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Total raised so far

87%

£435.00 of £500 target +£88.75 Gift Aid See breakdown

Recent donations

2 years ago

Nicola Toms

£15.00

+ £3.75 Gift Aid

Congratulations.

2 years ago

SomersetGoldies

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Fantastic Ness and Jack! In memory of darling Buddy your friend.

2 years ago

Clapton Terrier

£50.00

+ £12.50 Gift Aid

Well done Sir Jack!

2 years ago

Neill Aitken

£25.00

+ £6.25 Gift Aid

Well done, great cause

2 years ago

Deb MacLeod

£15.00

+ £3.75 Gift Aid

Here are a few pennies from the bOyZ saying THaNKiN yOO fUr aLL yOO & mR jACk dUs fOr uS pAwS ❤️

2 years ago

Anonymous

£10.00

2 years ago

Pam, Louis & Cobe

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Well done Nessa & Jack xx

2 years ago

Gemma King

£5.00

Brilliant effort Nessa and Jack. Very well done 👣❤️🐾

2 years ago

Anonymous

£10.00

+ £2.50 Gift Aid

Good luck x

2 years ago

Valerie Finnegan

£20.00

+ £5.00 Gift Aid

Good effort! Woof from Roo x

Sir Jack Spratticus to walk the Wagathon 9K for K9s!

Vanessa Holbrow is raising money for Border Terrier Welfare

My story

Sir Jack Spratticus is taking on the 9k Wagathon to help other Border Terriers like him. Jack was rehomed from Border Terrier Welfare UK on 24th August 2012. He and his mum thought it would be a wonderful way to celebrate his gotcha day 9 years ago!

I (Jack) was re-homed from Border Terrier Welfare (BTW) in 2012, aged 13 months. This was my fourth home, and I am mum’s first dog. I am integral to mums stability, on profound levels. I help mum live with enduring complex mental health (MH) illnesses (that have dogged her existence for nearly 4 decades) and have offered her an existence she never dreamt possible. She’s spent years sectioned, in old-style asylums to begin with, then general adult psychiatric hospitals, eating disorder units and general hospitals. She has been on life support twice due to attempts on her own life.

In reality we have undoubtedly helped one another. Two lives have been saved. I had an unstable start. We both had to overcome immense challenges, and bond through intense training. Fear aggression and no bite inhibition, were the most worrying aspects of my behaviour to overcome. It took a year, before mum could walk on a dog friendly (7 mile) beach and for me to know how to behave acceptably around other dogs, and enjoy their company,

We were excluded from the first few months of obedience sessions. Every time I opened my mouth, mum quietly took us into the cupboard (a very small space). Together we eventually found what worked and what didn’t out, and accepted failure instructed us, and were a leap frog to deeper understanding. The pinnacle of our journey together was being selected as a finalist for The Kennel Club Friends For Life competition 2018 (breed rescue category).

The remarkable finality was winning (and meeting Geri Horner (aka GInger Spice) and Prof Noel Fitzpatrick).

Prior to this I’d been placed 2nd in a Rescue and Rehomed Dog Championships at Buckham Fair (here we met Martin Clunes as this Old fashioned Pony and dog show was inspired by, and took place on his land in Dorset!)

Other fun facts:

  1. I featured in The Dog Freindly’s 2018 calendar, (UKs Freindliest Dog Face) Mr. October
  2. Also The Little Dog Laughed Co. 2019 Diary and greeting card Sally Walker Cards
  3. Our story published in one of 11 in "Good Dog" by Kate Leaver in 2020
  4. Made an ambassador for The Dog Treat Company in 2021
  5. Alumni members for Recallers - Susan Garrett's online dog training programme

I love nothing more than zooming around with pals, exploring different walks with mum, playing and training through games and positive reinforcement. Now I am also rather good at posing for the camera! This is how mum found a love for taking photographs, capturing me in every imaginable way with different backgrounds, and Seasons (majority being taken outside in the open air in all weathers!)

We want to give something back, and support charities (and have raised in minimum of ten thousand pounds for mental health charities & BTW UK). Mum and I are not afraid to challenge others when it comes to the understanding people have of mental health illnesses. Together we actively raise awareness, breakdown stigma attached to mental health. Particularly for largely unknown conditions Complex Trauma (cPTSD) and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Together mum and I are fighting tooth and nail for these conditions to be recognised in the County where we live. So she, and others like her, may get the treatment they need and deserve. In a timely manner. Mum has been diagnosed incorrectly for 26 years. Even though I am a dog I have been able inject motivation & confidence e.g. for mum to speak on local BBC radio and ITV.

Mum & I began my assistance dog training August 2017 and passed all tests to be Mum’s Assistance Dog (AD) for mental health (owner trained). This was a dream mum never believed a reality so it is important to note here that rehoming me with the foresight of my being her AD was never on the cards. Mum has trained me to perform specific tasks that mitigate some symptoms and disabilities related to complex mental health illnesses she experiences. After hours of Public Access training I work safely and behave appropriately. Mum wants to highlight to everyone that it is perfectly ok (legal) to train your own dog to become your own assistance dog.(assistacedoglaw.co.uk). Now I am nearing the ripe old age of 10 mum has semi retired me.

In light of my neglectful start, others opinions e.g. “untrainable, needs muzzling” a remarkable character has been unleashed. I bring joy to numerous, whether in my local town or when mum is in hospital. I save mum’s life every day & confound early professionals who deemed mum untreatable. What they never saw or understood she was showing symptoms resulting from decades of trauma.

Without these life-changing opportunities, e.g. me! & Crufts, Mum, I strongly expect, would not be here to help me tell you this story. I am mum’s best mate!


Thank you for checking out my page. Making a donation is fast, easy and secure thanks to Give as you Live Donate. They'll take your donation and pass it onto Border Terrier Welfare.

My updates

2 years ago

You amazing souls …. we have reached an awesome amount of £410. Thanking each one of you from the bottom of our hearts for supporting BTW. It means the world! Lots of love x

2 years ago

Hello everyone, Many many thanks for those supporting our 9k for k9s raising money for Border Terrier Welfare. We intend to walk this tomorrow (Saturday morning). We’ll post photos. Any amount of support is appreciated to help other Border Terriers and this incredible charity absolutely dedicated to this breed. If it was not for BTW I and many other Border Terriers wouldn’t have found their forever homes. Sir Jack Spratticus & mum xx

2 years ago

Mum and I will be walking the 9K for K9s challenge. This is in celebration of National Dog Day on Thursday 26th August 2021. We will be completing the Walk 9K for K9s challenge this August Bank Holiday weekend (28-30th August). Thank you for your support... THANK YOU SO MUCH. Lets pull together and see how much we can raise for Border Terrier Welfare UK. The Wagathon says for dogs who are unable to complete the full 9K in a day they can spread their challenge across each date. We will know nearer the time what we'll do and will keep you posted. Mum is journeying through a ongoing plethora of personal battles related to her mental health and trauma history. Apologies for lack of updates for the time being. Come on all you BTs we need to support as many other BTs who haven't had the good fortune they deserve. and for the wonderful charity that works unceasingly for their welfare. xx

Vanessa Holbrow is fundraising for

Border Terrier Welfare

Charity number: 1116853

Vanessa Holbrow is fundraising as part of

Wagathon

28th August 2021 - 30th August 2021

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