Hope Springs Eternal Dog Rescue, Rehoming & Retirement Inc. is at Hope Springs Eternal Dog Rescue, Rehoming & Retirement Inc.

19 hours ago

A lovely update on Buddy adopted by Michelle and Guy. A little update on Buddy - now 13 years old. He has two chicken friends and still racing around like a pup doing what a Jack Russell does best…….mischief! We love him to bits. Merry Christmas from Michele, Guy, Buddy and Nanna (who is now living with us). Aren’t these pictures fabulous. #hopespringseternal🐶 #adoptedandadored❤️ #happytails #buddy ... See MoreSee Less

Hope Springs Eternal Dog Rescue, Rehoming & Retirement Inc.

1 day ago

As yet another year draws to a close, and talk and activities turn toward Christmas Day, I become a little reflective about the year that was.

We’ve stepped back a bit from rescue and rehoming this year. I think our whole small team feel a little worn out including me and I’ve recognised that and responded accordingly.

We’ve continued to help where we can – providing care for dogs of people in hospital who needed someone to support them, providing fundraisers and vet fee help where we can, assisting with rehoming and helping our fellow rescues where we are able. Our pet therapy program has expanded significantly and is such a rewarding activity to be involved in – not only for those we visit but for our team – I’m convinced we get as much out of it - as we give.

When I sat down to write this – I vowed to keep it positive, but I do need to say this. Rescuers and rescue groups do amazing work and provide such a community service (and lord knows the poor animals need it). But it seems in so doing, they have created a rod for their own backs. Increasingly, I see councils, the government agencies charged with responsibility for animal welfare and other large animal welfare and sheltering authorities leaving it to the rescue groups – not just leaving – pushing it on rescue groups to care for, and deal with, the animal care and rehoming needs in the community. And, at a time when it is becoming increasingly tough to do. Facebook used to be the main medium to find adoptive homes, to raise funds and gather supporters. People have turned away from Facebook in droves, and it is increasingly difficult for rescues to raise the funds they need to keep going and doing their best for the animals in their care, and to find families and people to adopt them. It’s an often thankless task and takes so much out of people.

I’ve been more focused and involved with family this year and running the small business I established when I gave up full time work. We doubled our revenue in the second year – which is a sign of success – but it isn’t making a fortune and has also impacted how much I can put into the rescue – as previously we contributed significantly.

As to what next year may hold – I’ll just let it unfold and show us the way.

Thank you to our team members for their support and involvement over the past 12 months. I would also like to thank the people who support us with regular donations right across the year and those who donate when we let you know we need some additional help with a foster case or an individual with a pet who needs urgent vet help and those who donate to us at the end of the year or the end of the financial year.

We achieve what we do because of you – and I never take that for granted or cease to be grateful for the support and the help we’ve had to “change the world for one dog at a time”.

Thank you to everyone who has continued to follow us on social media, shared and liked our posts and given us the means to find new adoptive homes for the dogs we’ve cared for and those in need.

Thank you to the people who have adopted dogs from us and given them their #happytails.

Thank you to all the families who have entrusted their precious pooches to us for #holidaycare and #doggydaycare throughout the year.

And thank you to those who have opened up their hearts to one of our dogs – and subsequently suffered the heartache, grief and pain of losing those dogs. I feel each of those losses – each of the dogs adopted from us and cared for by us, take a piece of our hearts with them when they go. I’m sad when I see the Christmas photos from years past and the #hopespringsgang members and holiday dogs who aren’t with us this year.

I hope that everyone has the opportunity to spend time with those that matter to them over the holiday period. I hope you have the chance to smile, to laugh, to create memories, to reminisce about past memories, to do the things that warm your heart and to show small kindnesses to others wherever the opportunity to do so, presents.

May you all be healthy, happy and your hearts be full this festive season and into 2026.

With much love from our home to yours – The Dogparents, Chris and Ray of Hope Springs Eternal. ... See MoreSee Less