Rainbow Valley
Pony and Goat Sanctuary
NEW
Hot weather warning
The weather is starting to heat up and we have been forwarded some wise words of warning about the importance of providing dogs with shade, particularly if they are dark coloured or have a heavy coat. Remember some basics first and foremost:
If YOU are hot, THEY are hotter.
Always provide dogs with shade and shelter regardless
of temperature. Fresh cool water is extremely important in hot, humid weather.
If you absolutely HAVE to leave dogs outside for any reason (working/training, whatever), for ANY length of time, make sure you place a large water bucket in a shaded area and hook them to something to prevent tipping.
Shade can be made very quickly and inexpensively by purchasing a plastic tarp at your local hardware store and attaching it to fencing, kennel runs, even a tree branch.
Heat stroke is deadly and it doesn't take long for a dog to begin showing symptoms, which include wide eyes (frantic look), rapid heavy panting, increased body temperature (possibly as high as 106 and up), bright read
mucus membranes and tongue, thickened saliva, vomiting is possible.
Please, please, please, provide shade, water and shelter for your dogs at
all times.
The Brooke Rescue Horse and Dog Show 2008
The Devon Supporters Group of the Brooke Hospital for Animals will be holding their 2008 Fundraising Event on Sunday 10th August at Knightshayes Court, Bolham, Tiverton. This is their third Rescue Horse and Dog Show, which includes an Equine Car Boot Sale. Previous years' events have been a great success, with equines from ponies
to racehorses and dogs of all shapes and sizes represented.
There are three aims to this event:
1. To raise funds for the vital work the Brooke Hospital does to
help horses and donkeys in the poorest parts of the world.
2. To show that rescued animals in the UK make wonderful and worthwhile pets.
3. To provide publicity for the many organisations and individuals who help to re-habilitate, and find new homes for, rescued dogs and horses
in all their shapes and sizes.
There will be a parade of rescue animals as well as a programme of fun showing classes, displays etc. The
aim is to be as inclusive as possible in a friendly and uncompetitive
atmosphere. All animal lovers are welcome.
If anyone would like to be involved in this this year's event pitches are available for charity publicity stands (for a mere £10) with a chance to meet the
public who may not know a great deal about smaller charities and their work. The organisers would also like to get in touch with people who have re-homed horses or dogs who would like to take part. The charity has a wonderful volunteer team, but more help is
always needed, especially with pre-show publicity (posters etc.) and also on the
day. If anyone is interested, or would like to help in any way, please get in
touch with either:
Jane Schofield, (Brooke Supporter), Lewdon Farm, Black Dog, Crediton EX17
4QQ.
Tel: 01884 861181 email: jane@blackdog.ukf.net
Penny Woollams, (Chair, Brooke Devon Supporters Group) Knightshayes Court, Bolham, Tiverton, EX16 7RQ. Tel: 01884 254665 email:penny.woollams@nationaltrust.org.uk
Goats for re-homing
3 lovely goats in the Ilminster area need a new home. Can you help? See our goat re-homing page for more details.
Does your dog eat grapes??
This might sound like an odd question, but some recent reports indicate that grapes can be very dangerous to our canine friends. See the following links for more details:
http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/raisins.asp
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/grapeandraisin.htm
Grey squirrel cull - MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
We have received the following message from the Ark Wildlife Hospital in Milton Keynes concerning the cull of grey squirrels:
"We are a wildlife hospital that is very distressed by the culling of the grey squirrels in Cumbria and Northumberland. There have been over 13000 grey squirrels "CULLED" so far this year. Other areas are also trying to adopt this so called pest control. We have set up an E-Petition with number 10 to try to find an alternative to this senseless killing. We have proof that the grey is not to blame for the demise of British woodlands, songbirds or the red squirrels."
A report entitled "In Defence of the Grey Squirrel" compiled by the hospital can be downloaded here.
Horses for re-homing
We have received a request to help re-home a group of 5 horses. The current owner is seeking a generous, loving and caring person to look after the horses, possibly long term. Help will be given towards the cost of feed. The horses, 4 mares and a gelding, currently live together as a 'family group' which the owner wishes to maintain. They comprise: an elderly mare who is rising 31 and her son (the gelding) who is 15, a younger mare (23) and her daughter, also 15, and another mare who is half-sister to each of these.
In addition there are 2 Appaloosa stallions who live together happily, and have never covered mares. One was hand-reared after being rejected by it's mother, and the other is his half-brother. Both are 16 years old.
All of the horses are happy, well, healthy and cared for, and all currently live out with no rugs. They are well bred, good looking and love people. The owner will request to see where they would be kept.
We hope to receive some photos soon, but if anyone is interested or would like further details please contact Lin in the first instance.
Update on lonely duck.....
We're very pleased to announce that Hardy, our little white Call duck (below), did not have to stay lonely for long. Lin managed to locate a Call duck at another local sanctuary that needed to be rehomed, so Hardy has now been joined by James (photo coming soon)! Early indications are that they get along nicely together, so we're hoping that this is the start of another long-term friendship. We would still be very happy to take in another Call duck, so please do contact us if you think you can help.
Lonely duck - can anybody help???
On Wednesday night our little mallard duck sadly passed away. He'd reached a ripe old age - believed to be somewhere in the region of 15 - but had recently a developed a tumour. His companion is missing him, and we'd like to find him a new friend as quickly as possible otherwise there is a possibility that he may also die. If anyone has a Call duck that they would be willing to 'rehome' to Rainbow, or knows of somewhere that we might be able find one, please contact Lin as soon as possible on 01626 203938 or email the sanctuary. Thank you!
Appeal for sponsors
As ever we are on the lookout for people to sponsor our animals. Sponsorship is particularly important at this time of year as we need to feed our motley crew over the winter months. The cost of hard feed is rising rapidly and we have many hungry mouths to feed. Our sponsorship pages will be updated shortly, but in the meantime if you think you can spare a few pounds a month to help us out then please contact Lin. We now have two very 'characterful' sheep - Jake and Shaun - who are also be available for sponsorship so there is a range of animals to choose from (even the geese and ducks need friends!)
Update on missing doggies
Good news - the two Border Terriers have returned home safe and sound 8 days after going missing.
Another big THANK YOU!
Many thanks to Sarah, Will, Joyce, Dave and Elouise for organising last Sunday's car boot sale, which raised £70.
Many of you out there regularly turn up to Rainbow events and we thank you wholeheartedly for your continued support. However, we feel we need to point out that people are asking us to hold these car boot sales, but then failing to turn up. The same is true of the fun rides. A HUGE amount of time and effort - all voluntary - goes into organising these events, and if they are to continue then we need your support. Lin has been told on several occasions that the Rainbow Fun Ride is one of the best in the area, so it will be a terrible shame if it were to stop due to lack of interest.
The Christmas Fun Ride will only take place if enough riders commit to taking part. Anyone interested in doing the ride should email Lin to register their interest.
New arrivals
Meet Magnus (left) and Robin (right), two little ponies that were rescued from the slaughter sales at Chagford earlier this week. There were many, many others that needed help and whose fates don't bear thinking about, but these are the two that Lin and Alan have brought back to raise at Rainbow. Find out more about Magnus and Robin's journey from the sales to Rainbow Valley......
A very big THANK YOU!.....
....to Louise and Karl Evans who walked 120 miles along the Poole to Torquay coast path and raised £200 for sanctuary. The walk took 5 days in total and involved camping out overnight - now that's dedication! If anyone else would like to raise funds for the sanctuary please email us!
Thinking of owning a parrot?........
This poor little chap is Charlie. He was kept shut in a room on his own, and out of boredom he pulled out all of the feathers on his body and wings. Luckily he is now in the care of Lin where he has another parrot, Fred, for company. Despite his appearance he is a real character, and is already showing some improvement by starting to grow back some of his feathers. But this is what can happen when these wild birds are kept in captivity with no stimulation, so please think very carefully before deciding to take one on.
Some happy endings!
Angus and Noah left the sanctuary on Sunday 30th September for a new life together in a lovely new home. It was sad to see them go, but apparently they are settling in well and basking in lots of attention. This is Angus about to set off, looking very smart in a new rug!
Diana the goat has found a lovely new home in Dartington with another elderly goat whose companion sadly died recently. Apparently they are getting on like a house on fire and Diana very much rules the roost!
Buddy and Bertie, the bottle-fed kids, have also found a new home. Here they are!
Mac and Dawn First in Show
Mac has been on loan to Dawn now for 18 months. He originally came to the sanctuary very neglected. He has now just had his first show win. Here is their stoy.
"I was doing a class called competition/sports horse. This was at the Gipping Riding Society show held in the grounds of Helmingham Hall. The class is judged on the best horse to be a general competition or sports horse. We had to do a show which included movements called a trot serpentine, canter serpentine, extended trot and free walk on a long rein. All movements which show how supple and obedient the horse is. The horse's general conformation and attitude was also taken into account as to how suitable they would be to be a competition/sports horse. Mac just did everything I asked (after I'd woken him up from his snooze outside the ring!). In my opinion I don't think he can have gone any better. He has come on so much from the horse I brought back from Devon and from the horse who tried to have me and judge off at a show last year! I never expected we'd be able to do anything like this. He was just a superstar! And I think he really enjoyed himself. He's certainly seemed rather pleased with himself since then!"
Fund Raising
Sunday 27th May Martin Stokes, Jodie Fisher and Kate Donovan from the University of Plymouth ran the Plymouth Half Marathon in aid of Rainbow Valley. The final amount raised is still to be confirmed, but is expected to be in excess of £250.
Martin looking very tired indeed!
Thank you for your hard work.
Download a copy of our screen saver.
Click on the link and install the exe file to your computer.
Rainbow Valley Newsletter for December 2006. Please email me your feedback.
A New Supporter to the Sanctuary
We have just been donated some copies of children stories written by Zemo Watts about a goat and a pony to sell to raise money for the sanctuary. If you are interested in a copy please contact me or visit his http://www.goatandpony.com
If you have any questions that are not addressed on this website or need advice please contact Lin East on the number below.
Home | The Sanctuary | Ponies | Goats | Volunteers | Supporters | Events | Rehoming | Sponsorship
Wrigwell Lane
Wrigwell
Devon TQ12 5UB
Tel: 01803 814212/01626 203938
Rainbow Valley Pony and Goat Sanctuary is currently not a registered charity