If you would prefer to read the newsletter in your browser, please click at top right

Last Chance Hotel Animal Rescue & Rehome

Cornwall has a beauty and tranquility all of its own. Wherever you are in this unique peninsula county, a beach, woodland, heather-laden moor or pretty farm track are within reach, - fabulous places to walk, recharge your batteries and chase the blues away. Last Chance Hotel is lucky to be based in such a beautiful part of the country, luckier still to have so many wonderful supporters and a fantastic team of volunteers dedicated to helping animals in need. All done for love, - the love of dogs, and all creatures, great and small...
Being involved in rescue is not only hard work, it is also hard on the soul. The frontline team members experience a roller coaster of emotions on a regular basis: anger, frustration, sorrow, relief, humility, joy and despair. Rescue is not only about saving the dogs from death row, and bringing them to Cornwall, it is also about dealing with people, coping with difficult situations, accepting limitations, and knowing that sometimes you have to say ‘our doors are closed’, even though it breaks your heart to do so. It is also about teamwork, not only within the rescue but also outside of it, - the pound pullers, other rescues, organisers and transporters.
The month of April was akin to the mother of all roller coasters. There were some who were old and unwanted, some who had lost their humans through bereavement, and others whose loving owners had been hospitalised. There were some with fear issues, but in the right hands are now learning to trust. There was Tatty, condemned to death for being crotchety from toothache, but now happy and content because of people who understood this. Wilma, brought to safety, a poundie with such a gentle nature, yet the victim of abuse and neglect on a huge scale, and one of the worst cases yet to have come in to LCH. And in the space of just 24 hours, Alfred and Spencer. Alfred had been dumped in the pound, and was fading fast; everyone pulled together organising his freedom ride to Cornwall, but we were just too late. Dear Spencer made the trip, but breathed the sweet Cornish air for only a few hours…...... Sometimes there are simply no words.

Sometimes we need the beauty and tranquility of Cornwall to come to our rescue.

New Arrivals

April was a hard month in so many ways. Well over a dozen dogs came under our care, from varied circumstances, but all needing somewhere to lay their heads before they continued on their next journey in life. Spud and Lily JRT came into care because their owner is very poorly; another Lily, an SBT x, had been left in a flat on her own. This lovely old girl is now ready for adoption. Wilma was a poundie. A plea was put out from the pound for a rescue to come forward to take her. It appeared that she had been used as a bait dog, - covered in bites and sores, with a nasty looking growth on her haunch and painfully skinny. Despite all this, she had such a sweet nature, so willing to trust, and it was clear that this girl deserved every chance we could offer her. Rambo and Buddy are two of several smaller dogs that came under the care of LCH, both now ready for adoption, as are Bailey and George. Albert, a 9 month old Great Dane cross, has settled into his foster home and is now under assessment.

From Top Left, clockwise - Lily JRT, Spud, Rambo, Buddy, Wilma, and old lady Lily SBT x

These are just a few of the incomers for last month. If you would like to follow their progress, and find out more about all the others, please check out our Facebook page and website lastchancehotel.org. We now have a news section on the Home page; dogs are constantly being assessed in their foster homes and information changes regularly.

Still Waiting

It’s quite common for black dogs to be overlooked by potential adopters. No one really knows why, we certainly don’t. Last month featured little Coco, a wee black Staffie cross. This month we have Dinky, but she is much larger! Dinky is a beautiful, gentle girl, full of life at 11 and enjoys her walks. She can be nervous about new dogs when on a lead but this is improving and off lead she is fine. She loves company, is cat and child friendly, and has good recall. Dinky needs to be fed separately to avoid food aggression, but is fine with treats and will happily wait her turn for one. She likes nothing better than just sleeping on the settee near to you. Do you have an extra large space in your heart and home for this gorgeous girl?

If you think you, or someone you know, could be that special someone for Dinky, please go to our website lastchancehotel.org or contact one of the team by email info@lastchancehotel.org

We need your vote! Deadline 16th May 

Last Chance Hotel has been given a fantastic opportunity by Pet Insurance company "Animal Friends" to be a beneficiary from a £20K (yes, that's twenty thousand) donation pot! The company has chosen LCH, along with two other charities, to share this amazing 'prize' between them, by way of a Facebook page for voting. The amount each charity receives will be proportional to the number of votes that they obtain from supporters, so we need as many votes as possible. If you can, please click this Facebook link and follow the instructions. This is important, as you need to hover your mouse over the 'like' button and click the WOW emoji. If you can get your Facebook friends to do the same, please share! The last day for voting is 16th May. Thank you!

Happy Departures to New Homes

Fosterers are the crucial stepping stone for all the dogs that come in to the rescue. It can be hard work, but infinitely rewarding. To witness the blossoming of a fearful dog into a more trusting, relaxed pooch is wonderful. But with that comes the sadness of saying goodbye, as they trot off to their new homes. Quite often a fosterer falls completely in love with their charge, as has happened with lucky Pluto, a lovely old boy who came in during April. Buster, Trigger, Duncan and Dexter finally found their forever sofas; Mickey and Prince didn’t wait very long for theirs. What a fantastic summer they will all have!

Far top: Pluto. From top left, clockwise - Duncan, Prince, Dexter, Mickey, Buster, and Trigger

Meet the Team!

Volunteering for Last Chance Hotel Animal Rescue as a Homechecker and Transporter

Through transporting dogs (and cats) for the Facebook Group ‘The Animal Team’ , I met Sam several times in various places to hand over dogs. Having told her that I was a Homechecker for various other rescues, I was recruited to do the same for Last Chance. So began my involvement with this rescue.

I am passionate about finding the right homes for the animals that come into the care of LCH and through Homechecking, I have been able to bring together dogs and applicants and see them on their way to, hopefully, a long and happy time together.  Homecheckers also provide the Follow-up Visits to these homes (at 1, 3 & 6 months) and it is a delight to see the dogs living there, secure in their forever home. Very occasionally, it does not work out – usually because the applicant has not followed our guidance and become complacent – but that is the exception to the rule.

Up until last October/November, I was to be found, nearly every Sunday, on my way up the A30 to Whiddon Down in Devon or, on occasions, to Exeter Services, where I would meet another transporter who had brought down dogs from further across the UK, for me to bring back to the safety and care of LCH in Cornwall.
Good friendships have been forged with the other transporters who travel many hundreds of miles each week carrying out this task. We have all seen some terrible sights – emaciated, scared, abused dogs – saved from Dog Pounds throughout the country – where they would have been killed, probably the next morning, had they not been on that transport run. We have had some funny looks from lorry drivers and motorists when exchanging dogs in various car parks but if questioned, our explanation usually brought out the sympathy and encouragement from these people.

My greatest pleasure was in taking the dogs to the foster homes – seeing the animal walk into the house, look round, and give that SIGH………… which translated meant – THANK GOD – I AM SAFE!!!

Since I am no longer in the first flush of youth, I took a bit of a step back at the end of last year and no longer do these longer runs to Whiddon Downs, instead I am to be found transporting dogs to and from the vet and perhaps between foster homes and adoptive homes, etc. Much more local runs – but still needed by the team. I have also cut back on my Homechecking activities and am delighted that three excellent ladies are now covering “my pitch”, but I am there – in reserve – if needed.

I am only one small cog in the machine that is Last Chance Hotel – others carry out other tasks – admin, finance, fund raising, IT work, this Newsletter, Promotional work – the list is endless – but all adds together to create our team.
 
Helen Morrison

March Fundraisers

We have some amazing supporters doing sometimes crazy things to raise much needed funds for us. Andrew Russell is always thinking up new ways to help bring in the pennies, and his latest idea provided some peace and quiet for the passengers on his number 304 bus! He spent the whole day in silence on 8th April on his usual bus run, and his passengers and JustGiving sponsors donated to the cause. Thank you Andrew, for keeping the peace for LCH!

April was the month of the London Marathon, and Karran Perry bravely donned her running gear to take part on behalf of Last Chance Hotel. We salute you Karran, what an amazing feat, - or maybe that should be ‘what amazing feet’! Karran crossed the line and raised hundreds for LCH, also via JustGiving. Thank you for your magnificent effort Karran, we hope you have now recovered!

Our Facebook Auction will be commencing sometime in May, helping to raise vital funds for our vet bill. Join the Last Chance Hotel Auction page and see what’s up for grabs, all for the animals in our care!

If you would like to help LCH with a fundraising event, please contact the team with your idea on 01209 281159 or email Louisa on louisa@lastchancehotel.org.

Sit Happens

In this new occasional feature, Sarah Higgins, who runs Last Chance Hotel's  ‘Sit Happens’ Dog Training, gives training and behaviour tips

Last Chance Hotel rescues dogs with various problems, and something that should be ongoing for every dog, not just rescues, is training. Our foster carers do a fantastic job rehabilitating the dogs, giving them much needed TLC, and of course getting started on training, but it’s up to our wonderful adopters to continue with training throughout their dogs’ lives. Whatever problems your adopted dog comes with, training will not only help with their manners and general behaviour, but will create a strong bond between you.

Training should be fun, not a chore, so if you aren’t enjoying it then neither is your dog! Food and toys are your friends when it comes to training, use them liberally to make training into games. Food makes dogs happy, so using food rewards boosts your dog’s emotional state and helps them remember the training. Plus, they’ll associate that happy feeling with their owner!

A fun, confidence-boosting game to start with is “Feet up”. This involves your dog putting their front feet up onto an object. To start, choose a stable object large enough for them to place their front feet on comfortably (this could be a large book, or cushion), and place it in front of you. Grab some treats and start off rewarding any movement towards the object, then one paw on, then two paws! Keep sessions short and sweet, no more than a few minutes, and don’t worry if they don’t get it straight away. Once they know how to do it with one object you can try with different ones.

This game is a great trick to show friends and family, and you can do it out on walks too! Get creative with “Feet up”, just remember to keep it fun.

Thank You!

West Country Bullie Walks

Massive thanks to West Country Bullie Walks for their wonderful donation towards Wilma’s vet treatment.

Lamorna Vets to the Rescue

Grateful thanks to everyone at Lamorna House Vet Practice for fitting Tatty in at the last minute, going above and beyond for LCH yet again.
We hope you enjoyed the chocs!

The Hub Shop Milestone

The Hub Shop reached a milestone in April, in terms of fabulous help towards the vet bills. This is such great news! Massive thanks to Sally-Ann Gretton, Heather Hallatt and all the fab volunteers at the shop for all your hard work, - you people rock!!

Wilma feels the Love

Thank you to all those fantastic peeps who donated to Wilma’s vet treatment; we are so lucky to have such kind and generous supporters.

Pets at Home are the Best!

Grateful thanks yet again from all the team to Pets at Home and Support Adoption for Pets who responded to an emergency request for two large crates. What a fantastic supportive company. Special thanks to the CEO, who never fails to help us.

School Collection

Ruth O’Grady Collett visited some schools to talk about pet care and asked parents to send in donations to help homeless pets. There were lots of lovely leads, harnesses and other super bits, - thank you very much Ruth, and the kind parents for this fantastic donation!

Quiz Night at The Robartes Arms

A huge thank you to the Robartes Arms, Illogan for hosting a quiz in aid of Last Chance Hotel. Your support is truly appreciated.

Trebah Garden Mawnan Smith

Many many thanks to Trebah Garden, Mawnan Smith for hosting a Last Chance Hotel mini fundraiser and awareness weekend. Trebah are great supporters of LCH, and very dog friendly. The Garden is looking particularly lovely at the moment!

Rainbow Bridge

It wasn’t supposed to happen like this. One day in late April that took the whole team into the depths on the emotional roller coaster.

This poor boy on the right, was dumped at the pound, seemingly by his owner. He didn’t even have a name. Carolyn at the pound asked for help in getting him to a rescue for end of life care. He was fading fast, and everyone pulled out the stops to arrange transport to Cornwall. But we were too late; he died alone in the pound, - in his sleep, with not a kind hand to hold him as he left for the Bridge. But he was given a name, and he will be remembered. Run free, dear Alfred the Red, we all tried our best for you.

Spencer, this handsome Mastiff boy, was left on his own when his owner passed away. He was 9 years old and in bad shape, but he did make it down to Cornwall on that same April day. Spencer was here only a few hours before he took his final breath; he was calm and serene, he knew he was going. Our vet said that he had been seriously ill and unchecked for a long long time. Spencer went to join Alfred at the Bridge to keep him company and tell him that some people did care.

Run free boys, you will always be in our hearts.

Rescues Revisited 

This is what Last Chance Hotel is all about....... 

I thought it was time I posted an update on Buddy boy. What an amazing dog he is. He's changed our lives for the better and has completely taken over!! He's so happy that the summer is coming. He loves a tanning opportunity. CS

I've been in my new home for a month now and Mum says I'm now part of the furniture. I just wish she would leave me in peace and hoover round me because I'm not moving. Love, Riley x JM

Normally Dylan has his bath outside with a bucket. Today he was lagged up to his chest in the most revolting mud so I took the decision to try and shower him off in the bath upstairs. He let me pick him up and put him in the bath, shampoo, shower and dry him. No biting and only a tiny growl when I first went to pick him up. Those that know Dylan will understand what a massive achievement this is and why I am so proud of him. JW

Eight months since moving in and Norm has managed over a week without anxiety weeing when people come in to the house! It’s taken a lot of patience, mopping and 2 new rugs but it's all worth it to have my boy feeling relaxed when people come round to the house. Super proud. CG

Happy Gotcha Day!

“Gotcha Day” is the name given to the day a lucky hound first came into his or her forever home. Here are a few tributes from April of that celebration of love.

Loki

Can't believe it's been 2 years since we picked this big lumbering oaf up! Thank you so much to all the team at LCH for your help in the beginning, he is now a very happy sociable pup. I hope he loves his forever home as much as we love having him! He has the posing for photos down to a T! KJ

Dexter

Just over a year since this happy chappy came into out lives and changed us forever...big thanks to all at LCH and big licks from Dexter. CP

Millie

Happy 5th gotcha day LCH stalwart Millie Moobag. MooMoo has been a stooge socialising and walking partner to many LCH emergency boarders and only ever asks that she doesn't get fed vegetables......which she does 'cos we squish them in her food 😄LC

 Milo

It's 4 years ago today, that my Auntie Marj and I drove to Cornwall and back to adopt Milo. This gentle, quirky boy has become a big part of our life. He is the most amazing boy and it has taken time for him to let go of his past. Milo was taken in by someone after his owner died, but things didn't work out. Milo was then advertised as FTGH and a lovely lady called Angela, managed to temporarily take him in. She volunteered at a local rescue [not LCH] and that was sadly where Milo's fate was decided! He was scared and allegedly bit the new manager, when she approached him from behind. He was eating and was wearing a cone, while his nervous tummy rash was being treated! LCH stepped up for him, and our friend, a Head Vet Nurse saw his story and was sure we could help him. I became determined to adopt Milo, even though I didn't actually meet him until the day that we adopted him, because I wanted to help another dog after losing my beloved Woody who Milo is very much like. The 600 mile round trip to adopt a dog that I had never met was well worth it. I totally trust him and we are proud of the fact that he has learned to trust us. KF

A Special Message from Chunk

It was my "Gotcha" day at the end of April, I was very excited! 3 years ago, I got my freedom ride with the A-Team and came into foster with Last Chance Hotel Animal Rescue. They have been a really happy 3 years with my human family and growing rescue pack family. I'm so grateful for the chance I got, I would love to see all pound dogs get the possibilities in life that I did.

If you'd like to know more about my story and the fantastic charities that helped me, while raising much needed funds for LCH - please buy a copy of my little book, “Chunk’s Tale” - help make another pound dog's "Gotcha" day!

A massive thank you with lots of love and licks to all those that helped make it happen for me and continue to do so for so many others 😘🐾xx

“Chunk’s Tale” is on sale in the Hub shop and online at www.chunkstale.moonfruit.com

Great ideas for days out with your pooch, dog friendly beaches, cafes, pubs, places to stay, and some fabulous walks can be found on dogfriendlycornwall.net. Take a look and make the most of your summer!

The Last Chance Hotel Hub Shop

The Hub Shop is situated at 83 Fore Street, Redruth, almost opposite Wilko’s, and open 10am - 4pm Monday to Saturday. Lots of new and preloved goods on sale and hot drinks in exchange for a donation. Pop in for advice about animal related issues, and a browse around! Our 'Sale' days have been very popular.

Volunteers to help man (or woman!) the shop are warmly welcomed, - just a couple of hours a week will help enormously. Please contact the shop on 01209 315547, or drop in for a chat.

Donations for the Hub are always needed, - Spring is most definitely here, and a clear out is essential! Clean towels, duvets and blankets are also welcomed, for the dogs in our rescue and the Burkett-Smith Animal Sanctuary in Dorset with whom we have close ties.

Vote for Hoochie - I'm a GoodBoy!

I has bin told there's gonna bee a Jenny rall erection soon, so after much thinkins, I has decided to stand for the job of Emperor, leader of the Slobber party, and here is my Hoochiefesto.
- All beaches to be dog friendly all the time. Hooman children and their adults can have access year round if they has a dog, otherwise, they can go to that manky bit, at the end of the dunes, miles away from a hooman toilit.
- Hoomans who leave broken glass and other nasty things that hurts my feets when I'm on a walkies shall be made to pick up my poo with their bare hands.
- Free cheddars and prawny crackers for everypup.
- Hoomans what lets their dogs has puppies shall be responsibble for each puppy for the rest of its life, no matter how much they sold it for, how old it gets, or how poorly it is. If that puppy gets aboosed, the breeder shall go to prison, as well as the person that done the aboosin.
- Cats to be kept on leads, unless they is providing tasty catshits treats for us.
- My evil genius Sister's face to go on the stamps because she is Queen littleoldladybeardyface. I gets my face on the money though, because of the handsome.
- No pups to be murdered, discrimminated against or given so much as a funny look just because of what they looks like. #endbsl
- All vetdoctormans to give the bikkits out before and after doin any violatins of bottoms.
- Hoomans to start sniffin butts when they meets new hoomans, it's much more heffective than the shaky hands thing.
Thas the start of my Hoochiefesto.
Votes for Hoochie - I'm a goodboy!

Dates for your Diary

Sunday 14th May 2017 11am - 5pm
Meet the Team and Fun Dog Show at Enys Gardens Craft Fair, St Gluvias, Penryn TR10 9LB. Please check LCH website nearer the day for confirmation of times and classes.

Sunday 4th June 2017 10am - 4pm
LCH Spring Fayre and Dog Show at Crofthandy Village Hall, Crofthandy, Nr St Day, TR16 5JQ. Please check LCH website nearer the day for confirmation of times and classes.

The one absolutely unselfish friend that man can have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous, is his dog….When all other friends desert, he remains.

George Graham Vest from ‘Eulogy on the Dog’ 1870