Archive for year: 2019
Mid Antrim’s supporters are the best!
Here at the Sanctuary we were fortunate to be able to purchase a piece of land to the rear of our current premises which will allow our dogs to have a greater exercise and socialisation area. As our supporters know some of our dogs find it more difficult to find their forever homes and we ensure they have a home for life; it is these dogs who will benefit the most from this expansion plan in that they will have the opportunity for greater enrichment activities including agility equipment, multi surface areas and the ability to run free as dogs should!
This is an exciting development for us and will complement our Dog Day Out Programme; this is where our long term dogs get the opportunity to visit a dog friendly park which gives them time away from kennels where they can experience a totally different environment off lead with time to roll and time to run free! Great to see!
This is only possible through the donations we receive from our supporters.
One example of this is Moira Hutchinson who has been supporting and fundraising for us for many, many years. Moira has kindly made the first financial donation of £2000 to our field development fund and through this allows us to start making plans for its development. This donation was part of money raised by Moira to help Carly Matilda, a dog that had been rehomed by one of our great supporters Irene Lowry. Carly Matilda was rescued from China where she had been destined for the meat trade and who was unable to walk unaided due to being kept in a cage all her life; Moira stepped in and started fundraising to purchase the dog a new wheelchair.
We cannot thank Moira enough for all she does for us and other dogs in need and those who give so generously; please contact us if you would like to know more about ways to contribute to our work.
Pictured alongside Moira and Irene are Cooper Angus, a previous Sanctuary resident rehomed by Irene, Carly Matilda sporting her fab new wheelchair and we cannot forget Bailey, Moira’s wee dog who is her constant companion.
Happy endings for our 8 pups
In June this year we were asked to help with rehoming some Dogs from a Northern Irish puppy farm. We’ve since taken in and found wonderful new homes for 8 unsold and over bred adults and puppies from this particular farm but their road to happiness was far from easy.
The first batch of four consisted of 2 Puggle puppy brothers (Basil & Benny), a mother Schnauzer (Greta) and a mother Beagle (Florie). The second included a mother Poodle (Lily), a father Cocker Spaniel (Bertie) and 2 Bichon Frise puppy sisters (Blythe & Bonnie). They were all generally well looked after on the outside but it was clear from the start that we had a lot of work ahead of us to get these wee ones ready for rehoming. They had little socialisation with people, no lead training and the puppies had become worryingly emotionally dependant on each other. All in all it was a sad sight to see!
With hard work and soft hearts some came round to their new lives very quickly like Lily, Bonnie and Blythe. These little cuties were rehomed in a very short time. Others like Florie and Bertie just needed a little extra time and trust to boost their confidence before they headed off. But Greta, Basil and Benny had almost completely shut down to the world around them. They were fearful of leads, people, day to day noises and handling and they each took weeks of one on one work. Slowly but surely they came around, started to play and walk on leads and we could even see some tails wagging. Finally they set off to enjoy the happy new lives that they all deserved. Their stories may not have started happy but it has been a true fairy tale ending to wave goodbye to these wee ones. We’re sure that you’ll all be with us in wishing them the best of luck for the future with their lucky new families and sure in the knowledge that should they encounter any difficulties in their new home they have the Sanctuary as their safety net to ensure they never find themselves in difficult circumstances in the future.
The journey for these 8 pups and the many others we encounter is only possible due to the support we receive from our many supporters, thank you!
Dogs Day Out Programme
As many of you know we have long term dogs who find it more difficult to find their forever homes and as all of them deserve to know what it’s like to see and experience life outside the Sanctuary walls we launched our Dogs Day Out Programme. Our programme provides just this – time away from the kennel environment, time to run, time to roll and time to be off lead.
If you wish to see our dogs enjoying the great outdoors, check out our facebook page where photographs from each ‘Day Out’ are published and if you wish to support our work and this programme then this is the place to do it ?
https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/DogsDayOutProgramme.
Thank you for your continued support!
Can you help out with our street collections?
Unfortunately due to COVID-19 all our street collections are cancelled.
A number of street collections are organised every year; the aim of these is to raise much needed funds and also highlight our work in animal rehoming, welfare and education.
We are always looking for folk to help us with our street collections; if you have a spare hour why not support our great work
Our street collection dates, all Saturdays, for this year are:
7 March @ NEWTOWNABBY
25 April @ BALLYCLARE
30 May @ LARNE
20 June @ CARRICKFERGUS
4 July @ BELFAST CITY CENTRE
12 September @ NEWTOWNABBEY
24 October @ CARRICKFERGUS
21 November @ LARNE
Remember you only need to donate one hour of your time to make a huge difference to the lives of the animals in our care.
If you would like to help us please contact the Sanctuary directly – we’d love to hear from you!
Our socialisation programme
Here at the Sanctuary we aim to ensure that all our dogs have a happy and healthy life in their forever homes and to assist with this we’re delighted to announce a new element within our rehoming process. All new adopters will now have the opportunity to attend a 2 hour session with Robin Bates, our animal behaviourist, to address any concerns or issues that they and their new companion may be encountering or indeed just to share ideas on all matters dog related.
These sessions will be held on the following dates and if you are interested in attending please contact the Sanctuary on 028 9446 3993.
Dates for 2023 are:
- Saturday 2 September @ 2pm
Want to be part of our volunteering team?
Our volunteers play a major role in the work of the Sanctuary and assist in the roles of dog walking, kennel cleaning, fundraising, reception duties and working in the cattery and in our charity shop.
If you want to be part of our team our induction dates for 2022 are:
- Saturday 2 April @ 10am
- Wednesday 8 June @6.30pm
- Saturday 6 August @ 10am
- Wednesday 12 October @ 6.30pm
You are required to register your interest a number of dates prior to the date of the induction and complete the necessary paperwork.
All volunteers must show proof of tetanus prior to attendance on the induction process. Once you have completed the general introduction you are required to complete a further overview on the specific area that you wish to volunteer in; these dates will be confirmed on the day of your induction.
We look forward to welcoming you to our team!
Socialisation and enrichment activities
Socialisation and enrichment activities are very much part of everyday life for our dogs here at the sanctuary.
Room to Relax
Our dogs can find the stress of kennel life difficult, so we have a home from home environment on our premises complete with television, sofa, coffee table and rugs! This allows our dogs a bit of time out from their kennel environment and for those who have never experienced the great indoors it gives them an opportunity to experience this environment. This all helps in the long term when they do find their forever home.
Adoption Scheme
As part of our adoption scheme we now offer all new adopters the chance to come back to the Sanctuary with their new friend and address any issues or concerns they may have with our behaviourist, Robin Bates. The session can also allow for any advice on nutrition, fun activities or anything else dog related. This sanctuary based initiative is aimed at ensuring our dogs adapt to their new and forever homes and never have to experience kennel life again.
Other enrichment activities including use of our pools on those sunny days, Kongs filled with tasty treats, slow feeders, other toys and plenty of walks throughout the day.
All of this is possible due to the generosity of our supporters so thank you from all our residents.
We work in partnership with Women’s Aid ABCL&N
In 2017 we commenced working in partnership with Women’s Aid covering the areas Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne and Newtownabbey. Over the first 12 months we offered a short term home to five dogs and as such assisted five women and their families.
The work of Women’s Aid ABCL&N is dedicated to providing refuge, support, information, training and development opportunities to women and children who are suffering abuse within the home. They work with a range of voluntary and statutory agencies and senior decision makers to raise the profile of domestic.
Connecting directly with the aims and objectives of the Sanctuary, if someone finds herself using the services of Women’s Aid ABCL&N, then we will offer their dog or cat a safe refuge in the interim period. The animal will have access to our kennel or cattery facilities and we will allow for feeding, exercise, socialisation and access to veterinary care for a sufficient period in order that issues relating to the woman and her family can be addressed. Additionally, we will accommodate visits from the family to the animal in a private and secure environment if the conditions are right and under the supervision of respective case workers.
The animal will be returned to their home environment once all issues have been resolved or if this is not possible we will also provide re-homing opportunities for the animal under the Sanctuary’s policy. This work has no impact on our capacity for rehoming dogs or cats.
Examples have been given when this work would have provided a lifeline to some Women’s Aid users and we all hope this will be the case in the future.
Ourselves and Women’s Aid ABCL&N view this as an exciting development in partnership working and are looking forward to the mutual benefits it will bring to both organisations and to the wider community.
The Sanctuary has also signed up to the Women’s Aid Safe Place initiative.