News

Good day in Formby

Monday December 5th 2011

A big thank you to everyone who came along on Saturday 3rd December to help collect during the Dickensian Day.  We raised a very impressive £550.  Yes it was Jane in the cat costume dancing in the street!

Christmas Fair Success

Monday November 28th 2011

Despite a cold and windy day on Sunday we managed to raise £1627 at the fair.  A big thank you to everyone who helped on the day, brought along cakes or came to support us.

Here is a photo of one of our younger supporters with the Freshfields rabbit who put in an appearance.

Christmas Party !!!!!

Monday November 28th 2011

The Liverpool Shelter is holding a Staff & Volunteer CHRISTMAS PARTY this year, the first one since the tragic kennel block fire of 2009.

Tickets are £10 and can be purchased from Collette at the Liverpool Shelter.

Alternatively you purchase over the telephone if you give us a call here in Liverpool on 0151 931 1604 or  Just Pay on the Night  We would really love to see our many volunteers join us on the night of Friday the 9th of December from 8pm onwards at Ferndale Lodge next to Crosby's Plaza Cinema.

Our achievements during 2011 are something we should celebrate so please purchase a ticket and join us there!!!

Porthmadog Christmas Fair

Monday November 28th 2011

The Porthmadog Christmas fair raised £850 for the Welsh rescue.  This sum included a £300 cheque which was the proceeds of a booklet sold in aid of Freshfields. The book is called ' Fairground Modelling in Meccano' by John Bridger.is available from http://www.constructionquarterly.com and sells for £20. Many thanks to John for this generous contribution.

The day overall was a great success so a big thank you to everyone who helped out .

Time to rest easy dear Scruffy

Thursday November 24th 2011

It's taken a week or so to pass on the news about dear Scruffy.  This perhaps is because Scruffy's story is not the easiest one to tell.  This little man was brought to us originally in 2006 after being rescued from an abusive owner who used to regularly beat him.  Scruffy had a neurological disorder that left him disorientated and wobbly on his feet.  We managed to rehome him but sadly things didn't work out and he was returned to the rescue for biting.  There was nothing nasty about Scruffy, he simply had a tendancy to react if taken by surprise and his condition meant that it was difficult to predict the form his disorientation would take and you therefor needed to be aware that there was always a possiblity he might nip when approached.  Our vets could never pinpoint a specific reason for the neurological problem but it is thought likely it was a result of the beatings.

Anyway, Scruffy stayed with us after his return and spent many a happy hour out and about with the one or two dedicated dog walkers that were able to build a relationship with him.  In 2010 he even took part in a sponsored walk around Southport.  As time passed though, the little man became more wobbly on his feet and his disorientation reached a level that his quality of life was becoming impaired.  So... the decision was made that it was time to let Scruffy go and on Monday the 14th of November he was put to sleep peacefully, here at the Liverpool rescue, with those who cared for him and had been closest to him present.  Scruffy was later laid to rest in our wildlife garden as with Sparky and Leon before him.

It's important for Freshfields that we mark the passing of those animals that have relied upon us for long term sanctuary and that we celebrate the strength they found in life to cope with the often heartbreaking challenges that 'humanity' threw at them.

Scruffy's condition made it difficult to bond with him closely although there are those who undoubtedly felt a special connection with him.  Scruffy will be missed there is no doubt about it and we are grateful to have been given the opportunity to keep him safe and give him security in his final years.

Sleep tight Scruffy... we know that in your dreams you will walk through fields of wild flowers !

All at Freshfields Liverpool...

Local Author supports Freshfields

Tuesday November 15th 2011

One of our local long term supporters Maggie Graham has had her book "Me and my Animals" published.  She plans to donate a percentage of the profits to Freshfields.  So looking for special Christmas present?  Book available at Amazon, W.H.Smith, Waterstones and other good outlets.

Mum and daughter doing fun run for Freshfields

Thursday November 10th 2011

http://santadash.runliverpool.org.uk/enter-online/

Christine & Helen Tyrer are entering the 5km Santa Dash on Sunday 4th December starting at the Pier Head in Liverpool at 9.30am.  Please sponsor them!  http://www.justgiving.com/Helen-Tyrer

Gardeners Highly Commended in Local Competition!

Monday November 7th 2011

The results are out and it's more good news for our volunteers gardeners in Liverpool with Freshfields receiving a certificate as Highly Commended in the Best Commercial Premises category of 2011's Waterloo & Crosby in Bloom.

Well done Breda & Fran!

Wildlife Garden Officially Opens

Monday November 7th 2011

After a few years of hard work, the big day arrived - the official opening of the wildlife garden at Freshfields Animal Rescue. Out of respect to the resident wildlife it was decided that it would be wise to keep the celebration to a respectable few people. However, the persistent October drizzle ensured that this respectable number was greatly reduced further to include only gardening stalwarts (Fran and Breda) and two other rescue volunteers (Rose and Georgie and Pip, their dog) who braved the rain and pitch black conditions to assemble for an evening of nocturnal noises and rare spectacles.

Armed with tea lights and a few borrowed brollies (thank you Susie) we attempted to keep tea lights going in the rain whilst sipping from a bottle or two of harmless pop!
It all seemed a bit unadventurous until the hooting of owls began. Gone were the little birds that sedately adorn the bird feeders by day and instead we were treated to an array of night time noises. We listened closely as nearby owls called to one another. We wondered what they might think of us night time gate-crashers, chattering then hushing to each other in order to hear them better.

And in the fields beyond an echo of the firework display in Southport flashed against the night sky giving us our very own celebratory display it seemed. Pip was most intrigued with whatever was moving beneath the periwinkle and her eyes flashed suddenly towards the sound of twigs cracking in the undergrowth. Was it a rat or some other animal, we didn't know? What was certain though was that the wildlife garden became host at night to animal life that we felt honoured to hear and be a guest of, if only for a very short time.

We managed to take quite a few photos of our little adventure and I've attached three here.

Fran n Breda