Award Wins, Pomeranian Rescues & a Surprise or Two
May is supposed to be the month the weather finally turns a corner, but so far it’s been more raincoat than suncream. We’re told better days are on the way this weekend, so fingers crossed.
Of course, while the rest of the country enjoys a couple of well-earned bank holidays, the team at Teckels doesn’t get a day off. The animals need feeding, walking, cleaning and caring for 365 days a year, rain or shine, bank holiday or not. It’s what we do, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Before we get into this month’s news, a huge thank you to everyone who came along to our Spring Fair in April. It was a brilliant day, and together you helped raise over £2,000 for the animals. A special thanks to all of our amazing volunteers who gave up their time to make it happen.
It’s been a big month, too. We’ve won a national award, stepped in to help with a large-scale Pomeranian rescue, and we’ve got some exciting news about what’s coming later this year.
📅 Dates for the Diary
The Teckels Summer Show
Our Summer Show is back for the August bank holiday weekend!
Saturday 29th and Sunday 30th August 2026
It’s one of our biggest events of the year, with a fun dog show, stalls from local makers and sellers, refreshments, games, raffles and plenty more. Whether you’re a regular or it’s your first time, it’s a brilliant day out for the whole family.
After a fantastic Spring Fair that raised over £2,000, we can’t wait to do it all again. More details to follow, but get it in the diary now.
Stallholders Wanted
If you’re a local maker, seller, or business and you’d like to book a stall at this year’s Summer Show, get in touch with us at info@teckelsanimalsanctuaries.co.uk.
Spaces filled up fast last year, so don’t leave it too late.
Save the Date – The Teckels Christmas Charity Ball
The Teckels Christmas Charity Ball is back, and this year we’re moving to a stunning new venue.
Friday 21st November 2026
Bowden Hall, Upton St Leonards, Gloucester
Bowden Hall is a beautiful Grade II listed Georgian country house set in 12 acres of Cotswolds countryside, just a few miles from Gloucester. With elegant period features, plenty of on-site parking and rooms available for guests who want to make a night of it, it’s the perfect setting for a special evening.
Whether you’re looking for a great night out with friends, a team celebration, or an early start on your Christmas party planning, this is one for the diary.
More details on tickets and pricing will be available very soon. Watch this space!
🐾 Adoption Update
5 dogs and 3 cats found their forever homes this month.
On the cat side, it’s been a quieter month by design.
We’ve got a large number of elderly cats in our care at the moment, and the team has been spending dedicated time with them, making sure they’re getting the attention and love they need before we take any more in.
Quality of care always comes first.
🚨 Stray Animal Rescue & Rehabilitation
Another busy month for strays. 29 stray dogs came through our doors in April:
- 9 were reclaimed by their owners
- 9 were moved to partner rescues
- 11 became Teckels’ own, including a very special family… (see Mabel’s story below!)
10,000 Nominations. One Winner. Teckels! 🏆
We’ve got some big news. Teckels has been named Petplan Charity Team of the Year at the 2026 Animal Charity Awards.
With over 10,000 nominations this year, even making the finalist list was a huge achievement, so to actually take the award home was an incredibly proud moment for the whole team. It’s a reflection of every single person who plays a part in what we do, from our dedicated staff and tireless volunteers to the foster families, adopters and supporters who make this work possible.
Thank you to everyone who nominated us, and to everyone who continues to support Teckels.
This one belongs to all of you.
Eight Pomeranians, One Big Rescue 🐶
Some of you may have seen our Facebook post about a large number of Pomeranians that were recently surrendered and needed to be rehomed. Several rescues stepped in to help, and Teckels made space for eight of them.
The reality of taking on eight dogs at once is significant for a small rescue like ours. Seven of the eight needed dental work, and we’re not talking about a quick clean. Most required multiple extractions, with one little Pom likely to be left with very few teeth at all. Some had to be fully shaved due to severe matting, though the team managed to save the coats of others, and to be fair to the little ones, they were incredibly patient throughout.
Sadly, not all of the news is happy. Penelope, an elderly female who was nearly 14, quickly became a favourite with every member of staff. She was partially blind, had leg issues and a very enlarged liver. After further investigation and advice from our vet team, the kindest decision was to let her go. We dematted her on arrival, gave her pain relief and lots of cuddles, and at least we know her last days were comfortable and full of love.
Among the group was Pepper, who turned out to be heavily pregnant. She’s now settled in a foster home (Sarah – our manager’s home!), and ended up needing a caesarean section to deliver her babies safely. She gave birth to two healthy little boys, Gherkin and Pickle, and all three are doing brilliantly.
Our priority now is making sure every one of them is fit, healthy and happy before they head off to their forever homes. All will be neutered, vaccinated, wormed, flea treated, and will have their dental work completed along with any other care they need.
We know there’ll be plenty of interest in the Poms when they’re ready, but what we really need is ongoing support to help us care for the next dog or cat that comes through the door. Whether that’s a monthly donation, volunteering your time, attending one of our events, or even donating unwanted items to our charity shop, it all makes a difference. A little really does go a long way.
The Family That Stuck Together 💛
Among those 11 strays rescued last month was a mum and her litter of pups, found locally and, thankfully, all together. Mabel had done an incredible job of keeping her babies safe and cared for entirely on her own.
By the time they arrived at Teckels, the pups were around 7 to 8 weeks old and ready to start weaning, so we got them onto puppy food and gave Mabel a very well-earned rest.
Frank Still Needs Your Help 🐾
Some of you may already know Frank.
His story has been shared widely over the past few weeks, and thanks to your incredible generosity, we’ve hit the target and his surgery is booked.
Frank is a one-year-old dachshund who arrived at Teckels as a stray in March. Nobody claimed him. Nobody came looking. So he became one of ours. X-rays revealed a badly broken ankle that had never been treated. Over time, the break fused, leaving him unable to bend his leg, with his back straining to compensate. Our vets have assessed every option, and the only way to give Frank a pain-free future is amputation.
His surgery is booked for 9th June, and to keep costs down, his neutering will be carried out at the same time.
Here’s the thing about Frank, though. He doesn’t know any of this. He’s one of the happiest, most affectionate little dogs we’ve ever had through our doors. His tail doesn’t stop. He’s now settled in a wonderful foster home, and despite everything he’s been through, none of it has dimmed his spirit.
Thank you to every single person who donated. You’ve given this little boy the chance of a pain-free life, and we’ll have a full update after his surgery.
If you’d still like to contribute towards Frank’s rehabilitation and future care, you can do so here.
🐱 Ahsoka – From Shy Starter to Sofa Queen 🐱
Ahsoka came to us after her owner had to move abroad. She’s a young, healthy cat, but life at the sanctuary was a big change, and at first she was understandably shy and unsure of her new surroundings.
It didn’t take long. Once Ahsoka realised she was safe and settled in, her true personality started to shine through. She began trusting the team, enjoying a fuss, and showing everyone what a lovely girl she really is.
When she met her new adopter, it was clear straight away that they were a great match. The meet went brilliantly, and Ahsoka is now living her best life in her new home.
Demand for Relinquishing Animals
Just like March, we’ve seen an increasing number of people seeking to relinquish animals in need.
In April, we received over 100 calls and emails from individuals looking to rehome dogs and 90 for cats.
We know that for many families, giving up a pet is a last resort – and we’re doing what we can to help keep animals in their homes.
Our pet food bank supports those struggling to feed their pets, and our charity shop in Stroud offers low-cost pet items to ease the financial burden of pet ownership.
Teckels’ commitment to helping animals in need – whether that’s finding them loving homes or helping them stay in the ones they have – remains unwavering.
Help us Continue Our Mission.
To our volunteers, fosterers, donors, boarding clients, charity shop customers and everyone who supports Teckels, thank you.
Every penny, every hour, every share makes a difference.
If you’d like to help make more happy endings possible, please consider making a donation today.
With love and gratitude,
The Teckels Team
