Writer tells of dog days at Bleakholt

4:21pm Friday 25th April 2008

Comments (3)   Have your say »

A FORMER worker at Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary has published memoirs from the sanctuary's early days.

Irene Priestley's new book Mud, Toil and Tears details the day-to-day running of the sanctuary from 1967 to 1969.

Its publication comes ahead of the 40th anniversary of the sanctuary's status as a registered charity.

Bleakholt, in Bury Old Road, Edenfield, was set up by Olive Lomas in the early 1960s. It became a registered charity in July 1968.

Irene's new book includes extracts from her journals from her time at Bleakholt, offering minute details of dogs' medical problems and treatment and updates on which dogs have fallen out with each other.

The entries include tales of dogs escaping, fire breaking out in the straw tip and visits from the Duchess of Argyll and Miss Great Britain.

Irene said: "That the conditions and accommodation at Bleakholt have reached the standard they now have is a testament to the loyalty and efforts of all the supporters over many years but, because it is a charity, it is still dependent on donations and fundraising in order to meet the daily running costs.

"This book is my personal effort to raise some funds while at the same time telling the history of the sanctuary's early years I hope that it will be of interest to supporters past and present and that it will convey to readers how important their generosity and efforts have been in the past in order to improve the sanctuary.

"Sadly, the need for such a refuge for unwanted and ill-treated animals does not diminish." Irene will be selling copies of Mud, Toil and Tears at Bleakholt's spring garden party, which takes place this Sunday from noon.

All money raised from the sale of the book will go to Bleakholt.