28/02/2025
I will be planning a weekend walk ... I've said so I'll have to get planning. Watch this space ..
10 years ago a group of ladies started a face book page to warn people of the growing trend of rehoming pets on social media. That page grew beyond any expectations into Spaniel Aid a rescue dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming of spaniels and spaniel crosses. We pretty much just winged it back then, we really had no idea what we were doing but everything we did was with one thing in mind - just do whatever is in the best interests of the dog - each and every time. Spaniel Aid today is so very very different from that small start. Back then we had 5 admin all just jumping into do whatever was needed whereas today we have over 50 admin in various roles such as rehoming, relinquishment, foster team, home checks, vet accounts, transport, microchips, behaviour, website and general admin. One figure I always remember is that the first time all those ladies met was end of May having started in late Feb/ early March and we had taken in 29 spaniels. I can still pretty much name those dogs but if you were to ask me about dogs from last week I would struggle. We were amazed at that figure. If only we knew what the future was going to be like .
This year our motto for celebrating our first decade is Step Out For Spaniels, walks to cover the length and breadth of the country. I would also like to ask you to Step Up For Spaniels just as you have since day one. Step up by volunteering, by home checking, by transporting, by fostering, by helping with admin. For me the very best thing about Spaniel Aid, apart from the spaniels of course, is our fabulous community . From the very start to today we have never had to turn a dog away due to lack of funds, due to lack of transport, due to lack of fosterers or due to a lack of admin to sort the process of the dog coming in. We are extraordinarily lucky in that respect. However our help seems to be needed more than ever so please keep on stepping up.
By the end of this weekend we will be putting dog number 4800 on our database. In the last 12 month period we have taken in over 700 dogs. The upsetting part of the job at present is the number of dogs we are having to say no to as they cannot be placed in foster homes. Over the next 10 years our main objective is to purchase property to build kennels for the more "tricky" dogs. We have actually offered on 2 properties over the last few years but were not successful. But hopefully before the next 10 years are up we will have a base not only for the dogs but where people can visit and we can put some faces to names :)
Finally a huge Thank you to all the other Trustees, to all our admin, to all our home checkers and transporters, to all our supporters but most of all to our fosterers and adoptors who give our dogs a home be it temporary or permanent
Here is to the next 10 years 🥳
Nicola Kebbell
Founder Spaniel Aid CIO
Experienced Reliable Friendly Dog Walking service. Based in Arnside and covering nearby villages. Walkies offers hour long country walks for your dog.
