Twinklet’s Smile

Picture Credit: Annabel Wilson

Twinklet’s Smile is the name of a new Fundraising Campaign that’s been set up by Diana Brimblecombe Animal Rescue Centre.  It will raise the money needed to give the dumped breeding dog with a broken jaw all the veterinary treatment she needs now that she’s in their care in Berkshire. After hearing about her plight on Thursday, they stepped in and offered to take her from the intial, overstretched rescue who first took her to safety. This means she will now get the extensive treatment that’s needed and be in the safe care of the thoroughly decent, experienced DBARC team.

Janet, manager of DBARC and volunteer Donna drove the 6 hour, 300 mile round-trip to collect her yesterday from Wales and on their return to Berkshire she was immediately admitted to their vet for the weekend. She’s in a shocking state. The abuse she’s endured is obvious and deeply upsetting. She has an arduous road ahead of her to recover from her ordeal, which by the sounds of it has been a long, awful one. There’s going to be no quick fix for her. She’s not a young dog which adds to the distressing nature of this whole terrible story, and will make her journey to health a whole lot slower and harder.

I feel nothing but anger towards the people who have put her through what they have. I loathe the very thought that they have hurt this innocent dog, not only through breeding her for years, but to either have caused, or allowed her injuries to happen is just sickening. Her plight has really got into my psyche and I know that of many others who have heard about her story. If only love alone could fix this.But it can’t, veterinary care is needed and I hope you’ll support the fundraising for her that is now underway with a donation of whatever you can manage. Here’s the link: Donate to Twinklet’s Smile

When I’m faced with unbearable emotions that I don’t know what to do with, I write. And I’ll be sharing more of her story as it develops. Like me, Annabel Wilson, my friend and creative collaborator finds solace in her art and yesterday she sent me this poem and drawing:

Picture Credit: Annabel Wilson

While this little dog was initially given the name Twinkle, and of course with my own Twinkle this got my immediate attention, Janet and Donna fancied a tweak on the name. On the long rescue drive, they asked if Annabel and I would mind her being called Twinklet. Mind? Mind? We’re both so deeply touched, as while our art page Twinklets is our light-hearted creative outlet, it has behind it a deeply serious commitment from us both to make the world better for dogs. Dogs like Twinklet, Twinkle, Cerise, Susie-Belle and all the other many thousands who suffer, and whose stories are never heard.

Twinklet’s story will most definitely be heard. It will be followed by us all and while we know she has a hard time ahead, starting Monday with initial surgery, we’re certain that she is one tough little dog who wants to live. She’s not giving up on life, despite not yet knowing how wonderful life can, and will be for her. With everyone’s help, DBARC will get Twinkle through everything that’s coming and she’ll well and truly put behind her the nightmare of her past.

Please donate if you can and follow her journey here and on Facebook where I’ll post regular updates.

And please share this blog and her story so others can know the reality of what breeding dogs endure today.