K-9 Rescue Remedy
Charity No: 1173073 Established 2008 k9rescueremedy@gmail.com Website: k9rescueremedy.org.uk
Trustee Report March 2021
K-9 Rescue Remedy Training.
We are at the end of yet another very difficult year with the ever-present threat of Covid19 hanging over us. In spite of this the training club has been running well. With thanks to Kirsty Fribbens (who works for the NHS), for her advice in setting up the classes so that we minimise risk of transmitting Covid-19 by very wide spacing and ensuring that the training hall is well ventilated not only by open windows but also by use of the now silent fans.
All classes now have a maximum of six dogs in each class and there are always at least two trainers present in case of need. The treasurer and secretary utilize the lobby and have spare facemasks ready should anyone need one. The hall also supplies hand sanitizer. So far, we know of no members who have contracted Covid whilst at training.
As far as the actual running of the training club is concerned, we have introduced some games-based learning into the mix of training. We are aiming to make the dogs really look forward to learning with us. We have almost fifty percent of dogs from overseas and many of them have huge confidence issues especially in such a strange learning environment. As a result of this non-threatening, games-based learning, the dogs have settled well and are really loving the games. Unfortunately, due to the stop start nature of lockdown, the dogs have not got to a sufficiently high standard to take the Good Citizens qualifications so testing is somewhat academic.
We have managed to accommodate all of our own rescue dogs either in training classes or on a one-to-one training basis. This has only been possible because we have sufficient trainers to meet the demand. Currently we are working with thirty-one dogs.
Last, but by no means least on the training side, is heart-felt congratulations to our three trainers, Kirsty Fribbens, Jen Holloway and Carey Prichard for passing their Level 4 PETbc Accredited Advanced Canine Behaviour Diplomas. We are so proud of you!
K-9 Rescue Remedy – Rescue Side.
We have been fortunately enough to have been a charity partner for Pets at Home Bexhill on Sea for a couple of months now which has enabled us to donate any surplus food that we get from their charity pallets to our local Food Bank, the Seaview Project and to Ann Craske’s Welfare Fund. Ann stores any surplus food for us and distributes it to homeless dog owners so that the dogs are always fed. This work is done with the conscious wish to keep dogs in their homes rather than take them into rescue. Ann also helps the homeless with vet bills.
Our Long-term Rescues.
We continue to support Gerry-Lee who is in long-term foster and now at 13 years old has a heart condition so is on Vivitonin to keep it under control. Gerry has lost a lot of his tendency open doors and filch food so his weight is much more under control.
Another of our long-term foster dogs is Cade who has such chronic anxiety that he cannot cope with normal walks. He is now exercised in a commercial dog exercise field which he very much enjoys.
Roman, who suffers with epilepsy, is still having fits. He recently had a quite major cluster but thanks to Suzanne’s skills and knowledge (Suzanne is his foster mum), the majority of the time the fits are under control. Weirdly, the fits seem to arise with the advent of full moons!
We have been asked to take on fewer dogs during this period than normal, it seems that people are holding on to their dogs as companions during times of isolation. As such we have rehomed a total twenty-one dogs this year, five of which we were able to rehome without having to take them into our care first; which was less of a strain on our finances.
Home-checks have been particularly difficult during lock-down. We did one via zoom but really did not like that way of doing home-checks as it was not easy to get person to person transference. The rest of the time, we went out to people’s homes and took the normal precautions (ie. Facemasks etc). We spent less time with the prospective owners than we usually would and stayed in the garden as much as possible; which was only sensible.
Fundraising.
Fundraising has been extremely difficult because all of our normal avenues of raising funds have been taken away. We had a dog show planned which could not go ahead and we could not go to Pets at Home to fund-raise due to lockdown rules. Marion Graham ran an online dog show for us which was a great help and we also produced a beautiful 2021 calendar which helped to bring in funds for us. We also had an entertainment evening planned at Bexhill Social Club, featuring ‘Fat Belly Jones’ with Zoe and Katie Fells providing a well-earned break for FBJ during the evening. This too had to be cancelled.
Fortunately, we have also now got a few monthly donors which have helped us cope with our vets bills and we managed to get a £2,000 grant from the Kennel Club. We are also looking into joining into an online charity lottery called ‘One Lottery’ which will hopefully bring in some more funds for us.
We have had a consultation with a company called Non-Profit Growth regarding the best way forward as we are badly in need of some way to keep the dogs we take on in comfort and safety. They have advised us to apply for grants which target our work with people with mental health issues. This thought had occurred to us as so many people cling to their dogs when they are in distress. We are therefore looking to investigate this possible way forward during the next few months.
K-9R counts for the Remed ,_ l)0 Club Section eriod l A ril 2020 to 31 March 202 INCOME 20121 2019120 Course Fees Membership Fees Other income 730 42 96 868 3150 351 3501 PAYMENTS Hall Hire Kennel Club fees & Insurance Donations Made Stationery Training Equipment Sundry Expenditure Surplus for Period 394 730 506 271 306 1519 259 261 118 1267 -399 3581 -80 Sta 31 Mar 2021 Funds at Start of Period SurpluslDeficit for year 5733 -399 5334 5813 ~80 5733 Re resented b Cash in Club Current Account Paypal Account Cash in hand 4823 411 100 5334 5283 350 100 5733 The attached accounts hai'e been checked to the Eo)ks and rccords MaintainL by K-9 Rescue Rcm¢dy - IX)g L lub Seoiion and arL in accordance IhereHAIh. Dalc - 301h DeLember ?0?] Neil Hnlxlen