Secret was left at the gates of our centre in South Cave January 14th 2001. She had many unsuccessful re homing, mainly due to her independent spirit. Nevertheless she had her good points and was 'adopted' by the centre, lived in the office and everyone cared for and made a fuss of her. That's how she lived for seven years. Eventually she caught the eye of a couple who lived in Goole. They took her home where she immediately settled down and lives a very lazy life on the sofa.

When the photo was taken Secret had been walking on the beach at Danes Dyke in her new coat (it was February). She disliked the walk, the sand was too wet, the waves were too high, the air was too cold, she hated her new coat and at the end of the outing jumped out of the car, straight back on to the sofa and settled down for the rest of the evening much preferring this to anything energetic.

Lucy lives in Brough with her owner Susan. Susan got her ten years ago and thinks she has similar markings to an Australian Blue Heeler!

The two of them enjoy plenty of walks around Brough and Elloughton but Lucy will only 'fetch' it if it involves swimming (which is her favourite pastime in the summer).

Susan says she is a fantastic guard dog and really lovable. She is so agile you would never think she is ten years old - I think she'll live forever. When I am at work she spends lazy days at my mums or my sister so she gets plenty of company. She has been a bundle of joy to me and my family for so long and long may it last. I can't think of a better dog.

Buster and Megan came to the centre as an unwanted pair. Although they were lovely dogs they were with us some time as two dogs are always harder to re home together.

Karen and her partner spotted the pair in kennel one, adopted them, they've settled in well, so much so they have been back for a third dog. This time they chose a puppy and named him Hiro.

Karen says Buster loves to lick everything, even wet legs, his next favourite is cuddles. Everyone loves Buster as he is so easygoing, on his walks he loves munching grass and we call it 'eating salad'. After his walk he has a sheepskin rug to lay on in front of the fire. What a life!

Megan is a lap dog and the most timid of them all but she doesn't show it as she struts about the park as if she's in charge. In the summer she finds a sunny spot on a nice comfy bit of soil and has a snooze but if the post arrives she's up like a shot, no letter stands a chance, she's even torn up a cheque for £4,500. On the quiet she's the boss keeping the two males in check.

Hiro is a jack-the-lad and was very annoying to Buster and Megan as a puppy. Now he's more grown up and has been trained by Megan. He also had additional training at formal classes and came top at walking to heel. Hiro is a very very fast runner and only greyhounds can keep up with him. On a sunny day he loves to gnaw sprouts straight from the stalk as he loves his greens. He has a sensitive side however and loves to rub his face in the lavender and rosemary plants. Does he want to smell nice for Megan?

They all meet with their pals in East Park but their very favourite is to visit pals in Scotland they stay right next to the sea and the beach is at the bottom of the garden. They chase waves, eat seaweed and dig holes. You can see them running on the beach in the photograph.

Hello, my name is Millie although I'm often called The Pest, why? I don't know.
I was dragged howling and protesting from the loving arms of my brothers and sisters in July 2007.
In my new home there are two big cats who I was told were my new sisters. They are a bit snooty at times, I think they can't be bothered with a bright, young playful me. There is also a huge black thing, he's a big softie and I love him to bits. He goes out for walks attached to a servant. The servant likes to think she owns me but how wrong she is I OWN this joint and give the orders. There is also a big black cat but all it does is sit on the sofa all day long without moving. The servant doesn't feed it and it doesn't use the litter tray. However if the servant is around it feels brave and will butt me. I get my own back by beating the living daylights out of it when she's not there. My biggest game is frightening Toby. Cor, I can't half get him on the run and he goes straight to his servant or under the table for safety. I like doing rugby tackles on him and they scare him silly. Must go and order my dinner. Bye luv Millie.

Hi, I'm Toby Jack Russell and I was at the kennels with my mate. My first owner just didn't want us any more, I don't know what we did wrong.
I escaped from the kennels in 2002 and live with the son of THAT PEST'S servant together with four other cats. They don't worry me, if I want to sit on my dad's lap I just shove 'em off.
My chauffeur comes to collect me during the morning and I go to the house owned by THE PEST. After a run round the garden to rid it of birds and squirrels I settle down on a comfortable chair for a snooze. My dad works all day to get pennies to buy my dinner.
I get up about 5 and so does THE PEST. She jumps on me so I pretend I'm scared and run so she can chase me. Then dad comes for me and I go home for my dinner. I gobble it down so those cats can't get it. We'll then go for a nice long walk sometimes on the beach or across fields. Dad is a spoil sport he won't let me chase rabbits and squirrels but he buys me lots of toys and there are always interesting smells to sniff when we're out.

Pauline got in touch with us to tell us her story. Pauline says:

'We have six chinchillas, two we adopted from you, two we got from someone else who had rescued them but could no longer look after them and two we bought from some people that no longer wanted them.
But back to the reason for my mail, the two babies that we adopted from you. They were seven months old at the time and rather shy, not at all hand tame and hated to be touched. We named them Poppy and Ella. Now, after five months of loving care, a little patience and quite a few treats they are happy, healthy, confidant and very cheeky. They love to climb over us and jump from one to the other. They will sit on our arms and shoulders waiting for treats and adore 'playtime' when they get out of their cage to run around. They are a joy to watch and the whole family loves them.

Thanks to Pauline for giving all these chinchillas a loving new home!

This is a photograph of Ella, Poppy is shown below.