News from the Rebel Alliance

I make it roughly 7 days and 11 hours till the event you've all been waiting for, the 2004 GALa. Our events co-ordinator's 'TO DO' list now extends over several large sheets of paper, and as the number of items on the list extends the number of hours spent asleep diminishes rapidly. We're currently at stress level 4 (on an as yet undefined scale).

''Try not! Do or do not, there is no try'' - Yoda

Moon Landing

Depending on what conspiracy theory website you take your information from, you might not agree with me but for the purpose of this very tenuous link lets go with the official theory that Buzz Aldrin was the second man on the Moon.

OK tenuous link over, our wee 4yr old boy BUZZ (aka Mac) went to his new home in Edinburgh tonight. One small step for GAL, one giant leap for Buzz! Good luck wee man!

New Kids on the Block

Have you seen our newest arrivals on the 'see the dogs' page? Dale is a 2yr old ex-racing dog and just gorgeous, how can anyone resist that face!! He's in temporary foster care at the moment but will need moved to more secure accommodation by June 30th.

And how about Dillon? The first catsafe hound we've had on the books for a long time, he's been in foster care for just over a week now and will be meeting his potential new owners soon! Our final new arrival is Judy, the picture on the web was taken on arrival with her new foster mum, she's in pretty poor condition but nothing a good bath won't fix!

Bizarre (and slightly disturbing) fact..

The world record for the highest jump cleared by a dog is 167.6 cm (66 in), achieved by Cinderella May a Holly Grey (aka Cindy), a greyhound owned by Kathleen Conroy and Kate Long of Miami, Florida, USA, at the Purina Dog Chow Incredible Dog Challenge show held at Gray Summit, Missouri, USA, on October 3, 2003.

News from the Rebel Alliance

June has been a fairly quiet month (as usual) for GAL. Homing figures hit rock bottom at this time of year. We won't see an increase in the numbers of dogs being re-homed 'til the end of July. It's a good opportunity to catch up on paperwork!

Sunday 20th was the monthly GAL committee meeting; this month's was a marathon 5 hour session! These meetings give the committee a good chance to hear reports from the various co-ordinators and more importantly discuss any issues arising.

Towards the end of the meeting the committee got onto discussing various long term issues effecting GAL, the main one being our need to increase the number of kennels and foster homes we have available. Over the last 6 months we've rehomed more dogs than ever before. This is down solely to our ability to cater for the number of unwanted dogs we're asked to re-home.

Essentially the more dogs we have in kennels or foster care, the more dogs we home and the quicker we can move dogs from trainers therefore the more dogs they surrender to us. There's no easy solution to this 'challenge'. Our long term aim has always been to have our own kennels, staffed and run by GAL and GAL volunteers. The problem has always been money (or lack off!).

We wait with baited breath for a VERY large donation.!

Recycling can help GAL

In partnership with Reclaim-It, a leading Electronic Waste management company, we've developed a scheme to turn your empty laser and inkjet printer cartridges into valuable funds to help continue our important work.

Did you know that at present approximately 75% of all empty printer cartridges are disposed of as normal waste when in fact a very high proportion of them can be recycled for reuse reducing the environmental burden on landfill sites and the energy consumed in their manufacture.

Reclaim-it will contribute up to £6 for every cartridge returned and in doing so help us continue our work whilst at the same time helping the environment

To help all you need to do is:

• Check with GAL to see if the cartridges you use in your printer at home or in the office are recyclable


• When your printer cartridge needs changing simply give it to GAL

Unfortunately, EPSON cartridges cannot be recycled under this scheme.

GAL will have a recycling box available at events for you to drop your cartridges in. Or you can just give the cartridge to a volunteer.

Cartridges should be

• in good condition


• not previously refilled


• preferably in it's original packaging

To check if your cartridge can be recycled email or call GAL on 0870 888 7277.

Yellow Moon Crafts

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO RAISE MONEY FOR GAL!

Yellow Moon sells hundreds of items including arts and crafts equipment, toys, stationery, kits, educational items, gifts and party products.

GAL have a supply of Yellow Moon fundraising catalogues which can help us raise vital funds. On every purchase you make from the Yellow Moon catalogue, we receive up to 25p in every £1 (excl. VAT) you spend.

Here's how it works:
- Place your order with Yellow Moon
- Yellow Moon will deliver your order direct to your door
- GAL receives a cash-back from your order from Yellow Moon

All you have to do is quote the GAL code when placing your order.

For those of you who prefer to purchase by phone or online, the code is SGR1697.

Please email me if you're interested in receiving a catalogue for yourself, family, friends, school, group, club, etc, etc.


Link to Yellow Moon

Ban the sale and use of electric shock collars

The Kennel Club is encouraging dog owners to write to their politicians to persuade Government to ban the sale and use of electric shock collars as part of the proposed Animal Welfare Bill. This call to action follows the Kennel Club's campaign last year to see the product banned and the request from the Department of Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) for scientific evidence that proves 'cruelty' to support a ban. The Kennel Club has now obtained independent scientific evidence which proves that these products 'are not only unpleasant but also painful and frightening' and 'may influence the dog's well being in the long term in a negative way'.

In order for DEFRA to fully appreciate the strength of feeling against the use of the product, now is the time to lobby politicians on a local level so that MPs can make representations to the Department. Your local MP’s details can be found at www.upmystreet.com

For more information on the campaign please contact Nik Clifton on 0207 518 1020 or email nclifton@the-kennel-club.org.uk

August is National Microchipping Month

The Kennel Club and Petlog are pleased to announce the launch of the second National Microchipping Month taking place in August. The campaign will run throughout the UK in an effort to encourage and promote responsible dog ownership through microchipping as the preferred method of permanent identification. The campaign also focuses on the importance of keeping owner’s details up to date on the national database in order to ensure fast and effective pet reunification.


Link to National Microchipping Month

100 Club Results for June 2004

Here are the 100 Club Results for June:

1st Prize
22 - Clare Russell £50.75

2nd Prize
70 - Tracy Hamilton £30.45

3rd Prize
182 - Alison Pollock £20.30

and £101.50 was raised for GAL.

Congratulations to the winners!

Chorus gets a home!

The lovely Chorus went to her new home in East Kilbride tonight. A gorgeous, 3yr old Fawn Greyhound bitch, just 4 weeks ago GAL managed to rescue her at the last minute just before she was going to get PTS by her trainer. A very lucky girl! Now if only we could find a home for her kennel mate Noah!

Massive Clearance Sale

The GAL stock clearance sale is now online!

Lots of the prices in the GAL Shop have been reduced - some are even less than half price.

Help us clear some space for exciting new stock - shop, shop, shop!!!


Link to GAL Shop

GAL Blog Launched

The GAL website needs to be dragged (albeit kicking and screaming) into the 21st century so we've launched the Galaxy News blog to help it along.

We'll post news, snippets of information and vital statistics here that are regularly generated in and around GAL but that haven't found a home anywhere else on the website.

Come back often to see what's going on in the world of GAL.