You never go into having a dog thinking that one day you'll have to find them a new home. Rehoming our youngest Sprocker Rowan is one of the saddest decisions we have had to make, however, knowing the care SAR takes with matching up dogs with new families was what reassured us that rehoming her via SAR was the right way to go about it.

One of the hardest things was trying to imagining Rowan at a new home; you know they'll be loved but you can't quite picture them somewhere else. You just have to trust SAR will do their best, and that everything will just work out.

We are forever grateful to Gary at SAR, and all the other volunteers for everything they did in helping us and Rowan at our time in need. But, ultimately the biggest thanks goes to Louise and Jason who happily for us were looking for a new family member just at the time Rowan was looking for a new family and new adventures. Louise must have moved heaven and earth to come and collect Rowan on what turned out to be a horrendously snowy day with lots of road disruption! If that wasn't a sign of commitment not sure what is! Fast forward three months, and thanks to lovely messages from Louise with videos and photos and updates, we don't just have to imagine it....we can actually see what an absolutely fabulous and adventure and love filled life their Dotty (formerly Rowan) is having, and will have forever. She is truly truly loved and spoilt like she absolutely deserves to be!! Louise and Jason may not know it but they'll forever be incredibly special people to us.

Last year, on a whim I entered a ballot for a 50mile running event in the Lake District that is taking place in just 3 months time at the end of July! (Un)Fortunately I was successful in getting a place. Now don't get me wrong , I like running, but I've only ever done this distance once in 2018....and a lot has changed, not least now having a toddler to chase around and hitting 40 (cue ALL the body aches!). Rowan used to be my trail running pal... miles are easy when youve got a dog for company who has all the energy! I think about her and miss her a lot on my training runs. Rather than blubbing about what I miss, it got me thinking that I could turn all this into something positive and try and raise some vital funds for SAR.

Telling people I'm doing this event undoubtedly puts the pressure on, as you never quite know how things will pan out, and if it doesn't go well on the day I'll feel like I've not just let myself down....but....knowing that other people know I'm doing it will also be that added incentive to keep putting one foot in front of another and get to that finish line!

I appreciate there are a lot of sponsorship requests out there, and nothing in this country is getting any cheaper, but if a few people could spare even just a pound, it would make a massive difference to SAR and all the dogs and humans they support. Thank you!

Lucy

(it's actually two months away now...gulp!)