Oldies Club - how we began and what we do

AngelaC

For those who don't know much about the Oldies Club, I thought I would give you some insight into how we began and the work that we do.

You can read more about Oldies Club at http://www.oldies.org.uk - but briefly we are a registered charity and rescue organisation which takes in older dogs in need of a new home, placing them in a foster home, where they are assessed and receive any necessary vet treatment, and rehome them.

Oldies are classed as aged seven upwards, so many of these dogs are "older" rather than "oldies". If an older dog is being rehomed as a pair with a younger dog then of course we will advertise them both together.

About the Oldies Club

The Oldies Club was formed on an internet dog chat forum by a group of people who felt great empathy with the plight of elderly dogs that end up in rescue centres all over the country.

The initial inspiration behind the idea was a 13-year-old collie we called Ted. Ted was blind in one eye and was terrified in the noisy, stark kennel environment. He had to stay in kennels as a stray for 7 days but when no owner came forward to claim him, steps were taken to get Ted into a domestic situation immediately. Once in a foster home Ted thrived, the skinny dull-coated nervous boy became a healthy, active and rejuvenated character and became a star of the internet.

Ted’s story generated so much support and sympathy that this old boy who nobody had wanted soon had many offers of loving permanent homes. It was felt that this support and enthusiasm could be channelled into helping other dogs in Ted’s situation.

Ted very sadly passed away but he will always be remembered.

In March 2007, the Oldies Club became a Registered Charity.

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The Oldies Club is run by a committee of volunteers. We are a nationwide organisation and will rehome across the UK as long as we can arrange a homecheck for the potential home and provided the adopter is happy to travel to the foster home to meet the dog.

We also list dogs for lots of other rescues, including well know ones such as Dogs Trust, Blue Cross and RSPCA branches, as well as the smaller and independent rescues.

We have also listed older cats and rabbits who needed a new home Smile

Hope that gives you some insight - if you have any questions, please ask and if it's something for one of the other committee members, I shall find out for you Smile

I will post over the weekend about ways you can help the Oldies Club - we are always looking for new volunteers for fostering, homechecking, transporting and fundraising, as well as people to adopt our lovely dogs of course love7

_Mary_ · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 12:02 am Post subject:

Wonderful work you do Angela as do all the rescues of course, it is nice to find one that dedicated to the ones that so many overlook when looking for a rehomer Smile

littlelab · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 9:08 am Post subject:

You all do a briliant job, keep it up Very Happy

barney2007 · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 1:11 pm Post subject:

I can't tell you how highly I think of this organisation Very Happy

Amazing people who do amazing work for older dogs.

I can tell you though just how grateful I am to them for letting me look after Oldies Club Cassie (aka Piggy) for the rest of her days.

No house should be without an Oldies Club dog is what I say! They make your home and family complete Wink

Piggy:

AngelaC · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 2:45 pm Post subject:

Thank you - and hello to the lovely Cassie Piggie love7

one of my favourite OC oldies Smile

Oldies Club is run by a wonderful group of volunteers, who work very hard in areas of rehoming, sorting out fostering, transport, homechecking etc.

We depend on support from a wider team of volunteers for invaluable help such as fostering, transporting and homechecking and helping out at events/fundraising - without this support we couldn't help the dogs we do.

littlelab · Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 3:04 pm Post subject:

OMG. how adorable is Piggy!!

I wonder how many other LF members have Oldie Non Labs?

bradleysmum · Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 8:21 pm Post subject:

Hi Angela,

Thank you for giving us all an insight to the great work carried out by the Oldies Club, what a lovely club to have set up (and a very worthy reason too.. Ted)

You should all be commended for all the help you give these lovely dogs. I have been looking at your website, at the 'overlooked' oldies - i really hope that 2008 brings all of them loving new homes that they deserve.

Keep up the good work.

x