Coalford Canine Retreat

18/09/2025

🥳Happy Anniversary to us!🥳
On the 18th of September 1889, the doors first opened to Mrs Murrays Home for Stray Dogs and Cats.
If we go back to the beginning there was nowhere for stray or abandoned or unwanted animals to go… they were left to scavenge on the streets finding shelter where ever they could.
Originally formed in the grounds of her Bridge of Don home at Inverdon House, our founder Mrs Susan Murray, and her friends raised money to build kennels on land just off King Street and was officially opened by Lord Provost Henderson on this date in 1889.
Who would have thought back in 1889 when Susan Murray saw a need for a place of shelter and refuge for the stray and unwanted dogs of Aberdeen and Shire and opened a shelter for them, that we would still be here all these years later.

For 136yrs, Mrs Murray’s has served the North East through recessions, 2 world wars, and financial hardships. Our doors have always been open. Only during Covid did we have to shut the doors. But we kept busy delivering pet food parcels from our food bank to those in need and offering care for the pets of keyworkers who were working all hours.

We are a vital part of the local community giving them a central base and first point of contact should they have lost their pet or even find themselves in the distressing situation of having to give their pet up…. From lending an ear to those who have recently lost their pet who just need someone to talk to that can empathise with them. To giving advice on where people can turn to for help and offering a safe haven for those unfortunate to not have a home of their own…
Mrs Murray’s has grown and adapted to move with modern times embracing new social media platforms and engaging a wider community of pet lovers near and far.

💜 Nae bad far a wee local independent Aberdeen charity 💜
As we keep looking to the future we can't wait to share with you the plans for our new modern rehoming block. So get you thinking caps on as there will be lots of fundraising to do!
Mrs Murray's receives no government or lottery funding to support the work we do and we don’t have the safety net of a national charity to fall back on.
We rely on legacies, donations and YOU, the public of the North East to help support our work and the animals in our care.
Mrs Murray’s continues to grow and is committed to securing the future of all the animals that pass through our doors. From the humble beginnings of 1889 to the Centre it is today we hope our founder would indeed be very proud at what her small act of kindness has become.

12/09/2025

Our doggo session goes live for bookings from 6pm tonight. Don’t miss out on this pawsome unique opportunity to join in.

Remember we are doing this as a trial and our team will be on site on the day to help everyone have a dogtastic time.

We have also decided that with the feedback we have received we are going to turn on the paddling pool too which some of our smaller wee pals might enjoy.

For some this may be the first time you have used a Live Life Aberdeenshire facility, and to be able to book you will need to register on our online booking system, so here’s the link to help you do that. https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/sport-and-physical-activity/sports-booking/gladstone-how-to/

09/09/2025

02/09/2025

Our current vacancies

01/09/2025

We are at it again – trying something new and something quite special which we wanted to trial this year.

This one is all about the Doggo’s!!!! Treat your pup to a splash-tastic swim in our outdoor pool—designed for dogs and their humans to enjoy together.

We are now in the final week of our heated season, and we want to end it in the best way possible by inviting the doggo’s and their humans in for the final swim of summer 2025, after this session we will have a small closure to clean our water and prepare for our very successful cold swimming sessions which will be advertised soon.

This is a save the date for Sunday the 14th September, sessions will be 45 minutes long and we will have 5 sessions over the day.

We will post again when bookings will be opening. It’s limited spaces so keep an eye on our page.

19/07/2025

11/07/2025

There’s so much advice out there about helping pets during a spell of hot weather, but it can be tough to know fact from fiction! 🤯

Our experts have busted the most common heatwave myths so that you can keep your pets safe and happy all summer long.

Check out more common myths, along with tips to protect your pets when temperatures rise: https://bit.ly/3IuEVfT

11/07/2025

02/07/2025

Myth Busting: Why 5 minutes per month just isn't right!

➡️There is lots of conflicting and confusing advice when it comes to exercise and puppies. The information can be so overwhelming! Many people will have an opinion, but what is the evidence regarding exercising puppies and joint health?

➡️We know that certain breeds are predisposed to genetic or conformation risk factors but as with anything each dog is individual. We have an extensive array of breeds who may or may not have a certain morphology, a particular shape or form, which may predispose them to joint damage: it is really difficult to give a ‘one size fits all’ advice.

➡️In one study skeletally immature dogs who undertook 15 weeks of jogging at a rate of 40 km per day had no change in cartilage content! (And realistically, 40 km per day is not a realistic expectation or aim!)

➡️In one study, running after balls and sticks throwing by the owner were also identified as risk factors for dogs developing joint issues.

Veterinary Voices: Top Tips

🩵Exercise for puppies needs to be tailored to your dog as an individual

🩵Keep your puppy at a lean body condition score, do not allow them to carry unnecessary weight

🩵Feed your puppy a healthy, complete and good quality diet appropriate for their age and breed. Getting the nutrition wrong at a young age can cause issues.

🩵Each dog should be assessed individually based on their breed, temperament and physical status

🩵Puppies should be free of hip and elbow dysplasia, and genetic predisposition to joint damage

🩵Certain high impact exercises, twisting or jarring may be risk factors for damage! Do not let your dog obsessively chase balls and toys. Avoiding jarring, high concussive (a hard blow or collision) activity during the formative months may be a prudent recommendation

➡️ REMEMBER: 1 hour of sniffing, socialising, walking, training and trotting is NOT the same as 1 hour throwing a ball repeatedly.
One will not be as obviously tiring, but will be mentally and physically stimulating, and prepare your puppy positivity for the sights and sounds of life. The other may cause obsessive, repetitive behaviour, not mentally stimulate and even may cause frustration, and will be high impact movements through our joints possibly adding to risk of joint disease.
Choose wisely 🩵

Check out more below ⬇️

https://www.vetvoices.co.uk/post/puppy-exercise-5-minuets-per-month-of-life

20/06/2025

A quick reminder that no dog died from missing a walk, but many dogs have died as a result of being exercised in hot weather!

I've treated many dogs with heat stroke and it is often fatal, which is heartbreaking for the owners.

Dogs really struggle in the heat - they cannot sweat so they cool themselves down by panting.

☀️ Dogs die quickly in hot cars - even if they're only left for a few minutes!

☀️Dogs often get heat stroke on hot walks

☀️Animals can get heatstroke if they have no access to cool water

10 times as many dogs present for veterinary care for heatstroke after being exercised in hot weather than present following being entrapped in a car.

Flat-faced breeds such as pugs or French bulldogs are at an even bigger risk of heatstroke.

❌Do not leave animals in hot cars
❌ Ensure they aren't locked in rooms with no ventilation
❌ Provide access to plenty of cool, clean water
❌Do not exercise in the heat

If a dog is collapsed from heatstroke you should:

✅ Bring your dog inside into a shady, well ventilated, cool room
✅Call your local vets and follow their instructions
✅Cool them down by pouring cold water on them
✅ Offer them a small drink of cool water, don't allow they to lap up huge quantities at once in case they vomit
✅ Travel to the vets in a cold, air-conditioned car

There's loads more useful info on preventing and treating heatstroke at Veterinary Voices UK!

20/06/2025

A dog friendly event at The Grampian Transport Museum.

Only heard about this event in the last couple of days and it doesn’t seem to have had much publicity at all. Taking place at Alford Transport Museum this Sunday in an attempt to fill the gap created by the demise of Taste of Grampian.
www.gtm.org.uk/events/best-of-grampian
Sunday 22nd June 2025
11am - 3pm
Grampian Transport Museum, Alford
Entry to Best of Grampian is FREE

• The Scottish Venison Company

• Carol's been cooking

• Evolv3d Printing

• Highland Tea Box

• Seven Chaga

• DIP Club UK

• The Wee Brown Mouse Bakery

• Castleton Farm

• Fresh Flower Market

• Golden Delights

• Unravel Tea

• Zingy Tingy Beetroot

• Granite City Fish Ltd

• Little Rowater - The Farm of Belting Ideers

• Art by Marianne

• Robin 3D Print

• Jams and chutneys by Leanne

• Pies n' Pieces

• Mulderie Wood

• The Culinary Kiwi Bird

• Dawn's Woodcraft Designs

• Curiously Charmed

• SourCloud Bakes

• Kilted Fudge Company

• Seafood Bothy

• Neptunes Coffee

• Replenish

• Pure Decadence by Loch Aurora

• Col’s Baking Kits

• Morley's Coffee

• Drops and Dachs

• Easterton Cider Ltd - Aberdeenshire

• A & Z Delicious Donuts

• The Saffron Kitchen

• Ritch Cheese and Traybakes / Carlarch Bakery

• Special Sweets & Lots More

• Snochery Jock's

• Storm Kelpie Workshop

• Smoke and Soul

• Eva Tzatziki - Homemade Greek Food

• The Moray Honey Company

• Beautiful Fleece

• Longside Apiaries

• The Green Cocoa Team

• Hungry Squirrel

• Farm and Fancy

• Stinky Beasties

• Forglen Farm

• Glenkindie Pantry

• CocoCaramel