We hit 100,000 likes and followers on our Facebook page . Not something we ever imagined 5 and half years ago when we set up to offer advice and help. This then seems a very good time to tell you about future plans and ask your thoughts both good and bad and to hopefully launch next week a monster fundraising campaign. At present we are a nearly 100% foster based organisation and that will always be our preference. The best way to assess a dog for a pet home is in a pet home. But we are increasingly getting asked to take dogs with issues and we pride ourselves that we always try to help and if we have somewhere for the dog to go we will take them. But these spaces are running out. We have a few very experienced fosterers who will take biters and rehab them ready to rehome. Often if these dogs are not rehomable in a pet home and not really suitable for a non pet home such as the police or a working home then they remain as a long term foster where they are. This then obviously takes up a difficult dog space. For a couple of years now we have uttered the words "we would take him/her if we had somewhere for them to go ". We have actually had to say no to a dog this week and we have a waiting list of naughty dogs to come into foster. So we need to bite the bullet and find some premises for these dogs to come into to be assessed and to provide somewhere for the unrehomable ones to live out happy fulfilled lives just not as a family pet. We have thought about renting but that brings limitations as to what you can do. We have been careful with our money so that we could buy a field, get a caravan and some kennels and start small. But that is not really us. We have always tried to do things properly so basically we need to buy a property. We have some money saved and as we operate the size of a small to medium company have been told we could get a small mortgage if needed. But that takes money away from the dogs so we tested the waters with our fosterers about whether we could ask for donations to help . And it was a resounding yes so we are hoping for the same here. We have short to medium objectives - an assessment centre and sanctuary for spaniels and longer term ones which will depend on the site - renting out a secure field, an agility field, a space to local groomers or vets, a shop. Somewhere for training days and dog shows etc. And of course somewhere to meet you all :) Thoughts have been going round our heads to make sure this project can fund itself long term. Now many of you, quite rightly will expect lots of detail and a business plan which we have every intention of providing once we can. At the moment we have no idea how this will be received or how much we could raise. Previously mentioned we have 100,000 followers so doing the maths £1 from each gives us a fab deposit, £5 from each makes us serious cash buyers and £10 each provides us with the means to make a state of the art facility to ensure the long term success of Spaniel Aid for years to come. So we await in anticipation your thoughts please. We would never have been able to help as many spaniels as we have without your help. Dog number 2160 will arrive in the next couple of days and it is by no means slowing up. We will be looking to start a just giving campaign next week , Scary but exciting times