As you will probably all remember BONES (Benefitting Overseas Neglected English Setters) was formed last year to bring two ES, Beam and PJ, back to this Country from Greece for re-homing here. The response was truly amazing. Within the space of two months we had more than enough money to do just that. On the 14^th June both boys landed safely and where taken to Chingford Quarantine Kennels to do the remaining five weeks of their pets passport requirements.

They were placed together in the same kennel and thanks to some very kind people who went to visit them, they came through the five weeks with flying colours. Release date on the 9^th July could not come fast enough and when I heard that Louise Buchanan had them safely in the car for the long journey North I knew we were almost home and dry.

So, has setting up BONES and raising all that money been worth it? Without a shadow of a doubt - yes! Two beautiful ES in loving homes that is something they have not had for a long time, if ever.

Sadly though, it does not stop there - we are now on to Phase Two as I have called it. Sometime next year Roula, Diane and Art will also come in the UK from Greece - all three setters again have had a horrendous life so far.

Roula, a tri, was bought to hunt and then dumped. The end of her tail is missing - possibly a hunting accident, who knows. Life for Roula has been hard. She is probably about 6ish and has had several litters. She has the most beautiful gentle expression but a look that says she is resigned to her fate - more of the life she has led so far.

Diane was not one when she was thrown over the sanctuary walls. Luck was on her side that night because the other dog who she was thrown over with was not so fortunate. The dogs inside the sanctuary got to it and killed it. Stretched resources mean that standards in the sanctuary are not what would be expected here. They think that Diane may have already had a litter (no idea what happened to her puppies) and she had a very nasty old wound on her side.

Art is deaf and pitifully thin. Vesna the founder of GAR (Greek Animal Rescue) found him when she went out to Greece in June. She took him from one of the shelters because a dog they call Nasty, for obvious reasons, had him by the scruff of the neck upside down. He looks lost and trapped in his own little World in the photos I have of him.

These are the lucky one's. Through BONES we can help them get the homes they so deserve. I have the feeling that they will not be the last and I wonder how long before someone else finds out about us through the internet.

I also heard of a pitiful story of a poor ES bitch tied up all day and with a cross litter of puppies to rear. In the week that the people who told me about her were there six of the puppies had already died. Mercifully this is a blessing, there is nothing for the mother let alone her puppies. Life tied up all day, fed from a filthy bowl on bread, a bone and swimming in oil placed on top of a red ant's nest - which meant she could not get to eat it anyway. What life is this for any dog? All we can do is hope they get fed up of her and throw her out. That way she might stand a chance. If she stays where she is she will have another litter in a few months time. Again bought to hunt and then left tied up and forgotten and when not forgotten, not treated as she should be. Imagine having to come back home to England knowing you are leaving this poor girl to this way of life. Help was sought - but sadly this is the norm in Greece and no one saw anything wrong or was even prepared to try and help Gill and her Husband do something about it. If the owners are not willing to give the dog up there is nothing you can do. Should BONES ever be in a position to help then yes of course we will.

Helping these dogs is only made possible by all your wonderful donations and contributions, for example :-.

A week's holiday donated in a beautiful Cornish cottage courtesy of Jenny Penna auctioned for over £500;

Aline Hicks had her usual fun day and the tombola went to BONES with over £200 raised;

Margaret Watson, on finally getting her daughters off her hands, car-booted all their surplus gear. £100 was raised and sent to BONES.

Debbie and Peter Cockett put the BONES appeal leaflet up in the surgery as well as getting a drugs rep to donate. The total donations came to over £75.

A beautiful pet portrait kindly donated by Meryl Bevan auctioned for over £100.

On Saturday the 22^nd of September 2001 Jean and Steve Warburton came to visit us (well they came to see the dogs really - they are just too polite to say). Jean had very kindly drawn and donated the most lovely setter drawing from which I intend to print some cards and note paper for BONES which I will put on sale to raise more funds.

Jenny Buchanan collected items galore to raffle :- pictures, sweaters, perfume, signed base ball caps from Ford Racing, a bottle of House of Commons Scotch signed by the PM and persuaded from her MP, etc etc.

So many donations I cannot list them all but each one is truly appreciated. If you could see Beam and PJ you would be in no doubt of that. You have helped raise £6605 so far!

If you have internet access then everything is detailed on the BONES web site.

There is not much more for me to say - accept on behalf of Beam, PJ, Roula, Diane, and Art a very big 'THANK YOU TO EVERYONE'

Below is Beam's story written from his new home with the Gardner family in Dumfries.

Hello everyone!

Woof woof, I just want to thank everyone for their hard work and generosity raising enough funds to bring me back to the UK from Greece.

I had a lovely stay in Seaville with Coleen and Duncan where I was very well cared for and loved by Coleen and Duncan. Love and thanks, wag, wag to all their Setters.

I moved to Dumfries in Scotland in Mid September, although my new family are from Yorkshire. They are thankfully used to English Setters and have lots of patience and TLC, and are completely barking mad. I soon had them wrapped around my paws I can tell you!

Dad, Chris is a Lecturer in catering at the local college. I often sit wondering what has he been cooking today, I always sniff him when he comes home, ah - rabbit, pheasant, hare real lip smacking stuff. Last week I had fresh salmon steaks gently poached for my tea. The folks aren't keen on salmon - suits me! I showed him how much I loved him by giving him a big wet fishy kiss after.

I was sitting watching television on the settee playing with my new tennis ball - both Mum and Dad love tennis. I was just messing about and practising for Wimbledon when the tennis ball flew across the room. I apparently had scored an ace right between Dads legs. Mum did her umpiring bit by shouting - 'new balls please'.

My Mum Verena is a lollipop lady (lemon flavoured) at the local school. She is trying to teach me some road sense - and always has me on a short lead when we are out and about. When she is lollipopping I have a short nap - then when she returns home I get a hug and a biscuit.

Simon and Patrick are the twins aged nearly eighteen they are identical twins - which does confuse me, They are in their final year at school - they do spend a lot of time studying - but Simon works part time at McDonalds . That’s how I can tell them apart, Simon smells of wonderful beefburgers (food is my favourite hobby).

Elizabeth is 15 I love her so much (yeah soppy or what). She takes me for walks, plays with me and always shares her corn beefed butty with me. She would like to be a Vet and I wonder if she practises on me by putting pills and stuff in the sandwiches! I have had an itchy tail and the Vet has given me some pills to pop!

I have my own space on the settee and curl up to sleep there, although most nights I retire upstairs and join the folks on the bed. I sometimes retire under the duvet (you have to remember I have lived in Greece) so I do feel the cold. What a surprise they get when they wake up cuddling me.

Well as they say 'It's a Dogs Life'

'Thank You' for making my life so Happy At Last - all you kind English Setter People.

Luv

 (click on images to enlarge)

Beam (with his toy on the mower) ready and
 waiting for his new family

"We're off" Beam leaves for his new home with Elizabeth

I had intended this update to be in the ESA Spring Newsletter - but lately things never go according to plan. Instead I have decided to send it to everyone we can trace who supported the appeal and keep you up to date with things as they stand at the moment. (We have not drawn on the appeal funds for this update.)

As you are aware, BONES (Benefitting Overseas Neglected English Setters) was launched to help save two English Setters in Greece, Beam and PJ. I never thought that the appeal would 'take off' in the way that it did - but within THREE WEEKS I was able to ring Vesna Jones, the lady who runs GAR (Greek Animal Rescue), and say, "We have the money to bring the 'boys' back to this Country for re-homing." and that is exactly what is happening.

Everyone who sent a donation was 100% behind me and all of your letters made me certain I was right to carry on. We have opened a Building Society account in the name of BONES and when we close the chapter financially on Beam and PJ, as well as making a donation to GAR for all their work in helping BONES with the 'boys', we will still have money in the account. Therefore, I have decided to turn BONES into a Registered Charity - so should the need ever arise again we will be able to offer help immediately.

I have been very involved with English Setter Rescue for over ten years and have rehomed as well as kept many lovely dogs who have needed a new home through no fault of their own. It is with this background that I feel confident to take BONES that step further and secure it's future as a Registered Charity. I feel that the World is getting smaller - and through the Internet, Rescue Organisations are much more contactable. Although I hope this will never happen again, realistically, I fear it will. Through BONES and your support I will be able to say 'yes' we can and will help. The appeal at the moment stands at over five and a half thousand pounds . We still have many items to auction - two of which are listed below.

Well, what about Beam and PJ themselves - what are they doing whilst we have been raising the money to help them. Sadly, although we have the finances they cannot come into this Country straight away, unless they spend six months in quarantine. This is something neither myself nor GAR wanted to see happen. So life goes on pretty well like it has been doing for many months and, in PJ's case, two years. They have both been enjoying the warm Greek sunshine and lazing around. To keep it short and to the point, they actually started the six months count down to come into this Country under the Pets Passport Scheme on January 9^th 2001. Therefore, we have a latest date for coming into the UK in early July. GAR would like to bring them over a little earlier to avoid the Summer heat out there which is not good for many dogs and the risk of leishmaniasis from the sand-flies. The advantage of this is they will do no more than about six weeks quarantine. Far, better than six months. When we get the date for their arrival to the UK I hope to be able to get people to go and visit. A friend's daughter, Louise, lives and works near to the quarantine kennels in Essex which will be used. Louise was brought up with English Setters so she will be able to assess them, take fresh bedding and whatever else the 'boys' need, to make their stay as comfortable and stress free as possible.

At the time of writing I do not have any homes in mind yet. I will play things day by day when Beam and PJ come into the Country. I have been given some information as to their characters, but a true ES always has some tricks up their sleeve.

Beam, I am told, is a very loving gentle boy who thrives in a one-to-one situation. He is a lovely Orange Belton and adores Niko the Shelter's Manager out in Athens. Beam is lucky to be alive after being found wandering and living rough. He is said to come back when called!!

PJ is a Tri-colour and can be a handful. I do not think he is trusted off the lead. He has a very outgoing happy personality. Can you imagine how he will feel the first time he is allowed to free run. He has been at the Shelter for two years after being tied to their gate posts in a dreadful condition.

Beam and PJ are the lucky ones. Your support has made sure they can have a second chance. To everyone who has supported this appeal THANK YOU. I cannot list you all but every single penny is appreciated and will be put to good use.

To the people I used as a sounding board and who helped me launch BONES in the space of a few days a special THANK YOU' - to Jenny Penna who copied the appeal forms, placed them all in the last newsletter and has donated a week's holiday in her beautiful dog-friendly holiday cottage in Cornwall (further details below); to Elwyn Evans for allowing us to insert the leaflets; to Keith Smith and Valerie Foss for including it in their breed notes in the dog press; to Margaret Watson for her (page three!) article in her local newspaper. Sorry to disappoint but the pictures were of her dogs - nothing else; Jenny Buchanan who has raised so many items to auction and has had two beautiful leather collars and leads specially made and donated for the boys. We were going to auction them but then thought how super Beam and PJ would look in them. Jenny also contacted Border Fine Arts who donated a setter model to the Appeal. We also have a donation of a beautiful portrait of your animal donated by Merryl Bevin, so many generous people. Last but not least, Duncan my Husband, who came up with the name BONES - after I accused him of not paying attention to what I was saying, and designed and maintains the BONES website (www.seaville.freeserve.co.uk/bones.htm) where all the developments are posted as they happen.

Thank you all for your support,

Coleen Taylor,