Bloodhound Lifeline at the
Bloodhound Club Golden Jubilee
Debbie Pownall

The Bloodhound Club generously allowed Lifeline it’s first stall as a fully registered charity at their Jubilee weekend. The weather was very kind to us, verging on the “too warm” which made the ice-box full of water which we took with us for the hounds, disappear quickly. I can only assume that at least one of the organizers has a direct line to the rain gods as the rain appeared just as we finished clearing up!

We had decided to ask people for donations for a Bring and Buy sale. The generosity of everyone was absolutely amazing, so much so that we had to hire a van as opposed to using our own cars. Thank you all!!

Many of our rescue owners “volunteered!” to come and help run the stall and we were all suitably attired in our Lifeline polo shirts. (Available @£10 plus pp from BLL!!!)

The Saturday of the Championship Show was well attended, and, from what we could see, went very smoothly and amicably. Many congratulations to all the winners. The Bloodhound Club and Lifeline were in direct competition for the money in peoples’ pockets and we would like to say a big thank you to all those who dug deep for rescue. We will admit to having our own Mafia in the shapes of Kate and Joelle (who don’t even own a bloodhound!).

Sunday of course was the “fun day” and we were touched by the number of our rescue owners who came to take part. It was so good to see the happy and contented hounds and to see the pride that these owners have in having turned a sometimes abused hound into one confident enough to take part in our day.

The “agility and obedience” deserved a TV slot!! The look on the hounds’ faces when asked to go over (as opposed to through) the jumps, was just priceless. The Otterhounds were clear winners in the “how much can we knock over” stakes and although the Bassets were way ahead in the “ how to get stuck over a jump” stake the Bloodhounds won, by a clear margin, the “how to turn around in the tunnel stakes” but only one actually got stuck and had to be helped out!!

It was somehow satisfying to watch the Collies mess up ALMOST as much as the hounds. We forgot to count how many owners had to go into the tunnel themselves to show their hounds that it was ok. Most hounds remained unconvinced!

The obedience was much as expected and resulted in howls of laughter and amazement when a hound did well. I’m sure Dennis had been practicing. Scentall Adrian had a few tantrums when he didn’t win and had to be forcibly removed from the ring. Perhaps a few classes wouldn’t go amiss!

All in all we had a great weekend and would like to say a big thank you to all those who bought from us, took sponsorship forms and donation forms and to those who took the time to go through our albums and read the rescue stories. Calendars and raffle tickets are still available! Much appreciation goes to the Bloodhound Club for allowing us this chance to raise our profile.

Many of the rescue owners have told me how good it was to be allowed to participate in something this special, so, at the risk of causing a general nervous breakdown among the organizers:

Same time next year folks?!!!