https://linktr.ee/manytearsanimalrescue, http://www.manytearsrescue.org/

Many Tears Animal Rescue, Cwmlogin House, Cefneithin (2025)

01/08/2025

🌟 Please visit the Sales for Many Tears Rescue page to view the August 2025 auction! 🌟

There are lots of lovely items available and every bid helps raise vital funds for the rescue.

We’re so grateful to Viv & Sash for their continued hard work and dedication with running the page. We’d also like to thank everyone who supports the auction by sharing it, donating items, or placing bids - every little show of support makes a huge difference. Thank you!

31/07/2025

Sylvia's Diary 31-07-25

Monday-ish

It’s a good start to the week, our dogs are doing brilliantly! The newbies are starting to trust us, and even better, some are learning to walk on leads. (Though at this point, it’s more “drag and dangle” than “heel and stroll.”)

Their tummies are still more concave than we’d like, but Arden Grange has kindly stepped in to help fill those hollows with another generous donation of dog food. Honestly, those dogs eat like hairy hoovers. We’re weighing them almost daily, this is partly to track their health, and partly because it’s the only time they stay still long enough to pin down.

They’ve been wormed within an inch of their lives, and will be wormed again, because apparently some of them still have the squirmy squatter type of gut guest. None of the new arrivals have had their operations yet, we want them to gain some weight first. Some of them are sporting eyeballs that are frankly trying to make a run for it. We’ll deal with the urgent ones next week and then steadily work through the rest, just one bulging eye at a time.

My visitor today to keep my spirits up was one of the 34….. a sweet ancient tiny fellow, hardly a tooth in his head, and eyes so damaged they no longer have any sight, but still a little chap whose last days weeks or months should be filled with all the love attention and care he had missed. I loved meeting him .

Now, as well as being the CEO, I’ve given myself a brand-new, unofficial, highly irritating title: Chief Pain-in-the-Arse Officer. A self appointed role, created mainly to keep my malfunctioning brain from fixating on my broken ankle, lack of independence, and general feelings of being a hostage to the bed.

Being stuck upstairs has turned me into a nosy upstairs ghost, haunting the airwaves of the radio system. I’ve got one ear tuned into staff walkie-talkies and now know exactly what’s going on. It’s given me a fascinating insight into how the departments interact, or in some cases, don’t. I’ve been storming through policies like a bull in a china shop.

With my brain forced into overdrive to compensate for a lack of mobility, my other senses have become uncannily sharp. I can now tell what the builders are up to from the pitch of their drilling and the tone of their tea breaks. They’re currently creating a new play yard, and thanks to the miracle of WhatsApp, I’ve received photos of the progress. Each kennel now has a play yard. Peter, who is a retired hero, helped with our cattery and has offered to return to build enrichment obstacles in the yard, so it doesn’t feel like doggy Alcatraz.

Today marks the third day in a row I’ve made it downstairs. “Made it” is perhaps a generous term, you see I bumped down on my backside, foot flapping in the air like a flag of surrender. But I got there, got my crutches, sorted out a cart for a horse (don’t ask), and then dealt with a culinary emergency: a dog had eaten an entire bag of raw food in the bag. We had to rush him to the vet, where he was induced to vomit and heroically produced the entire bag, intact. Nothing like a bit of lunchtime drama to keep your adrenaline up. Thankfully, disaster averted, and the dog was thoroughly unimpressed with us afterward. The dog that had this misfortune and adventure and had to visit the vets was “Margate”, who is our longest-term lodger. A “Bocker“ which is a beagle and a cocker spaniel cross. A truly lovely dog, but he has one issue: he guards food like it’s the Crown Jewels. He’s 99% reformed and 1% “don’t even look at my biscuit.” The staff have taught him loads of tricks, and one day the right person will come along. He’s easy to live with…….just don’t try to take his snacks unless you enjoy being stared at like a traitor, or worse.

We’ve got more complex dogs than ever. Several retriever pups with cataracts in both eyes (to the tune of £12,000 in surgeries), others needing heart operations, and some with urgent eye removals. None of these dogs can leave us yet, which means no space is being freed for new ones. And the phone keeps ringing. My notebook is bursting with names of dogs from breeding kennels and desperate calls from people who have nowhere else to turn.

But despair isn’t the answer. Thinking sideways, upwards, diagonally, that’s what’s needed now. We need more foster homes, more donations, and definitely more prayers.

So I’ll keep going, bumping down the stairs, shouting ideas from upstairs like a mad general, trying to keep things moving. Hopefully on Wednesday, when I go back to the hospital, I’ll get some good news. If not, I may ask them to just build me a dog flap and a ramp.

The Day of the Forgotten Parrot

I don’t see Bill much anymore. I used to bump into him constantly whilst working, usually with a dog under one arm and a biscuit in the other. It was then we’d sn**ch five minutes together, and at the end of the day like two passing ships in the night we’d get a few moments. Now, I mainly hear people calling for him, like a magical creature who might appear if summoned enough times. He doesn’t, by the way.

Today I discovered he was off on yet another 3½-hour round trip to pick up more animals ,which is only mildly less alarming than how casually everyone mentioned it, like he’d just popped to Tesco. The twist this time? A parrot. Correction: a second parrot. Apparently, during last week’s dramatic “dog and parrot collection,” one parrot was accidentally left behind. We rescued over 30 animals but managed to miss the tiny, turquoise parakeet who was, I assume, whispering “hellooo?” into the void the entire time.

Thankfully, the lady surrendering the animals thought she’d already told us about that parrot and only realised her leafy little lodger was still there when she heard a suspicious amount of chirping from an otherwise empty shed where its lone cage stood. The other parrots we had taken were in her caravan, but this one lived elsewhere and hid in a little box when Bill and Chelsea walked by. Bill had gone through the buildings to ensure no one was missed, so was alarmed to hear of this. Bill, poor chap, drove all the way yes, again to collect this forgotten parrot not really knowing if it existed or not. That’s dedication. Or madness. Possibly both.

The parrot did exist and is now safe, shimmering in turquoise glory, and off into isolation before we decide what to do next. The wonderful fosterer who took in the first parrot has first dibs, she’s clearly got a soft spot for winged drama queens.

Bill, meanwhile, returned home looking like a man who’d aged ten years and driven a thousand miles (both of which might actually be true). And what did he come home to? Not peace, not a cuppa, not a foot rub, but the news that now, he had to walk my dogs. The dogs that were once my escape, my joy, my daily sanity walk,now trot off happily with him like traitors, leaving me behind like a Victorian aunt in a plaster cast.

I try to be supportive. I really do. I want to be gracious. But some days I want to yell, “I HOPE YOU STEP IN A PUDDLE!” before remembering I’m meant to be the grown-up in this scenario. He’s doing what I can’t right now, and deep down, I’m incredibly grateful……it just occasionally comes out through gritted teeth and sarcastic applause, as I am so so jealous he can do this, and I cannot

It’s heartbreaking not to walk my dogs. It was my daily fix , them and the horse I rode when I had ten spare minutes (so, about once every never). Now, I barely see them. One of my dogs comes up daily and inspects my plaster cast like he’s checking for signs of life. It probably smells like a damp sock full of chicken crisps. Another one, who’s blind, now won’t even acknowledge me. Talk about betrayal.

Dogs ears

I feel I need to have a word with everyone about dog ears. Yes, it’s not glamorous. Yes, it’s a bit disgusting. But yes, it’s also massively important. If you’ve ever had an earache, you’ll know it’s enough to make you want to crawl into a hole and cry. Now imagine having that earache and no way to tell anyone about it.

This is what dogs go through, especially the lovely long-eared ones like cockers and spaniels. Their ears trap everything from moisture to half the Welsh countryside. If you’re not inspecting them regularly, you’re just waiting for a swamp to form.

Top tip: if you don’t want to get them shaved out completely, ask your groomer to shave the inside of the ear and around the canal, as this helps airflow. At night, you can even gently lift and fold those ears for a bit, like opening the windows in a sweaty gym. It gives their poor ears some air!

If you’re stuck out of hours and the vet’s charging £300 to glance in an earhole, try this: mix apple cider vinegar 50/50 with spring water (never stick a tips or anything inside the canal, just clean the outside gently), and you can even put a tiny amount in using a syringe, but only if there are no open wounds, otherwise your dog will hate you forever and possibly write about you on social media. Some poor dogs coming to us have clearly been suffering for many weeks months and even years.

Please please do go to the vet though, and once treated, learn from it. Inspect those ears like you’re looking for treasure. While you’re at it, check their paws, pads, between their toes, their eyes, their teeth. You’re not a vet, but you are their guardian, and if something seems off, it’s your job to get them help. It’s simple. It’s love.

Talking of love ….. two dedicated dog lovers and staff have been hand raising, it’s clear what Amanda’s babies are…. But what do you think Jacks baby is?

As for Bill….well, whatever he thought he’d be doing in life, it probably wasn’t becoming the world’s most exhausted parrot chauffeur, dog walker, and emotional support mule. But without him, this whole rescue would never have existed. So next time you see him…. maybe mid-walk, mid-sigh, mid-life crisis — tell him he’s wonderful. He deserves to hear it.

Tuesday

It’s been incredibly busy here, and right now the main focus is earning the trust of the thirty large dogs we recently took in and teaching them how to walk on leads. It’s been a kind of adventure for both them and us, more about patience, consistency, and quiet connection than anything dramatic.

We’ve quickly discovered there are a lot of harnesses on the market that look great but don’t actually hold a dog who doesn’t want to be in one. Some of these dogs, if spooked, a dog can back right out of a harness and be free in an instant. It’s terrifying. So, for now, we’re walking them with both slip leads and harnesses, although they don’t quite understand either yet.

There are some special up dates of success stories this week that I want to share.

Promise, the little dog with brain damage who came so close to being put to sleep, has made extraordinary progress in his foster( now adopted)home. It didn’t take long for him to win their hearts completely. His new owner is a trainer, and his wife a vet nurse , they couldn’t be more perfect. I’ve posted a video of what Promise has learned, and it’s honestly incredible. He’s living proof of what can happen when we don’t give up.

I’ve written to a company that makes non-escape harnesses, which are longer in the body and have three secure attachment points: one around the neck, one under the armpits, and one further back. The reviews for these are wonderful, and apparently, they’re very hard for a dog to back out of. I really hope we can get hold of some. Just the other day I saw one of our thirty pause, try to reverse out of their harness. They nearly succeeded, it was heart-stopping.

But these dogs are coming on beautifully. And goodness, they are handsome I mean really striking to look at, but also so gentle. The staff love working with them, and Tracie, who’s leading the whole programme, is doing an outstanding job. She’s making sure each dog is paired with someone who’s gaining their trust and giving them what they need, the training, care, and just the right amount of challenge to help them move forward without overwhelming them.

Soon, we’ll begin neutering and spaying, eyes out Entropion's hernias etc, and after that, they’ll be ready to start looking for homes. That’s the next chapter for them.

Then there’s Moses. Another puppy who nearly didn’t make it. I remember thinking (or maybe just praying) that with enough support and the right equipment, we might be able to change his life. I patched together a special inventions I created out of an empty plastic bottles, some soft foam padding and good old duck tape, to help him walk, and now, he’s thriving in his new home. His people adore him. Even more touching, this week they’re hoping to adopt a second puppy from us, one with cataracts that in time hopefully can be fixed, and he will grow and learn from wonderful Moses. It’s stories like these that keep me going.

Even now, while I’m stuck in bed and working from their, every day still brings something new. Every day I’m still achieving something. I have to remind myself that even though this isn’t the kind of work I choose. I’m usually so active, always rushing around. I’m still helping. I am dreading Wednesday, though. I have to return to hospital, and if anything is wrong, if they need to reopen my ankle or take out the plates and put in new ones, because of infection it will set me back badly. My foot feels like it’s burning 3/4 of the day and night, and I don’t know if it’s a nerve issue or infection. These last two weeks have probably been the most miserable of my life. The helplessness, the feeling of losing your self-worth when you can’t even get up to do simple things without asking for help… it eats away at you. Your independence and who you are are gone. If I were a dog, I wouldn’t be moaning like this. Dogs are so brave. They cope without self-pity, it’s one of the many reasons I love and admire them.

Again as the dogs were off loaded from the van, I was reminded of why we do what we do.

I think when you look at pictures you’ll understand too.

Thanks for everyone's help, we’re able to carry on doing our best for the animals. This is without doubt the hardest time we’ve ever faced in terms of the sheer number of unwanted dogs being called in. It’s overwhelming, and worrying, and at times heartbreaking. However instead of letting it all crush us, we have to focus on the one at a time. The successes, one at a time. The ones we can help. The dog who found a foster home. The puppy who took their first walk on a lead. The scared dog who let someone stroke them today.

We may not be able to save them all at once, but we can save them one at a time. And we will.

Thank you for reading my diary, Sylvia x

To donate, please follow the link: https://many-tears-animal-rescue.giantgiving.com/campaign/sylvias-diary/?fbclid=IwY2xjawL4YU5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETBkYmxwTVFPTFZEeWRqeENaAR47ulTxOEgoYXxbtXcEALmewt_3xtWL8X-qVmnVIlsrb06ssE-5hH3l5dtjYg_aem_L6l8TBiqnhZRd8cDwa7Z1A

30/07/2025

Say hello to Shelby, our beautiful 2 year old Goldendoodle. ✨

Shelby came to us just last week from a breeder, and it was clear she hadn’t experienced much of the world yet. She was overwhelmed, worried, and would quietly retreat to the back of her kennel whenever anyone came near. 🥺

But with just a week of love, patience, and gentle encouragement, Shelby is already starting to bloom. These days, she greets us with a happy tail and a spark of curiosity in her eyes. While she still has moments of uncertainty, especially around loud noises or sudden movements, she's showing us what a truly magnificent girl she is becoming. 💗

Shelby will need a calm, understanding adopter, someone who is willing to invest time, patience, and kindness as she continues to build her confidence. She’d do best in a home with a gentle, well balanced dog who can help show her the ropes without overwhelming her, as she gets nervous when dogs are too playful or in her face at the moment.

She’s already walking beautifully on a lead, though the world can still feel a bit scary at times. But every day, she’s a little braver, and a little more playful.

One of Shelby’s favorite things? Playing fetch! Well… sort of. She loves to chase the ball and keep it for herself, returning it isn’t really part of her plan just yet 😂

We’re starting to see glimpses of the joyful, silly girl hiding under the shyness. She’s gentle, innocent, and oh so sweet. Shelby deserves a quiet, loving home where she can truly shine.
We hope this precious soul won’t have to wait long to find the family she’s always deserved. ❤️

https://www.manytearsrescue.org/adopt/dogs/3426/

30/07/2025

Sponsor a Month in Our 2026 Calendar! 🐾

We have a few spaces available for sponsorship in our 2026 calendar!

📅 Sponsorship is just £125 and includes:
- A photo of your dog(s) or your business logo featured at the bottom of your sponsored month’s calendar page, along with a short write-up about them/your business.
- A custom banner with your dog(s) displayed at the top of the Many Tears Facebook Group during your sponsored month.
- A free copy of the 2026 calendar.

If you’d like to sponsor a month, please email [email protected]

Thank you! ❤

30/07/2025

We Could Use Your Support!

We're turning to our amazing community once again as we’re running low on some important supplies.

With so many dogs relying on us daily, our stock of essentials can run out fast and right now, we’re in need of items that keep our pups safe, fed, and comfy. 🐾

If you're able to help, every contribution makes a difference. Whether that’s adding an extra item to your shopping list, selecting something from our wish list, or simply sharing this post to spread the word, it all helps more than you know.

WE ARE RUNNING LOW ON:

🔵Royal Canin Urinary Dog
https://www.vetshop.co.uk/Royal-Canin-Canine-Urinary-S-O-Wet-Dog-Food-12-x-410G?fbclid=IwY2xjawL21a9leHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHpGK83jA0KmAJKQhk1pvagzLetnYuAm5gANuTV2A2991FgiRbdak-BlodNmG_aem__d4PUbKqgUxUddXgTGQCzw
🔵Kitten food
🔵Printer Ink
🔵Raised Dog Beds
🔵Stool repel
🔵Laundry detergent to keep bedding fresh
🔵Clipper blades size 50

🔵All items without a link can be found on our Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2KIC7VI3K4OPU...

Donations can also be dropped off at:

Many Tears Animal Rescue
Cwmlogin House
Cefneithin
Llanelli
Carmarthenshire
SA14 7HB

Thank you for standing by us and our dogs. We truly couldn’t do this without you!

29/07/2025

Collin is a 7 year old miniature poodle who has come on leaps and bounds since he first arrived with us just over four weeks ago. When he came from a breeder, he was nervous and unsure of the world around him. But with time, patience, and a lot of love, Collin has blossomed into the sweetest, most affectionate little companion you could ask for. 🥹

Now that he’s settled, Collin greets everyone with excitement and joy. He’s always the first to jump up and say hello when someone approaches his kennel. He’s walking so well on the lead now that he’s become one of the easiest dogs for our volunteers to walk. Everyone who’s spent time with him says the same thing: he’s calm, polite, and truly a dream to be around. ✨

Collin adores human affection. He’s happiest when he’s snuggled on your lap or gently burying his head into you for comfort. He isn’t just looking for a home, he’s looking for a best friend. He has a gentle, soft hearted nature and just wants to be close to the people he loves.🫶🏽

He also has a playful side and absolutely loves a good game of fetch in the yard. Because of this, a home with a nice garden would be ideal, along with someone who will take the time to play with him and enjoy his cheerful energy. Collin would thrive as the only dog in the home, as he’s very people focused and loves one on one attention. That said, Collin could also be rehomed with another dog, though we think he’d do best with a larger female, as he can be a little bit bossy at times. He’s currently kennelled with three dogs and is doing absolutely fine with them. However, Collin cannot live with male dogs.

He would make a wonderful addition to a family home and could live with children. The more people around to give him love and cuddles, the better, he will soak up every bit of it. It’s such a shame that Collin has been overlooked in recent weeks, especially when he has so much love and loyalty to offer. We’re continuing to spoil him while he waits for that perfect someone to come along.❤️

https://www.manytearsrescue.org/adopt/dogs/2645/

29/07/2025

While we do see our share of tough cases here at the rescue, it’s important to remember that it’s not always sad days. We also have many wonderful moments like when our beautiful dogs find their forever families and begin the next chapter of their lives! ❤️

Over the last few weeks, we’ve been celebrating some very special adoptions, including Larry and Heim, two incredible dogs rescued from the Korean meat trade. 🇰🇷

Happy Gotcha Day to all our gorgeous pups heading off to their new homes! Good luck and goodbye. It’s been our joy to care for you until you found where you truly belong. 🥰

As always, a massive thank you to Arden Grange for their continued support in feeding our dogs both while they’re with us and as they settle into their new homes. We truly couldn’t do all of this without you.

And to all our wonderful adopters, thank you for choosing to adopt. You've not only changed a life, but given a second chance, a safe place, and a loving future to a dog who needed it most. Your kindness means the world to us, and to them 🫶🏽

28/07/2025

Millie and Josie are an utterly charming and inseparable pair who came into the care of Many Tears Rescue in January 2024. They’ve since been in a loving foster home for over a year, waiting patiently for their forever family🥹

Their bond is deep and heartwarming – they groom each other, sleep side by side, offer comfort in times of uncertainty, and support one another in every way. These girls enjoy their daily walks and greet every dog they meet with quiet, polite manners. They're both big fans of mealtimes and sleep peacefully through the night. Mornings are when their personalities shine the brightest – they greet you like a long-lost friend, dancing on your head and showering you with little kisses💓

They are incredibly sociable with other dogs and would thrive in a home where there’s at least one other canine companion. A resident dog (or dogs) will help them feel more secure and make the transition into their forever home feel familiar and safe🐾

Millie (aka Milliebobs)🤎
Gentle, thoughtful, and always trying to be brave. She adores other dogs, loves exploring the garden, and finds comfort in being close to her people.

Josie (aka Gentle Josie or J Lo)🖤
Sweet-natured, calm, and loving. She enjoys tummy rubs, sunbathing, and cuddling with other dogs. Her quiet resilience is deeply moving.

While they’re eager to love and be loved by their new humans, this trust will take time. All they ask for is patience, kindness, and empathy. Respect their boundaries, and in return, they’ll slowly open their hearts and become deeply loyal companions.

Millie and Josie are looking for a calm, loving home where they can continue to heal, grow in confidence, and be cherished for the beautiful souls they are. If you're ready to offer them the patience and love they deserve, they’ll reward you with a bond like no other💞

28/07/2025

❗️FOUND DOG❗️

A young male brindle Lurcher was brought to us on Sunday, 27th July, after being found on Wernoleu Road, Ammanford. Unfortunately, he is not microchipped.

If you believe this is your dog, please contact us:

📧 Email: [email protected]
📞 Phone: 01269 843084 (lines are open 10am–4pm daily)

He is not currently at the rescue, but we can pass on the information of the person who is currently looking after him.

The dog warden has been informed.

24/07/2025

🐾 We’re excited to announce that Many Tears Animal Rescue will have a stall at the Llangennith 4th Annual Dog Show this Sunday, 27th July 2025! 🐶🎉

Come along for a fun-filled day and be sure to stop by our stall to say hello, grab a bargain and learn more about our rescue work 💛

📍 Find us at the field next to Stormy Castle Drive, Llangennith (What3words: ///vies.breakaway.local)

See you there! 🐕💫

22/07/2025

Sylvias Diary 22/07/25

🐾 A Day of Heartbreak and Heavy Decisions
Written from bed, July 18th, 2025

Today has been extraordinary. Not in the way anyone wants.
It will cost the rescue over £20,000, and I am still crying as I write this.

I’ve spent the entire day in bed, unable to move, unable to be hands-on.
Everything I write now is either secondhand or being filtered through my mind.
I am watching the work unfold in videos, hearing updates from my team, worrying nonstop.

I feel helpless and full of sorrow.

🚨 A Familiar Call

Last night, we got a call. I immediately knew who it was, someone we’ve helped far too many times.

She’s not a licensed breeder, not breeding for money, or breeding any particular breed. In her mind, she was doing something good: continuing the line from her first beloved dog.

But each generation, she kept more pups. They grew further from the original, in looks, in temperament. At some point, she added an Australian Shepherd or a Merle dog for colour.

We've taken dogs from her before.
I’ve begged, pleaded, scolded, and finally told her last time: This is it. No more.

She didn’t sell them.
She didn’t give them away responsibly.
She just let them be born again and again because she wanted them.

And each time, I had to involve a dog warden.

Bill went last time, big, scared dogs like St Bernard, Bernese, and Newfoundland mixes.
They loved her. They knew no different.
But they were terrified of us.
It took us ages to socialise them and earn their trust.

Then a year later, a vet nurse (who had once worked with us) called.
Dogs had been dumped at a practice, earmarked for euthanasia.

They were hers.
She’d given them away and, not long after, the new owner had taken them to be put to sleep.

I called her. I confronted her.
I reminded her of her promise to me.
I reminded her how irresponsible it was.
I reminded her that giving a dog away doesn’t mean washing your hands of it.

🐶 What We Found

So when the call came last night, I didn’t hesitate.
I called the dog warden, who met Chelsea and Bill who have stepped into my shoes while I lie here, useless and broken.

I couldn’t go, but I was there in spirit.
The videos turned my stomach.

No dogs had water.
She couldn’t remember their names.
The whole place was a maze of sheds, cages, and passageways, all filth and confusion.

Small dogs in squalor.
Big dogs in squalor.
Puppies.

She insisted she hadn’t bred any, but puppies don’t grow on trees.

We planned to take five pups, their mum, and two others.
We left with over twenty.
Twenty big dogs.

The kind that stay and stay in rescue.
Overlooked. Invisible. Heavy. Costly.

And then they found a parrot.
In a dreadful little cage.
And then more dogs. Not hidden, just… forgotten.

Chelsea spent hours just filling water bowls.
The woman was shocked, shocked that they were thirsty!!!

When she asked Bill, “Have I lost the plot?”
He gently said, “Yes. I’m so sorry, but yes.”

She herself was living in filth.
Alone and adrift.
With no clue how bad things had become.

She needs help too. She’s older than me.
If she had had an accident like me, who would check on her?
Who would feed the dogs?
Who would care?

It breaks my heart in every direction.

💔 The Ones We Left Behind

We left with twenty.
But eleven remain.

We can’t leave them.
But we barely have space.
Or funds.

Staffing, housing, medical bills, training…
All for dogs who may stay months.
Years, even.

Wages alone are over £124,000 a month.
We don’t have a year’s running costs.

But I worry that if another organisation steps in, they might see the dogs as too far gone and choose not to give them a chance.

They’re very nervous and will need time, patience, and gentle work.
But they can come round, I know it.
I just don’t know if we’ll get the chance to help them.

And I’m lying here broken ankle, broken heart, trying to pull some divine idea from the sky to keep this rescue alive.

🛏️ Saturday: Still Working from Bed

Saturdays are always busy here, the weekend is our main adoption time.

That means not only do we open our doors for families to meet and hopefully adopt dogs, but we also have to get those dogs sparkling clean.

That means baths often twice or three times for puppies who seem to get dirty as soon as you put them back with the other pups!

But sometimes it’s not as simple as falling in love with a photo.
The dogs have to like each other.
If their dog doesn’t like ours or ours doesn’t like theirs the adoption can’t go ahead.

Sometimes we have to spend time finding a better match, and that can take hours.

Meanwhile, the dogs we took in yesterday weigh heavily on everyone.

None have names.
The woman couldn’t remember them.
We don’t know their ages. Their history.
If they’re pregnant. Anything.

Some were too terrified to be examined.
For many, this was the first time in a van.
The first time touched by strangers.

We let them decompress overnight after weighing and treating them all for fleas.

Today, they’ll be wormed bulging tummies likely full of parasites.

They love having clean, full bowls of water, something they’ve been denied.
There was no running water, only collected rainwater.

This morning, they’re a little brighter.
Still nervous.
But more settled.

💧 A Miracle in Motion

I put out a call for groomers and bless them, they came.

Some of these dogs were in such a state.
Many are long-haired, and the faeces matted under their tails was so bad that they couldn’t even relieve themselves properly.

Critical cases.
Scared or not, they had to be cleaned up.

Meanwhile, I tried to contact the woman again.
I wrote.
I called.
No reply.

I didn’t know if she was suicidal.
I didn’t know if she even remembered we’d been there.

I couldn’t stop thinking about the dogs we didn’t take, there just wasn’t enough room on the van.
There are still 11 more with her.
The dog warden said she’d check in on her, but it’s the weekend.

The truth is, if we take them… I don’t know how we’ll manage.

My incredible team was already working a miracle.
The staff gave it everything, and Lisa, one of my yard managers and someone truly extraordinary took charge.

She moved dogs, found foster placements, and ensured the day’s adoptions went smoothly.
Every adoption meant more space.
More hope.

From my bed, I was desperate to match their energy and commitment.

So, between wiggling my toes to keep the circulation going and forcing myself to move, trying to prepare my body to heal, I continued calling and texting the woman, worried about both her and the dogs.

In between, I was receiving a steady stream of photos, videos, and updates of these beautiful, soulful dogs with their soft, expressive eyes.

They have a lot of Newfoundland in them, a gentle breed, one that rescues people, adores water, and lives to love.

Even through still images and short clips, I could see the potential in them.
I could feel their gratitude.

And then, miracle upon miracle amazingly, the lady phoned me back.

I was astonished.
I didn’t think she’d call, not after everything.

She didn’t call to ask about the dogs.
She didn’t remember that part.
She called because I’d left a message.

Still, I was grateful.

I thanked her.
I told her how deeply worried I was, about her, about the dogs, and the parrot she’d kept back.

The day before, she had insisted she couldn’t let go of three of the dogs or the parrot.

I’d spoken to her and explained that if she kept those dogs, they must be spayed and neutered and they had to come back to us to have that done.

I added that we would also need to go in and clean up her caravan.

The conditions she is living in are tragic.
There is only rainwater to drink, collected in a filthy old barrel.
One single bulb for light.
A tiny hob to boil a kettle.

If she’s to keep the three dogs, they must live with her not outside.
They must be her reason.
Her protection.
Her comfort.

After an hour and fifteen minutes of conversation broken, confused, heartbreaking, she agreed we could collect all the remaining dogs except one.

That one, she said, was her brother’s.

🦜 The Parrot

We spoke about the parrot.
She said it was her special friend.
That it had been with her for fifty years.

Whether that’s true, we don’t know.
But she believes it.

Bill called Chelsea on her day off, and they set off again.

The dog warden working on her own time, arranged for a social worker to join her.
She went above and beyond.

Lisa asked staff to stay late and help unload.
These dogs don’t understand leads.
They have to be carried, all of them.

🍽️ The Last Call

I rang again to let her know we were on our way.
We had food for her and the one remaining dog.

She asked who I was.
I reminded her gently: we’d been the day before.
She’d forgotten.

And then she said,
“They haven’t eaten… not for two or three days.
They won’t deliver food here anymore.”

She asked,
“Please could you bring me some food too?”

And my heart broke all over again.

🧍‍♀️ No One Left

I found one relative. A phone number.
A couple of neighbours who check in when they can.

They’re not animal people just… people.
Good ones.

She flickers between awareness and confusion.

If she lived near me, I’d have her here daily
Something to do.
Something to be.

But she’s an hour and a half away.
And she has no one.

Dogs were her life.
Now they are slipping away.
And so is she.

🙏 My Team, My Hope

But today, we got more dogs out.
We made space.

My team tired, unpaid for the extra hours, emotionally drained, achieved the impossible again.

And I will lie here, still and sore and worried sick…
And keep fighting.
Because someone has to.

📱 Monday: Reflections from a Distance

It’s the first day of a new week, and I’ve spent more time on my phone than ever before running the rescue from bed, learning lessons I didn’t ask for.

Having a recent stay in the hospital, I’ve seen how poor communication causes chaos.
Notes might be passed along, but vital information is often left out.
It makes the process hard on patients, nurses, and doctors alike.

It made me think about Many Tears.

Even lying here, I find myself trying to keep things afloat remembering all the little things I do each day that no one sees.

I give direction, ask questions (and sometimes forget to ask others), but if information doesn’t flow between people and departments, things go astray.

People get upset.
Important things get missed.

Running this rescue is a big, complex job.
It starts with keeping the place fit for purpose: fixing roofs, securing fences, making sure vehicles are roadworthy.

Transporting dogs across borders isn’t just driving, it’s exams, licenses, regulations.
It’s complicated. And it has to be right.

Then there’s the people.
You need a team who are competent, confident, kind, and passionate.

That’s hard to nurture when you’re always rushing.

Some say I’m not a people person, but they’re wrong.
I couldn’t do this alone anymore.

In the beginning I could, but now?
I need a crew.

And if someone truly loves the dogs, treats them with respect, and shows they care I can’t help but care about them too.

I don’t have friends.
Not because I don’t want them, but because I never give myself the time.
I barely give myself anything.

But I do have a team.
A family of staff and volunteers who care enough to stay.
Who understand what we’re really trying to do here.

The ones who stick it out know:
We all have our own strengths, and our own faults.
We’re human.
We deserve respect.

Something good has come from something bad.
This accident is teaching me to delegate better, to assign tasks more thoughtfully.

I have to trust now.
I can’t check every detail myself.

But I do believe we’ll come through this stronger.

🐕 The 35 Dogs

As for the 35 dogs, 30 large, the rest small, they’re doing well, considering.

They were absolutely starving when they arrived, having gone two or three days without food.
If we hadn’t acted quickly, I dread to think what might’ve happened.

Many were passing spaghetti-like worms.
Most have now been bathed, some even shaved.

They’ve had their inoculations and are being treated for sore ears, eyes, paws, and cuts with all manner of lotions and potions.

The property was overrun with rats, and the previous owner told us some dogs had eaten poisoned ones and died.

The survivors arrived lost, starving, and confused.

Some may have walked on leads long ago, maybe someone once tried to do the right thing.
Others weren’t bred by the woman but added into her “line” of what she imagined was the perfect dog.

Some are beautiful.
Even purebred.

But what they all have in common is that they seem broken.
Not fighters.
Not aggressive.

Just gentle souls who’ve been badly let down.

We were also able to take in the parrot, who is now being cared for by the mother of one of our staff members. She has experience rescuing and rehabilitating birds, including parrots. It turns out the parrot is female, and she’s already doing much better and chatting away happily!

🏡 What They Need

Now the hard work begins.

How do we give these dogs a future without draining our funds?
How do we avoid overloading our vets again?
How do we advertise responsibly and attract the right people, the ones who are patient, experienced, and selfless?

We’re so grateful to our sponsor Arden Grange, your support means the world.
Raw food companies like Paleo Ridge and Jack Wolf too.
But feeding a rescue dog is just the start.

These dogs need homes with other dogs to guide them.
They need secure fencing, no room for escape.

Where they came from, they followed the woman through fields with only sheep wire to contain them.

But in a new place, especially in those first few days, fear and stress can make them bolt.

We have to be vigilant.

🐾 Thank You, Volunteers

This is where our amazing volunteers come in, the ones who show up week after week,
Quietly sit with the dogs,
Offer roast chicken,
Stroke their heads,
And fill the space with calm, safe energy.

What they do is nothing short of magic.

But the truth is, we need more.
We need foster homes.
We need forever homes.

❤️ How You Can Help

These dogs are large.
They need secure gardens, other dogs, and time.
If you can foster or adopt, please get in touch.

If you can’t, there are still so many ways to help.
Could you:

Share this diary with a friend?

Ask your workplace to collect spare change?

Donate new or nearly new clothes for our stalls?

Help run a boot sale?

Sign up to Give as you live?

Or simply spread the word?

We already share donations with another rescue that supports both people and animals.

Sometimes, a clothing donation means a parent can give their child something new,
Or finally have a coat or jumper for themselves.

Maybe one day we’ll open a charity shop near the rescue.
But for now, we’re stretched thin, exhausted, but always trying.

🤍 Come and See Us

Thank you for reading this.
Thank you for caring.

If you’d like to see what we do, we’d love to meet you.
We are open for visitors:

📅 Weekdays at 12 noon
📅 Weekends at 11am and 1pm

It’s a big site, but when you come, you’ll understand.
And we hope you’ll feel how much your support means.

With gratitude and hope,
Sylvia

If you'd prefer to donate using debit card or PayPal via our website please follow this link, thank you! https://many-tears-animal-rescue.giantgiving.com/campaign/sylvias-diary/

Many Tears Animal Rescue

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