We pass the money received from you for our classes to Arundawn Dog rescue and Animal shelter Agonda. By coming to a yoga class with us, you are doing good for you and helping the charities rescue and rehome some beautiful animals so thankyou for your support.
A bit about our chosen charities.
Animal shelter Agonda INDIA.
The aim at animal shelter Agonda India, is to help sick animals and to give medical attention to injured and mistreated animals. In addition to running a sterilisation programme to cut back on the growing population of cats and dogs. The charity operates feeding programmes for beach dogs in the monsoon with the assistance of some local people in Agonda. They also provide vaccinations against rabies which are crucial as it secures public health and safety. Adoptions and fostering of the animals are also a huge part of this incredible charity’s work. https://animalshelteragonda.org
Arundawn dog rescue charity based near Horsham, West Sussex.
At Arundawn dog rescue the main focus is to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome council pound strays who have served their obligatory 7 days and are facing destruction through no fault of their own. The charity works in partnership with dog wardens, the police and other rescue centres to assess dogs in need and ensure they find the correct home for their temperament, energy levels and breed. The charity has built up a good reputation over many years as a reliable and professional dog rehoming facility. Families often adopt more than one dog over time as they are homed and checked thoroughly.
Why dog rescue charities?
This is the Karma path of I am the storm yoga.
Often people think of Karma as if I do wrong to you, it will come back on me, we often hear people say, leave it up to Karma or Karma will sort it. Despite the word becoming popular in western culture. The Sanskrit meaning of Karma means action - Karma is the actions or deeds in our life. Karma also means a path of selfless service or action. It is the notion of putting effort in without being attached to the outcome. Karma yoga can be applied to trivial tasks and our more challenging works. It can be one of the paths of yoga leading to liberation.
May all beings be free from suffering.
LOKAH SAMASTAH SUKHINO BHAVANTU
May we all be part of selfless service at least once in our lives.
Clare's Rescue Dogs.
6 dogs in the house, that must be chaos?
Clare used to be petrified by dogs, actually she had a real fear around them thinking they were all going to bite her, strange as she grew up with the most docile family dog as a child. The mind is not always rational where our fears are concerned but if we can overcome irrational thoughts there is so much joy to be found on the other side.
Clare got her first and only non-rescue dog Pebbles, a black working cocker spaniel in 2018 from a family in Norfolk. Prior to that Clare would have been the first to admit that she would not have had the capacity to take care of a goldfish, with a work life completely out of balance during those years she did not take very good care of herself, working long hours in the London’s Metropolitan police. Life shifted as she left in 2017 on a five-year career break an opportunity to step back and re-evaluate what was going to be next. 17 years of front-line policing in London had left Clare on the verge of burn out. Pebbles was a big adjustment, getting a dog is a responsibility not to be taken lightly, they can be expensive, food, vet bills, they need walking sometimes twice a day and it is not particularly fair on them to leave them home alone for long periods of time. Clare and Pebbles soon had a wonderful bond, Pebbles got used to being the pampered solo pooch of the house. That was until Sid came along.
Pebbles -the boss of the pack.
Please welcome dog No2 SID.
Sid was rescued by Chimney Farm Dog rescue charity. He had been surrendered to the vet with his sister Bella by previous owners, after being to lively for them to handle. It is so important to know what characteristics a dog has before you take one home. Sid is a busy working cocker spaniel. Clare saw Sid advertised and contacted the charity, who rightfully conducted stringent home checks and interviews. This is the sign of a well-run dog rescue charity – they truly care where the dog is going to end up. Clare was delighted when the charity said that she could come and get the little pup from his foster home. Sid arrived home much to Pebbles disgust; she was beyond miffed that there was a new pup in town. Both dogs are now inseparable. Despite Sid’s lively cocker spaniel ways, he is gentle natured, noticing this, Clare took him to be assessed by the UK Pets as Therapy Charity to see if he could make the grade as a therapy dog. This entails meeting an assessor; they test the dog and the owners temperament. Sid passed with flying colours and has had this role for 3 years to date. He regularly commutes on the train (with Clare obviously) to London to do his thing at a well-known children’s hospital, Clare had been a volunteer at the hospital for a few years previously and was inspired by the work the dogs and their handlers did at the hospital. Sid puts smiles on lots of young people’s face, family members and staff adore him. He intuitively knows what is needed and works very calmly with the children bringing them much joy, he gets cuddled and kissed a lot, which he seems to adore. Clare is super grateful Sid came her way he is a bit of a superstar.
Dog No 3. Troublesome Truffles
Truffles is the noisiest one in the pack; she is very reactionary, a small white mixed breed dog. Truffles is tricky on a walk when other dogs off lead run up. Rescue dogs need their space and despite trying to walk at quieter times it is not always possible. It would be great if there could be a little more understanding that dogs on leads do not always wish to be joined by dogs running free, it can cause Truffles quite a lot of stress. Truffles had a tough start as she was rescued as a tiny pup from a rubbish tip in Greece by Chimney Farm dog rescue. She was a very fearful pup and despite taking her to work with a specialist she remains a very reactionary dog to strangers or other dogs, she is small bundle of fluff though so easy to take care of. When Clare went to collect Truffles from Chimney farm, she met the charities founder Jen. Unaware initially at the time, Jen was actually a colleague from Clare’s policing days. It is undeniable the passion, hours and sometimes heart ache that go into running a dog rescue charity, Jen and her team worked their socks off. Clare ended up working with the charity helping them fundraise and fostering a few dogs whilst there forever home was sought. Sadly, Chimney farm closed their doors last year, they successfully rehomed a huge number of dogs in the time they were running. Truffles meanwhile has found her feet and likes to think she’s the boss at home, the boss of the pack is of course Pebbles - initially Truffles gave Clare a wide birth and it could take up to 40 minutes to get her on to a lead for a walk. Truffles has turned a massive corner and cheekily manages to find her way into Clare’s bed every night for a lovely snooze. Despite working with specialist, rescue dogs will sometimes retain some tricky traits – please bear this in mind if you consider adopting a rescue, they are beautiful as all dogs are and it is rewarding to see them adapt and turn corners, it is also without doubt challenging at times.
No 4 and 5 Sweet Kitty and Little Aggie.
Kitty and Aggie ended up coming to Clare as a pair. That was not really the intention. Kitty a working cocker spaniel was advertised as needing a foster home by Arundawn Dog rescue. Arundawn rescue dogs often who have been very poorly treated and sadly Kitty was in a desperate state. She had lost an eye through cruelty, had matted fur and ingrown claws where they had been allowed to grow too long, she was young, and it was suspected she had already had two litters of puppies. She was understandably very nervous and physically shook at night and seemed to have night terrors where she would try to go outsde and hide under bushes in the garden. Clare and her husband Neil went to visit Elaine the owner/ founder who runs the charity in Horsham, it is Elaine’s life and she works with undeniable passion to rescue the dogs. It is a 24/7 role. Clare and Neil did not underestimate that Kitty was going to need tender loving care and extra support to help her find her feet. Whilst there talking to Elaine about Kitty’s needs a little black dog ‘AGGIE’ jumped up into Clare’s lap and stared up at her and refused to move. Clare looked to Neil who read Clare’s mind and said ‘Clare we can’t have 5 dogs’ (can’t the word Clare would like to ban, such a limiting word) Aggie stayed put firmly claiming Clare as her new owner, a bright little dog you could say, she picked on the right person. Elaine told us at that time she currently had 36 dogs in her care she was trying to rehome. On seeing all the dogs Elaine was looking after and how hard they worked, Happily Neil had a change of heart. Clare left the charity that day beaming from ear to ear with Kitty under one arm and Aggie under the other. These two dogs have been the best of friends ever since. Clare got home and gave Kitty a much-needed haircut, taking her to Glaven vets for a good thorough check-up as she was still healing after having her eye surgically removed. Kitty laid in Clare’s arms in complete surrender, she was so gentle it was like she knew she was finally safe. Kitty had definitely had the toughest time out of all Clare’s dogs, she is now without doubt the dog that also gives the most love. Clare says ‘she gets so close sometimes I think she would climb inside your soul if she could, she adores a cuddle I may have given some rescues a home, they have also rescued me right back without a shadow of a doubt, they are all one of the purest forms of joy in my daily life.’
Clare has learned so much from homing these rescue dogs, Kitty especially as what she had endured was desperately sad and cruel. Life can be so hard, things come along that make us all want to shut down and close off. We often avoid the full force of our emotions, and we can find it hard to love ourselves and others especially if we have been hurt. Yes kitty is a dog but she was seriously physically hurt, Clare says 'Kitty is my inspiration I have never know a more big hearted loving animal who is so trusting after so much trauma and ill treatment, I hope we can all be a bit more dog finding our own ways to heal and let the love back in just like little kitty has managed to do.’ As for little Aggie this little mixed breed kind of terrier – she is Clare’s most chilled out dog, the easiest going one in the pack. Well with a mate like Kitty why wouldn’t she be! Happy days indeed.
NO6. The last one – well for now anyway Please meet Fly by Ivy.
Clare fostered Ivy for 7 months for Arundawn dog rescue whilst settling her in and seeking a forever home for her. Ivy is a delicate Italian greyhound she had been found in a forest underweight and tied to a tree. A home was found for Ivy, unfortunately though the new owners changed their minds. Ivy is a super nervous and skittish dog and a bond with a dog like this may never come. Clare went to collect Ivy who had been relinquished back to the charity. After long negotiations with Clare’s husband and a quick chat with Elaine it was decided that Clare and Neil would keep Ivy. She is nervous and will need some help, she is very happy amongst the pack, her tail wags and she yips joyfully at meal times. She has taken a particular shine to Sid who clare took with her to collect Ivy, Sid kept IVY company cuddling up to her on the long drive home. Clare is working with a dog trainer to see if they can build a bond, so Ivy feels secure. Either way she will be staying put and they will find a little life together whatever that may look like, she is here to stay now.
Thank you for reading this page and helping us to support these charities it is Clare’s passion to help towards less suffering for animals and humans come to that, if she can make a tiny difference by teaching you yoga and sending money to the charities, then happy days really!
All of these images were beautifully captured by the talented Andrew Richardson @ravenimagery www.ravenimagery.co.uk
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