Yep - that's it, next stop Christmas  At least it didn't pour down did it? We were quite busy over the weekend and it really has been a very busy August with just less than 50 dogs finding new homes this month, and still 5 days to go.

Of course there's plenty of new dogs waiting and we have 10 coming in on Friday already arranged and no doubt more to follow.

If anyone has been trying to join our Weather Lottery through our website I'm sorry if you've been confused by the message that probably came up on your screen. Due to the organisers who run this on our behalf (and hundreds of other charities too) updating their website it's affected the security certificate they use. Things should be back to normal soon but iu the meantime information about the lottery can be found on our website and if you would like to know more or have an entry form (or perhaps a couple for friends) then please contact the office and we'll get them in the post to you. In the meantime congratulations to Mrs Allcock and Mrs McCarthy on your recent £2 win.

Could you be the next £10,000 or even £100,000 winner?  Remember - you've got to be in it to win it

Blind pups - we've had updates from the owners and they really are doing marvellous in their new homes.

Bye for now

Ben

For some time we've had a presence on Ebay so that anyone selling items could donate part of the sale price to BCT and we're very grateful to those who help our fundraising in this way.

We've now also begun selling items directly from the centre to bolster our fundraising efforts.

For those of you who enjoy browsing - and of course bidding - you can find all our goods under the seller ID - bordercollietrustgb (surprisingly enough  

At present we've everything from books to umberellas, DVD's to Spode ware. Obviously the "lots" will keep changing and we're always happy to receive suitable items to sell on Ebay.

So do keep checking and perhaps grab yourself a bargain at the same time.

Bye for now

Ben

Only three weeks and I'm off on holiday for two weeks. Where does the time go? I just checked to see when I last did an entry on the blog and it was ten days ago

Despite it being holiday time for many people we do seem to be busy on the homing front - which is wonderful because it means we are keeping well on top of our waiting list and helping a lot of dogs in their own homes, some of which need help quickly through no fault of their own.

You'll all be aware of Sheba, one of my own collies, who had a stroke a few weeks ago. Well she's still improving slowly. Eating has to be done little and often and we have to keep including really horrible things like steak, lamb and such like to keep her interested. I do wonder if she's trying it on a bit!! The good thing is she's put some weight back on which fell off her in the days after the stroke as she hardly ate at all.

I.T. is still keeping me busy in the office, we're moving our boarding bookings over to a new programme, probably after I get back from holiday. My colleague in the office, Tracy, has spent ages putting all our customers details on the new system which takes some time when you think we have over 550 on the current programme, although not all of them are regular customers.

Once that's done we looking at a new and versatile programme for all the details of supporters and subscribers to Border Collie World - and that's nearly a thousand lots of detail. Good thing is you certainly know the system when you've finished

Well tea is nearly ready so bye for now

Ben

Well I'm delighted to report that all the blind pups have now found a home or been reserved. The two that have been homed are settling in very well and bringing lots of pleasure to their new owners. We look forward to updates as they continue to amaze us all.

Homing has been quite busy over the last week so more dogs from our waiting list are being called in. We are still finding a large number of people who go on the list don't need our help and whilst it's understandable that they might find a home elsewhere or a place with another rescue, I'm still amazed (although the word I use in private is a bit stronger!!) at the number who don't return our calls offering  a place and worse still arrange to come and then don't turn up or let us know.

People eh - who'd have 'em

Subscribers to the magazine should have received the latest issue by now, if you haven't do let us know and please do inform us of any change of address. Over the last 3 issues we've had at least 2 or 3 returned to us as the person has gone away. So if you don't want to miss out on your Border Collie World do add us to your list of people to inform when you move.

We're already thinking of Christmas (terrible I know) and have three wonderful new designs for our own special Christmas cards. They've sold really well over the last couple of years and I'm sure you won't be disappointed with the new design - watch this space!

Bye for now

Ben

Well it has been here in the Midlands but at least today has seen it a little more bearable.

The shows went quite well at the weekend. Shugborough was well attended, especially on the Sunday and as always we met a lot of dogs who had been with us at some point in their past. We did quite well at the Sheepdog Trials at Husbands Bosworth as well.

You'll be well aware no doubt that two of the blind pups have now been homed and only Google is still seeking a new home.

Sheba, my own dog, is still recovering and doesn't seem quite as unsteady on her legs, her appetite is much better so hopefully we're over the worst now. Sue and I have another addition to the family - a Lovebird which we caught on top of our aviary on Saturday night. Unfortunately he (or she) won't mix with our Cockatiels in the aviary so now I'm investigating a small aviary for the Lovebird.

Bye for now

Ben 

After a couple of quiet weeks (comparatively speaking) for dogs needing help this week sees things back to "normal".

We've six coming in tomorrow (Tuesday), nine on Friday and 6 more on Saturday, plus two more organised now for the beginning of next week.

The blind pups featured on our website are coming along very well and so responsive to training that I suspect these are going to be a marvellous companion and give so much pleasure. I was watching Lisa, our Asst. Manager, who was working with them last night and their ability to stay close to her and find her when she moved was such that at times you would wonder if they could see after all !!

Thank you to those who have sent messages about my own dog, Sheba. Last Tuesday was a worrying day and at one point I was getting ready to take her back to the Vet. She has rallied since then and is now showing much more interest in what's happening around her although spending even more time sleeping. Can't quite understand how she finds more time to sleep as she did that for 20 hours a day before she was taken ill.

The effects do seem to have affected her taste and we are trying various options to coax her taste buds, she is getting better with her walking but very unsteady on uneven ground and although her permanent head tilt to the right does look appealing it is obviously affecting her ability to eat and balance. Hopefully the improvements will continue.

It's Pets & People Show at Shugborough Hall this coming weekend so if you're there do make sure you pop along and say hello to us. We've also got a stand at Husbands Bosworth sheepdog trials on Saturday.

Bye for now

Ben

Whilst dogs are arriving regularly, four special ones arrived in the last few days. Tranferred to us from another rescue having originally come from a farm, three of the four 9 week old pups are blind or have very limited vision. Being like this since birth they have obviously adapted very well and seem confident and happy.

There will of course be a number of special considerations a new owner will have to make but much will still revolve around socialising and training a young pup. We are working to put together useful information to help the new owners - things such as your furniture will need to remain in the same place as moving chairs around a lot will confuse any blind dog, certain potential dangers in the home and garden will need to be looked at - but none of these needs are excessive and I'm sure there is much satisfaction to be gained from helping these young pups.

Anyone interested in rehoming one of the pups is asked to contact us.

Away from rehoming it's a busy month show wise. We shall be at Pets & People Show at Shugborough Hall on 26th & 27th July and also at Husbands Bosworth Sheepdog Trials on 26th July.

The latest email newsletter went out yesterday so do check your emails, if you don't receive it do check your spam or trash folder to make sure it hasn't been automatically moved and do make sure you add our email address to your trusted or permitted senders as we have had some emails blocked and returned.

The next issue of Border Collie World is also at the printers and we hope to have those on their way to you by the end of July.

On a personal note it's been a bit of a worrying couple of days - regular visitors will have heard of my two collies Taffy & Sheba. Both are getting older, aren't we all, but I had to take Sheba to the Vets on Tuesday as it would seem she suffered a stroke (the dogs equivalent of) overnight on Monday. She was quite ill yesterday morning but seems a bit happier today. Unfortunately it has affected her balance but she has quickly realised that she can't charge about like she normally does. Fingers crossed her recovery will continue. 

Bye for now

Ben

Yes, you've guessed it, there I was with gardening implements in hand and all it wants to do is wait till I move then start raining - oh well managed to get some outside jobs done today, despite the showers.

I shouldn't really have even been trying to work today, it was going to be a ride out on the motorbike but that was postponed following a dog medical emergency last night. You may remember back in February we had a collie come to board with us who had a sudden seizure, well she was back again for a couple of days and came in Saturday morning. Just before 9pm I took her out (as she's not staying in the boarding block to try to reduce the stress) and all of a sudden - another fit.

Having recovered I whisked her off to the vet and with some tablets in hand bought her back and settled her down. It seems to be the stress of change of environment so her owners will be speaking to the vet this week to discuss options.

So of course I decided we'd stay here today - and with plenty of jobs to do I didn't have time to miss the bike trip !!

To go with all the computer upgrading we're training ourselves in the office with a new boarding booking programme which we'll be taking into use in a couple of months. We've been discussing offering grooming and this new programme will incorporate both boarding and grooming bookings. With further improvements in our computer setup I can see me being busy for a while !!

The latest email newsletter was forwarded last week, if you haven't received yours do please check you spam folder in case it went there by mistake.

Bye for now

Ben

Regular visitors will, I'm sure, remember the story of Ben. He came to us April after a bit of a "mercy operation" to help three dogs from a home. He was very underweight and it became obvious after a day or so that he had very limited vision.

He's now put some weight on and has become quite a favourite with everyone who has met him. Despite his very limited vision he's friendly and gaining in confidence.

It's always difficult finding homes for these special dog but having seen him on the website and then visiting the centre on Tuesday, we're delighted that his new owner will be taking him home on Sunday and hopefully he can now begin to enjoy life.

I'm still battling on with computer set-ups and tomorrow (Thursday) should see the big switch on in the office - so if you ring and get a very angry sounding man you'll know things didn't quite go according to plan, despite days of testing !!

2 new dogs came in today from Wales, another 4 are coming Friday and we are expecting another 8 or 9 next week.

Our Weather Lottery saw another winner last week - thanks to those who have joined, please do tell all your friends. We realise fundraising will get harder over the next few months so we need to take every opportunity that's available to us.

Bye for now

Ben 

Broadband arrived in the office 7 days ago and once I'd sorted out the necessary computer matters we were up and running. That was the easy bit, I then had to try to network two computers to start with (ultimately there should be three - but I didn't want to push my luck).

Three days later and at least the two computers see one another although only one can read the other - but we're getting there !! And whilst Windows Vista is much better in some ways - at times it's just too clever for its own good  

One bit that did go easily was the Skype set-up. You may recall I mentioned this a while ago. It does mean that this gives us an additional phone in the office and at a cost of only about £2 a month - and that includes free calls to landline numbers throughout Europe. So we can make even more savings on our phone bill. If you are on the internet and on Skype you can find us as Border Collie Trust - for those without you can even ring us from a normal phone on 01274 792282 (and for those who know their telephone exchanges, yes it is a Bradford number and no we haven't moved - that's technology for you again !!)

I've also been looking at better deals for our electricity in view of the ever increasing price of everything at the moment. But I seem to be having trouble with that wonderful creation - Customer Services. Why is it that something that is supposed to provide a "service" to us the "customer" manages to turn you into a homicidal maniac !! Oh well keep smiling eh?

A busy weekend just gone saw 8 dogs find new homes so we've called some in from our waiting list although two rescues need our help with about 12 others at the moment - yep nothing changes.

Bye for now

Ben