Dogs, Dogs, Dogs - What a Sale!!!

It's not quite a Bookham event but several Bookham people did a lot to make it all happen - and it involves DOGS - so there is a good excuse for writing about it!!! The sale took place at Cranleigh Showground on September 10th in the most glorious weather and as it's a yearly event perhaps you can make a diary note so that you don't miss out for next year especially if you love dogs and want the biggest set of bargains imaginable.

The event is organised to raise funds for the greyhound rescue work carried out at Sun Valley Kennels at Clandon originally started by Celia Cross - what happens to greyhounds after their racing days or to those that do not quite make the racing grade is a sorry tale. The dogs are just total discards as far as the racing stables are concerned. The Celia Cross Greyhound Rescue Trust rescues many of these sad and traumatised creatures, many needing nursing care which is provided with much love and when the dogs are ready a kind and loving home is carefully sought. Greyhounds may be one of the most speediest of creatures but are the most calm and good natured of dogs you could find and make wonderful pets, needing a surpringly low amount of exercise. Many owners came with their pets, most often two at a time.

The showground itself is large with plenty of parking and has an enormous barn some 150 feet long. This was packed to overflowing with every type of article and object believable each sorted into groups and beautifully displayed, at least until the public started closer examination! Did you want a painting, good clothes, an electrical anything, jewellery, bric-a-brac, crockery, furniture, cakes, plants, toys, dog supplies or anything else you could possibly think of? - it was there, perhaps needing a little finding. A tombola provided endless prizes some perhaps not totally appropriate to their winners - older couples were seen going away proudly holding large soft toys, but you can't win them all! Outside in a marquee the auction took place of even better articles and in the show ring a wonderful set of dogs was paraded, persuading several spectators to take the next step in providing the dogs with a loving home. You could even see how fast your greyhound could run - some over 40 mph!

It all took a considerable amount of preparation - some three weeks of steady, hard work assembling it all by a cheerful set of volunteers. It makes it all worthwhile to see the total amount raised by the event for as good a cause as can be imagined. A giant jumble sale the following Saturday contributed even further to the success of the occasion.

Martin Warwick