When Shattered Hearts Mend, Good Things Happen

Last week in the lead up to Schnauzerfest Weekend, I was contacted by someone in Scotland who wanted to know if she could do something special for Schnauzerfest. Having no expectations of what this might be, as everything, large or small, that supporters of Schnauzerfest do, is welcome and valued, I replied. And so began a transformational few days for what has been an astonishing year for Schnauzerfest.

Ros Lowrie, lives in a small village in Scotland with her family, which includes Georgie and Jess, her miniature schnauzers.

Georige and Jess

Ros’s youngest child, Eve, died at birth on 24 December 2007 and in 2015 in her memory, Ros and her partner Paddy set up Eve’s Foundation. Through the Foundation, the resources that Eve would have needed as she grew up, are being used to support people, of all ages, as they meet challenging situations in their lives.

As animals are a huge part of Ros and her living children’s lives, and certainly would have been for Eve too, Ros wishes to support the work of DBARC and the aims of Schnauzerfest by funding the eye surgery for one of the dogs in their care. This incredible kindness and generosity will transform how the Schnauzerfest funds are used this year, as it will enable DBARC to help at least one more dog with the funds raised collectively by the wonderful Schnauzerfest family.

In fact, just before posting this, I’ve had confirmation from DBARC that they’ve arranged for another schnauzer, from a puppy farm, to be in their care any day. ‘Ginty’, as we’ve just named her this afternoon, is another poor soul with unknown, but likely to be extensive and costly medical needs, including possible eye surgery. Knowing that the Schnauzerfest-DBARC fund has had this generous boost from Eve’s Foundation, has allowed us to move swiftly behind the scenes with arrangements to move Ginty to Berkshire, where DBARC will ensure she gets all the treatment needed before finding her new home. THIS is absolutely what every contribution, donation and dab of support is making happen through Schnauzerfest.

Having spoken with Janet about how best to use Eve’s Foundation donation, the dog she feels is in most urgent need is Laurel, as she’s completely blind. Once it’s been confirmed by the eye specialist later this week, that she’s a good candidate for double cataract surgery, her operation will go ahead and be funded by Eve’s Foundation.

Laurel

The puppy farming background of Laurel and the other schnauzers who we help through Schnauzerfest, is something which Ros finds distressing, as we all do when we come to know the truth and extent of suffering experienced by dogs. By supporting DBARC in this way, Ros told me it goes a little way to feeling she’s doing something useful. What we all do together within the Schnauzerfest community, is more than useful, it’s truly life-changing for the dogs who are helped.

Ros and Paddy plan to visit DBARC and meet the schnauzers who will be helped by our Schnauzerfest efforts this year. I can’t wait to thank them in person for their kindness and generosity and hopefully I’ll get to meet Laurel and Ginty too.

I’ll keep everyone posted on Laurel’s operation, Ginty and the other dogs who will be helped in the coming months at DBARC through the extraordinary generosity and success of Schnauzerfest 2016. It really has been an astounding, exhilirating few days.