Sylvia's Diary 01-05-25

Monday Madness: Horses, Highways & a Whole Lot of Hope

It’s a new week, and you know what that means, new heartache, hope, laughter, and probably a few unplanned sprinting sessions with large animals. Welcome to the wonderful whirlwind of rescue life!

Let’s start with our latest four-legged philosopher: a gentle, huggable horse who’s been around the block (and possibly the continent). We were told he was 10. The dentist says 20. The farrier thinks 16. The vet insists on 12. Honestly, he could be 40 and we’d still love him. He’s strong, stoic, and the most grateful cuddle monster you’ll ever meet.

Apparently, he’s broken to drive, so we’ve been gently reintroducing him to harness work, ropes, dragging chains, the works. Today, however, he decided that enough was enough, bolted straight past his trainer and galloped, full pelt, to the one place that brings him peace: his grazing field gate. Can’t say we blame him.

And that’s just Job One.

Job Two: Joyce leaves at midnight to catch a ferry, all in the name of getting her van license renewed (because apparently, that’s just not something we cannot do in the UK anymore). From there, she’s off to Northern Ireland to collect more dogs. Because sleep is for the weak, and the non-rescue folk.

Job Three: I’m heading to Kent, dropping dogs off to foster homes along the way, and taking our second van to Burton’s, the miracle workers behind the custom cages in our last van, and hopefully this one too.

Job Four: Back home in time to unload Joyce’s van and try to remember what day it is.

If you think your head’s spinning, imagine what our bank account is doing. And yet… with every challenge comes a reminder: we do this for them. For the scared horse at the gate. For the dogs waiting in crates. For the ones who need us most.

Bring on the chaos. Bring on the kindness. Let’s get to work.

(It will be interesting, amazing and rare, if these plans go forth with no hiccups!!!!)

This morning started with something that really made me stop and think. I received an email asking for help to gather signatures for an important petition - a call to create a law requiring drivers who run over a cat to stop, check if the animal is alive, and report the incident.

The statistics behind this are heartbreaking. Far too many cats are left dying at the roadside, their families left in endless heartbreak, never knowing what happened to their beloved pet. This silent suffering must end. It only takes a minute to sign and help bring about a change that could save countless lives. Please follow to link below to sign.

Later, despite the sadness of the morning, I had a moment that made me smile. Imagine a rescue dog being more house-trained than a dog who lives in a home! I went to feed one of the dogs, and in bold letters on his gate it read: “This dog is kennel clean” meaning he needs to be taken out first thing. Well, our sweet boy couldn’t quite hold it today, but instead of making a mess, he had very carefully aimed and peed into an empty bowl in his run! What a clever, thoughtful boy, even in a rescue kennel, he’s doing his best to keep his space clean.

Today started early at 4am, with sleepy eyes and warm hearts as we fed and loaded the dogs, ready to set off by 7. Today was a little different, as Joyce is off on an important mission: getting one of our vans inspected so we can continue rescuing precious souls from Southern Ireland. From there, she’ll head into Northern Ireland to collect even more dogs who desperately need our help.

Meanwhile, I took on the foster run, delivering dogs into the safe, loving arms of fosterers. After that, it was on to Kent to visit Burtons, the wonderful team crafting the inside of our much-anticipated new van. It’s been a long time coming and today felt like real progress. Burtons, who work tirelessly to help organisations like ours, needed to see our current van to perfect the new one. It’s all starting to come together!

Back at the rescue, life didn’t slow down. An orphaned fox cub found its way to us, as well as four abandoned pups. Everyday brings new lives to save, and new hope to give.

Watching the dogs, who’ve been patiently waiting at Many Tears, head off to their foster homes was a truly special moment. Fosterers are heroes in every sense. They welcome the unknown with open hearts. Dogs who may have only ever known fear or uncertainty and transform them with love, patience, and trust.

Our team, both staff and fosterers, stay connected, celebrating every step of progress the dogs make. It feels like a great, sprawling family stitched together by kindness. If you have ever supported Many Tears in any way, then please know that you are part of this beautiful family too. Thank you.

Fosterers are rare and so very precious. Just imagine, if everyone who loved dogs fostered even two dogs a year, how many more lives could be changed? How many tails would wag a little sooner?

When I write these diary entries, I share the bits I see and do but it’s important you know that behind every story is a team: our amazing staff, fosterers, home-checkers, supporters, and trustees. Without them, none of this would be possible.

Today, like every day, reminds me that love, teamwork, and a shared dream can move mountains.

We got home in one piece having driven the van on from the foster run to burtons who are making the cages for the other long awaiting van. We came home very early in the morning trying to avoid the M25 traffic. I called Joyce, she had started picking up the Northern Ireland dogs and checked she was on time for each pick up. Then I went to do my own work. The fox cub had been picked up by a rescue who specialize in helping and rereleasing foxes. The pups thrown away and abandoned on the mountain were bigger than I thought but sweet, and all the staff were very busy but seemed happy. It’s hard not to be when the sun is shining and all the wonderful dogs are so grateful for the love they receive, or at least they are learning to be.

 After a trustees meeting, doing the evening dog meds and checking on a special lab who had gone through a big surgery, I finally fell into bed, and Bill joined me and we slept till 2 in a comatose state, till poor Bill had a terrible coughing fit.

Today is Wednesday, the day before Poppy's BIG operation to save her life.

Other operations are different, harder to make decisions for. The pups with heart defects can have months or possibly a year of a great life, or I request a specialist vet operate. If successful the pup has a normal life forever, if not they can die on the vets table under aesthetic. When this goes wrong, I blame the pups' loss of the extra time it could have had on me, making the wrong decision. The same with other operations specialists do, liver shunts and others. However, Poppy's operation is different, Poppy only has weeks to live without this operation. She has no anus and thus can only defecate through her vulva which is connected incorrectly, by some sad fluke of nature. Not only is Poppy a gentle soul, a truly pretty pup, but Poppy has a wonderful fosterer and member of staff, who adores her. Megan took Poppy on board realizing the heart ache ahead. However, my God was smiling on this puppy and because of that and through word of mouth and possibly an amazing stroke of luck a renowned specialist, Alasdair Hotson Moore, offered to come tomorrow and try to resolve her problem. I have butterflies worrying about this, but know we are all giving her the best chance ever.

You may come and see we seem to have gone into rescuing zebras, but look harder, it's just the horses in disguise. We have zebra print fly sheets and masks for them. Why you may ask? Well it was discovered that the hide of the zebra is confusing and something fly’s are not mad about hence the equines' new outfits. Sadly I have not been able to find these in miniature for the little fellows of the herd, but am working on it.

From Pergola to Purrfect: The Great Cat-struction Project

Well, it’s happening, my sketchy pergola dream is evolving into a feline palace, and frankly, I can’t believe my luck. I had a vision. A bold, slightly bonkers vision. I knew what I wanted, I just didn’t know how I was going to make it happen, minor detail, right?

So, I told the builders, “Trust me, it’s all in my head,” and they (very bravely) did. Armed with a budget that laughed in the face of luxury, I scoured the depths of Facebook Marketplace like a woman possessed. Victory came in the form of second-hand cat pods, some delightfully suspicious-looking rope, and the sheer determination of someone who thinks £18 for one cat hammock is borderline scandalous. I need ten. So unless I win the hammock lottery, those might stay in the dream zone for now.

The design? Oh, it's a quirky genius. It starts with up-rights made from old telegraph poles (as you do), leading into pod heaven - hammocks (pending budget approval), heated sleeping areas (for the posh napper), and a DIY ladder that takes them out to a secure run. And here’s the clever bit: the run continues right into the cat café area, where humans can sit, sip coffee, and be judged by free-range felines. Heaven.

And outside? Picture this: a rockery, a weeping cherry tree, maybe a waterfall… OK, that part exists only in my head (and possibly Pinterest). But hey, a girl can dream.

We’re about two-thirds of the way there now, and I genuinely can’t wait to see the cats claiming every inch of it like they built it themselves.

A huge, whiskery thank you to Skye’s mummy, whose kindness made this project possible. You’ve helped turn a vision held together by imagination and Marketplace bargains into something truly special.

Thursday

Today was meant to be filled with hope.

This morning, the world feels quieter, heavier somehow. Poppy is gone. She slipped away softly this morning, held gently in Megan’s arms, her tiny body finally still. Megan told me when she stopped crying that she just rested her head like she knew it was time and she wasn’t alone. She knew love in her final moments, and I’m holding on to that with everything I have.

We had fought so hard for her. Scrubbed the surgery spotless, arranged the team with such care, so many pieces moved to give her one chance. We believed, really believed, that if we could just get her through the night, the specialist could give her a future. We held onto that hope so tightly.

But yesterday afternoon, the signs came. The drip, the blood results, the quiet concern in the vet’s voice. Still, we didn’t give up. Megan took her home, and together we kept vigil. Texts into the early hours, prayers whispered in the dark. Even the man who gave her to me, who said he rarely prays, said a prayer for her. I did too. Desperately. Poppy mattered that much.

And now, she’s gone.

There’s an emptiness in the air here today. Grief sits with us like a heavy shadow. It wasn’t just that she died, it’s that she died just before she might have lived. And though I know we did everything we could, it doesn’t feel like enough. Love doesn’t always save them, even when we give every last bit of ourselves.

Run free now, little one. I’ll carry you in my heart always. You mattered. You were loved. And you will be missed.

I have sat in the office with my dogs weeping. I know how many others will also be affected by Poppy’s loss, especially brave Megan. But a phone call came. Someone on their way to work saw a fox cub stopped as it went back onto the grass verge and collapsed. It allowed her to pick it up. “Could she bring it she asked” so yet another cub arrived, this one concussed or brain damaged, the wildlife centre we called said if brain damaged, they would put the cub to sleep. I explained to her, Promise our pup had taken nearly three months, and is now fine, after a brain injury. I am now looking at other places for the cub if it survives.

I then went to share my tears over Shine, the pup I have hand raised part time. (Shines mum did the rest) she is still only knee high to a grasshopper but perfect.

I then went to give Bill a hug. It's his birthday and also a year exactly later than his heart attack that’s left him with only 40% of his heart. To me he is a hero working alongside me 7-days a  week.

We have picked up more dogs, organized vets but still though so busy the day is full of sorrow.

Thank you for reading my diary, for your support, for caring.

Please do look at our competition and support by entering.

Also if you can help at the showgrounds in Ardingly (the south of England show grounds) on  the 4th 5th or 6th of July where we have a major fundraising stall at the agility club I would really love to hear from you. Please e-mail me at swvanatta@gmail.com