Well our STAFFORD WALK was a HUGE SUCCESS!
Far beyond anything we could have imagined!
http://www.staffiezone.org.uk/discover_dogs_2011_.html
Before I set out I checked my emails only to hear from the people who couldn't make it so I was feeling pretty discouraged when I arrived at 10.15am.
Sam and her Mum Sue, and Roxy were soon there and I booked them in and then someone else came and they just kept coming!
Soon the car park was full of very excited Staffords and it was only 10.50am
We moved down towards the river to try and calm everyone down and then we were off!
You can imagine we made a very impressive presence. Once on the river path everyone settled down, crossing the roads we stopped the traffic and once back outside Pets at Home shoppers were asking us what was going on.
David was accosted by desperate dog owners so that he ran out of cards, someone took a photo of the side of his van to get his details and we left him there still talking to people!
The only thing missing was a hot drink and snack at the finish...maybe next time.
We had 36 dogs and many more people. Everyone behaved responsibly even though some of the dogs were not easy (especially mine) and it passed off without any unpleasant incidents.
My thanks to EVERYONE who came along, special thanks to Sam Keen and her Mum Sue, David and Helen, Sandi (our official photographer ) and Morag who produced our wonderful stickers.
I am going to award prizes.
We had 36 dogs. All Staffords apart from two Collies and a Yorkie called Jo-Jo (prize for being the smallest dog there, and the bravest!)
We had several Staffie crosses Two Staffie x Newfoundland ( prize for being the biggest dogs there)
A very well behaved Staff x Labrador and Ernest Staff x Boxer ( rescue from Acek9 ( Treetops) wins prize for best rescue.
There were 3 quite young puppies one of whom was deaf Roxy ( special needs prize) with her brother Drake and Maisy who was only 13 weeks ( prize for youngest) and of course dear Smudge (prize for youngest rescue)
Gareth came with Monty! (Prize for travelling furthest) he came all the way from Wiltshire setting off at 8am!
Guildford Staffords included Monty, Hippo,Tara, Sky with their adoptive families. Jade, Sapphire, Chance and Smudge, still waiting for homes.
Several people came without dogs including Ellen who came on her own (so gets a prize for that ) she took Jade and coped with her very competently despite Jade barking for almost the entire walk ( she shares the prize for the noisiest with Rex)
Hippo wins a prize as Guildford Stafford celeb and the Stafford with shortest legs!
Sandi wins a prize as best turned out owner in her Welfare Deed not Breed pink tee shirt and matching wellies!
Kathy and Alan with Bella and Jess with Buster all win a prize for coming when they were nervous about their dogs. Bella and Buster both did really well and well done to you guys for turning up and taking part.
Everyone was asking when was the next one going to be....
I am gobsmacked as to how good this turned out to be. It was fabulous to see so many people of all ages joining in and having fun.
ReplyDeleteBrilliantly organised by Alison who deserves her own award for a job well done and a huge thank you.
Looking forward to the next one.....
Defiantly agree with the previous comment! Well done Alison! Was so impressed with the turn out! Had a couple of messages off my dog walking clients who had spotted us and said how well behaved everyone was!
ReplyDeleteWe are so looking forward to the next one!
Sam, Sue and Roxy