Rescue Remedies Diary March 2025 - Aug 2025

[xxlynne]

19th March 25

Decided to resume the diary as so many people miss-out on understanding the many facets of activity within the Rescue.

Today decided to start again .. so much of my time is employed in Planning, Logistics, Lateral thinking and Problem solving.

Up early 5.45 to prep for leaving kennels at 7.45 to collect Dezzy and Duke who were kept overnight as we didn’t have a ken last night to receive hem. Dimple and Sam kept last night so promised to collect 8am.

Picture of the morning Magnolia and Casey

Have been holding my breath that the magnolia doesn't bloom this week as we are still having heavy frosts. Last night was one but forecast for next week we are just going to escape frosts!
Turned heat lamps off and opened up. Washing load on and checked board reflected activities today.
Paddocked half the house dogs before Olive returned to her room.
Went and collected Dezzy and Dave seeing Keira driving in as I left.
Then put together Jessie's vac card and adoption forms and went and caught the early post to fosterer.
Emailed funeral director with details in Scotland as a family have chosen our Rescue as their chosen charity.
Organised day with kennel staff including introducing Cordelia and Haruto as a pairing.
Organised plan for the day with Darren ref redoing blanket shed side. Max's kennel jobs ++ Jet washing Dog mobile out and inside
Confirmed food order.
Claire walked Danny then took Chelsey to the vets for her op this morning.
Colin notified us that Rob and Felicity had won £4K for their chosen charity through their works charity board! US!
Took curtains down in Magic’s room for cleaning.
Ian delivered lawn mower serviced before he goes and has a knee replacement next week. Dedication for you!
Meanwhile responding to emails. Cleaning house and feeding house dogs.
Organised to collect food order with Redhill P@H
Organised for Diary to be set up again.
Organised details for Mallie (Marshmallows) microchip with Fran.
Walked Magic. Walked Bowie then into foster with Becky
Organised kennels to accommodate Dezzy and Dave and planning to collect Brandy from Em Kennels on the strength of BeauBeau out for 2 days.
EmmaT taking Socks for an overnight sleep and day out in Ashdown forest tomorrow.
Plan in place to receive Shogo back from temp foster.
Asked June to liaise ref a dog we have been asked to take but can’t over Easter. But have someone who is going to try and save his life.
Request from Dog Warden for a Central Asian Shepherd needs Rescue Place.
Sorted clearance of Dog Mobile contents.
Discussion with Luisa 2x ref Bowie's homing on Saturday. Becky has agreed to do and Luisa calling her this evening. Sent Luisa Becky's contact details.
Call to collect Chelsey and swept around and collected Brandy from Em Boarding.
Discussed and sent document for Risk Assess and Public liability for work assessment Vol to Charlie.
Prepped Paying book for bank visit tomorrow.
June called to verify Reggie going out into foster Friday so green light to collect Jasmine Isla's daughter in tomorrow so we can prep her for spay as we have her mum.
Spent about 1 hour on microchips and planning vaccinations.
Sent off Driving License reapplication.

Highlight was seeing Katie (Barney's owner) walking Olive. She said on Sunday she would try and come in especially to walk Olive and my trouble is I don't forgot and it gladdens my heart when people are true to their word and commitment.
Discussion with family over Skyla and have booked her in for Vet assessment and Vaccination prior to family meet on Saturday.
Discussion ref Isla and her daughter Jasmine ref chip and age and agreement to get both signed over to RR tomorrow.

Brandy miniture Chesley in Chelsey's room tonight

Chelsey is in the kitchen area following her shoulder lump removal today. She will enjoy a change I'm sure and little Brandy is using her kennel.
Prepped Bowie's paperwork ready for Saturday.
Sorting out house and dogs into paddocks goes on into the night.

Late update 21.30: Called by a Vet in Bournemouth they have found a RescueRemedies Dog tied to a football goal post very thin..10 years old...claws in a terrible state. This is a dog we had to return to his owners but we weren't happy and left the chip in our name...So happy now we can bring him back to us and nurse him back to health and happiness. Arranging transport link tomorrow

Final update Luisa lives very near so organised a friend of hers to collect him tomorrow morning and take care of him until she can bring him back to us.

2 other things that I remembered the RSPCA called us to ask if they could block book kennels from us but alas we don't have enough kennels ourselves.
Another highlight and overnight meditation: Long chat to Stephen catching up on Ace, Buddy homed in Boxhill and plans for him to take Dash out for the day tomorrow.
A discourse and further meditation: Someone had made a snide remark about Olive being in our dog mobile whilst we were decorating her room: Stephen looked to the sky. Truth is Olive loves being in there. Out of many, so many, one or 2 can pass caustic remarks, its a rare event, which reflects their negative space, divorced from the atmosphere of love and caring. We let their remarks pass without comment as they fail to appreciate the realisms that are involved with delivering the best we all can running a Rescue on a shoe-string. The many, many are involved in the collective positive ethos where everyone's endeavours, contribution and offering to our animals are the best we can offer. More have now set up standing orders to support and take ownership of our endeavours. Sincerity needs to be protected as does integrity and we have it in spades. Stephen stated the main aim of the site is to offer a "haven of healing". Stephen does so much healing with the dogs who need lots of patience, time and careful reading. I added all souls whether in dog, cat or human bodies come for respite and healing and to be free of the vicious world which has spit our animals out of their often violent homes into our refuge. The outside world seems bent on harsh criticism, so when it surfaces on site, which it so rarely does now it jabs like a knife because it is so far away from our truth and integrity of supportive respect. Yes truly a "haven of healing" in our precious Rescue service. This will always be my aim as I am a therapist by nature, training and experience.

[xxlynne]

24th March 25
So today a clear day in terms of no vet appointments or comings or goings only need to take a dog to Em Boarding to accommodate Brandy coming back in late the afternoon.
Slow start so up at 6.50 and turn the heat lamps off and open up. Ralph has been chirping since 6.15 as soon as I have walked Olive he can access the garden and paddock. After Ralph offer Ethel, Owen and Wilson the far paddock which Ethel loves and only gets in the light mornings/ evenings. Had trouble getting Owen to come in he went back to his room I managed to get him running with Ethel & Wilson: Secured I then could get Royce out and know they will enjoy 45 mins of sense work, interaction through fence and running and gazing the surrounds of the site across where they know the deer are overnight.
7.09 text from Dimple stating Duke has liquid diarrhoea.
7.30 text from Aimee discussing her start date affirmed.

Showered, circling house dogs around to suddenly be shocked when Marcus came out of the bedroom to use the garden and he was walking like an old old dog. He relieved himself and then signalled to come back into the house. He really looks unwell. So settled him down to see how he fairs making him warm.
Walked Chelsey. Discussed plan for today with Darren and put Royce back in the garden and Darren removed the radiator (Removing all the radiators as haven’t used since 2023 as house built on clay and under pipes have been corroding, this is what it is living on clay marshlands which impacts greatly on kennel life. Objective to reorganise all dried food in kennels and collect another pallet for P@H. All our food gifters brought forth this week but this will soon get translated to supply hungry tummies.
Cleared walkers board and reorganised as I try to do every Monday am or Sunday pm in prep for the week.
Picture of the morning.

Sunday's walkers activity! AMAZING sight every evening

Fell in with helping Darren finding the dates on every dog bag and marking clearly the date. We completely reorganised the food room, the food area in the kennels and Royce’s room which was intensive activity, with poor Darren lifting 15 kg bags constantly into wheelbarrows and replacing them. Went into the cattery whilst Darren had his break to meet Betty, to talk to Sasha, and to meet Aladdin and check up on Suzie who is very happy mixed with Mabel, Margo and Polly.
Chatted to the staff about Madge and her fur and we agreed to bath her 2x weekly and clean her ears. Keira said she was happy to do. Whilst he had his lunch I popped Royce back in his room and Olive back in hers. I drove the P@H to load the Dog Mobile planning a return journey. Dated and unloaded the Dog Mobile then popped Olive in the dog mobile as she loves being in the front with me and off to P@H and we went stopping for lunch so we shared a Veg samosa and yes she wanted some pear! Olive loves being out and about but expects some reward.
Chatted to Alison about some changes she is making to the Website with Stuart.
Received a cheque for £108 from the Family in Scotland who nominated us for funeral collection they are staffie lovers and I will write tomorrow and pay it into our bank in gratitude. IanH in for last time before his total knee replacement on Wednesday.
Contacted Becky and she agreed to take Brandy to Em Boarding which was a great help. Loved her write on him on the Forum which I read with a quick cup of coffee.
Chatted to Geoff and Georgie about Governor and Geoff took him for a walk. Back at the kennels Darren was hard at it and I organised my food area (well almost!) Then back on dating bags. We agreed to leave the food in the dog mobile overnight and Darren left for the day.

Enough! Loads still to do all over the place, back at it tomorrow..

Sent a picture of Norma’s nose to our vets with a picture of her when she arrived she seems to have developed a wart.
Cleaned the house and put dogs in the house into paddock, Went to the shops with Olive to buy special food for Marcus who hadn’t eaten all day but was getting up and wagging his tail everytime I came in the room. Olive shared my sandwich. Got his favourite Roast Chicken sandwiches. He woofed them down on arrival back and ran into the garden which was a relief.
Noticed Luna’s has a patch on her fur and will discuss with kennel staff tomorrow morning.
Emails, write up of Diary. Playtime with Magic. Cold night but no frost!

[xxlynne]

News Flash: Indeed news Flash. We have always fed the foxes on site with any 'leftovers' at the end of the day. There is a particular fox who arrives about 5.30 ready for tea. The Staff have always called him (her!) Flash. This little fox is quite old now.

TONIGHT...

I was walking along in the semi dark 7.30 towards the kennels when I suddenly got a sense someone had just walked passed me. Calm I look over my left shoulder to see little Flash the fox walking away from me on his way. After awhile I clapped my hands and not a flinch he kept on going steady.

Very happy after his meal, walking around his lands, as wildlife do as the humans move off site. I often see deer, hear owls and woodpeckers. Tonight was so special ...a little old fox walked passed me on his way... no fear...who couldn't hear...content, safe and comfortable in his territory.

[xxlynne]

The ethos of our Rescue: What we mean by dog centred.
Sometimes it’s a shock when you hear people speak of our dog fraternity in objectified ways. Thinking in a dog centred way is not to put human emotions on dogs. It is to identify with their needs, their predicament, their deficits in skills and opportunities, and to apply true understanding. To facilitate; to embrace; equip each to achieve. To endeavour until you have grasped their next step...to seize the moment when they are ready. Purposeful energy offered enable.
You would have heard me say certain things frequently but then I know we have so many new volunteers and with having not written the diary regularly I’ll share again certain premises we hold with in the Rescue. I will share a few tropes we refute.
Our Ethics and Ethos are everything. It is the sense of safety and security we offer and engender in our dogs (and cats) wellbeing. I didn’t gain my understanding of dogs from a study course or following others analysis. I stepped forwards as a therapist to help dogs and listened, observed and facilitated. I learnt and we all learn from every dog that passes through our Rescue. Initially it was coming into my house as a refuge…hundreds. Placing into homes or foster homes, relaunching each with new horizons: Much later buying kennel space, then kennels. I come from my centre and have learnt to read dogs, and different breeds: It can’t be easily put in words, it is a ‘knowing’. You know as volunteers this sensing and knowing emerges. Admiring the dog's instincts and credentials not overlaying our human 'head stuff'.
Rescuers are a totally different breed to trainers or behaviourists. In our core we are guardians. Our contract is with our dogs, not with a client or customer. Our pledge is to our dogs. We serve our dogs as close friends at their lowest ebb, acknowledging and admiring their soul qualities.
This week I was taken aback to hearing in discussion and being challenged for not listening yielding to in my view wrong thought. "We were a Rescue and not a sanctuary". We should not take in sanctuary dogs. We have too many Sanctuary dogs. I was rocked to the core (and in 30 years, perhaps sooner! I would turn in my grave). It has lit fires inside me since. This is what I mean by objectify dogs. Viewing a dog as a commodity; classifying and labelling them into lesser being status: Duly taking away their whole being as an equal entity. In conversation the old trope was mentioned “Too many dogs” not just too many sanctuary dogs. This was a conversation where I was accused of not listening I could not give this consciousness credence in our Rescue.
I do however want to explain, so we can kick this concept out of our Rescue as fast as it has crept in, like we kicked out “Red” dogs last year. Our dogs aren’t “rescue dogs” or “sanctuary dogs”. Are we a rescue or are we a sanctuary, but can’t be both! Ludicrous. These terms are spoken as if owned in the Rescue but to me I couldn't identify and these terms were foreign and had a derogatory feel.
Trainers, behaviours and rescuers come from a different places. A Rescuer isn’t interested in understanding as an aid to applying a label or a imposed programme. A Rescuer gives dogs scope and removes labels, and engaging with lateral thinking to allowing the dog to sense out their way. We step back and facilitate. The word you always hear from me is of their own VOLITION. Not to centre a dog around us but to allow them to sense their own being. They are not an adjunct to human they are a respected species. We are interested is giving time & space, support to see the emergent traits. To loosen the dog away from their fearful habits, apprehensions and become COMFORTABLE; ADEPT: MATURE. Guide them to explore a healthy relationship with human beings.

With a Rescuer always think RESPECT!
Respect the being in front of you, as your friend. We don’t build rules to achieve mastery or control over them for example. We gift dogs certainty through habit, routine, and repetitive exposure so they naturally stretch their repertoire. In therapy we deal with habit; inhabit and rehabilitate. They learn to trust their environment and predict. They become engaged and equipped. Therapy is that gentle slow stretch: a natural stretch as a plant grows, not forced or artificially manipulated eg using treats to focus on us, rather than enjoying their environ and engaging their senses especially smell. A routine gives the dog the power to settle, anticipate and please us and by this they gain affirmation. A dog wants to please. Good Boy Good girl is used far more often than their name as you. Our Rescue is there for those we step forwards for. We don’t label them on entry as rescue or sanctuary. They are homeless, compromised and we offer our home/ our hearts to reside in. We offer them HOPE. Like Kami - he found his family in the end… there is always hope. This is why I say you can’t be in Rescue without being optimistic. Pessimism and negativity has no place. Eternally optimistic no matter how many times humans let you down you still trust the next…you have to. Dogs do this they teach us this. We journey with our dogs for as long as it takes. To state one dog is rescue, another is sanctuary is to demean them. They are friends and to enjoy their journey with us as they find self-assurance and gain confidence through praise steering them into certainty. A rescue can never have or help too many dogs. We exist to help as many as we can and we stand by our friends to the best of our ability. We always have their best interests at heart. We all do our best and are forever learning from our dogs.
So the discussion? The crux of the matter we had no space. Megs came out of the Dog Wardens van walking towards the vets, and within 3 secs her handler knew he could not put her to sleep. THANK GOD. We are very rarely ever asked I ALWAYS want us to take those they just can't put to sleep no matter how difficult even if we have to compromise one or 2 of our dogs. We would do it for them too. The last time as this same scenario for Reon and Haruto. I said bring her here and tried different avenues but time was running out. The ethos of our Rescue dogs on entry is always to welcome and need for each to feel that warmth and safety...to be received by friends. Not to sit in a van whilst its debated how we will compromise. It is just done no stress we just do. Charlie stated last resort 2 heavily coated dogs who always curl up together could sleep in the run just for the night. A concern was raised under ‘welfare grounds’. Think into the Health Service and "corridor care". NO ONE wants corridor care but the health service is compromised you don't turn the sick away. It was explained there is a need for the greater good. I share as our Rescue needs to own the grit that comes with the sacrifice, the angst; the very necessary compromise, the territory that comes to save or accommodate a dog. When homes throw them out, or back at us we are speechless, no room means no room. I often say these are not boxes of cornflakes we simply put on the shelf. Sometimes we have to break our backs to help as our friend who bought Megs to us explained this to our rescue. "Many Rescues have to make these compromises in exceptional circumstances". I was ashamed he had to explain this to us, as though we were resisting helping. I have dined on this for several days and did need to share with you. It was a dilemma of real dimensions and everyone agreed we didn’t want to be in this situation. To save Megs we were placed there in the hot seat as a team as a group of Rescuers. . . Its shows what Rescue is about. To put everyone at ease we just do, there should not be a need for debate.
The example I give is a family sits down to evening meal with very little food and a stranger knocks on the door. You don’t say don’t bring the snow in the house you will make my children cold. You don’t say we don’t have enough food to go round you will make us hungrier. You don’t say we can't afford to offer you hot water or a bed, you smell. Life is easier by ignoring the knock, by excusing us and denying the recognition of need. You accommodate. The dilemma was about breaking our bread according to need. The many take less, and provide for an extra. One Rescue friend told me 2 of her dogs had to sleep outside area in her garden one night because a dog arrived in need. Megs needed to come into our kennels. It wasn’t a hypothetical scenario. Rescue minded people have to be determined to serve and compromise, that is what we do. To Rescue is to accommodate those in desperate need. I always say 1 week of stress for me is NOTHING in comparison to saving a dog’s life. It is nothing. Bless Paul for jumping in the car to take Megs home.
God it is hard over these last few years and never so as over the last few months. In the heart, there needs to be the depth of integrity to step forwards and offer a friend safety. To bring a friend in from the storm when you know many can’t be saved. You don’t say YOU CAN’T HELP THEM ALL and turn your back: You bend your back and haul in the one in front of you needing saving. To Rescue is the SAVE. It’s a deep pledge. I have always felt each dog has as much right to live as I. We weren’t responsible for their birth. We don’t reject them on the basis of breedism. We see through labels and judgements from other humans and see our quest of care and befriending. The last few years; the last few months I have had to say we can’t help…time and time again. Many times a day. I know that dog, who we’ve never met, we would have strained our sinew to accommodate and heal in the past. In today’s world the knocks on the door is deafening. For a few our knees buckle, we find ourselves compromised, they live.
As you get old you know your time is limited. You worry who will take up the mantle, who can carry the load. We as a community we need to debate, and know what Rescue really involves. It is not easy. The cloth stretched to breaking point. With that is held the responsibility and awareness of true need.
Everything in Rescue is about Ethics and when we are tested with intense pressure that is when we dig down and show your metal.
As new people dip their toe into Rescue there can be assumptions made, likewise as people who are more involved there can be myths that rise. I met such a myth yesterday which I hadn’t fully been aware of until stated as a fact, which totally threw me: A definition between Rescue dogs and Sanctuary dogs. This rescue emerged and continues by giving dog’s total respect and dignity: Dog centeredness is identification with each dog’s needs which is at the heart of our consciousness. I say it again, we remove the labels and reveal each dog’s beauty. The solutions of building trust and confidence are actually what it is all is about. The words that sum up dogs in our care aptly is Homeless true, and very, very lucky! Our dogs are not branded. They aren’t second class. We give them back dignity. Our dogs teach us and are our gurus.