Have you done all your Christmas shopping yet?

Yes it won't be long now will it? Like most recent years Christmas seems to creep up on me and before you know it - it's all over.

We've been kept busy recently with lots of mail orders and although it looks like the comparison to last year will show this year has seen a bit of a reduction in the value of sales we still have attracted lots of support from throughout the UK - and even a couple of orders further afield. Thank you for all your support in the present economic gloom - it is vital.

We've still lots of collies needing our help and we're doing our best to help as many as we can but of course rehoming will go quiet for a couple of weeks probably. Apart from Christmas Day and Boxing Day we will continue to be open for rehoming throughout the holiday period. We strongly believe that we have to be available to help not only the dogs but also people who are looking for a new companion. As long as they are not having a busy and hectic holiday period with lots of people visiting we see that for many people it's not much different to a long weekend.

It's important to consider the dogs welfare but we've always found that the vast majoirty of people who rehome during this period have already considered this and are well aware of the pitfalls of rehoming if you've a busy social life over Christmas.

I'm looking forward to Christmas Day - the staff working that day will be eating with Sue and myself and we've got a couple of other guests as well. Then in the afternoon the tradition - as always - will be handing out presents to the dogs staying with us and generally having a good time.

I shall try to fit in another blog entry before the big day - but just in case - hope you have a happy and peaceful holiday and that 2009 is kind to you. Everyone connected with Border Collie Trust and especially the 470 plus dogs who have found new homes this year thank you so much for your interest, emails, cards, letters and invaluable donations and support.

Bye for now

Ben