2011 starts out terribly for Evesham and Frosty

Staff at the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre in Evesham arrived at work this morning to find there had been a break-in and a dog named Frosty had been stolen - a two-year-old cream male Lurcher described as a leggy lad and quite distinctive.

Frosty has been microchipped and reported as stolen, so any vet or dog warden who scans him in the future will be able to identify him and return him to Dogs Trust.

Canine carers believe Frosty will be moved quickly out of the area so have asked local people to be particularly vigilant in looking out for him in the next few days. Anyone with information about the break in or with suspected sightings of the Lurcher should call the Rehoming Centre directly on: 01386 830613

Chris Slight, Manager at the Rehoming Centre said:

“Frosty came to us as a stray three weeks ago and is an affectionate lovely lad; this is terribly sad as the thieves have taken away Frosty’s second chance of finding a new home. We are urging other dog owners and members of the public to keep an eye out for Frosty as we want to see him returned as soon as possible.”

What's the connection between Dogs Trust and asparagus recipes?!

Why the Evesham Abbey Great English Asparagus Run of course!

You might have heard that Dogs Trust Evesham is running a trial of extended opening hours on a Friday night; the centre will be open 12pm-7pm on Fridays (just this centre and just Fridays at the moment, take note!). To mark this, the centre is taking part in the British Asparagus Festival.

An 8-week-old Spaniel x Boxer pup at the centre has been named Gus in honour of the veg (you can see his cute face on the left there!), and visitors who book or rehome a dog between 4pm and 7pm on a Friday will receive a bunch of the seasonal veg alongside a helping of free dog food for their new addition.

Staff have even invented a special asparagus recipe so dogs can join the celebrations. Eckington Manor Cookery School will prepare and serve the dish to all canine visitors at the Great English Asparagus Run at Evesham’s Abbey Park on 23rd April (St George's Day).

To make the most of the veggie goodness, you can get your dog in on the act with the canine-friendly recipe below:

Dogs Trust’s Chicken and Asparagus Delight

Ingredients

• 225 grams potatoes
• 225 grams asparagus
• 110 grams celery
• 1 chicken breast (250 grams)
• 240 grams chicken/vegetable stock
• 2 Tbsp flour

Preparation

• Peel and dice the vegetables
• Boil for 3-5 minutes until they go soft
• Add cooked chicken to the saucepan
• Whisk the flour into the cold stock
• Add the stock to the pan and simmer for 10mins, stirring occasionally
• Remove from heat and place in a dog bowl. Serve at room temperature.

Puppies stolen from Dogs Trust Evesham

Staff at the Dogs Trust Rehoming Centre in Evesham arrived at work on Saturday 31st October to find there had been a break-in and two puppies had been stolen. The puppies are three month old Lurchers called Munchie and Pickles. Munchie is a male pup with distinctive brindle markings on his rough coat, and Pickles is a black and white female pup with a smooth coat.

Both pups are microchipped and have now been reported as stolen, so any vet or dog warden who scans them in the future will be able to identify them and return them to Dogs Trust. The staff believe the two puppies will be quickly moved out of the area.

Anyone with information about the break in or with suspected sightings of the pups should call the Rehoming Centre directly on: 01386 830613

I'm posting this now as there were problems logging in yesterday.

Dogs of the Week: Mutt-erly Love @ Dogs Trust Evesham

A slightly different format for the dog of the week this week!

Dogs Trust Evesham has seen Mother's Day come and go, but is still looking for homes for a couple of family pairings who'd like to stick together.

First meet 8 year old Tara and her 5 year old son Basil. Both are very cheery, friendly dogs and could live with children aged over eight. Dogs Trust staff say they need to find a home together because their family bond is so tight that they could become depressed without each other for company.

The second pooch pair are 10 year old Mamma May and her 5 year old daughter Anna. Mamma May is a happy old soul but daughter Anna worries if they are not together. They can live with children aged over twelve and may be able to share a home with cats.

Chris Slight, Dogs Trust centre manager, explains:

“I know lots of parents joke about their grown-up offspring who just won’t leave home, but both of these mother and son or daughter pairs adore each other so much it would be heartbreaking to rehome them separately.

They are looking for understanding owners who will provide lots of love and the occasional meaty treat, and Dogs Trust will be on hand to support new owners with training.”

If you are interested in rehoming Tara and Basil or Mamma May and Anna please contact Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830613.

Dog(s) of the Week: Bereaved Lurcher Pups @ Dogs Trust Evesham

I'm breaking format for this week's Dog of the Week, thanks to a sudden rehoming appeal that landed on my desk this afternoon. No less than eight Lurcher x Collies are now awaiting rehoming at Dogs Trust Evesham thanks to the sudden and unexpected death of their owner.

The dogs - five adults and three puppies - were being cared for by a friend while the owner was on holiday. The carer turned to Evesham for help when the tragedy occurred, and the centre stepped forward to take on the lovely canine family.

It never seems like the right time to think about these things, but I should mention that Dogs Trust does offer a completely free Canine Care Card, which gives owners peace of mind that the charity will look after their dog in the event of their death. You can find out more about this by calling 01386 834 875.

The dogs can be rehomed separately - we wouldn't ask anyone to take on so many together! - but would benefit from an existing dog in the home or going home as a pair as they can be nervous away from the familiar company of the pack.

Two of the pups have now been booked but 3-year-olds Jasmine, River, Sage, Bay and Nigella (all pictured above) and the remaining 4-month-old pup Angus are still looking for homes. Can you open yours for these gorgeously scruffy pooches?

Call Dogs Trust Evesham 01386 830 613.

Christmas Dog of the Week: Tiger @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Although our Rehoming Centres do not send any dogs home during the upheaval of the Christmas period, there are some dogs who are hoping that, as much as they love their carers, this is their last Christmas without a family of their own. One such is this little fellow, who is about to celebrate his 2nd Christmas at Evesham Rehoming Centre.

Introducing... Tiger!

Age: 4-5

Breed: Terrier

Likes: I'm a bouncy, energetic chap who loves toys and needs plenty of long walks and an active family. I was found as a stray in June 2007 and no-one can work out why I've been overlooked for a new home so far!

Dislikes: I am not very keen on kennels; I'm so ready for a proper family life that it's stressing me out a bit. As a result I don't want to share my space with other pets.

Needs: I'm told I'm a very bright boy, so people who like to train and teach dogs tricks would find a very rewarding companion in me! I'm happy to live with older children (12+), too.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830613 or see more dogs needing homes online.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Isobel @ Ilfracombe | Dollar @ Canterbury


REHOMING UPDATE: Tiger found a new family and as now settled in with his forever owners! Thanks all for your interest in his progress.

Dog of the Week: Benji @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Introducing... Benji!

Age: 6

Breed: Collie Crossbreed (Black & White)

Likes: I love being out and about; my Collie half means I love taking long walks and especially playing with toys like my favourite football.

Dislikes: Loud noises and startling handling make me nervous.

Needs: I need a home without children so I can live in a calm environment. I'm good with other dogs, but if I lived with one they'd have to be really relaxed so that they're not affected by my nerves. I could do with socialising with other dogs more so that I can gain confidence.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830613 or see other dogs for rehoming online.

Previous Dogs of the Week: Jake @ Darlington | Connor @ West Calder

We wish you a merry Christmas and a Dogs Trust decorated tree...!

Now that we're rapidly heading towards December, it's not altogether surprising to see the odd Christmas tree springing up here and there. Blenheim Palace has started to deck the halls, and a dog-loving member of staff contacted Dogs Trust Evesham to make sure that one tree was dedicated to Dogs Trust!

Shauna Stedman, the Centre's Supporter Relations Officer, rolled up her sleeves and channelled Laurence Llewellyn Bowen to fill a gorgeous seven foot tree with baubles featuring dogs seeking homes. The silver, sparkly branches were soon liberally dotted with bright yellow and hopefully many of the dogs spotted on the tree will be on their way to forever homes. There will also be a collection tin placed near the tree just in case anyone passing is willing to dig deep for us; we know cash is tight right now and every penny is very much appreciated.

The tree is one of four charity trees featured by Blenheim Palace as part of their "The Spirit Christmas Past, Present and Future" display. All the charity trees will be placed in the Future section in the hope that we will head towards an ever more generous future.

Now if you don't feel warm and fluffy after a story like that then there's nothing for it but to break out the mulled wine...

Have a ball and raise money for Dogs Trust

Dogs Trust Kenilworth and Dogs Trust Evesham have joined forces to create an extra special occasion in aid of the dogs in their care.

A drinks reception, three course meal and fashion show in aid of the charity shop at Shipston on Stour will make it a night to remember. So glam yourself up and get down there to have a fabulous time, knowing the money raised from each £50 ticket will help pay for crucial veterinary care, food, treats, training and more.

For more details on the venue and how to get a ticket, check out the Facebook events page or contact Jane Hirons on 01926486010 / Jane.hirons@dogstrust.org.uk.

Dog of the Week: Tyzer @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Introducing... Tyzer!

Breed: German Shepherd

Age: 2

Likes: I love treats and toys and I'll work hard for them! I can get a bit overexcited about other dogs so you'll need to help me socialise.

Dislikes: I'm not fond of cats and can't live with them.

Needs: I need some further reward-based training so it would help if your children are over 16 so that they can help me settle in. I need to be with people who will be patient and allow me to settle in as well as giving me boundaries and training to keep me calm and happy.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830613 or visit the Dogs Trust website.

Dog(s) of the Week: Bella and Rex @ Dogs Trust Evesham

Introducing... Bella and Rex!

Breed: Rottweiler Labrador Cross (Bella) and Brindle Bulldog Staffordshire Cross (Rex)

Age: Bella is 3 and Rex is 2

Likes: Training - we're both recent graduates of Evesham's one-to-one training programme. We were both very nervous initially but we've made huge strides in just four months.

Dislikes: Rex isn't keen on other dogs, but Bella has developed a liking for Collie types! Neither of us is fond of cats.

Needs: Rex is extremely sociable and friendly while Bella is still quite shy though improving rapidly. We'd both require homes without children.

Contact: Call Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830 613 or visit www.dogstrust.org.uk.