Deborah Mason
Easter has passed and spring is well underway ~ I like spring, it brings with it a promise of better things to come, although its a little late this year I am pleased to say that with the sunshine of the last few days the hedgerows are at last beginning to turn green and the trees are showing off their blossom and new growth.
New growth is how I am feeling about Miss Maggie's supper box, it has been an exciting couple of months, predominately because more people are becoming aware of our presence and in turn this has resulted in more donations being made resulting in money being available when rescues need help.
As most of you will know I am always on the look out for things to make in an attempt to raise funds and I have recently taken to using a sewing machine, the very same machine that sat in my wardrobe for over 3 years ............. with the help of Peg, my neighbour and lots of on line research I can now make a couple of items ~ The only downside to this new hobby or enterprise as I like to call it, is that it has turned my house into a tip, cotton thread on the floor, dining table disappearance and a fabric pile that appears to be multiplying at an alarming rate.
Anyway enough of the negatives through this new hobby & a friend called Nina I came across a group called The Crafty Ark ~ now this group is in a league of its own, very crafty people spending all their spare hours making things to raise funds for rescues, I joined the group and put a couple of my items on the page and I was really thrilled that people wanted them, in addition joining this group has brought me into contact with a fantastic driven group of people who between them have a wealth of experience in a variety of crafts. The bonus of all this though is that it has provided more exposure for Miss Maggie's Supper Box. I was particularly touched that during the month of April both Nina and Julianne have donated some of the proceeds of their crafts to the Miss Maggie Fund, I am really grateful to both of them for their thoughtfulness. Please have a look on the page it is full of fabulous items which are regularly updated.
While I may be bouncing Tigger like into May, I am very mindful of 2 special dogs that are no longer with us and I really think both of these deserve a mention in my Blog.
First of all I would like us to remember Jessie who was in the wonderful care of Carmel and Greys 11+ this is the Facebook Post that alerted me to her plight, it was written by Carmel.
"I know that she is strong, she wants to live and she is in pain. We can remove that pain, and give her the chance to live happily and pain-free for whatever time she has left. That may be a few months, or it may be a couple of years. I think she broke her hock shortly after she ran (and won) only her 4th race - in August 2008. That's 9 years of pain. She had at least 1 litter in 2012 - when she'd already spent 4 years in agony. That means her owner undoubtedly earned enough money from the litter to have paid for the surgery.
Jessie had that painful leg amputated in September 2017 and for a few months she was happier on those 3 legs then she had been for years on 4 unfortunately like my Miss Maggie neglect pays a price and even with the best treatment and care available life cannot always be prolonged, and it certainly shouldn't be if it is not in the dogs best interest ~ but a few pain free and happy months in my view are better then non at all.
Our second special boy is Slim who had a wonderful life in the Shetland Islands with Caron and her husband Andrew. It is Slims picture that you can see on the Blog ~ such a sweet, sensitive and loving boy.
Now I know that Facebook has its critics but without Facebook and EGLR I would not be in contact with Caron, and although we have never met I do consider her to be a very good friend. I was so sad when I heard that she had said goodbye to Slim in February as I know that he holds a special place in her heart ~ as Caron said "He had been their best friend for 14 years".
Slim and Jessie ~ had very different lives, one had years of happiness and one had months, but both have played their part in helping others, Jessie (aided by Gary Dyer) raised my awareness in terms of the wonderful sanctuary that is Greys 11+ and in Slims Memory a wonderful donation has been sent to Ada who is in the care of Lurcher SOS.
Run fast and free Slim and Jessie ~ you have both left your paw marks behind for others to follow x