Paws for a cause – Hillside Animal Sanctuary

We take a look at some great charities which provide much-needed aid, love, and care to the animals that need it most.

  

  Hillside Animal Sanctuary was founded by Wendy Valentine in 1995 to help and campaign for animals in need, and, most importantly, to bring public awareness to the millions of animals suffering every day in the intensive factory farming industry.

Today, Hillside is home to over 2000 animals, and is one of the UK's most successful campaigning organisations for the welfare of animals. Although most of the rescued animals are those saved from the farming industry, Hillside is home to over 700 horses, ponies, donkeys and mules – Wendy also founded Redwings Horse sanctuary in 1984, and is devoted to the care and welfare of horses.

Hillside does some amazing work caring for rescued animals, bringing them back to health after

years of suffering, and managing to rehome many of the animals in its care. It doesn't just stop there, though: Hillside's investiagtion team also regularly exposes the appalling standards of animal welfare in Britain's farming industry, working with the press to enhance public awareness of this very closed-off business.

 

If you'd like to learn more about Hillside and the great work its team does to rescue animals in need, visit the website by clicking here.

 

 

Meet the author – Toni Shelbourne

Meet Toni Shelbourne, author of H&H's The truth about wolves and dogs.  

 Toni Shelbourne began her career with animals in 1989 when she was employed by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. She quickly progressed from kennel staff to supervisor, and then on to the staff training department where she managed all the City and Guilds kennel programmes.

        In 1997 Toni studied under Linda Tellington-Jones and other top Tellington TTouch Instructors to become a Tellington TTouch Companion Animal Practitioner. She was one of the first to qualify in the UK, and has really seen TTouch grow over the years in Britain and around the world.

        In September 2000 Toni left GDBA to pursue her passion for the Tellington TTouch Training Method, and has been practising ever since. As a level 3 practitioner, Toni is now one of the highest qualified practitioners in the UK. In 2004 she dual qualified as an equine practitioner, although chooses to concentrate on companion and captive wild animals.

        Toni has appeared alongside Sarah Fisher (the UK’s top TTouch Instructor) in the hit TV series Talking to Animals, and has also been featured in articles for Dogs Today and Your Dog magazine.

        For ten years Toni worked with socialised wolves at the UK Wolf Conservation Trust as a senior handler and education officer, although left in 2011 to concentrate on her TTouch work and writing. Toni writes articles for national dog magazines and rescue society newsletters. Her first book, The truth about wolves and dogs – Dispelling the myths of dog training, was published by Hubble & Hattie in 2012, and has received amazing reviews. In 2013 Toni teamed up with MSW Media to create four short videos for YouTube to accompany the book.

        Toni has experience working with domesticated, wildlife, exotic and zoo animals. As well as seeing private clients, she runs workshops and gives talks and demos, as well as teaching staff from all sorts of animal organisations, including zoos.

        Between writing and working with dogs, for part of the year Toni teaches children about farming and the environment. The charity where she works part-time runs out of a thousand-acre organic farm. Toni lives in Berkshire, England with her rescue dog, Bea.

 The truth about wolves and dogs is available now over at the Hubble & Hattie website. 

 

Fed up with the weather?

So are we! It might seem like this winter is dragging on and on, but it can't last forever. That's why we're looking forward to spring, summer and beyond by planning some great walking trips around the UK's National Trails!

The National Trail website will help you to plan a visit to some of the best trails in England and Wales, whether it be a short afternoon walk, bike or horse ride, or a full-on, long-haul trek. Whatever you're looking for, you'll get to explore the countryside; see some beautiful scenery, and some amazing British wildlife to boot!

Currently, there are 15 National Trails. Walkers can enjoy them all; cyclists and horseriders can enjoy the Pennine Bridleway and the South Downs Way, as well as sections of the other trails. In total, England and Wales have around 2500 miles of National Trails, so what are you waiting for (but make sure you're wearing your walking boots!)

The England Coast Path will be the newest (and longest) National Trail when it is complete. The first section has been created in Weymouth, just down the road from H&H HQ (take it from us – it's stunning!), with more sections due to open this year.

 

Check out the helpful map on the National Trail website to find walks near you, or if you're planning a trip away, use it as a starting point for a walking holiday ... what better excuse to go exploring?

For more information, check out the National Trail website.

February Gallery Winner: Chevy

Chevy is the winner of our February Gallery on our Facebook page!
Thank you to everyone who submitted a photo, and for everyone who voted! We're now taking entries for March.

We want to share your furry friends! Each month in 2014 we’ll be compiling an album of your beloved animals. The picture with the most likes at the end of the month, will win a fantastic Hubble & Hattie book of your choice, and feature in our monthly newsletter!

How to submit photos:

Post photos directly onto our Facebook page.

Tweet us your photos

Email your photos