Tails Magazine Winter 2023/24

TAILS MAGAZINE Winter 2023/2024

In this issue...

Pets looking for homes Latest news Events guide Behaviour corner Plus much more

Helping the regions’ unwanted & abandoned dogs and cats since 1907

Contents 3-5 6-9 10-11 12 13

Latest news Fab fundraisers Behaviour corner Upcoming events

14-15 16 17 18-19

Special appeal updates Pets looking for homes Special friends News of happy endings

Current Appeals

Hello...

Welcome to our Winter edition of Tails.

As the nights draw in and we prepare ourselves for another winter at Gables, it is important to focus on what we have achieved over the last few months and share with you some successful animal adoptions as well as highlight what our wonderful staff, volunteers and supporters have been up to. There have been positive legislative changes for animal welfare such as the date being set for the compulsory microchipping of cats and the Renters (Reform) Bill supporting responsible pet owners in the private rental sector.

However, the next few months will bring great challenges for rescue centres across the country as well as pet owners after the Prime Minister announced that American bully XL types will be added to the list of breed types prohibited under the Dangerous Dogs Act by the end of 2023.

As more information on the Government’s plans becomes available we will provide updates to help owners through this very complex and worrying time.

Although rehoming our rescue dogs and cats continues to be challenging due to the cost of living crisis, we have lots of happy endings to share with you on pages 18 & 19.

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Hopefully you will have noticed that our fundraising team have been very busy organising and attending lots of events this year and have many more planned for 2024. These events not only raise some much needed funds but also help to spread awareness of our charity and the vital work we do to help dogs and cats across the region.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our incredible team of staff and volunteers for their hard work and dedication to our charity, the wonderful businesses and individuals who have our money collection pots and food collections bins in their stores and everyone who has donated funds as well as much needed supplies for our dogs and cats. We couldn’t help so many animals without your support and we are so grateful for your generosity.

I hope you enjoy reading this edition and I wish you all the best for Christmas and the New Year.

Claire Sparkes General Manager

Latest news Plans for new legislation could reduce the number of animals handed over to rescue centres Many animal rescue charities like Gables are welcoming the next step in long-awaited legislation that could allow tenants in England the right to request a pet in the home, compels landlords to consider the request and bars refusal on unreasonable grounds

of fears of potential damage. It has meant many renters facing the choice between giving up their pets or facing homelessness. We have certainly seen a rise in the number of dogs and cats being put on our waiting list to come in for rehoming for these reasons.

It is estimated that around 10% of pets are currently given up for adoption across UK rescue centres due to accommodation issues and restrictions. Most landlords do not allow pets, in part because

The proposed Renters (Reform) Bill will have an impact on reducing the number of pets being abandoned, relieving the pressure on shelters.

Ex Gables cat Ben emigrates to New Zealand We love to hear stories of ex Gables residents taking an unusual or long trip to a new home. One very lucky cat has made it all the way to New Zealand this year. Ben was adopted from Gables in 2017. He spent nearly 2 years living in Millbrook with Dawn before he made the very long trip to be reunited with Dawn’s daughter Dagmar and granddaughter Jessica who had moved back to New Zealand after spending 5 years in Cornwall.

Ben spent the night at a Windsor cattery before his flight to Singapore.

After a stopover of several hours he was on the

next flight to Auckland. He arrived at the Auckland Quarantine station for his 10 days of quarantine before being driven a further 8 hours to his lovely new home.

Apparently there was quite a lot of work and expense getting him there but Dawn told us he is worth it as he is a wonderful cat! He is enjoying his new life and lovely garden. Dawn will be going over to New Zealand for November and December so she is looking forward to seeing Ben and her family again.

What a very lucky cat indeed!

Treasured pets now safer as microchipping for cats becomes compulsory Cats and kittens are treasured members of the family, and it can be devastating for owners when they are lost or stolen.

Compulsory microchipping of cats will give comfort to families by increasing the likelihood that lost or stray pets can be reunited with their owners. Each year we take in on average 60 cats as stray.

Many of them are sadly not microchipped, making it very difficult to reunite them with their owners.

The new rules mean cats must be implanted with a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks and their contact details stored and kept up to date on a pet microchipping database. All owners must have their cat microchipped by 10 June 2024 and owners found not to have microchipped their cat will have 21 days to have one implanted, or may face a fine of up to £500.

We offer microchipping for both dogs and cats for only £12.50. If you would like to have your pet microchipped please call our reception on 01752 331602 any day between 9.30am and 3.30pm to book an appointment. www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

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A day in the life of a Cattery Assistant Have you ever wondered what an average day looks like for an Animal Care Assistant working in our cattery at Gables? Perhaps you’ve adopted a cat from us, or you’ve entrusted us to care for your beloved cat whilst on holiday. Well why don’t you join us as we take a sneak peek at what we get up to during a day and how we do our very best job caring for all the cats.

Morning: A purr-fect start to the day!

Mornings start early for us as after a quick team meeting and cup of coffee. We head straight down to the cattery in time for the cats to wake up. They are always very happy to see us and we love being greeted by their contented purrs and meows. Our cat pens are made up of a heated indoor sleeping area with a cat flap to an outside covered run for fresh air and exercise.

First order of business is breakfast. Some of our cats have special diets and some boarding cats have their own food brought in by their owners, so it is very important to make sure everyone gets the correct breakfast. We have what is called a ‘motion & food’ chart which isn’t anywhere near as exciting as it sounds. It tracks what each cat has eaten, and what then comes out the other end! This is the best way to ensure everyone is happy and healthy.

If we have any cats that need to visit the vets, we need to prepare them during the morning routine as well. They are placed into a cat carrier with towels, toys, and a cover. We use hospital wristbands on the cat carrier

handles to write their names on. Our reception and rehoming team then transport them to our vets.

The rest of our morning is spent doing a lot of cleaning! Just as you would at home, every cat needs their bedding, sheets and towels laundered and changed when needed. Breakfast dishes also need to be washed and put away. We empty, clean and replenish their litter trays, which is a huge task considering we have over 100 to do each day. It’s not just inside of the cat pens that need to be cleaned but the whole cattery. It’s all hands on deck to sweep, mop and scrub the building from top to bottom.

After the cleaning is complete the staff and volunteers spend time handling the kittens and cats and groom any that need it, which is a lovely part of the day. Sometime before or after midday we also squeeze in our special friend time. You may have read that some of the dogs need extra time devoted to help them during their stay at Gables. The staff working in the cattery are no exception, and we enjoy sharing our love with the dogs. We set aside some extra time to take them for a walk, or play in the paddock, basically any extra attention our special friend will appreciate and enjoy.

Afternoon: No time for kittening around!

After the cats have all been fed and watered it’s time for us to have some lunch. We enjoy our break in the staff room, or outside if it is a nice day, then head straight back down to the cattery. The afternoon is largely filled with more daily cleaning tasks, alongside regular deep cleaning. As we have cats arriving and leaving all the time, between each cat the pens needs a complete scrub down before it can be home for a new cat.

On the very exciting occasions that cats are adopted we prepare them for the journey to their new home. We set up a cat carrier with their favourite blanket and toys, but before placing them in the carrier we always scan their microchip. Every animal adopted from Gables comes microchipped and registered, so we need to ensure the cat is correctly registered before handing him/her over to their adopters. We then bring the cat up to reception where the rehoming team take over, and we say our final goodbyes to the lucky cat Throughout the day we also have boarding cats arriving and going home. When your cat comes to board with us they have their own

pen all to themselves. We supply everything they need including beds, blankets, bowls, toys, treats and food. On arrival and departure, we always weigh the cat and check their notes to ensure any belongings they come in with go back with them. One of the highlights of working in our cattery is getting to meet and care for so many lovely cats – boarding or rescue.

Once the cattery is completely cleaned, we do our final checks for the day. That means a final feed around 3pm, another update in the ‘motion & food’ chart and writing any notes in the diary to hand over to the next shift. We then say our goodbyes to all the cats and wish them sweet dreams until we see them again tomorrow.

Paws for a final thought…

Planning a holiday? Or just going to be away? If you need a place for your cat (or dog) to stay where you can be sure they will receive as much love and care as if they were at home then please consider our boarding service.

Not only will your much-loved pet be well taken care of you will also directly help us to care for the hundreds of unwanted and abandoned animals that come into our care every year, as all proceeds from our boarding service go straight back into the charity.

If you would like more information please visit our website or call/visit our reception.

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Volunteer Long Service Awards Parker the ‘stoodge cat’ 15 years’ service Do you ever wonder how we discover if our rescue dogs are ok to be rehomed to a family with a cat or two? Well we have been very fortunate to have one of the most important members of our Gables team living onsite with our Deputy Manager Ruth for 15 years now. Parker the cat, who has reached the grand old age of 18, has been ‘testing’ our dogs to see how they react towards a cat in a home environment for all these years and he does an incredibly important job. By using baby gates we can keep both the dog and Parker safely apart, whilst observing the dogs behaviour towards him as they approach one another.

Parker has enabled us to safely find new homes for hundreds of dogs and we are so grateful to him and Ruth for this dedication to our work.

What a legend he is!!

Libby Morris 5 years’ service Libby has been a fosterer for five years this December. Her first foster animals were a pair of tiny kittens.

Libby did such an excellent job she then went on to foster Happy Feet. Happy Feet was a 10-day-old kitten with a physical deformity where his feet were bent completely backwards. Without treatment he would have never walked properly and had such a low quality of life. Libby rose to the challenge and performed daily physiotherapy on Happy Feet to help with this deformity. She also most recently fostered Blitzen (called Rosie to her) a gorgeous red setter who was initially only meant to be with Libby for a few weeks but ended up being with her for a whole year due to court case delays, before finding her forever home. She also has an adorable dog called Winnie who she adopted from Gables, and who continues to support her foster dogs. She has absolutely loved having all her foster animals and can’t wait to foster more for us in the future. We are so lucky to have you on board Libby!

Amazon wish list We have a wish list of items we urgently need and/or regularly use on the Amazon website. If you would like to support us this way, please visit www.amazon.co.uk and search for our wish list. Your gift items will be delivered directly to us so we share them with the animals in our care straight away.

Our current wish list – If you can help by donating any of these items we would be very grateful • Play Bark • Hard rubber or plastic squeaky dog toys • Cat toys • Cardboard cat scratchers • Kongs • Nyla bones • Catsan litter

• Royal Canin Gastrointestinal dry food (dog & cat) • Royal Canin Gastrointestinal wet food (dog & cat) • Tins or pouches of Felix cat food • Washing powder • Tennis balls • Primula cheese • Footballs

Easyfundraising The simple and free way to fundraise for Gables There is a great way that you can help to support us as a charity and it’s free! You start by registering online with Easyfundraising and then just shop online, it’s as simple as that. Easyfundraising is a completely free service that has over 2,700 retailers, including Tesco, Apple and Boots, who will all make a donation to a charity, group or good cause every time you make a purchase with them. This is a way for them to say thank you for your custom so please encourage friends and family to register and they can easily raise donations for free too. www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

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Fab fundraisers We would love to be able to list all of the donations we receive from our wonderful supporters but there simply isn’t enough space. Here are a few highlights of recent donations and fundraising events held to raise funds for Gables from our fantastic community.

Colebrook Community Centre

Plymstock Community Forum

Kay Tomlinson and Daryl Kelly have kindly been raising funds for us at Colebrook Community Centre car boot sales held at Coypool. They raised an incredible £668!

What a fantastic effort! Kay popped in to Gables earlier this month to drop off five collection pots filled to the brim with donations. She was treated to cuddles with our reception dog Veggie. A huge thank you to Kay, Daryl and everyone from Colebrook Community Centre for their wonderful support.

The Plymstock Community Forum was unfortunately disbanded earlier this year. They were a group of dedicated volunteers who organised exciting events for the local community such as the Plymstock Fun Day which we used to attend every year with our dog show. Whilst their dissolution is a great loss to the local community, we are so grateful to be one of the chosen charities they decided to disperse their remaining funds to. We were given a cheque for £600 from one of the former members Mr John Voaden at a presentation in September this year. Thank you so much to all the former members and Chairman Mr Brian Steele for your generous donation and all you’ve done for the local community over the years.

Sandon Medical Clinic Sam Davis and the team at Sandon Medical Clinic organised a spooky Halloween raffle to raise funds for us. The gift basket they put together included over £200 worth of brand name products and vouchers for their services. At the time of this magazine going to print the raffle was still running so we are unware of the total raised yet but want to thank everyone at Sandon Medical Clinic for going to so much effort to raise funds for us.

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Storm Plymouth Bee and Katie from this local running and walking club organised cake sales, raffles and much, much more to raise a fantastic £300 to help the animals in our care. The whole club contributed by buying tickets and filling up on cake to help them reach this incredible total. Storm Plymouth even has their own mascot in the form of adorable dachshund Daphne, she loves supporting them in all their races and fundraising efforts. Thank you so much to everyone at Storm Plymouth, your support is very much appreciated.

Adam Sparkes

Rachel Newport

Adam took on the mammoth task of walking the 85 mile length of Hadrian’s Wall in under six days to raise funds for us. He did the walk in memory of his beloved family pooch Bobby who was laid to rest earlier this year after sixteen wonderful years with Adam and his family. Through his own efforts Adam managed to raise an amazing £560! He also miraculously had stunningly sunny weather for his entire six day hike. We like to think Bobby might have had something to do with this from above. Thank you so much Adam and well done!

Rachel is running the 2024 London Marathon to raise funds for the animals in our care. She’s never ran a marathon before so is busy doing lots of training getting in tip-top shape ready for next April. She’s already raised over £100! Well done Rachel, all the staff and volunteers at Gables are behind you, and we’ll be cheering you on next year! If you would like to support Rachel and follow her progress you can do so here: 2024tcslondonmarathon.enthuse.com/pf/rachel-newportldnmarathon2024

Katie Nobbs Katie Nobbs kindly bought £500 worth of toys and treats for every single dog and cat in our care in loving memory of her Mum Shirley. Many people like Katie contact us throughout the year asking for ways to commemorate a family member or friend who had a love for animals that has unfortunately passed. We think donations like this are such a fantastic way to celebrate their loved one’s memory.

Thank you Katie.

www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

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Babcock International Group Over three separate days groups of volunteers from Plymouth’s Babcock office came by to help us out with all sorts of essential jobs. They weeded paddocks, planted trees and helped with general gardening. For their hard work they were rewarded with lots of puppy cuddles and a group dog walk around site. Group walks are amazing for young puppies in particular who need lots of socialisation and practice walking on the lead. We don’t always have spare time to do extra group puppy walks, so it’s a fantastic opportunity when we have all these extra sets of hands to help us. Thank you so much to all the wonderful volunteers from Babcock.

Plympton Bowling Club We are so grateful that Plympton Bowling Club chose us as their charity to support for this season’s ‘Triples Charity Event’. At this event they raised an amazing £500 towards helping the animals in our care. We were delighted to also be invited to an official cheque presentation where we got to meet lots of the wonderful members who raised funds for us. We were presented with a cheque by Club President Jan Stapleton, and of course got to meet Dylan, the club Border collie and unofficial mascot. Thank you all so much for supporting us.

Madeleine Hunt Madeleine has been fighting for various animal welfare causes for many years. She recently organised a charity art show at The Plot Deli in Newton Abbot to raise funds and awareness for us. Along with the kind support of Darryl, The Heritage Party Devon branch and two local artists Sara Brown and Julia Finzel, they so far have raised an incredible £300! Thank you so much for your wonderful support and for spreading the word about what we do far and wide.

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Filham Park Veterinary Clinic Filham Park have been our contracted vets for many years and on 1st October this year they had an open day to which were invited along.

We had such a fantastic time with their friendly team, watching demonstrations, taking a punt at the tombola and watching the wonderful dog show they put on. They raised an amazing £328 for us at the open day! Thank you so much to everyone at Filham Park for their contributions.

Year 7 at Ivybridge Community College The 2022/23 Year 7s from Ivybridge Community College chose us as one of the charities they’d like to raise funds for during this past academic year. They organised so many different activities and events throughout the year to raise an incredible £478!

We were invited to attend their end of year ceremony with the adorable Chihuahua Benji in tow. Benji was more than happy to provide thank you cuddles to loads of the Year 7s. Thank you all for your amazing efforts.

www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

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Behaviour Corner

by Dog Behaviourist Jodie Harris

How to: teach your dog to walk nicely on the lead Teaching our dogs to walk with a loose lead should be one of the foundation skills that we train our dogs. Often this seems to be a skill that many owners struggle to master and pulling on the lead can quickly become a problem, especially for owners of larger breeds. Each year many dogs are surrendered for adoption because their owners are unable to manage them on the lead. Walking a strong puller can be stressful and painful for both dog and human.

There are many health issues associated with pulling including ear and eye problems as well as more serious conditions such as a collapsed trachea. By teaching your dog this fundamental skill not only will you reduce stress for both you and your dog but it can help you to avoid unnecessary health complications in the future.

Before you start training it’s important to understand what motivates your dog. This could be treats, toys or even a bit of fuss? Using high value treats, such as chicken, as the motivation is often the easiest reward, but it’s imperative you use whichever reward your dog works well for.

When it comes to training it is helpful to understand some of the terminology associated.. I have highlighted in bold these words and explain what I mean by them as we go along.

At the beginning of your first training session you need to set the criteria in order to remain consistent during the session. A criteria is ‘behaviour/s that the dogs must achieve in order to earn the reward’. For example, when asked to sit the dogs bottom must be touching the floor in order to achieve criteria and earn the reward. Having such a plan can ensure that both you and your dog know what to expect from your training and it can help to avoid confusion for you both. Planning and consistency is the key to success so don’t be tempted to skip the preparation.

So, you have started training and your dog has met the first criteria, what do you do next? The next step is to mark that behaviour with a noise or word. Markers can include a clicker but a high pitched word such as ‘yes’ is also very successful. Timing is really important too.

We must use our marker at the exact moment that the desired behaviour is achieved and then follow this with the delivery of the reward.

Repetition is another key factor in training. Don’t move onto the next criteria in your plan until you have repeated the one you are on many times. You will notice with repetition your dog will achieve the criteria faster each time.

I have created a training plan explaining the criteria required and when to mark and reward in order to achieve the behaviour of loose lead walking. This is not a fast process and all your hard work can be quickly undone if you allow pulling on the lead to happen in between sessions.

In the early stages of training be prepared to be stationary for most of your time out and treat every single walk as a training session.

Training plan Criteria one: Whenever the lead is tight, stand still and become silent. Wait for your dog to turn and look back at you. It may take some time for your dog to acknowledge you so be patient and do not tug the lead at any point. Mark the moment the dog looks back then reward directly in front of you but close to your body, which will in turn loosen the lead, before moving again.

You should also mark and reward any time that the dog looks back to you, even if they have not pulled on the lead beforehand.

Move onto criteria two when your dog will instantly look back as soon as the lead is tight, or just before the lead tightens (5 times in a row).

Criteria two: When the lead is tight, stand still and silent. Do not tug the lead at any point. Wait for your dog to turn, look back at you and take one step closer to you. Mark at the point they take the step and the lead loosens. Reward directly in front of you but close to your body then move off again.

You should also mark and reward any time your dog takes a step towards you even if the lead didn’t tighten first.

Move onto criteria three when your dog will instantly look then take one step towards you as soon as the lead is tight (5 times in a row).

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Criteria three: When the lead is tight stand still and silent. Do not tug the lead at any point. Wait for your dog to turn, look back at you and take two steps closer to you. Mark at the point the dog takes the second step. Reward directly in front of you but close to your body then move off again.

You should also mark and reward any time your dog takes 2 steps towards you even if the lead didn’t tighten first.

Move onto criteria four when your dog will instantly look then take two steps towards you as soon as the lead is tight (5 times in a row).

Criteria four: Our goal posts are going to change completely for this part of the training. By this point your dog may, or may not, still be tightening the lead before stepping back towards you. At this point either way is fine. More often than not you will notice that they are starting to pay more attention to you during walks. From now on when your dog takes those steps back towards you, you must lure them (by holding the treat to their nose for them to follow) in a 180° circle away from your body bringing them around to your side in the ‘heel’ position. Mark the moment they reach the heel position and reward before moving on.

Criteria five: The final stage of this training protocol is simple. Follow the criteria for step four but hold off the mark and reward until they have begun to move a few steps. Continue to walk while delivering the treat. You can then feed in the heel position sporadically to keep them in position.

This is not the only method that you can use to train your dog to walk to heel. There are many other really good ways to do it so if this method isn’t working for you then you may wish to explore the other positive ways to do it. If you are really struggling then you should hire a qualified trainer or behaviourist to help get you started.

If you have plenty of patience and perseverance you should be able to achieve the goal of loose lead walking with your dog, which will not only make your life easier but your dog’s life happier and healthier.

www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

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Upcoming events DECEMBER

2nd December

Stall & Collection at Saltash Christmas Festival, Saltash, 1pm - 7pm

3rd December

Stall & Collection at Trago Christmas Market, Trago Newton Abbot, 9am - 4pm

3rd December

Collection at Pets At Home, Plymouth, 10.30am - 3pm

9th December

Stall & Collection at Trago Christmas Market, Trago Newton Abbot, 9am - 4pm

9th December

Collection at Pets At Home, Plymouth, 10am - 3.30pm

10th December

Stall at Tavistock Christmas Festival, Tavistock, 10am - 3.30pm

14th December

Santa Paws at Brewdog, Plymouth, 5pm – 10pm

15th December

Collection at Pets At Home, Plymouth, 10am - 3.30pm

16th December

Stall & Collection at The Original Factory Shop, Plympton, 10am - 3pm

17th December

Stall & Collection at Matalan, Transit Way, 10am - 3.30pm

17th December

Charity Quiz at Brewdog, Plymouth, 7pm – 10pm

22nd December

Stall & Collection at Drake Circus Shopping Centre, Plymouth, 9am - 6pm

22nd December

Collection at Pets At Home, Plymouth, 10am - 3.30pm

23rd December

Stall & Collection at Drake Circus Shopping Centre, Plymouth, 9am - 6pm

Upcoming events for 2024 (timings TBA)

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6th & 7th January

Stall & Collection at Newnham Bark, Newnham Park Plympton

24th & 25th February

Stall & Collection at Newnham Bark, Newnham Park Plympton

20th & 21st April

Stall & Collection at Newnham Bark, Newnham Park Plympton

8th June

Stall, Collection & Dog Show at East End Fun Day at Astor Park, Plymouth

22nd June

Stall & Collection at Tamar Valley Fete at St Anns Chapel in Calstock, Cornwall

6th July

Stall, Collection & Dog Show at Derriford Street Party at Derriford United Reformed Church, Plymouth

13th July

Stall & Collection at Liskeard Show at Merrymeet, Liskeard, Cornwall

21st July

Stall, Collection & Dog Show at Stoke Village Fun Day at Blockhouse Park, Plymouth

27th July

Stall & Collection at Latchley, Chilsworthy & Cox Park Show (LCCP) in Chilsworthy, Cornwall

31st July

Stall & Collection at Yealmpton Show at Kitley House, Yealmpton

25th August

Stall, Collection & Dog Show at Central Park Fun Day at Central Park, Plymouth

Current appeals Winter Heating Appeal

If you can make a contribution to our Each year we take in nearly 1000 unwanted and Winter Heating Appeal 2023-24’, you abandoned dogs and cats and this year we have seen yet another dramatic increase in the number of can do this by: vulnerable animals needing our help due to the cost 1. Telephone of living crisis. please call 01752 331602 It is vitally important that we provide our animals 2. Online - via Justgiving with the very best during their stay with us and www.justgiving.com/campaign/wha23-24 their pens must be kept warm and comfortable at all times. During the winter months we use lots Online - via Paypal of donated duvets and blankets to help keep paypal.me/gablesdogsandcats the animals warm and cosy, but our heating bills Online - via our website increase dramatically. There are 81 cat pens and www.gablesfarm.org.uk/how61 dog kennels to keep warm, which is set to cost a can-you-help/make-a-donation-2 staggering £15,000 over the coming winter months.

www.gablesfarm.org.uk 13

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

3. By text: To donate £1, text GABLEWIN to 70201 To donate £3, text GABLEWIN to 70331 To donate £5, text GABLEWIN to 70970 To donate £10, text GABLEWIN to 70191 * Fundraising, payments and donations will be processed and administered by the National Funding Scheme (Charity No: 1149800), operating as DONATE. Texts will be charged at your standard network rate.

For Terms & Conditions, see www.easydonate.org

If Gables is lucky enough to raise more money than is needed it will go towards helping all the animals in their care.

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

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Special Appeal updates Larry’s Lousy Liver Appeal Earlier this year we took in an 18-month old cat called ‘Larry’ who was in need of urgent medical care and life saving surgery. On arrival at Gables he was very wobbly and it was discovered he was having seizures. Gables contracted vets Filham Park carried out tests which indicated he had a portosystemic (liver) shunt.

Once again our incredible supporters rushed to the aid of Larry.

It is believed he was born with this condition, where the toxins in his blood are You raised an amazing £5,668 not filtered out by his liver and instead travel to his brain. This causes him to have towards his life-saving episodes where he becomes very wobbly, disorientated and dribbles. He was taking medical care. Thank you to medication every 12 hours to manage this condition but it is not effective long term. all of you who donated!

Even on the medication he still had seizure style episodes which took 2 to 3 days for him to recover from.

To help with this fatal condition Larry was referred to Highcroft Referral Centre in Bristol where he had a CT scan to investigate his condition and to plan for lifesaving surgery to correct the liver shunt.

It was estimated to cost Gables £7,000 for all the treatment, scans, specialist surgery and medication that Larry will need now and into the future, as well as basic care such as flea and worm treatment and vaccinations.

In early October Larry underwent his life-saving surgery at Highcroft Veterinary Referrals in Bristol. He received a chauffeur driven service to and from Bristol by our wonderful Supervisor Carly and Deputy Manager Ruth. He is now back at Gables and is doing so well he is now available for adoption and looking for his forever home.

Air Conditioning Appeal As hot weather and heat waves are here to stay, the temporary portable air conditioning units we have been using are just not an option long term and not very cost effective. Therefore we asked our wonderful supporters to help us raise funds for new permanent equipment that will also have the added benefit of providing heating during the winter months and will replace the very old and inefficient heat pads and radiant heating that was installed when Gables was built many years ago.

The cost for these commercial units to be installed in the buildings most needed is £19,000. This will provide cool air in the summer months and warm air during the winter.

The brachycephalic (flat faced) breeds really struggle in the heat and we worry about our residents anytime we have a heat wave. The staff do their very best to keep our animals cool and always come up with great new ways to do this but it is time to take that worry away for good. It is a lot of money to ask for but we feel it is so important to keep our animals safe and comfortable now and for many years to come.

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Our amazing supporters have already banded together to help us out. So far we have raised £1,870 towards installing the air conditioning units.

Thank you to everyone who has donated so far. We still have a long way to go but with your wonderful support we are determined to provide the best care possible.

Seven’s Birthday Wish Seven celebrated his 5th birthday at Gables in September this year. Due to his complex behavioural needs resulting from terrible abuse in his previous home, he is much trickier than most to find the perfect home for. As we are a non-euthanasia charity we will never give up hope in finding his forever home. In the mean time we do all we can to keep him happy and healthy. He gets very stressed when walking in public places due to his anxiety so we like to think of new ways to keep him enriched here on site.

He loves to chase a ball and he adores his off lead time in the paddock. We felt that if Seven could ask for anything he would want a herding ball. These balls are very large rubber balls that come with a cover to prevent them from bursting, but they don’t come cheap, so we sent out the appeal to our supporters to help us purchase the £65 ball.

Our supporters absolutely blew us away as they raised an amazing £411 to make Seven’s birthday wish come true! Seven was absolutely overjoyed with his birthday presents and loves his off-lead time in the paddock chasing them.

Thank you all so much.

As we received so many donations for Seven’s birthday appeal the remaining funds left over after purchasing the balls was put towards a much needed dental at Filham Park Vets. Seven is now sporting a stunning set of pearly whites, with many thanks to his wonderful supporters.

Super Summer Raffle Despite the sunshine not being on our side, our Super Summer Raffle was a roaring success this year. We are continually amazed by the support from local businesses who graciously donate such fantastic prizes to us. Pictured here are just a handful of the amazing prizes we received this summer.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated prizes and everyone who bought tickets. You all helped us raise an incredible £1,886!

Please keep an eye on our website and social media for announcements about our next raffle coming soon!

www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

15

Pets Looking for homes

We would love to be able to list all the animals we have looking for a new home but there simply isn’t enough space. Please log on to our website www.gablesfarm.org.uk to see all the dogs and cats currently looking for a new home.

Rusty Rusty is an 18-month-old Cocker Spaniel with energy galore! He loves meeting new people, going on all sorts of adventures and absolutely adores other dogs. Because he enjoys the company of his own kind so much he does need to be rehomed with another confident, playful dog who can show him the ropes. Rusty is a busy, easily distracted, high energy chap who will need lots of stimulation and canine friends. Once you’ve tired him out he can be very snuggly, loves being groomed and bathed and is always looking for fun. He is not suitable to live with cats and can live with older children (13+). He cannot be rehomed to Okehampton as this is where he came from and is looking for owners who have dealt with separation anxiety before.

Larry You may be familiar with Larry from his Lousy Liver Appeal. Larry arrived at Gables as an 18-month-old cat in desperate need of medical attention. He has successfully undergone his liver surgery and is recovering nicely at Gables. We are now looking to find a forever home for Larry. Due to his ongoing medical needs we are seeking a trained veterinary nurse who will understand his condition. We are also looking for someone who is close to our contracted vets Filham Park in Ivybridge. This is so Larry can continue to receive ongoing essential care and enjoy life to the full.

Phillip Phillip is a 4-year-old Shih Tzu who was rescued from a puppy farm which housed over 90 dogs in appalling conditions. Due to this scary start in life it takes him a long time to warm up to people. He will need to meet potential adopters many times before he will even allow you to stroke him. Once he does finally warm up to you he is the sweetest little man, who continually seeks reassurance from his trusted handler. He walks nicely on the lead but only in very quiet places away from other dogs. He would really like a home where he is the only pet, with the opportunity to meet other calm dogs on his own terms to help with socialisation. He is only suitable to live with older children (13+) and cannot be rehomed to Torquay as this is where he came from.

Alan Alan is an 18-month-old large cross breed. He is a confident chap who has loads of energy.

He can get mouthy and will need continued training with this to ensure it doesn’t get worse.

He is looking for owners who’ve had guarding breeds previously and know how to properly deal with resource guarding behaviour. His guarding behaviour is genetic as 5 out of 6 of the puppies from his litter displayed this behaviour. That means it’ll likely always be a part of his character even around people he may trust very well. Alan would like to live with another dog to keep him company, he cannot live with cats, and is only suited to homes with older children (13+). He cannot be rehomed to Ivybridge as this is where he came from.

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Special Friends Some of the dogs at Gables stay here a little longer than others. This can be for a number of reasons. They may be nervous, have behavioural problems or medical issues that need to be addressed, or just simply get overlooked by people. These dogs need extra time and love so to help them during their stay with us all the staff are given a ‘special friend’.

Supervisor Carly’s special friend is Storm Eunice. This handsome man came to us as an ex working dog who was given the sack due to his age and not being as productive any more. Although he can be very wary around people once he comes around you get to see his soft, cuddly side.

Storm Eunice’s former job involved a lot of chasing, so he still loves to run and chase things, despite not being as fast any more due to his age. Carly has spent lots of time with Storm to ease him into retirement and foster a calm, loving bond.

Filham Park Veterinary Clinic Godwell Lane, Ivybridge PL21 0LE 01752 892700 Purpose built small animal facilities at our Filham Park Clinic Surgery Appointment Hours Monday to Friday 9am 11:45am 2pm 3:45pm 4:30pm 5:45pm Saturday 9am 11:45am 2pm 4:10pm 24 hour emergency services provided by our designated partners No answerphones or remote call centre Trained veterinary nurses, providing the best possible care

Filham Park Veterinary Clinic is part of CVS (UK) Ltd. Registered in England & Wales. Reg. No: 03777473. Reg. Office: CVS House, Owen Road, Diss, Norfolk IP22 4ER

www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

17

News of happy endings Max (formerly George)

Max is an adorable poodle cross that was signed over to us as his owner could no longer cope with the excitable puppy. It was meant to be though as he was soon adopted by Michaela, her husband and two young boys. We are often accused of not rehoming animals to families with small children, which is completely untrue, it just has to be the right animal with the right family. Michaela and her family are so happy to have the addition of Max, they had this to say about him, “Favourite walks – beach or river. Loves – rolling in fox/deer/sheep poo. Hates – being showered after rolling in said poo.” The two boys are so happy to have a furry friend in their lives to accompany them on all their adventures. Thank you for providing the perfect home for Max.

Milly and Molly (formerly Amore and Amethyst)

Amore and Amethyst are a bonded pair of sister cats who came to us as their owner could no longer care for them. They were luckily adopted by Mike and Mandy who renamed them Milly and Molly and are absolutely devoted to them. Milly and Molly love lounging around their home on whatever comfy surface they can find. They’ve claimed cushions, pillows and even entire sofas as their own. Their owners like to think if Milly and Molly could speak they’d say, “We’ve trained our staff very well” as Mike and Mandy are all too happy to tend to their every want and desire. Thank you so much for providing the best possible home imaginable for this adorable but demanding pair.

Spock (formerly Globe)

Globe came to us after being found as a stray along with his mum Snow. At the time he was a very small puppy and they were both incredibly nervous. Since being under Gables expert care his confidence grew hugely and he was successfully adopted by Tom and his family. Tom had adopted a terrier called Obi from us before and was up for the challenge of taking on another nervous puppy. Globe (now known as Spock) settled in excellently and loves his forever family. They say he loves sleeping on whoever’s around and will play with anyone and anything. Obi has also become a very protective older brother, easing Spock’s nervousness outside around other dogs and becoming favourite cuddle buddies. Just look how cute they are curled up on the sofa together!

Frangipane

Frangipane came to us a stray. Because she sadly wasn’t microchipped we didn’t really know anything about her history. She was adopted by Alana and John earlier this year and has settled in so well. She absolutely adores her new owners, sleeping on their bed, following them wherever they go and gladly accepting all the cuddles she can get. Frangipane has already claimed her favourite spot in front of the glass door in the lounge and loves to explore. Her owners describe her as a “bundle of joy, it’s like she has always been here. She’s absolutely adorable and we love her to pieces!” The feelings appear to be mutual as Frangipane sits on the kitchen rug when she’s ready for playtime, jumps up onto her pouffe for a good brush and enjoys munching on bacon and sausages. What a dream life! We are just overjoyed Frangipane found the perfect home.

Mittens (formerly Fleby)

Mittens was adopted by Annie and her partner. She immediately took to her new home and by the second day was ready for exploration and lots of affection. After just one week she’d completely settled in, relaxing and snuggling with “mummy” Annie and curling up on her favourite chair. Mittens loves exploring the fields around her home and can spend hours chasing butterflies, she really has taken to the outdoor lifestyle. Her new favourite trick is running away with packets of Felix treats if her owners are careless enough to leave them out. Mittens seems to absolutely love her new life in the country. Thank you for providing the purrfect home for her.

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Fonzie (formerly Crispy Whispy)

Crispy Whispy came to Gables back in 2018 and was in urgent need of medical care to treat a skin condition and also needed two teeth removed. Once recovered he was adopted by Sandra and her husband in March 2019. It was a match made in heaven from the start as they renamed him Fonzie and he instantly settled into their lives. Fonzie went on so many amazing adventures to the beach, woodlands and creek, and even enjoyed trips out on his Uncle’s canal boat. Unfortunately earlier this year Fonzie’s legs started to give way and he couldn’t climb stairs anymore. Sandra and her husband took him to Filham Park Vets where the decision was eventually made to end his suffering. Fonzie was given some extra strong painkillers and enjoyed two last wonderful days with his owners. On his final day he was treated to ice-cream and went to sleep in his Mother’s arms with Dad tickling his ears. Fonzie had the most joyous life imaginable with Sandra and her husband, we are so grateful they found each other.

Arthur and Nina (formerly Benji and Chantelle)

Tiggy and Ryan adopted our long term married couple Benji and Chantelle earlier this year. The pair of tiny Chihuahuas arrived at Gables with Chantelle heavily pregnant and extremely scared.

After her successful litter of puppies were adopted, our team worked tirelessly to rehabilitate Chantelle and help her overcome her anxieties. Tiggy and Ryan met with Benji and Chantelle numerous times so the dogs could build their confidence with them. After many successful meets and a home visit the pooches went to their new home in Cornwall. Tiggy and Ryan had this to say about the adorable additions to their lives, “Arthur and Nina have fit perfectly in with us and when they aren’t climbing all over us looking for a fuss you can guarantee you’ll find them snoozing on the sofa.” This cheeky pair do still have the occasional spat over treats but have brought nothing but joy to their owners lives, we are sure they are loving life in their forever home.

Calvin

Calvin arrived at Gables with a number of other dogs back in 2021. He was rescued from dire living conditions which were not suitable for animals or humans, where he had never been off the property or met other people before. Due to this he was terrified of strangers and had completely shut down emotionally. After much rehabilitation Calvin found his perfect match in Alyx who put in so much effort building Calvin’s trust gradually over numerous meets, walks and home visits.

In June 2023 he was adopted by Alyx and has settled in so well to his forever home. With Alyx’s encouragement he is now happily walking on the lead past strangers without any reaction and really enjoys all the little adventures they go on together. He is simply delighted to have a garden of his own to explore, and Alyx said he can’t believe he can go outside whenever he likes. It’s so wonderful seeing Calvin blossom into his new life and get the happily ever after he deserves.

www.gablesfarm.org.uk

@Gablesdogscats

@Gablesdogsandcats

@gablesdogsandcats

Tails Winter 2023/2024

19

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Help dogs andand cats cats by boosting your donation by 25p forby every you donate Signed Date Helpmore more dogs by boosting your donation 25p£1 for every £1 you donate

Gift Aid is reclaimed by Gables Dogs & Cats Home from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your full name and address is needed to identify you as a current UK tax payer.

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AidDate is reclaimed by Gables Dogs & Cats Home from the tax you pay for the current tax year. Your full name and address is needed to identi you as a current UKaid taxmy payer.

Yes, I would to gift donation of £ Please notify Gables Dogslike & Cats Home if you: In order to Gift Aid your you&must thetobox below: I am a UK taxpayer and would Gables Dogs Catstick Home reclaim the tax on all qualifying donations I have made, as well as 1. Want to cancel this declaration at any time. likedonation 2. Change your or home address. anyname future donations, until I notify them otherwise.

I understand that if I pay less Income Tax Capital Gains Tax than I want to Gift Aid my donation of £ and any donations I make in and/or the future or have made in thethe lastamount 4 yearsofto Gables 3. No longer Gift pay sufficient tax onon your income and/or capital Aid claimed all my donations in thatgains. tax year I may be asked to pay any difference.

If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief due to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on your Dogs & Cats Home. Date Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue & Customs to adjust your tax code.

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1. Want to cancela this declaration at any time. return this completed form to: Thank you for making donation, please 2. Change your name or home address.

Gables 204 Road, Plymouth, PL7 1UQ orto: info@gablesfarm.org.uk Thank Dogs you for making a donation, return this form 3.& NoCats longer Home, pay sufficient tax onMerafield yourplease income and/or capital gains. completed 20 If you pay Income Tax at the higher or additional rate and want to receive the additional tax relief to you, you must include all your Gift Aid donations on you Gables Dogs & Cats Home, 204 Merafield Road, Plymouth, PL7 1UQ ordue info@gablesfarm.org.uk Self-Assessment tax return or ask HM Revenue & Customs to adjust your tax code.

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