**END OF YEAR ROUND UP 2024**
*NEW YEAR’S EVE MESSAGE FROM SIOBHAN*
As we come to the end of another year I just wanted to reflect on 2024 and send my heartfelt thanks to you, our supporters. I am just so grateful to you all for being actively involved with the rescue over the past 11 years. I started the rescue back in 2013 with just one dog and 5 kennels. To date we have homed just under 700 greyhounds and our kennel spaces have now grown to 21!
The rescue has expanded too over the years to include an office, our shop, the enrichment (home from home) room and plans are already underway to add a sensory garden on our grounds next year.
With help from our Trustees, volunteers and supporters I know the rescue will continue to go from strength to strength and I look forward to the future, continuing to care for and rehome these wonderful dogs.’
Here’s to 2025
Siobhan
**************** A round up of what we have achieved this year – and our plans for 2025 – please read on *************************************************************************
FUNDRAISING:
Our volunteer fundraisers have attended over 90 local fundraising events over the year. The changing climate has hindered many of our outdoor fundraising events but we have been able to adapt with online sales and auctions to bring in much needed funds. Our ‘name the dog cards’ run by volunteer Fiona K on our dedicated Auction facebook page have continued to bring in much needed income together with our kennel sponsorship scheme which is run by volunteer Joanne.
We continue to fundraise through Vinted and Ebay , with volunteer Dave now a ‘gold’ rated seller on Ebay. During the summer last year a group of volunteers undertook the Morecambe Bay walk raising funds for the rescue. We have also worked with charity neighbours the Lancashire Mining Museum and Dam House and will be hosting dog shows for them both in August next year. Talking of charities we have also supported the Alzheimer’s Society and MacMillan with organised events, having connections to both charities through our volunteers.
We are pleased to maintain our great working partnership with the Pets at Home Walkden and Horwich stores in 2025. We have supported their instore fundraisers – most recently being the SANTA PAWS event in December with half of monies raised coming to the rescue.
Our own Crafters group continue to produce work to an excellent standard enabling us to attend craft fairs as well as having a permanent craft stall at Avant Garden centre, Leyland.
We have held several social dog walks to raise funds in the South Manchester area and have established a group in Cuerden Valley park near Preston too. More walks are being planned for next year so be sure to keep an eye on our social media.
HOMING:
We have homed 52 greyhounds this year and our total hounds homed is rapidly approaching 700! The lead up to and after Christmas has seen many of our greyhounds undertake their ‘home trials’ so we hope to have some adoption news to share with you in the New Year.
GENERAL:
Work has already started on our sensory garden which is sited behind the enrichment (home from home) room near top kennels. The area, which was completely overgrown, has been cleared and fenced ready for work to start in the early Spring. Volunteers are currently researching and planning the area and initial plans include a grassed area, solar water feature, as well as trees, herbs and a seating area with pagoda. The area will also include grasses and ferns and textured areas using bark, astro turf etc. It’s going to be a relaxing place for volunteers and hounds to spend time together, giving the dogs some time away from the kennel environment too.
As the year draws to a close we’d like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support over the year, it does mean so much to us.
We look forward to a successful year homing even more greyhounds in 2025.
The Trustees – Siobhan, Sue, Jo, Wendy and Fiona – Makants Greyhound Rescue
photo shows Siobhan with now adopted ‘Love Bug’ GILLY
photo credit Shilpa Grewal
www.makants.uk