made it to the collecting ring for the Main Arena right on time only to find the agility competition which preceded us was overrunning by half an hour so it was a case of keep calm, stay cool.  And eventually our time did come.  As each little partnership entered the Arena I was able to say a few words about each of the dogs and the circumstances which required our help, and as they all circled this huge stage it really was most impressive and very moving. 

Everyone said how much they enjoyed their day and how proud they were to take part.  Nevertheless, it behoves me to say a massive thank you for coming.  I hope you all had your favourite tipple when you got home and I hope all those beautiful, dignified dogs had a very special dinner. 

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