End of year Newsletter - 2024

20/12/2024

A review of 2024

What a year! So much has been achieved this year, I thought it would be nice to highlight some of the best bits in a newsletter and also use the opportunity to share some additional information on improvements I'm making, to drop offs and pickups for dog boarding and daycare. There's even an offer (if you manage to read far enough : ) of free Butternut Box samples; which is a highly rated dog food that even humans can eat!

AND, you'll also find out about the best Christmas gift I've recently received which has resulted in a new recruit at 'New Dawn - Cornwall'!

Once again, thank you for making my dream job a reality and I look forward to being there for all your dog's needs in 2025. I hope you enjoy this newsletter!

Operation BARK

I'm sure many visitors to our home realise that our Ring doorbell is a real trigger for many of our resident dog's staying and especially Charlie who is the main culprit for barking, when the button is pressed!

Therefore, I'm asking all clients that 'drop off' or 'pick up' dogs for boarding or day care, to message or call when you have arrived outside. This helps me to not pace the corridors to reach the door before the bell is pressed and allows me to keep all the dogs calm.

You're very welcome to park up and wait in your car on the tarmacked area, alongside the house and I'll be out pronto to meet you; either from the main front gate or back. So far, this change has made a huge difference to our residing guests and has created a much nicer welcome for all our arrivals and new visitors.

2025 Boarding Availability

If you've got plans for next year and require my boarding or day care services, send me any dates you may need and I can confirm what availability I have and if space, pencil them into my calendar. If I get another enquiry for the same dates you want, I'll check with you first to make sure you still need them and ask you to confirm the booking by paying your 20% deposit. I'm already getting booked up for 2025 (April, May and August already has limited availability), so don't leave it too late! I'll always do my best to accommodate my existing clients over any new enquiries.

Dates I'm unavailable in 2025:

28 February - 3 March
4 - 7 April
8 - 15 June
3 - 7 July
30 September - 7 October
31 October - 3 November

For anyone that has already given me dates to book, I will send out your booking confirmation in the new year. Feel free to chase me if you want it sooner.

My License has been renewed!

In November I was re-inspected by Cornwall Council to make sure I'm adhering to all the regulations required to safely board dogs and I'm pleased to say they were very happy with the way I am running my business and as a result, 'New Dawn - Cornwall' is now:

Rated 5* to the higher standard
Up to 7 dogs can now be boarded.

All group walks in public will still be limited to 6 dogs, unless a secure private paddock is booked.

Welcome to our latest recruit and family member!

I'm very excited to officially say that I have a new recruit and family member at 'New Dawn - Cornwall'. Charlie and Obi have a new sister called Lilibet (a Saluki X Greyhound) and I'm very excited to welcome her into our pack.

Lili has been a regular boarder at 'New Dawn - Cornwall', so she's already made herself quite at home and it appears she has a growing fan club!

Lili has quite an appetite and loves anything scrummy she can sink her teeth into and is just over 2 years of age. She will be out and about joining us on group walks when numbers allow, so please give her a warm welcome if you see her.

I got a Diploma!

After 2 years of study and assessments, I'm really pleased to share that I've passed my Diploma in 'Complete Canine Care' with a Merit from the British College of Canine Studies.

Having this qualification means a lot to me. I also hope that it helps to add another level of reassurance for my clients, so that when I provide a service for them, they feel confident that the care I provide is of the highest standard I can give.

There were 14 units and I had to pass each one before progressing onto the next.
View my previous blog to find out more

Identity tags

Just a reminder to regularly check your dog has got its identity tag on its collar. If their tag is ever missing prior to boarding or day care with me, it's no problem, but if you are aware, please make me aware so I can make up a temporary one.

Did you know you can be fined up to £5,000 if your dog does not wear an identification tag?

Find out more about the legal requirements for dog ID tags, including what information should be included on a dog tag.

The boring but important one
- Your Personal & Dogs Information

I have recently updated all of my dog registration and consent forms and at some point in 2025, I will be inviting each of you to check that you and your dog's details are up to date and to provide any additional information within the form, which ensures I have all the latest information about your dog(s) and ensures my insurance covers their stay.

If you'd like to view or even complete the new forms before I message each of you individually, you're very welcome to do this. You can access each of them below:

Client Registration Form
It will take you approximately 15 minutes to read and complete this form.
You will need all your dog's general information and your contact details including a guardian that can take ownership of your dog while you are away.

Veterinary Release AND Dog's Vaccination / Parasite Treatment Record
It will take you approximately 8 minutes to read and complete this form.
You will need their medical history notes and details / dates of when they had their last vaccinations.

Off - Lead Consent Form
If you're happy and would like your dog to be walked off lead (when safe to do so) you will need to complete this form, which will take you approximately 2 minutes to read and complete. Signing this ensures your dog will be covered by my insurance.

Medication Permission Form
If your dog is on medication, you will be asked to complete this consent form which will take you approximately 5 minutes to complete, depending on how much medication your dog is taking.

The holiday let went LIVE!

Our lovely hand built, cosy 'New Dawn' shepherd hut launched on AirBnB in July. Take a look here for full details and pictures: www.airbnb.com/h/anewdawn

Please share it with any of your friends or family that might be in need of a relaxing sanctuary to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It's super dog friendly and makes the perfect getaway to the heart of Cornwall.

It's also been a pleasure this year to support one of my much loved charities - Greyhounds4U, who I gifted a free 'two night break' prize for their 25th anniversary charity auction.

...In memory

Every dog that comes into my home will always be loved and cherished. I wanted to dedicate an area to remember any 'New Dawn - Cornwall' dogs, that have passed over to Rainbow's Bridge by including their name and age here. I'll always have a place in my heart for every dog past or present. Run free Betty, Boris and Wills that have sadly left us this year and Willow and Molly from previous years. Sending extra love to their families.

2024
Betty - age 12
Boris - age 10
Wills - age 12

2023
Willow - age 12
2022
Molly - age 13

Free Butternut Box Samples

This year I became an ambassador for Butternut Box.

If you would like to try some samples, I always keep a supply in my freezer for any client that is considering changing their dog's food or their dog is becoming fussy and is hinting they'd like to try something new.

Feel free to ask me for a sample and any preference on flavour. Feeding your dog the best quality can make such a difference to their health, energy and behaviour in future years.

With this link: www.butternutbox.com/newdawn - you can get a massive 75% off your first box and 25% off your second and can cancel your subscription at any time.

Ever wondered how traditional pet food is made? This 'ruff' guide from Butternut Box might help.

Special thanks

To Michelle and all the girl's at Muddy Paws - Cornwall for another fantastic year. It's a pleasure working in partnership with you!

And finally...

As 2024 comes to an end, I want to say that bringing all my business ideas to life these past two years has been an absolute honour and I hope to have many more years yet to serve you and your dogs.

I'd like to say a big thank you to the best clients I could have and to your wonderful dog's that have allowed me to be apart of their lives. They constantly inspire me to offer the best service I can and I'd like to wish each and everyone of you a very merry Christmas and a happy, healthy new year.

Best wishes to you all
Emma xx

P.S. We were slightly too late to create a seasonal photo with the four of us, so keep your eyes peeled for next year!

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