Hector has been at the Shelter for 8 months now - Little Valley Animal Shelter
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Issue 54 October 2018
Hector has been at the Shelter for 8 months now
Text LVAS25 £5 or £10 to 70070
to donate to Little Valley
RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter, Black Hat Lane, Bakers Hill, Exeter EX2 9TA
Tel: 01392 439898 www.rspca-littlevalley.org.uk
LITTLE VALLEY ANIMAL SHELTER SHOPS
RSPCA South, East & West Devon Branch
Black Hat Lane, Bakers Hill, Exeter EX2 9TA 1 Market Street, Brixham TQ5 8EU
Tel: 01803 859695
Registered Charity No: 205154 46 High Street, Budleigh EX9 6LJ
Tel: 01395 442349
Telephone: 01392 439898 31 Cowick Street, Exeter EX4 1AL
Email: info@rspca-littlevalley.org.uk Tel: 01392 213847
Website: rspca-littlevalley.org.uk 91 South Street, Exeter EX1 1EN
Facebook: facebook.com/rspcalittlevalley Tel: 01392 494113
Twitter: twitter.com/rspcaexeter 150 Sidwell Street, Exeter EX4 6RT
Instagram: rspcalittlevalleyexeter Tel: 01392 210691
Just Giving: justgiving.com/rspcaexeter 49 Courtenay St, Newton Abbot TQ12 2QN
Tel: 01626 330716
Shelter Opening Times 53 Fore St, St Marychurch, Torquay TQ1 4PU
Open 6 days a week (closed Wednesdays) Tel: 01803 313980
11.00am-4.00pm (Last entry: 3.30pm) Brutus Centre, Totnes TQ9 5RW
Tel: 01803 866597
24 hr Cruelty/Advice Line: 0300 1234 999
Shelter News
By Jo Evans, Shelter Manager
Welcome to the final newsletter of the year. Haven’t we had a hot summer? One of our
Supervisors, Anna, got even hotter when she did a sponsored fire walk over hot coals in
late May! She raised £170 for the Shelter—well done and thank you Anna.
The Shelter has remained busy—staying open and juggling the building work. More about
that later in this issue. Our other Supervisor, Becki, went on maternity leave 5 weeks early
when little Rex popped into the world a bit sooner than planned! Both are now home and
doing well. Congratulations to Becki and family. And then in late September we had a
wedding reception in one of our fields for my Deputy, Rachel, and her partner Kris.
Congratulations to them as well and thank goodness they chose the dry Saturday!
Finally, I welcome a couple of new staff to the team. Suzanne Pugh, our new General
Manager, who will hopefully move the Branch forward and give extra support to all the
shop/shelter staff and Trustees. Victoria is joining us as an Apprentice Animal Care
Assistant from Cornwall College.
I know it’s only October but as I won’t see anybody at our annual Shelter Christmas Fair
due to the ongoing rebuild, I would like to finish by saying that I hope you all have a lovely
Christmas. Thank you from everyone at the Shelter for your continued support during this
year and we look forward to seeing you all in 2019.
2
Suzanne Pugh—New General Manager
[picture to go in here]
Holding dual British and Canadian citizenship Suzanne Pugh recently relocated
back to the UK after 15 years in British Columbia, Canada. Suzanne was most
recently engaged as Veterinary Operations Director with a national veterinary
group, where she oversaw all activities for multiple veterinary hospitals across the
provinces of BC and Southern Alberta, Canada.
Prior to that Suzanne worked within the charitable sector and spent a decade
leading animal welfare and human health programs. For 5 years she served as
Branch Manager for the BC SPCA's flagship Kelowna branch, overseeing the care of
almost 8000 animals. Her responsibilities included all shelter operations relating to
the health and welfare of domestic, farm and wild animals strengthening programs
to support the intake and adoption of domestic and farm animals and assessment
for rehabilitation, of injured and orphaned wildlife and their transfer to approved
rehabilitation centres. Suzanne is also a member of the Board of Directors with the
International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.
Suzanne has returned to the UK with her husband Darren and two SPCA adopted
Labradors now in their senior years, Daisy 16 years and Ted 12 years. Suzanne is
looking forward to getting to know our volunteer, supporter and staff base and to
continue to develop community animal programs across the South, East and West
Devon Branch of the RSPCA. Welcome to the team!
Orsino Lounge, Newton Abbot
Orsino Lounge is a new café-bar that has recently opened on Queen Street, Newton Abbot
and Chris—their animal mad manager—selected Little Valley as one of their charities to
support. This meant that they donated a
percentage from every burger or coffee
sold to us! In the first month they sold
1527 burgers and 4446 coffees and raised
an amazing £1208.10 for us! Thank you to
Chris for nominating us in the first place
and to Danny, their Communications
Manager, for inviting us along to the
opening night!
3
Friends of Little Valley
By Jill Brush, Membership Secretary
Hello to all the Friends. From snow and ice to a heatwave and now gale force
winds and torrential rain! The temperate British weather seems to have deserted
us but some things remain the same. In other words, I am once again asking you to
support our Christmas Draw. Your response to the summer appeal was immense
and almost made up for the money lost through not having our Family Fun Day &
Dog Show. Thank you one and all—I know I can depend once more on your gener-
osity. My contact details are 07773 343551 or philandjillb@aol.com.
Fundraising News
Some of the pupils from Seaton Primary
Year 5 held a bake sale for us recently
and raised £74.30. Here are the young
fundraisers (clockwise from top left):
Stella, Josie, Yasmin, Izzy, Charlotte and
Tatyana. Thank you girls!
Other young fundraisers pictured below
are Darcey Tithecott (left) and Grace
Connor-Fortune (right). Darcey ran a
cake stall
and donated some
items for our
rabbits.
Grace, along with
her friend Lois,
raised £25 by
holding a bake
sale.
Thank you for your
efforts girls—
always appreciat-
ed by us and the
animals.
4
Summer Draw Winners
As you will know, because of the rebuilding of the dog kennels at Little Valley, we were
unable to hold our annual Summer event at the Shelter. We did, however, hold the Grand
Draw on the 20 June and on behalf of Little Valley, thank you very much to all those people
who bought tickets and supported the animals and work at the Shelter. The successful
winners are listed below:
1st Mrs M Dickson, Exwick 12th Mr & Mrs Pengelly, Plymouth
2nd Mrs M Hill, Mortonhampstead 13th Mr & Mrs S Evans, Exeter
3rd Mrs C Williamson, Bow 14th Ms C Brett, Budleigh Salterton
4th Mrs Carrington, Dorchester 15th Mr J Spence, Torquay
5th Sandy Miles, Exmouth 16th Mrs W Skae King, Winkleigh
6th Mrs Billing, Exmouth (donated back) 17th Ms C Fox, Ashford (donated back)
7th Mrs J Copland, Exeter (donated back) 18th Mr D Swetman, Chagford
8th Mrs J Burley, Colyton 19th Mr I Peters, Exton
9th Ms E Millett, Crediton 20th Dr Stuthridge, Preston (donated back)
10th Mrs Barnard, Exmouth 21st Ms Pat Mead, Torquay
11th Mrs G Taylor, Exeter 22nd Tabitha, Torquay
Group Volunteer Days
This year we have had a few workplace groups
in on volunteering days to do some jobs
around the shelter. Michelmores came in May
and repainted our large storage shed, STM
Journals/Elsevier came and painted our dog
chalet and a group from The University of
Exeter Partnerships Programme came and
finished off the decorating of our dog chalet.
Thank you everyone!
5
Pudding
Some of you may remember Pudding, the little Shihtzu who was
abandoned in Plymouth in the pouring rain on Christmas Eve
2015. Pudding’s fur was badly matted and he was very
underweight when he was found. Pudding was cared for by us
here at Little Valley before finding a wonderful new home with
Rachel and Richard Beakhouse.
Pudding was spoilt rotten in his new home but we recently
received the sad news that he had to be put to sleep. Rachel
tells us, “He was happy and his normal energetic little self, still
enjoying his walks, food and cuddles until he looked a little
unwell on the Friday. We took him to our vet who examined
him thoroughly and took some tests to determine what the
problem could be. He started to decline on Saturday and indications were that he had a
brain tumour, so we decided that the kindest thing to do would be to let him be at peace
as we did not want him to suffer. We are devastated as we loved the little chap so much—
and cherished every day that he was with us over the two and a half years since we
adopted him from you. Thank you so much for letting us adopt him so that he could be part
of our lives.”
All of us at Little Valley were so upset to hear the news about Pudding—he was a staff
favourite and quite the star! But we are so grateful to Rachel and Richard for the love and
care they gave Pudding in his last years.
6
New Homes Required!
Thank you to all the wonderful adopters who came forward and adopted from us. From
our last edition, only Philomena the cat, who is in a foster home, and Hector the dog (our
cover star) are still looking for homes. Hector is featured in a separate article in this
newsletter. We are sure their time will come. All the animals for adoption are on our
website: www.rspca-littlevalley.org.uk.
Buzz Tinkerbell
Rene Artois
Chap
Pickles
Peony
Paddy
Loki
Malcolm & Spaghetti
7
A Home For Hector
Poor Hector, our cover star, has been with us for 8
months now. He needs a very particular home but
we are sure the right home is out there for him.
Hector is 2 years old and a very large Lurcher type.
People have been asking why he can’t share his
home with other dogs, children or be left; so we
would like to let you all know a bit more about
Hector and his needs.
We would love for Hector to be able to live with
other animals and children, if this was the case he
would be happily in a home by now which is what
we all want for him. However, he does have some
behavioural issues that mean this would not be
safe. He will be a project, but if you have the time
and patience to commit to him, you will have such
a rewarding and fun loving companion in return!
Only Dog and Adult Home:
Hector will guard items he sees as valuable such as toys, food and often other
items – due to his size (around a metre tall with all 4 feet on the floor!) he can
reach a lot of items that the average dog can’t! Hector will guard from people as
well as dogs and so needs to be the only pet. If approached when he has
something he can display aggression, so he would be a risk to other pets and
children in the home who may not pick up on his early signals. This behavioural
issue can be managed and over time work can be done to improve this behaviour,
however it is unlikely to completely
resolve.
Separation Anxiety:
Hector loves people and finds being
left alone distressing. He will need
someone home throughout the day
who is able to slowly and gradually
introduce time left.
No Cats or Small Furries:
Hector has a high prey drive and will
chase anything that runs.
8
A Home For Hector (Cont.)
Having said all that, there are many positives to Hector:
He is clicker trained and responds very well
to reward based training.
Hector is bright and intelligent and he knows
lots of commands – Sit, lie down, touch, play
dead, in your bed, recall and wait.
Enjoys meeting dogs out and about, but
would be better suited walking with other
medium/large dogs as he can be a little over
enthusiastic at times!
He enjoys interaction and fuss once he has
got to know you.
He is hilarious! He never fails to make us
smile and is a firm favourite with all who
meet him.
Hector will really benefit from a consistent
routine so his days are predictable and he won’t
have to worry about the
unexpected. He settles
well in his kennel and
may benefit from an
outside space such as a
converted barn, play
house or shed where he
can have time and space
to relax such as if his
owners need to go out
or when meals are being prepared.
Hector is a fantastic dog who in an understanding home
will blossom! Despite his behavioural quirks, he is an
amazing dog with bags of personality!
Please contact us if you think you have the right home for
Hector. Full advice on how to handle and work with Hector
will be given. We also provide a free, lifetime behavioural support service for all of
our adopters.
We would also consider a foster home for Hector to at least get him out of
kennels, so please get in touch if you are interested in fostering.
9
Happy Endings!
Coconut
Alvin
Jack Sparrow Patsy
Jelly
Chase
Elton Milo
Charlie
Nala
Blue
Archie
Hazel Daisy May
Benedict
Leo & Shelby Aztec Nellie Bramble
10Shop Goodbyes
It is with deep regret, that we have to announce the closure of two of our shops in South
Devon—Paignton and St. Marychurch.
Both shops are closing due to a downturn in customer
footfall on the High Street and therefore into our shops,
which has resulted in a decline in sales and profitability.
As many of you would have seen over the last few months,
many big name retailers are struggling to find profits on the
High Street and are cutting back on rents, closing down or
going into administration! It is important that the funds we
raise from our shops is used in the correct way, which is for
the welfare of the animals in our care, hence the decision to
close.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our
customers and donors past and present that have supported
us and these shops along the way, raising critical funds for the
animals. Our time in these towns was wonderful and we could
not do what we do without your support. We hope that you
will continue to support the animals through our other shops
in South Devon in Brixham, Totnes and Newton Abbot. And if
you visit Exeter, then come and support us in South Street,
Cowick Street and Sidwell Street. Next time you are in
Budleigh Salterton, please call into our community run shop as
well for a chat and to spot that elusive gem on our shelves.
Thank you again from everyone in the shops and most of all, from everyone—furry and
non-furry—at the shelter for your support.
Budleigh Tea Party
Budleigh Shop had a “thank you” tea party, in Ann Bidmead’s beautiful garden, for all their
volunteers on one of those blissfully hot days we had in the summer—remember those?
11Kennel Rebuild
A lot has happened with our kennel rebuild. We hope the first block completed will
be handed over soon. The second block is coming along nicely. Our old C block has
been handed over to the builders for them to pull down to build the third block!
We’re getting there. It is a long process and has not always been easy to manage,
but the staff and animals here at the Shelter have coped incredibly well.
12Kennel Rebuild (Cont…)
13You can now donate
to us whilst you
shop via Amazon
Smile! Go to
https://smile.amazon.co.uk, login to your Amazon
We have wishlists for our dogs, cats and account. Under "Or pick your own charitable or-
small animals. They list lots of items that ganisation" type 'RSPCA Little Valley', click
our animals really like, such as treats and "Search" then “Select” and you are set up. Any
toys. You will need an Amazon account to eligible purchases you make when you go via
do this but it’s really easy to set up and it’s Amazon Smile will benefit us!
free. Go to www.amazon.co.uk. Log into
your Amazon account and type into the
search box “RSPCA Little Valley Wishlist”
and our wishlists will come up! It’s a great
way to help out the animals in our care!
If you shop online, please use
Easyfundraising to help us raise even more
money. Lots of well known retailers are on
there and it’s free to register. Sign up at:
www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/
rspcalittlevalley Join the Pets at Home VIP Club to get great
discounts. Select your home store as Exeter,
Exmouth, Torquay or Newton Abbot and you can
opt for Little Valley as your chosen charity so we
can receive benefits as you shop! Register at:
http://vip.petsathome.com
Giveacar raises money
for UK charities by
scrapping and selling old
cars. They provide a
nationwide FREE service which:
- Arranges the collection of the vehicle from
your home;
- Depending on its age and condition,
recycles it at an authorised facility or sends
it to auction.
To arrange donation of a car visit Please consider sponsoring a dog kennel, cat pen
www.giveacar.co.uk or call 020 7736 4242, or rabbit run for as little as £3 a month through
quoting “RSPCA Little Valley Animal Shelter” our Safe Haven scheme. An application form can
as your chosen charity. be found on our website.
A legacy to us will provide crucial funds. We
could not carry on our work without such gener-
ous support. Please visit our website to find out
more about leaving a legacy to us.
14St Davids Station
Exeter
EX4 4NT
Tel: 01392 271221
hospital@stdavidsvets.com
referrals@stdavidsvets.com
St David's Veterinary Hospital is a modern, well equipped veterinary hospital in
the city of Exeter. As a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) certified
Veterinary Hospital our outstanding facilities include digital X-ray and
ultrasonography, a fully equipped laboratory, air-conditioned kennels and
operating theatres, along with 24 hour on-site vet and nursing care. All of this
ensures your pet will receive first class modern treatment.
THE FAMILY MASSAGE CENTRE
Established 1994
Annie Samuels (Hons)a holistic approach to health care and diet
Deep tissue massage, sports injury therapy, Hopi ear candle
treatment, aromatherapy
1 hour to 3 hour treatments from £30 to £70
Available 7 days a week (9.30am to 5.30pm) by appointment
only
Gift vouchers available for cash or cheque only
7 Piazza Terracina (river basin), Haven Road, Exeter EX2 8GT
Tel: 01392 203182 (answerphone) | Email: annie.samuels@yahoo.co.uk
Canine Remedial Massage
A complementary therapy which uses the ma-
nipulation of soft tissue to promote the physio-
logical and psychological well-being of dogs
— regardless of age, size or breed. Veterinary
consent is required prior to treatment.
For further information or to request a consent form, contact Linda Rogers ITEC Dip ICAT
Tel: 07732 688383. Email: linda@handsandhounds.co.uk
15Events 2018
Sadly we’ve been unable to hold events at the Shelter due to our kennel rebuild, but
once it is finished we hope to be back with more next year.
14 November—Coffee Mornings
Venue: Littlemead Methodist Church Hall, Roundhouse Lane, Exmouth EX8 3BZ
Time: 10am to 12 noon
Entry: FREE
Saturday 17 November—Christmas Fayre
Venue: All Saints Church Hall, 2 Church Road, Exmouth EX8 1RZ
Time: 10am to 12 noon
Entry: 50p
Stalls, refreshments, linen, bric-a-brac, toys, Xmas decorations and gifts, cakes, books,
games, raffle etc.
Please support our events—they are vital for raising funds for the Shelter. We are always
looking for volunteers to help at events, if you are interested please email us on
info@rspca-littlevalley.org.uk. All events are posted on our Facebook page:
www.facebook.com/rspcalittlevalley
Christmas Draw & Handcrafted Cat Quilt Draw
Unfortunately, due to the ongoing kennel rebuild work,
we are unable to hold any events here at the Shelter, but
there will still
be a Christmas
Draw this year. It will be drawn at the
Committee Meeting on 22 November
and all winners will be notified
afterwards. So please help us by buying
draw tickets. Thank you.
We also have a fantastic draw for this
beautiful handcrafted patchwork cat
quilt running right now—tickets are £1
and available from our charity shops or
the Shelter. This will be drawn on 17
November at the Exmouth Christmas
Fair.
16You can also read
