Hi I'm Rosie and was adopted 14 years ago aged 10 months as a companion for Charlie who had been adopted from Sunnydene two weeks earlier.

Our mum had been volunteering at the shelter when she lost her German Shepherd, Tess and everyone kept saying 'next time have two'. This is the start of the story :

Charlie, an un claimed stray lurcher, was adopted August 1996 aged 10 months. Mum and dad wanted another big dog but fell for me, Rosie, I'm a Cavalier x J Russell, even though I was only 10 months old I'd already had pups and I found this very demanding and wasn't sorry to leave once they'd been weaned

Charlie liked me straight away but he became aggressive with other dogs but I loved them all, he was hard work but mellowed with age. He was known as mum's best boy and our life was wonderful.

When we were five mum was itching for another dog, she had fallen for a lurcher x collie type called Elkie and we were taken to meet her. At eight months she was so beautiful, an unusual merle colour. She came home with us and we didn't know what had hit us, she was bouncing off the walls although her temperament was wonderful, hence her nick name 'sweet pea'

She loves everyone and is very 'kissy', we bonded immediately and Charlie ignored us girls. It took a couple of years for her to settle down and we were a very happy family, until, unexpectedly, Charlie was put to sleep as he had bone cancer. We were devastated, I wouldn't eat or go for walks, I was grieving for Charlie.

Two dogs didn't seem right, so off we went to the shelter for number three. We met Ned a nine month old Saluki Lurcher. We thought Elkie was hard work but Ned made her look docile, what a nutter, but good natured and he goes off lead to play with all other dogs.

He has been with us two years now, a real softy and comes close to being mum's best boy

Once again we are a happy family, truly loved and at fifteen I am reasonably fit and healthy and although I would recommend a lurcher to anyone as they make such good pets, I am definitely too old to cope with another!

To the staff and friends of H.A.W.T.

We adopted Amber and Salty (previously known as Wogan) a week before Christmas 2009.

They were born to a stray at HAWT in 2007 and we understand they were quickly re homed but due to a relationship split the couple were no longer able to look after them and they returned to the shelter in late 2009

In this regard, Amber (black and tan) and Salty (black and white) are lucky dogs and we are sure their previous owners gave them lots of love and care, plus great training! As a result, they are really wonderful dogs and have settled down quickly into their new routine with no trouble whatsoever.

Our most exiting adventures together have been long walks in the January snow doing the Yorkshire Three Peaks and a recent camping trip to Filey.

Amber and Salty are just as happy being around home. If we're in the kitchen they are never far away keenly watching for a tasty scrap or two. They've learnt (or re learnt) to sit, give paw and lie down for treats. After dinner there's often a little paw tapping to be let up onto our laps (we call them our dog-blankets). Salty loves to chase rabbit trails when we're out on our morning/evening walks although he's not much of a success, regularly missing live rabbits because he's looking the wrong way. Amber prefers to let Salty to the running about while she trots at our side. Both of them love to chase a stick or ball but only Salty fetches it back; Amber doesn't see the point. They have a cheeky side too – we have to be sure we close the bedroom door when we go out or else we'll come home to find some very comfy dogs lying on our bed!

Every day we count ourselves lucky for having two beautiful, good natured dogs. We love our new family, so thank you to HAWT for looking after them when they really needed it and for finding them a loving home with their previous owners and now with us.

Garry and Gillian, May 2010

This is my dog Millie. She is 4 years old and we adopted her when she was 7 months old.

Her previous owners had an allergy to her so they had to get rid of her. She had been in H.A.W.T for 2 weeks when we got her. We originally went to look for a cat but immediatly fell in love with her. She is very excitable and her ball rules over everything. She is also food crazy and will sit and drool while you eat. She loves cuddles and is always happy to see you!

Millie is married to Woody, my cousins dog, who also came from H.A.W.T. As soon as Millie hears the name Woody she starts to look for him because she loves him.

She is a very lovely dog and I am glad we got her!

From Lucy

Lorna, the kitten, came to our centre with her mum as part of a litter of six born 27th June 2008 in someone's shed.

Mum was re homed as soon as her kittens were weaned.

Kay came along after loosing her cat of twenty years. She wasn't looking to replace him so soon but the house seemed really empty without a cat plodding around as they do. As soon as she saw her Laura 'spoke to her' and Kay knew this was the one.

Kay passed the 'tests' and took Laura home renaming her Meowth (a Pokemon character - blame the kids!). She lets us know how thing are going:

Meowth has settled in beautifully especially considering she was so shy and timid and she just loves playing with the kids, they have bought numerous toys for her and love her to bits, she is so good natured!. She loves her comforts and has the full run of the house now day and night. She curls up on my knee frequently and when we are out her favourite place is on the top of the stairs overlooking the front door.

Please be assured Meowth has found a lovely home with us and is already a much loved cat.

Kay.


An up date of Meowth is shown below.

Hi

It's a long time since I've since been in touch - a year ago on my cat's first birthday. Saturday 26th June 2010 was her second. You know her as Lorna and we called her Meowth after she came home with us in January 2009 when she was six months old. Just wanted to let you know that she is doing fantastic and has totally made this her home.

Now she is a bit older she has calmed down with her playing although she still does have her mad moments especially around 10 pm when we go to bed and she'll have a mad half hour before going and sleeping either in her bed downstairs, on the top of the landing where she found a favourite spot and we put down a cushion for her or on a shelf! Around 5am she comes and crawls onto the bottom on the bed and at 6am decides enough is enough and proceeds to stick herself in my face
complete with purring and clawing at me. After half an hour she usually wins and I'm up!

Her favourite toy was an ornament of a cat. My mum got my daughter this and it was covered in fake fur and Meowth thought it was fantastic. No
matter how high we put it she always managed to get it and would stalk around with it in her mouth and pull at the fur. The ornament has long
since been thrown away and all that is left is the fur that she pulled off - she still loves it.

In the photo I've enclosed Meowth found a bird feather on Saturday (her birthday). She's an indoor cat but if I go to put the washing outside
she will sit on the step watching me and the rabbit. On this occasion there happened to be a feather there which she pounced on and brought
in. When I came back in she took one look at me and ran upstairs under my daughter's bed where she knows we can't get her and 'killed' it.

Up until last September she was definitely my cat and tolerated my husband - he was good enough to feed her but not stroke her! At this time I ended up going into hospital for a week to have my gall bladder out. When I came home, to my surprise, she was big friends with Shaun I guess he was the next best thing with me being gone and she had to
make do. In fact for a couple of days she sulked with me but now she shares her time equally with us all.

Anyway, just thought you would like to know she is perfectly healthy and happy and has made our home complete.

Take care

Kay

Hello everyone

hi my name is mollie i am telling you how the dog we bought at your spot we thought it was a littel lap dog when he is a littel nutter he is so bad so we called him the psycho pup his real name is doodle - I am 7 years old and he is the best dog in the world he chews his toys and he likes to run up and down the house all day long he jumps up and down he loves the garden and the beach. Thanks for him.I am glad we got him so mutch. I am going to come with my mummy and daddy and grandma to show you how big our dog now is doodle dexter hayes is the best. Love from Mollie dexter hayes see you all soon xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx