Happy New Year

Yes, happy 2009 to all our visitors and I hope that despite the current gloom - and bad weather - everyone enjoys the year to come.

It's certainly been an eventful few weeks since the last entry. You will no doubt have read Punkys story and I hoped that would be the last of those sort of events for a while, but it wasn't to be.

A few days before Christmas a volunteer at the centre had the misfortune to lose one of our dogs. A shy and nervous dog, she managed to get out of her collar before he realised what was happening. We immediately began searching and for the next few days I got to know Colton as well as if I'd lived here all my life!! Despite a number of sightings we just couldn't get near her. I was out late at night and spotted her most nights.

On Boxing Day afternoon we came as close as ever to catching her when she was corned in a garden but unfortunately a passing car frightened her and she bolted yet again.

Unfortunately after a few days the sightings stopped and despite posters, leaflets and a press appeal we've heard nothing since. It was most upsetting and only the second time in 12 years that we've lost a dog in this way.

Then a week or so ago another dog who had been homed managed to make a bid for freedom in the Telford area - I'm glad to say that after a couple of days he surrended to a passer by and is now safe and well at his new home.

So I hope that as things come in threes - that's our lot for now !!

It's been a very busy few days this week with 21 dogs being admitted, 14 of which are pups about 3 months old. Homing still remains very busy which is vital if we are to be able to call this number of dogs in.

The website is certainly attracting some attention as well and has seen well over 300 visits every day this year so far. Speaking of which, this year will see the website reach a small milestone with its 500,000 visitor and I'm expecting that to happen either in February or March. There's no doubt the website and of course the internet plays a great part in bringing awareness and thats shown in the "viewing" figures - 16,000 in 2002, 70,000 in 2005 and a 102,000 last year. Long may in continue and thank you to all those who keep popping into the site to keep up to date with what's happening.

Well that's me done for now

Bye

Ben