Ten Years of Schnauzerfest
Ten years of Schnauzerfest is some days hard for me to believe. October holds a million memories and jumble of emotions. Ten years ago Schnauzerfest walks came into being for the first time. Susie-Belle was thriving and inspiring me to campaign and fundraise for breeding dogs escaping the puppy trade. ‘Saving Susie-Belle’, my first book on the topic had come out earlier in the year and interest and support was growing daily. I felt that together, we were making a difference.
That first October I didn’t know what to expect from the walks which people were organising. My hope was that many dogs would be out enjoying the weekend around the country. That was my first aim: dogs walking and enjoying themselves just as Susie-Belle had learned to do as her traumatic past began losing its grip.
When the weekend walks came around and donations rolled in, it astonished everyone, not least me. With hundreds, possibly, thousands of people turning out with their dogs to raise over £8000 it was a resounding success. Eight thousand pounds from simple dog walks was an incredible result, thanks to a great many kind and generous strangers uniting for the cause.
Schnauzerfest had become a thing.
We did it again the following year, 2015. But in the week leading up to it we had received the devastating news that Susie-Belle was dying. I had committed to attend a couple of the walks, people wanted to meet Susie-Belle. All I wanted to do was hide away from the world. I could barely function as the shock of her imminent death rolled over me. But, she was the dog who was inspiring many to help others like her. The dogs whose puppies sold for maximum profit while their parents suffered years of neglect. I couldn’t hide away. I owed it to everyone supporting the fundraising to be present. While my heart was shattering and her body was fighting a losing battle.
After the second Schnauzerfest weekend was over, many more thousands of pounds were raised. It was a thrilling result. But, tangled with my immense gratitude for everyone’s support was an overwhelming sadness for what my little friend now faced. Susie-Belle should have had many more years enjoying her freedom but it wasn’t to be. October 2015 was her last. Five weeks later Susie-Belle’s life ended and I thought I might never recover from the grief which engulfed me. Those days were some of my darkest.
But, having the privilege of sharing 4 years of my life with Susie-Belle gave me a purpose which I knew I had to continue. She came to me at a time I needed her, and it’s only with the passing of years that I fully understand this. The book I am writing now explores the personal journey we embarked on together and how it led to Schnauzerfest.
Ten years on from the first Schnauzerfest walks, Susie-Belle’s life continues to inspire me and many others. Together we carry on what she started. October is a month rich with memories and all of them, whether painful or joyful are woven into everything Susie-Belle’s charity represents. Susie-Belle enriched my life immeasurably, she gave me so much, and I am forever grateful others continue to support the work she started.
To see more of the work Schnauzerfest does the website holds a lot of information. It is updated regularly with the many dogs helped every year.
